The UN rights office on Friday said that the Taliban response to peaceful marches in Afghanistan has been increasingly violent, with authorities using live ammunition, batons, and whips and causing the deaths of at least four protesters. Protests and demonstrations, often led by women, pose a challenge to the new …
Read More »Taliban to allow 200 Americans, other civilians to leave Afghanistan: US official
Two hundred Americans and other foreigners who remain in Afghanistan are set to depart the war-ravaged country on charter flights from Kabul on Thursday after the new Taliban government agreed to their evacuation, a U.S. official said. The departures will be among the first international flights to take off from …
Read More »EU warns new Taliban govt not ‘inclusive and representative’
The European Union on Wednesday said the “caretaker” government unveiled by the Taliban in Afghanistan failed to honor vows from the new rulers to include different groups. “Upon initial analysis of the names announced, it does not look like the inclusive and representative formation in terms of the rich ethnic …
Read More »Ex-Afghan President Ghani apologizes, regrets ‘how it ended’: statement
Former Afghan president Ashraf Ghani has apologized, saying he regretted “how it ended,” according to a statement released. “Leaving Kabul was the most difficult decision of my life, but I believed it was the only way to keep the guns silent and save Kabul and her 6 million citizens. I …
Read More »Afghanistan: Taliban open fire at protests in Kabul – as UN warns basic services on verge of collapse
Taliban gunmen fired into the air to disperse anti-Pakistan protestors in the capital of Afghanistan. Video clips on Tuesday showed people running as gunfire was heard. There were no immediate reports of injuries. Taliban forces open fire into a crowd during a peaceful demonstration protesting Taliban and Pakistani terrorism. https://t.co/WIRZ6XiK4n …
Read More »After messy pullout, Blinken to intensify Afghanistan diplomacy in Qatar, Germany
A week after declaring America’s “new chapter” of engagement with Afghanistan, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will aim to form a united front with allies this week on how to tackle the Taliban and ensure continued support for the U.S. bid to help evacuate Americans and at-risk Afghans who …
Read More »Taliban, opposition vie to control Panjshir; Pakistan spy chief flies to Kabul
Taliban and opposition forces were fighting on Saturday for control of the Panjshir valley north of Kabul, the last province in Afghanistan holding out against the extremist group, according to reports. Taliban sources had said on Friday the group had seized control of the valley, although the resistance denied it …
Read More »Afghan women protest in Kabul demand rights as Taliban seek recognition
A small group of Afghan women protested near the presidential palace in Kabul on Friday, demanding equal rights from the Taliban as Afghanistan’s new rulers work on forming a government and seeking international recognition. The Taliban captured most of the country in a matter of days last month and celebrated …
Read More »Britain says it wants to engage with the Taliban
Britain will not recognise the Taliban as the new government in Kabul, but must deal with new realities in Afghanistan and does not want to see its social and economic fabric broken, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Friday. Speaking during a visit to Pakistan, Raab said it would not …
Read More »Qatar plane carrying technical team lands in Kabul: Source
A Qatari aircraft landed in Kabul Wednesday carrying a technical team to discuss the resumption of airport operations after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, according to a source with knowledge of the matter. “A Qatari jet carrying a technical team has landed in Kabul earlier today to discuss the resumption …
Read More »Taliban hold mock ‘funeral’ for NATO, take Black Hawk helicopter for joyrides, and show off loot at Kabul airport after US retreat
After nearly 20 years of fighting against the US in Afghanistan, the victorious Taliban posed with captured American gear at the Kabul airport, held a mock funeral for NATO in Khost, and flew a Black Hawk helicopter over Kandahar. The last US troops left the Hamid Karzai International Airport on …
Read More »US made ‘secret’ deal with Taliban to set up a gate to evacuate Americans: Report
The US made a secrete arrangement with the Taliban to set up a “secret gate” at Kabul airport for evacuating Americans out of Afghanistan, US defense officials told CNN. The arrangement included the Taliban escorting Americans to the gate to “ensure their safety.” The officials told CNN: “Americans were notified …
Read More »Taliban parade in Kabul airport after US withdrawal
Hours after the final foreign forces flew out of Afghanistan, Taliban leaders walked victorious through the airport, flanked by guards dressed in special forces combat kit inspecting destroyed US helicopters. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid led a group of officials onto the runway, his usual stoic expression replaced by broad grin. …
Read More »UNICEF says SEVEN children were killed in Kabul drone strike that US said targeted ISIS-K terrorists
At least seven children were killed in a Kabul drone strike, the UNICEF representative in Afghanistan told reporters. The Pentagon had said the strike eliminated an “imminent threat” by ISIS-K terrorists to the ongoing airlift. “We have confirmation from open sources that seven children were killed” in the incident, Herve …
Read More »Rockets target US troops as core diplomats fly out of Kabul
U.S. anti-missile defences intercepted rockets fired at Kabul’s airport early on Monday, as the United States flew its core diplomats out of Afghanistan in the final hours of its chaotic withdrawal. The last U.S. troops are due to pull out of Kabul by Tuesday, after they and their allies mounted …
Read More »Civilians were allegedly shot & killed by US forces during Kabul airport bombing mayhem, eyewitnesses tell BBC
Some of the dozens of civilians reportedly killed in a suicide blast outside Kabul’s airport, may have been shot by US soldiers amid the chaos caused by the deadly explosion, according to the BBC. Eyewitnesses who survived Thursday’s attack, which claimed at least 95 lives and left 150 people wounded, …
Read More »Baghdad condemns Kabul explosion
The Iraqi Foreign Ministry condemned today the bloody bombing that targeted the Afghan capital, Kabul. The vicinity of Kabul Airport witnessed two explosions targeting crowds of Afghans who were trying to leave their country. The bombing killed at least 12 American soldiers. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement, “We …
Read More »Factbox: Evacuations from Afghanistan by country
The United States and allies are hurrying to evacuate as many people from Afghanistan as possible before an Aug. 31 deadline amid deteriorating security. The United States and partners have evacuated about 105,000 people since Aug. 14, the day before the Taliban entered Kabul, the White House said on Friday. …
Read More »Spain will receive up to 4,000 Afghans at two military bases, source says
Spain will temporarily host up to 4,000 Afghans, who had worked for the United States, at two military bases used by the U.S. military in southern Spain, a government source told Reuters. According to an agreement signed on Monday between Madrid and Washington, the Afghans will be able to stay …
Read More »FIRE reported at Kabul airport amid frantic evacuation, VIDEOS show billowing smoke
A fire has apparently broken out at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, amid ongoing evacuation efforts. Video footage shows a cloud of smoke rising from the airport. News of the blaze broke on Monday evening local time. Little is known about the fire’s severity or origin, but videos …
Read More »