Following a shooting incident that occurred on their shared border, which left three people dead and numerous others injured, tensions between Iran and Afghanistan have risen. The conflict started on Saturday close to the Iranian border region of Nimros in Afghanistan.

Iran-Afghanistan Clash: Two Iranian border guards and one Taliban fighter killed

An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 struck at 79 kilometres southeast (SE) of Fayzabad, Afghanistan on Sunday morning, as per India's National Centre for Seismology. The epicentre was at a depth of 220 kilometres under the earth's surface.

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Earthquake of Magnitude:5.2, Occurred on 28-05-2023, 11:19:55 IST, Lat: 36.56 &amp; Long: 71.13, Depth: 220 Km ,Location: Afghanistan for more information Download the BhooKamp App <a href="https://t.co/KyNMxeUdi9">https://t.co/KyNMxeUdi9</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ndmaindia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ndmaindia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Indiametdept?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Indiametdept</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Dr_Mishra1966?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Dr_Mishra1966</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DDNewslive?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DDNewslive</a> <a href="https://t.co/LnP2nm7rpV">pic.twitter.com/LnP2nm7rpV</a>
— National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) <a href="https://twitter.com/NCS_Earthquake/status/1662702601429995523?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2023</a></blockquote>
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According to preliminary information shared by&nbsp;European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), the earthquake was reported to be of magnitude 5.9&nbsp;was felt 70 km east-southeast of Fayzabad, Afghanistan.

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⚠Preliminary info: M5.9 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/earthquake?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#earthquake</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%B2%D9%84%D8%B2%D9%84%D9%87?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#زلزله</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D0%B7%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%BB%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%80%D1%8F%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#землетрясение</a>) about 70 km SE of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Fayzabad?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Fayzabad</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghanistan</a>) 6 min ago (local time 10:19:57). Updates at: 
📱<a href="https://t.co/LBaVNedgF9">https://t.co/LBaVNedgF9</a> 
🌐<a href="https://t.co/AXvOM7I4Th">https://t.co/AXvOM7I4Th</a> 
🖥<a href="https://t.co/wPtMW5ND1t">https://t.co/wPtMW5ND1t</a> <a href="https://t.co/aQvXMyWVoJ">pic.twitter.com/aQvXMyWVoJ</a>
— EMSC (@LastQuake) <a href="https://twitter.com/LastQuake/status/1662699309702213633?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The quake occurred at around 10.19 am as the&nbsp;tremors&nbsp;were also felt&nbsp;in various locations around Punjab, Haryana, and Jammu &amp; Kashmir. The tremors lasted for a few seconds. However, no instance of any casualty, injuries or damage has been reported.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h2>6.5 earthquake hit Indian subcontinent in March&nbsp;</h2>

In late March, a powerful earthquake of 6.5 magnitude struck the Indian subcontinent. The earthquakes, which had their origin in Afghanistan's Hindukush mountain range, were felt in New Delhi and other parts of the National Capital Region as well as in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northern India. The severe earthquake claimed the lives of over a dozen people.&nbsp;

The National Centre for Seismology of India estimated that the earthquake's epicentre was 156 kilometres under the surface of the planet. At 4:17 PM (Greenwich Mean Time or 10:17 PM Indian Standard Time), earthquake tremors were reported which lasted for few minutes.&nbsp;

Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, New Delhi, and western Uttar Pradesh all experienced earthquake tremors. The earthquake shocks in Pakistan were felt in the capital Islamabad as well as the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.&nbsp;

(This is a developing story.)

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&nbsp;

An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 struck at 79 kilometres southeast (SE) of Fayzabad, Afghanistan on Sunday morning, as per India's National Centre for Seismology. The epicentre was at a depth of 220 kilometres under the earth's surface.

An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 struck at 79 kilometres southeast (SE) of Fayzabad, Afghanistan on Sunday morning, as per India's National Centre for Seismology. The epicentre was at a depth of 220 kilometres under the earth's surface. Earthquake of Magnitude:5.2, Occurred on 28-05-2023, 11:19:55 IST, Lat: 36.56 & Long: 71.13, Depth: 220 Km ,Location: Afghanistan for more information Download the BhooKamp App https://t.co/KyNMxeUdi9 @ndmaindia @Indiametdept @Dr_Mishra1966 @DDNewslive pic.twitter.com/LnP2nm7rpV — National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) May 28, 2023 × According to preliminary information shared by European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), the earthquake was reported to be of magnitude 5.9 was felt 70 km east-southeast of Fayzabad, Afghanistan. ⚠Preliminary info: M5.9 #earthquake (#زلزله, #землетрясение) about 70 km SE of #Fayzabad (#Afghanistan) 6 min ago (local time 10:19:57). Updates at: 📱https://t.co/LBaVNedgF9 🌐https://t.co/AXvOM7I4Th 🖥https://t.co/wPtMW5ND1t pic.twitter.com/aQvXMyWVoJ — EMSC (@LastQuake) May 28, 2023 × The quake occurred at around 10.19 am as the tremors were also felt in various locations around Punjab, Haryana, and Jammu & Kashmir. The tremors lasted for a few seconds. However, no instance of any casualty, injuries or damage has been reported. 6.5 earthquake hit Indian subcontinent in March In late March, a powerful earthquake of 6.5 magnitude struck the Indian subcontinent. The earthquakes, which had their origin in Afghanistan's Hindukush mountain range, were felt in New Delhi and other parts of the National Capital Region as well as in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northern India. The severe earthquake claimed the lives of over a dozen people. The National Centre for Seismology of India estimated that the earthquake's epicentre was 156 kilometres under the surface of the planet. At 4:17 PM (Greenwich Mean Time or 10:17 PM Indian Standard Time), earthquake tremors were reported which lasted for few minutes. Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, New Delhi, and western Uttar Pradesh all experienced earthquake tremors. The earthquake shocks in Pakistan were felt in the capital Islamabad as well as the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. (This is a developing story.) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Magnitude 5.2 earthquake jolts Afghanistan, tremors felt in parts of India

At least six people have been killed and dozens of homes were washed away after heavy rains lash central Afghanistan.

At least six killed, 100 homes destroyed in afghan flood

As the world watched Kabul fall and the Taliban take over in 2021 following the withdrawal of the US troops from Afghanistan, Jennifer Lawrence and producer Justine Ciarrochhi got busy looking for ways to support women in the country.&nbsp;

"Jen's first response was to find an Afghan filmmaker and give them a platform," Ciarrocchi told The Hollywood Reporter. 
 
They eventually found director Sahra Mani&nbsp;whose 2019 documentary A Thousand Girls Like Me looked at a sexually abused woman's quest for justice. The result was the three collaborated on a documentary called Bread and Roses.&nbsp; 
 
On Sunday the documentary about the daily lives of three women after the Taliban's resurgence premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in a special screening. "This film has a message from women in Afghanistan, a soft message; please be their voice who are voiceless under Taliban dictatorship," said Mani at the premiere. 
 
The documentary has been backed by Excellent Cadaver, a production company set up by Lawrence and her producer friend Justine Ciarrocchi. 
 
The director said in an interview on the Cannes website that she wanted to show the reality of how drastically life has changed under the Taliban women, even if filming was difficult. "Now that women can no longer leave the house without the veil, I thought we should tell their stories," she said. 
 
The safety of the camera crews and the people filmed was of top priority, said Mani, who currently lives in France. 
"The way in which their lives have changed under the Taliban is an everyday reality for us, it's life under a dictatorship, a cruel reality we cannot ignore."

As the world watched Kabul fall and the Taliban take over in 2021 following the withdrawal of the US troops from Afghanistan, Jennifer Lawrence and producer Justine Ciarrochhi got busy looking for ways to support women in the country.

As the world watched Kabul fall and the Taliban take over in 2021 following the withdrawal of the US troops from Afghanistan, Jennifer Lawrence and producer Justine Ciarrochhi got busy looking for ways to support women in the country. "Jen's first response was to find an Afghan filmmaker and give them a platform," Ciarrocchi told The Hollywood Reporter. They eventually found director Sahra Mani whose 2019 documentary A Thousand Girls Like Me looked at a sexually abused woman's quest for justice. The result was the three collaborated on a documentary called Bread and Roses. On Sunday the documentary about the daily lives of three women after the Taliban's resurgence premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in a special screening. "This film has a message from women in Afghanistan, a soft message; please be their voice who are voiceless under Taliban dictatorship," said Mani at the premiere. The documentary has been backed by Excellent Cadaver, a production company set up by Lawrence and her producer friend Justine Ciarrocchi. The director said in an interview on the Cannes website that she wanted to show the reality of how drastically life has changed under the Taliban women, even if filming was difficult. "Now that women can no longer leave the house without the veil, I thought we should tell their stories," she said. The safety of the camera crews and the people filmed was of top priority, said Mani, who currently lives in France. "The way in which their lives have changed under the Taliban is an everyday reality for us, it's life under a dictatorship, a cruel reality we cannot ignore."

Jennifer Lawrence-backed documentary on Afghan women premieres at Cannes 2023

Iran's president on Thursday issued a warning to Afghanistan's Taliban leaders not to infringe on Iranian citizens' water rights over their shared Helmand River.

Tehran warns Kabul over violation of its water rights

After a year of the Poppy ban, where are Afghan farmers standing? With most of the population struggling to afford food, and the country suffering its worst drought in years, the situation is dire. Taliban authorities had promised to provide former poppy farmers with a profitable alternative but the reality is completely different.

Taliban bans poppy, options dry up

Taliban 'Supreme Leader' Haibatullah Akhundzada appointed&nbsp;Maulvi Abdul Kabir as acting&nbsp;prime minister of Afghanistan, following reports&nbsp;that prime minister Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund had been unwell.

As&nbsp;per&nbsp;Afghanistan-based Khaama Press, Maulvi Kabir will now lead the Taliban government&nbsp;until Hassan Akhund recovers. 
 
Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund has served as the prime minister of the Taliban government since the group’s return to power in 2021.&nbsp;

The Khaama Press said that Akhund is suffering from a heart condition, citing persons acquainted with the situation, although Taliban leaders are&nbsp;yet to release any specifics about his sickness, as per Geo News.

<h2>Who is&nbsp;Maulvi Abdul Kabir?</h2>

Maulvi Kabir, a member of the Zadran tribe in eastern Paktika province, formerly served as governor of Nangarhar province under the Taliban rule from 1996 to 2001.

As an influential Taliban official, Maulvi Kabir played an important role in the Qatar discussions with the US.

His role resulted in the signing of the Doha deal, a crucial milestone in which the US and the Taliban reached a consensus defining a framework for peace and the withdrawal of US soldiers from Afghanistan.

The accord sought to enhance intra-Afghan dialogue and pave the way for the country's political solution. The withdrawal of US soldiers from Afghanistan constituted a watershed moment, as the Taliban quickly regained near full control of the country.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Afghan Embassy in Delhi rejects report of Taliban appointing new head

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However, the plan outlined during the discussions could not be executed since the Taliban-led government prohibited women from attending school and from working, violating its promise not to enact laws restricting women's liberties in Afghanistan.

Maulvi Kabir took several responsibilities within the Taliban following their revival in August 2021. Initially chosen as Akhund's economic deputy's assistant, he eventually became the Taliban's prime minister's political deputy.

His selections demonstrate that his duties and influence within the Taliban's leadership structure are increasing.&nbsp;

<h2>Condition of women and girls in Afghanistan under the rule of Taliban</h2>

As per UN experts, the situation of women and girls' rights in Afghanistan has reverted to the pre-2002 era, when the Taliban last governed the nation, thus erasing gains on women's rights made in the preceding 20 years, as observed&nbsp;by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/china-plays-peacemaker-in-turf-war-between-pakistan-and-ttp-terrorist-group-report-592231">China plays peacemaker in Pakistan's war with Pakistani Taliban terror group: Report</a>

“In 2002, after years of being denied their rights under the previous Taliban regime, Afghan women celebrated International Women’s Day full of hope. The day was observed in Afghanistan and at UN Headquarters with the theme ‘Afghan women today: Realities and Opportunities’ and commitments were made to support our Afghan sisters rebuild their lives and be full partners in the post-conflict reconstruction of the country. On that day the international community said that the plight of Afghan women had been “an affront to all standards of dignity, equality and humanity,” it&nbsp;stated.

&nbsp;

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Taliban 'Supreme Leader' Haibatullah Akhundzada appointed Maulvi Abdul Kabir as acting prime minister of Afghanistan, following reports that prime minister Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund had been unwell.

Taliban 'Supreme Leader' Haibatullah Akhundzada appointed Maulvi Abdul Kabir as acting prime minister of Afghanistan, following reports that prime minister Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund had been unwell. As per Afghanistan-based Khaama Press, Maulvi Kabir will now lead the Taliban government until Hassan Akhund recovers. Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund has served as the prime minister of the Taliban government since the group’s return to power in 2021. The Khaama Press said that Akhund is suffering from a heart condition, citing persons acquainted with the situation, although Taliban leaders are yet to release any specifics about his sickness, as per Geo News. Who is Maulvi Abdul Kabir? Maulvi Kabir, a member of the Zadran tribe in eastern Paktika province, formerly served as governor of Nangarhar province under the Taliban rule from 1996 to 2001. As an influential Taliban official, Maulvi Kabir played an important role in the Qatar discussions with the US. His role resulted in the signing of the Doha deal, a crucial milestone in which the US and the Taliban reached a consensus defining a framework for peace and the withdrawal of US soldiers from Afghanistan. The accord sought to enhance intra-Afghan dialogue and pave the way for the country's political solution. The withdrawal of US soldiers from Afghanistan constituted a watershed moment, as the Taliban quickly regained near full control of the country. ALSO WATCH | Afghan Embassy in Delhi rejects report of Taliban appointing new head However, the plan outlined during the discussions could not be executed since the Taliban-led government prohibited women from attending school and from working, violating its promise not to enact laws restricting women's liberties in Afghanistan. Maulvi Kabir took several responsibilities within the Taliban following their revival in August 2021. Initially chosen as Akhund's economic deputy's assistant, he eventually became the Taliban's prime minister's political deputy. His selections demonstrate that his duties and influence within the Taliban's leadership structure are increasing. Condition of women and girls in Afghanistan under the rule of Taliban As per UN experts, the situation of women and girls' rights in Afghanistan has reverted to the pre-2002 era, when the Taliban last governed the nation, thus erasing gains on women's rights made in the preceding 20 years, as observed by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. ALSO READ | China plays peacemaker in Pakistan's war with Pakistani Taliban terror group: Report “In 2002, after years of being denied their rights under the previous Taliban regime, Afghan women celebrated International Women’s Day full of hope. The day was observed in Afghanistan and at UN Headquarters with the theme ‘Afghan women today: Realities and Opportunities’ and commitments were made to support our Afghan sisters rebuild their lives and be full partners in the post-conflict reconstruction of the country. On that day the international community said that the plight of Afghan women had been “an affront to all standards of dignity, equality and humanity,” it stated. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Who is Maulvi Abdul Kabir? Appointed acting PM of Afghanistan by Taliban’s supreme leader Akhundzada

The Taliban-controlled Afghan government has appointed a new acting Prime Minister after Mohammad Hasan Akhund fell ill. The Maulvi Abdul Kabir has been named as the member to replace him who was earlier the Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs.

Maulvi Abdul Kabir takes over the role of Afghanistan's new acting Prime Minister

The Afghan Embassy in New Delhi in India the country's Taliban-led foreign Ministry has ordered changed in leadership as its Embassy in the Indian capital. Speaking exclusively on this issue to WION the Afghan envoy said that the Embassy is still run by diplomats appointed by the former republic of Afghanistan and they firmly reject the Taliban.

Afghan Embassy in Delhi rejects report of Taliban appointing new head

The Afghan embassy in India denied media reports that the Taliban have appointed a charge d'affaires to head the mission replacing incumbent Farid Mamundzay as it said on Monday that there is no change in its leadership.&nbsp;

Media reports claimed that the Taliban, after over two and a half years it took over Afghanistan, the regime finally decided to change leadership in the Afghan embassy in New Delhi.&nbsp;

But the embassy headed by Mamundzay said in a statement that "the embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan categorically rejects the claims from an individual claiming to have taken charge of the mission in New Delhi at the behest of the Taliban".&nbsp;

Ashraf Ghani's government had appointed Mamundzay and even after the Taliban came to power in August 2021, he continued to operate as the Afghan envoy.&nbsp;

Reports claimed that Qadir Shah, who has been working as the trade councillor at the Afghan embassy since 2020, wrote to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) last month and said that he has been appointed as the charge d'affaires at the embassy by the Taliban.&nbsp;

News agency PTI reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that when Mamundzay was on a visit abroad, Shah tried to take charge of the embassy as the charge d'affaires late last month.&nbsp;

However, the attempt was stalled by other diplomats at the mission and Shah has also been barred from entering the embassy on at least three occasions.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: Afghanistan denounces change of guard&nbsp;

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Mamundzay's statement added that the "embassy appreciates the consistent position of the Indian government for supporting the interests of the Afghan people, while at the same time not recognising the Taliban regime in Kabul, as it has been the case wit&nbsp;democratic governments around the world." &nbsp;

The embassy said the individual who claims to have been named "charge d'affaires" by the Taliban has been responsible for "spreading misinformation and running a baseless and unsubstantiated campaign against officials of the mission, including totally fabricated allegations of corruption based on an unsigned letter", its statement added.&nbsp;

There were some reports in the Afghan media about allegations of corruption against the embassy.&nbsp;

The embassy said, "The mission is committed to protecting the genuine interests of the Afghan nationals, especially in these trying times and has worked closely with the Indian authorities on humanitarian efforts, including the supply of COVID-19 vaccines, medicines and food supplies."&nbsp;

"The embassy also wishes to inform Afghan nationals that the mission continues functioning as normal and working for their interests in India," it added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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The Afghan embassy in India denied media reports that the Taliban have appointed a charge d'affaires to head the mission replacing incumbent Farid Mamundzay as it said on Monday that there is no change in its leadership.

The Afghan embassy in India denied media reports that the Taliban have appointed a charge d'affaires to head the mission replacing incumbent Farid Mamundzay as it said on Monday that there is no change in its leadership. Media reports claimed that the Taliban, after over two and a half years it took over Afghanistan, the regime finally decided to change leadership in the Afghan embassy in New Delhi. But the embassy headed by Mamundzay said in a statement that "the embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan categorically rejects the claims from an individual claiming to have taken charge of the mission in New Delhi at the behest of the Taliban". Ashraf Ghani's government had appointed Mamundzay and even after the Taliban came to power in August 2021, he continued to operate as the Afghan envoy. Reports claimed that Qadir Shah, who has been working as the trade councillor at the Afghan embassy since 2020, wrote to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) last month and said that he has been appointed as the charge d'affaires at the embassy by the Taliban. News agency PTI reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that when Mamundzay was on a visit abroad, Shah tried to take charge of the embassy as the charge d'affaires late last month. However, the attempt was stalled by other diplomats at the mission and Shah has also been barred from entering the embassy on at least three occasions. WATCH | Gravitas: Afghanistan denounces change of guard × Mamundzay's statement added that the "embassy appreciates the consistent position of the Indian government for supporting the interests of the Afghan people, while at the same time not recognising the Taliban regime in Kabul, as it has been the case wit democratic governments around the world." The embassy said the individual who claims to have been named "charge d'affaires" by the Taliban has been responsible for "spreading misinformation and running a baseless and unsubstantiated campaign against officials of the mission, including totally fabricated allegations of corruption based on an unsigned letter", its statement added. There were some reports in the Afghan media about allegations of corruption against the embassy. The embassy said, "The mission is committed to protecting the genuine interests of the Afghan nationals, especially in these trying times and has worked closely with the Indian authorities on humanitarian efforts, including the supply of COVID-19 vaccines, medicines and food supplies." "The embassy also wishes to inform Afghan nationals that the mission continues functioning as normal and working for their interests in India," it added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Afghan embassy rejects claims of Taliban appointing new Charge d'Affaires in New Delhi

Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban's acting foreign minister and a man who has a travel ban imposed by the UNSC- visited Islamabad on a waiver. The Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the Chinese fm qin gang, and Muttaqi discussed ways to improve regional connectivity, trade, counter-terrorism, and ways to revive the impoverished Afghan economy.

China and Pakistan agree to extend BRI to Afghanistan | Inside South Asia

Toyota has become a household name in Afghanistan. The sturdy vehicles made by the Japanese automaker became a curiously iconic symbol of Taliban force in the 1990s. Watch this story and find out why Afghans love Toyota so much

Afghanistan's love affair with Toyota | Inside South Asia

Seeing Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmed shine bright for the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in IPL 2023, former England spinner Graeme Swann made a glaring remark. Swann believes every nation should be jealous of India for the number of wrist spinners they have except Afghanistan. Citing Noor and Rashid's success, as the duo have together accounted for 30 scalps so far for GT in this year's IPL, Swann spoke highly of the two and even claimed Afghanistan can win the forthcoming ICC ODI World Cup due to their spin department.

During a media interaction, the Englishman said, "Every nation should be jealous that India have so many good wrist spinners in the country. The only nation that shouldn't be jealous is Afghanistan. Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad are possibly the best two bowlers in the world currently. Afghanistan can win the World Cup if they keep going. It is to be noted that the former England spinner is an IPL expert with Jio Cinema - the official digital broadcaster of IPL 2023.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-they-might-have-to-change-former-indian-opener-on-dcs-future-post-csk-loss-591289">IPL 2023: 'They might have to change...'- Former Indian opener on DC's future post CSK loss</a>

At present, Rashid has accounted for 19 wickets -- second-overall -- for the Hardik Pandya-led defending champions whereas Noor, who is in his debut season, has claimed 11 wickets at an economy rate of&nbsp;6.94. Thus, Noor can well be in the reckoning to be a part of Afghanistan's ODI World Cup squad, to be held in India later this year. So far, he has only played one ODI and a solitary T20I but given his run in the ongoing IPL season, his experience can come in handy for his national side.&nbsp;

Hardik-led Gujarat occupy the top-spot in the IPL 2023 points table, with 16 points from 11 games. They next face the five-time winners Mumbai Indians (M) in match 57 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Another win will confirm them a spot in the playoffs and also a top-two finish.

Seeing Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmed shine bright for the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in IPL 2023, former England spinner Graeme Swann made a glaring remark.

Seeing Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmed shine bright for the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in IPL 2023, former England spinner Graeme Swann made a glaring remark. Swann believes every nation should be jealous of India for the number of wrist spinners they have except Afghanistan. Citing Noor and Rashid's success, as the duo have together accounted for 30 scalps so far for GT in this year's IPL, Swann spoke highly of the two and even claimed Afghanistan can win the forthcoming ICC ODI World Cup due to their spin department. During a media interaction, the Englishman said, "Every nation should be jealous that India have so many good wrist spinners in the country. The only nation that shouldn't be jealous is Afghanistan. Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad are possibly the best two bowlers in the world currently. Afghanistan can win the World Cup if they keep going. It is to be noted that the former England spinner is an IPL expert with Jio Cinema - the official digital broadcaster of IPL 2023. Also Read: IPL 2023: 'They might have to change...'- Former Indian opener on DC's future post CSK loss At present, Rashid has accounted for 19 wickets -- second-overall -- for the Hardik Pandya-led defending champions whereas Noor, who is in his debut season, has claimed 11 wickets at an economy rate of 6.94. Thus, Noor can well be in the reckoning to be a part of Afghanistan's ODI World Cup squad, to be held in India later this year. So far, he has only played one ODI and a solitary T20I but given his run in the ongoing IPL season, his experience can come in handy for his national side. Hardik-led Gujarat occupy the top-spot in the IPL 2023 points table, with 16 points from 11 games. They next face the five-time winners Mumbai Indians (M) in match 57 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Another win will confirm them a spot in the playoffs and also a top-two finish.

IPL 2023: Every nation should be jealous of India except Afghanistan - Swann's glaring remark before ODI WC

China has extended its Belt & Road initiative to Afghanistan. What's in it for China? Meanwhile Chinese, Pakistani and Afghanistani foreign ministers met in Islamabad and agreed to combat terrorism. Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: China's Belt & Road project in Afghanistan

China and Pakistan have agreed to include Afghanistan to be part of the multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as the sanction-hit country struggles to raise funds for infrastructure.

The decision was taken during a meeting in Islamabad on Saturday between Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, a day after they returned from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in India’s southern Goa state.

Both the leaders pledged to work together on Afghanistan's reconstruction process, including taking the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to the Taliban-ruled nation.

"The two sides agreed to continue their humanitarian and economic assistance for the Afghan people and enhance development cooperation in Afghanistan, including through extension of CPEC to Afghanistan," a joint statement issued by Pakistan's foreign ministry following the meeting stated.

Both foreign ministers also stressed the need to unfreeze Afghanistan's overseas financial assets. The Taliban has been blocked from accessing about $9 billion of Afghanistan's central bank reserves held overseas on concerns that the funds will be used for terror activities.

Though the US later agreed to release half of the funds to bolster the economy, it put them on hold after the Taliban imposed certain school and work restrictions on Afghan women last year.

The Taliban's top diplomat, Amir Khan Muttaqi, travelled to Islamabad a day earlier to meet his Chinese and Pakistani counterparts and reached an agreement, his deputy spokesman Hafiz Zia Ahmad told Bloomberg.

The decision follows&nbsp;a series of meetings between the “all-weather” allies who had expressed their intentions to extend the BRI project to Afghanistan.

The cash-strapped Taliban government had&nbsp;expressed readiness to participate in the project and the prospect of getting much-needed infrastructure investment.

For years, the Taliban have been courting China to invest in the country’s rich resources, estimated to be $1 trillion.

In January this year, the Taliban inked its first contract with a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation to extract oil from the northern Amu Darya basin.

Last week, a UN agency said that the Taliban require&nbsp;$4.6 billion this year to help more than two-thirds of the country's 40 million population who're living in extreme poverty.

(With inputs from agencies)

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China and Pakistan have agreed to include Afghanistan to be part of the multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as the sanction-hit country struggles to raise funds for infrastructure.

China and Pakistan have agreed to include Afghanistan to be part of the multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as the sanction-hit country struggles to raise funds for infrastructure. The decision was taken during a meeting in Islamabad on Saturday between Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, a day after they returned from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in India’s southern Goa state. Both the leaders pledged to work together on Afghanistan's reconstruction process, including taking the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to the Taliban-ruled nation. "The two sides agreed to continue their humanitarian and economic assistance for the Afghan people and enhance development cooperation in Afghanistan, including through extension of CPEC to Afghanistan," a joint statement issued by Pakistan's foreign ministry following the meeting stated. Both foreign ministers also stressed the need to unfreeze Afghanistan's overseas financial assets. The Taliban has been blocked from accessing about $9 billion of Afghanistan's central bank reserves held overseas on concerns that the funds will be used for terror activities. Though the US later agreed to release half of the funds to bolster the economy, it put them on hold after the Taliban imposed certain school and work restrictions on Afghan women last year. The Taliban's top diplomat, Amir Khan Muttaqi, travelled to Islamabad a day earlier to meet his Chinese and Pakistani counterparts and reached an agreement, his deputy spokesman Hafiz Zia Ahmad told Bloomberg. The decision follows a series of meetings between the “all-weather” allies who had expressed their intentions to extend the BRI project to Afghanistan. The cash-strapped Taliban government had expressed readiness to participate in the project and the prospect of getting much-needed infrastructure investment. For years, the Taliban have been courting China to invest in the country’s rich resources, estimated to be $1 trillion. In January this year, the Taliban inked its first contract with a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation to extract oil from the northern Amu Darya basin. Last week, a UN agency said that the Taliban require $4.6 billion this year to help more than two-thirds of the country's 40 million population who're living in extreme poverty. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

China and Pakistan agree to extend Belt and Road Initiative to Afghanistan

Foreign Ministers of China, Afghanistan & Pakistan conducted in-depth exchanges in a meeting. The three parties reached consensuses on enhancing ties & security.

China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Dialogue

In order to discuss Afghanistan's issues, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Gutierrez is getting ready to call a private conference in Doha. A number of foreign ambassadors are anticipated to participate.

Taliban's crackdown on women's rights underlines UN meeting agenda

United Nations (UN) chief Antonio Guterres will be holding talks with international envoys at an unknown location in Doha on Monday in a bid to explore ways to influence Taliban rulers in Afghanistan. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Afghanistan is being considered as being in the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world by the United Nations and Guterres' dilemma on appropriate actions has further increased by the banning of girls from schools and women from working in NGOs as well as UN agencies by the Taliban administration. &nbsp;

The government of Taliban, which came back to power in August, 2021, will not attend the talks which will include representatives from around 25 nations and international organisations, as per the diplomats. &nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/afghan-women-protest-in-kabul-urge-other-countries-not-to-recognise-taliban-regime-587362">Afghan women protest in Kabul, urge other countries not to recognise Taliban regime</a>

Ahead of the meeting, a group of women in Kabul on Saturday protested against any international recognition of the Taliban government. However, the Western powers and the UN remain adamant that this issue will not be discussed.

"Any kind of recognition of the Taliban is completely off the table," US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel stated.&nbsp;

The UN secretary-general will be giving an update on a review of the critical relief operation of the world body in Afghanistan which was ordered in April after Afghan women were stopped by the authorities from working with the UN agencies, said the diplomats.

UN expert for the International Crisis Group Richard Gowan said that the United Nations is "in a trap over Afghanistan".

"Guterres has to untangle a very complicated knot. He needs to find a way to keep aid flowing into Afghanistan, but the Taliban ban on women is a huge blow to the UN's ability to operate in the country," he added.&nbsp;

He stated that the international community wishes that the UN's critical presence is maintained.

"There are lots of differences among Security Council members over Afghanistan. But everyone, including Russia and China, agrees it is better to have the UN in Kabul than not,” he added.&nbsp;

WATCH | Taliban kill I.S. leader behind airport bombing

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A few indications has been given by the United Nations about what proposals could be made during the meeting.&nbsp;

On Friday, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that the aim "is to reinvigorate international engagement around common objectives for a durable way forward on Afghanistan".&nbsp;

The UN also wants "unity or commonality of message" on women's and human rights, drug trafficking and countering terrorism.

"Recognition is not an issue," insisted Dujarric. The UN General Assembly will be deciding if the Taliban government takes up the UN seat in Afghanistan.&nbsp;

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(With inputs from agencies)

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United Nations (UN) chief Antonio Guterres will be holding talks with international envoys at an unknown location in Doha on Monday in a bid to explore ways to influence Taliban rulers in Afghanistan.

United Nations (UN) chief Antonio Guterres will be holding talks with international envoys at an unknown location in Doha on Monday in a bid to explore ways to influence Taliban rulers in Afghanistan. Afghanistan is being considered as being in the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world by the United Nations and Guterres' dilemma on appropriate actions has further increased by the banning of girls from schools and women from working in NGOs as well as UN agencies by the Taliban administration. The government of Taliban, which came back to power in August, 2021, will not attend the talks which will include representatives from around 25 nations and international organisations, as per the diplomats. ALSO READ | Afghan women protest in Kabul, urge other countries not to recognise Taliban regime Ahead of the meeting, a group of women in Kabul on Saturday protested against any international recognition of the Taliban government. However, the Western powers and the UN remain adamant that this issue will not be discussed. "Any kind of recognition of the Taliban is completely off the table," US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel stated. The UN secretary-general will be giving an update on a review of the critical relief operation of the world body in Afghanistan which was ordered in April after Afghan women were stopped by the authorities from working with the UN agencies, said the diplomats. UN expert for the International Crisis Group Richard Gowan said that the United Nations is "in a trap over Afghanistan". "Guterres has to untangle a very complicated knot. He needs to find a way to keep aid flowing into Afghanistan, but the Taliban ban on women is a huge blow to the UN's ability to operate in the country," he added. He stated that the international community wishes that the UN's critical presence is maintained. "There are lots of differences among Security Council members over Afghanistan. But everyone, including Russia and China, agrees it is better to have the UN in Kabul than not,” he added. WATCH | Taliban kill I.S. leader behind airport bombing A few indications has been given by the United Nations about what proposals could be made during the meeting. On Friday, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that the aim "is to reinvigorate international engagement around common objectives for a durable way forward on Afghanistan". The UN also wants "unity or commonality of message" on women's and human rights, drug trafficking and countering terrorism. "Recognition is not an issue," insisted Dujarric. The UN General Assembly will be deciding if the Taliban government takes up the UN seat in Afghanistan. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

UN chief Guterres, envoys to hold key discussion on Afghanistan crisis

Ahead of a UN summit that would take place next week, Afghan women rallied in Kabul on Saturday, defying a crackdown on dissent. They demanded that other countries refrain from formally recognising the Taliban regime.

Since the Taliban took back control in 2021, protesters who voiced opposition to growing restrictions on women's rights have been physically assaulted or imprisoned, and security forces have fired shots into the air to break up some demonstrations.

However, sporadic gatherings organised by small groups of women have continued.

In preparation of a summit in Doha, which the UN claims will address a "durable way forward" for the country, some 25 people marched through a residential area of the Afghan capital on Saturday.

The women chanted during the march, which lasted barely more than 10 minutes and ended without a run-in with security forces.&nbsp;

Their chants included "Afghan people, hostages of Taliban" and "We will fight, we will die, we will take our rights".

Since the Taliban took over control after the withdrawal of US soldiers from Afghanistan in 2021, no country has yet recognised the administration as legitimate.

Only Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia officially recognised the former Taliban government, which governed from 1996 to 2001.

NGOs, relief organisations, and diplomats are all split on the subject at the moment.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-consulted-ex-pak-army-chief-gen-bajwa-before-urging-india-to-send-diplomats-to-kabul-586592">Taliban 'consulted' ex-Pak army chief Gen Bajwa before urging India to send diplomats to Kabul</a>

Some people think the possibility of recognition could persuade the Taliban to reverse restrictions on women's rights.

Others claim that by even bringing up the subject, the Taliban gain some legitimacy at a time when they are actively excluding women from public life.

UN's deputy secretary-general Amina Mohammed&nbsp;stated last week that the Doha summit, which begins on Monday, may see envoys discuss 'baby steps' on a path to recognition, though with restrictions.

Afghanistan's "de facto authorities" have not received an invitation to the Doha summit, according to the UN.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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Ahead of a UN summit that would take place next week, Afghan women rallied in Kabul on Saturday, defying a crackdown on dissent. They demanded that other countries refrain from formally recognising the Taliban regime.

Ahead of a UN summit that would take place next week, Afghan women rallied in Kabul on Saturday, defying a crackdown on dissent. They demanded that other countries refrain from formally recognising the Taliban regime. Since the Taliban took back control in 2021, protesters who voiced opposition to growing restrictions on women's rights have been physically assaulted or imprisoned, and security forces have fired shots into the air to break up some demonstrations. However, sporadic gatherings organised by small groups of women have continued. In preparation of a summit in Doha, which the UN claims will address a "durable way forward" for the country, some 25 people marched through a residential area of the Afghan capital on Saturday. The women chanted during the march, which lasted barely more than 10 minutes and ended without a run-in with security forces. Their chants included "Afghan people, hostages of Taliban" and "We will fight, we will die, we will take our rights". Since the Taliban took over control after the withdrawal of US soldiers from Afghanistan in 2021, no country has yet recognised the administration as legitimate. Only Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia officially recognised the former Taliban government, which governed from 1996 to 2001. NGOs, relief organisations, and diplomats are all split on the subject at the moment. ALSO READ | Taliban 'consulted' ex-Pak army chief Gen Bajwa before urging India to send diplomats to Kabul Some people think the possibility of recognition could persuade the Taliban to reverse restrictions on women's rights. Others claim that by even bringing up the subject, the Taliban gain some legitimacy at a time when they are actively excluding women from public life. UN's deputy secretary-general Amina Mohammed stated last week that the Doha summit, which begins on Monday, may see envoys discuss 'baby steps' on a path to recognition, though with restrictions. Afghanistan's "de facto authorities" have not received an invitation to the Doha summit, according to the UN. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Afghan women protest in Kabul, urge other countries not to recognise Taliban regime

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has condemned the Taliban administration for their ban on Afghan women working for international organizations and has asked Taliban to "swiftly reverse" its repressive campaign against the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan.

UNSC passes resolution condemning Taliban's crackdown on Afghan women's rights

Pakistani officials and the army, on Friday (April 28) reported that a militant on a motorcycle blew himself up amid an attack on a temporary military camp in northwest Pakistan. At least three soldiers and seven militants were killed in multiple clashes which occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which shares a border with neighbouring Afghanistan.&nbsp;

Two officials told Reuters, on condition of anonymity that the troops had engaged with the militants for hours, Thursday night in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Lakki Marwat district. However, the Pakistan military seemingly confirmed the clashes later and said there were two other clashes which occurred on Thursday in the vicinity.&nbsp;

“A motorcycle-borne suicide bomber exploded himself near security forces post,” the Pakistani army said in a statement, as quoted by news agency Reuters. It added that the attack was followed by a fierce exchange of fire between the troops and the militants.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bushra-bibi-warns-authorities-against-another-operation-on-zaman-park-during-eid-al-fitr-holidays-585024">Pakistan: Bushra bibi warns authorities against another operation on Zaman Park during Eid al-Fitr holidays</a>

The statement confirming the death of seven militants also said, “Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the seven killed terrorists.” The army indicated that the soldiers had been on their way to take up new posts at a nearby military base, adding that the troops repulsed two more militant attacks in the same area.&nbsp;

This comes as Pakistan declared a new offensive against militants after a recent rise in the number of attacks. No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pak-defence-minister-to-virtually-attend-shanghai-group-meet-in-delhi-586776">Pak Defence Minister to virtually attend Shanghai group meet in Delhi</a>

The attack follows the deadly twin explosions, which occurred within an interval of 12 minutes, late Monday, and claimed the lives of 17 people, including six police personnel. The blasts occurred at an anti-terrorism police station at Kabal, Swat Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province which housed the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and a mosque.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-deadly-explosion-in-swat-valley-kills-six-cops-29-injured-585789">Pakistan: Deadly explosions in Swat valley kill 17</a>

While some media reports claimed that it was a suicide attack officials have formed a fact-finding committee and launched a probe into the incident.

KP Inspector General of Police (IGP) Akhtar Hayat Gandapur, during his visit to the blast site, told the media that a preliminary investigation showed that the blasts were not an act of terrorism and occurred after explosives stored in a police depot caught fire. He added that there were also no indications of forced entry or gunshots.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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Pakistani officials and the army, on Friday (April 28) reported that a militant on a motorcycle blew himself up amid an attack on a temporary military camp in northwest Pakistan.

Pakistani officials and the army, on Friday (April 28) reported that a militant on a motorcycle blew himself up amid an attack on a temporary military camp in northwest Pakistan. At least three soldiers and seven militants were killed in multiple clashes which occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which shares a border with neighbouring Afghanistan. Two officials told Reuters, on condition of anonymity that the troops had engaged with the militants for hours, Thursday night in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Lakki Marwat district. However, the Pakistan military seemingly confirmed the clashes later and said there were two other clashes which occurred on Thursday in the vicinity. “A motorcycle-borne suicide bomber exploded himself near security forces post,” the Pakistani army said in a statement, as quoted by news agency Reuters. It added that the attack was followed by a fierce exchange of fire between the troops and the militants. ALSO READ | Pakistan: Bushra bibi warns authorities against another operation on Zaman Park during Eid al-Fitr holidays The statement confirming the death of seven militants also said, “Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the seven killed terrorists.” The army indicated that the soldiers had been on their way to take up new posts at a nearby military base, adding that the troops repulsed two more militant attacks in the same area. This comes as Pakistan declared a new offensive against militants after a recent rise in the number of attacks. No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack. ALSO WATCH | Pak Defence Minister to virtually attend Shanghai group meet in Delhi The attack follows the deadly twin explosions, which occurred within an interval of 12 minutes, late Monday, and claimed the lives of 17 people, including six police personnel. The blasts occurred at an anti-terrorism police station at Kabal, Swat Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province which housed the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and a mosque. ALSO READ | Pakistan: Deadly explosions in Swat valley kill 17 While some media reports claimed that it was a suicide attack officials have formed a fact-finding committee and launched a probe into the incident. KP Inspector General of Police (IGP) Akhtar Hayat Gandapur, during his visit to the blast site, told the media that a preliminary investigation showed that the blasts were not an act of terrorism and occurred after explosives stored in a police depot caught fire. He added that there were also no indications of forced entry or gunshots. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Pakistan: Three soldiers, seven militants killed in motorcycle suicide bomb attack, clashes

A suspected suicide blast has rocked Pakistan's Swat Valley. Pakistan's home-grown terror group Tehrik-e-Taliban or TTP has been wreaking havoc in the country. Pakistan has been fuelling terror for years, now countering it remains its biggest challenge. Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: Another suicide blast in Pakistan? | Twin blasts rock Swat Valley | TTP's terror grows

A report by the Washington Post revealed&nbsp;that the Taliban in Afghanistan are ready to cooperate with the United States authorities in combating the militant group Islamic State (IS). The report suggested that the Taliban see the IS militants as "a threat to their own powerbase".&nbsp;

The Taliban took control of Kabul in August 2021 when US-led forces withdrew after 20 years of war. It still seeks global recognition. Quoting US defence officials, the report mentioned that the "Afghan government" has been battling IS since it seized power.&nbsp;

The Post quoted a senior defence official as saying that "the duelling groups of religious fanatics are openly warring".&nbsp;

As quoted, the official said that "I would never want to say that we had mortgaged our counter-terrorism to a group like the Taliban, but it's a fact that, operationally, they put pressure on ISIS-K. In a strange world, we have mutually beneficial objectives there."&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taliban-kill-isis-cell-leader-who-bombed-kabul-airport-when-us-exited-afghanistan-586155">Taliban kill ISIS leader behind deadly Kabul airport attack of August 2021</a>&nbsp;

The Post has also credited some part of its report to the recent leak of classified Pentagon documents, to highlight how Afghanistan has become a significant coordination site for the Islamic State to plan attacks across Europe and Asia after President Biden withdrew personnel from the nation.&nbsp;

The report also mentioned that IS has been attacking Afghan Taliban's targets and as a counter, the latter targeting the former's hideouts.&nbsp;

The leaked documents assessed by the media outlet revealed specific efforts by IS to target embassies, churches, business centres and even last year's FIFA World Cup tournament.&nbsp;

The assessment, which is labelled top-secret, noted: "ISIS has been developing a cost-effective model for external operations that relies on resources from outside Afghanistan, operatives in target countries, and extensive facilitation networks."&nbsp;

"The model will likely enable ISIS to overcome obstacles — such as competent security services — and reduce some plot timelines, minimizing disruption opportunities," the document, which also had logos of Defense Department organisations, further mentioned.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Pakistan: At least 17 dead, 50 injured in blast at police station; nature of blasts being invested&nbsp;

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Meanwhile, on the reports of the Afghan Taliban teaming up with the US, there's nothing official and the Biden administration officials have even declined to verify the leaked documents' authenticity, but they did admit counter-terrorism records since taking office.&nbsp;

As quoted, Adrienne Watson, who is a spokeswoman for the National Security Council, said in a statement that the US "maintains the ability to remove terrorists from the battlefield without permanent troop presence on the ground." Watson also noted that the US has reorganised counter-terrorism operations to address future threats "anywhere".&nbsp;

As quoted by The Post, Nathan Sales, who is the State Department's coordinator for counter-terrorism said that IS "has the ambition to attack American interests in the region and ultimately the US homeland itself" and also urged to take urgent actions.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, DAWN quoted a spokesperson for the Taliban's Political Office, Suhail Shaheen, as saying that IS "has been suppressed" and the report The Post "does not reflect ground realities in Afghanistan".&nbsp;

He further added that "such reports reflect personal desires" of their authors and the "fact is that the [IS] has no physical presence in Afghanistan as it had during the invasion".&nbsp;

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A report by the Washington Post revealed that the Taliban in Afghanistan are ready to cooperate with the United States authorities in combating the militant group Islamic State (IS).

A report by the Washington Post revealed that the Taliban in Afghanistan are ready to cooperate with the United States authorities in combating the militant group Islamic State (IS). The report suggested that the Taliban see the IS militants as "a threat to their own powerbase". The Taliban took control of Kabul in August 2021 when US-led forces withdrew after 20 years of war. It still seeks global recognition. Quoting US defence officials, the report mentioned that the "Afghan government" has been battling IS since it seized power. The Post quoted a senior defence official as saying that "the duelling groups of religious fanatics are openly warring". As quoted, the official said that "I would never want to say that we had mortgaged our counter-terrorism to a group like the Taliban, but it's a fact that, operationally, they put pressure on ISIS-K. In a strange world, we have mutually beneficial objectives there." ALSO READ | Taliban kill ISIS leader behind deadly Kabul airport attack of August 2021 The Post has also credited some part of its report to the recent leak of classified Pentagon documents, to highlight how Afghanistan has become a significant coordination site for the Islamic State to plan attacks across Europe and Asia after President Biden withdrew personnel from the nation. The report also mentioned that IS has been attacking Afghan Taliban's targets and as a counter, the latter targeting the former's hideouts. The leaked documents assessed by the media outlet revealed specific efforts by IS to target embassies, churches, business centres and even last year's FIFA World Cup tournament. The assessment, which is labelled top-secret, noted: "ISIS has been developing a cost-effective model for external operations that relies on resources from outside Afghanistan, operatives in target countries, and extensive facilitation networks." "The model will likely enable ISIS to overcome obstacles — such as competent security services — and reduce some plot timelines, minimizing disruption opportunities," the document, which also had logos of Defense Department organisations, further mentioned. WATCH | Pakistan: At least 17 dead, 50 injured in blast at police station; nature of blasts being invested × Meanwhile, on the reports of the Afghan Taliban teaming up with the US, there's nothing official and the Biden administration officials have even declined to verify the leaked documents' authenticity, but they did admit counter-terrorism records since taking office. As quoted, Adrienne Watson, who is a spokeswoman for the National Security Council, said in a statement that the US "maintains the ability to remove terrorists from the battlefield without permanent troop presence on the ground." Watson also noted that the US has reorganised counter-terrorism operations to address future threats "anywhere". As quoted by The Post, Nathan Sales, who is the State Department's coordinator for counter-terrorism said that IS "has the ambition to attack American interests in the region and ultimately the US homeland itself" and also urged to take urgent actions. Meanwhile, DAWN quoted a spokesperson for the Taliban's Political Office, Suhail Shaheen, as saying that IS "has been suppressed" and the report The Post "does not reflect ground realities in Afghanistan". He further added that "such reports reflect personal desires" of their authors and the "fact is that the [IS] has no physical presence in Afghanistan as it had during the invasion". WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US counter-terrorism plans include Taliban to push back IS?

The Islamic State cell leader, who reportedly planned the deadly August 2021 suicide bombing at the Kabul international airport that left 183 people dead, was killed by the Taliban, the US National Security Council said on Tuesday, April 25.

The suicide bombing at Kabul airport, which also left 13 US service members dead in August 2021, coincided with the tumultuous American exit from Afghanistan 20 years after it invaded the South Asian nation following the 9/11 attacks.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Kabul airport attack: Life or Death decisions were made by US troops

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The Biden administration did not name the ISIS-Khorasan leader killed. But reports have claimed that it was&nbsp;Abdul Rehman Al-Loghri, the top ISIS-K figurehead who was released from a prison at Bagram airbase, only days before the Taliban replaced democratically-elected Ashraf Ghani government from Kabul's corridors of power.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/suicide-bomber-who-carried-out-kabul-airport-attack-was-arrested-in-delhi-earlier-claims-isis-k-414143">Suicide bomber who carried out Kabul airport attack was arrested in Delhi earlier, claims ISIS-K</a>

"He was a key ISIS-K official directly involved in plotting operations like Abbey Gate, and now is no longer able to plot or conduct attacks," White House spokesperson John Kirby said in a statement, referring to the Abbey Gate entrance to the Kabul airport where the blast occurred. He did not name the official.

The Afghan affiliate of Islamic State, known as Islamic State Khorasan or ISIS-K, after an old name of the region, is an enemy of the Taliban. Fighters loyal to Islamic State first appeared in eastern Afghanistan in 2014 and later made inroads in other areas.&nbsp;

The August 2021&nbsp;attack raised ISIS-K’s international profile, immediately&nbsp;positioning it as a major threat to Taliban's newly gunned out rule in Kabul.

Since taking over Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban have waged a heavy armed campaign against ISIS-K. The Taliban, so far, have managed to prevent the group from seizing Afghanistan's territory. Reports suggest that the hardliners have even limited the recruitment to ISIS-K of the former Taliban fighters.

But despite that, according to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, the ISIS-K has spread out from eastern Afghanistan to all of the country's 34 provinces.

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The Islamic State cell leader, who reportedly planned the deadly August 2021 suicide bombing at the Kabul international airport that left 183 people dead, was killed by the Taliban, the US National Security Council said on Tuesday, April 25.

The Islamic State cell leader, who reportedly planned the deadly August 2021 suicide bombing at the Kabul international airport that left 183 people dead, was killed by the Taliban, the US National Security Council said on Tuesday, April 25. The suicide bombing at Kabul airport, which also left 13 US service members dead in August 2021, coincided with the tumultuous American exit from Afghanistan 20 years after it invaded the South Asian nation following the 9/11 attacks. ALSO WATCH | Kabul airport attack: Life or Death decisions were made by US troops × The Biden administration did not name the ISIS-Khorasan leader killed. But reports have claimed that it was Abdul Rehman Al-Loghri, the top ISIS-K figurehead who was released from a prison at Bagram airbase, only days before the Taliban replaced democratically-elected Ashraf Ghani government from Kabul's corridors of power. ALSO READ | Suicide bomber who carried out Kabul airport attack was arrested in Delhi earlier, claims ISIS-K "He was a key ISIS-K official directly involved in plotting operations like Abbey Gate, and now is no longer able to plot or conduct attacks," White House spokesperson John Kirby said in a statement, referring to the Abbey Gate entrance to the Kabul airport where the blast occurred. He did not name the official. The Afghan affiliate of Islamic State, known as Islamic State Khorasan or ISIS-K, after an old name of the region, is an enemy of the Taliban. Fighters loyal to Islamic State first appeared in eastern Afghanistan in 2014 and later made inroads in other areas. The August 2021 attack raised ISIS-K’s international profile, immediately positioning it as a major threat to Taliban's newly gunned out rule in Kabul. Since taking over Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban have waged a heavy armed campaign against ISIS-K. The Taliban, so far, have managed to prevent the group from seizing Afghanistan's territory. Reports suggest that the hardliners have even limited the recruitment to ISIS-K of the former Taliban fighters. But despite that, according to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, the ISIS-K has spread out from eastern Afghanistan to all of the country's 34 provinces. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Taliban kill ISIS leader behind deadly Kabul airport attack of August 2021

At least 17 people have died and dozens have been injured in twin explosions that rocked the Swat valley in the Northwestern region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which neighbours Afghanistan in Pakistan. The incident took place in an office of the counterterrorism department in the late hours of Monday.

Pakistan: At least 17 dead, 50 injured in blast at police station; nature of blasts being invested

The US will not be exploring any possibility of recognising the Taliban as Afghanistan's ruler at a UN-hosted meeting in Doha next week. US State Department’s Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said the meeting's agenda was never to discuss such a situation.

The US will not be exploring any possibility of recognising the Taliban as Afghanistan's ruler at a UN-hosted meeting in Doha next week. US State Department’s Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said the meeting's agenda was never to discuss such a situation. “The intent and the purpose of this meeting was never to discuss recognition of the Taliban, and any discussion at this meeting about recognition would be unacceptable to us,” said Patel. His statement was echoed by Senator Jim Risch, a member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee who also slammed the UN for even thinking about such a proposal. “The UN needs a wake-up call. Any talk of recognition of the Taliban is absolutely absurd. This murderous regime continues to deny women the ability to work or go to school while millions of Afghans are in dire humanitarian need," he tweeted. WATCH | Afghanistan: Taliban fighters enforce university ban; Afghan women deprived of basic human rights × UN says it is ready to take baby steps The statements by the White House and the lawmakers comes in the backdrop of UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed stating that the UN was ready to take baby steps towards recognising the Taliban. “We’ll gather them now in another two weeks in the region, (at a) meeting of envoys across the board - the region and internationally - with the secretary-general for the first time,” said Amina, adding, “And out of that, we hope that we will find those baby steps to put us back on the pathway to recognition.” When quizzed if the Taliban was seeking recognition, Mohammed replied in the affirmative, “Yes. The Taliban clearly want recognition. And that’s the leverage we have." ALSO READ | After education, Taliban prohibits women from attending Eid celebrations Ever since the Taliban gained control over Afghanistan after the USA's abject surrender and subsequent pullout, human rights in the country have gone for a toss. The women students have been barred from attending schools and universities and it looks highly unlikely that they will be allowed back anytime soon. On Friday, the Taliban issued another regressive order, forbidding women to celebrate Eid al-Fitr in two provinces. Apart from banning celebrations and dining, the Taliban has also passed orders stating that male doctors cannot diagnose or treat women. Hospitals have been directed to keep a close eye on proceedings. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US rejects talks of recognising Taliban after UN bats for it

"When the going gets tough, the tough get going." This adage sits very well with Dr. Waheed Arian, who despite all circumstances penned the tale of his life in the finest ink possible.&nbsp;

How many of us really keep refugees in our thoughts? Dr. Waheed Arian has come a long way from being an Afghan refugee himself to becoming an inspiration to millions.&nbsp;

A humanitarian at heart, he is an emergency doctor with National Health Service (NHS) in the UK, a global philanthropist and an author.&nbsp;

Dr. Waheed spoke with WION and shared his amazing life story, loaded with the harrowing recollections of his childhood spent in Afghanistan during the Soviet conflict, yet brimming with optimism and tenacity.&nbsp;

"I was born into the war during the Afghan-Soviet conflict in the mid-80s. I did not know any other reality except war, hiding in the cellars from the rockets, the bombs, and the shelling. These are the gothic memories I have... seeing soldiers outside tanks and planes in the sky," Dr. Waheed said as if it happened just yesterday.&nbsp;

Millions of refugees are denied basic human rights. Their stories go unheard and unnoticed. With his father in hiding from the military, Dr Waheed as a child would go and visit him every summer in the far-away province of Logar.&nbsp;

His mother would not tell him where they were going and then only once they'd arrived, his father would emerge out of a room suddenly.&nbsp;

These were magical moments for Waheed Arian. Looking back, he thinks of this fond memory and realises that people in conflict areas frequently experience this constant cycle of reunion and loss, which bruise them with traumas.

Waheed just have two happy childhood memories. Once when his mother took him to a local park for ice cream with his cousins and another of his father who once gave him a big kite.&nbsp;

In danger from constant shellings and tanks, Waheed's family decided to migrate to Pakistan as refugees. But the normal borders were closed so they had to take a very dangerous route: the same route used by the mujaheedin to bring in the weapons to fight the government.&nbsp;

Sadly, the family came under the attack three times.&nbsp;

At one time, his father hid him in an oven set in a floor. The spy planes were zooming in. That is when his father hugged him and said, "son if anything happened to me, you would be responsible for looking after our family and to take them back to Kabul."

Recalling that day and the words of his father, Waheed, with a heaviness in his voice, said, "that's when actually I lost my childhood. I knew I was second-in-command. I knew I had a responsibility for my family." 
&nbsp; 
Miraculously, they survived the attack. After that attack, the family arrived in Pakistan and were settled in one of the refugee camps.&nbsp;

Within three months, Waheed was detected with advanced tuberculosis.&nbsp;

But his father's resilience, despite so many adversities, made him healthy again.&nbsp;

His father could not afford toys. He would play doctor and patient with Waheed. Waheed recounted, "He would buy some syringes from the local pharmacy and he would allow me to inject boiled water into his arm. I was pretending that I was a doctor. His arms would turn black and blue because I kept missing the vein but he would let me do that."

"I would not let my son do that to me," he chuckled.&nbsp;

But then two and a half years later, the family went to Afghanistan and in 1996 the Taliban took over and again everything was already destroyed and the economy crumbled even more.&nbsp;

Then in 1999, when Waheed got to the age of 15, his parents felt that he could be asked to serve in military.&nbsp;

"My entire family could not come with me to the West and they sold the house and all the belongings to get enough money to put in the hands of an agent to get me out of Afghanistan. Well, I was sat on a plane in Peshawar city and then I landed in Dubai and from Dubai I landed in Heathrow in London."

<h2>Arriving in UK with $100 in his pocket only to be arrested</h2>

"I was first actually arrested. I was arrested because I did not have the correct documents so I was sent to prison and it was a young offenders institute called Feltham. I was there for two weeks."&nbsp;

But fortunately enough, there was a kind barrister who then fought his corner in the court and said that refugees should not be penalised for the route they take to safety according to the UN Geneva Convention.&nbsp;

"The judge agreed. The charges were dropped and then I started my asylum claim in the UK which was a lengthy process that took two and a half years before I was granted a refugee status."&nbsp;

<h2>Worked during day, studied during night</h2>

First he started working in three jobs which was cleaning, sales and kitchen porter during the day. In night time, he would study.&nbsp;

Along with safety, Waheed knew he also have found opportunities that he never had as a child.&nbsp;

"I was like a child in a candy shop... Now I knew. There is school, there is education. I have to get it all and I was really working extremely hard, day and night.&nbsp;

But things were not all glossy for Dr Waheed in UK as, being separated from family, he struggled with mental health issues: from PTSD to deep anxiety.&nbsp;

"I was suffering from a Post-Traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. I did not know what it was when I was walking in streets of London wherever I would see a red bus they turn into a tank and at night time, I would wake in the middle of the night because I had a nightmares of a sniper taking my head off so I had to open the window to see for myself that I was actually in London not in a war zone."

<h2>The route to Cambridge</h2>

Waheed applied to Cambridge University despite so many people, including his tutor telling him that he was crazy an it was silly of him because Cambridge is not for refugees.&nbsp;

"But I actually felt you know, if the Russian bombs and jets did not kill me, applying for Cambridge would not do any harm. Let's do it."&nbsp;

He got into Cambridge and studied there for three years. Then, he came to Imperial College in London to complete clinical studies and also got a scholarship at Harvard university in 2008.

But in 2009, Waheed hit rock bottom and had a breakdown.&nbsp;

That is when, for the first time, he opened up to his tutor, who gave Waheed a big hug. "I cried on his shoulders."&nbsp;

His tutor told him he cannot back off when he is so close now to becoming a doctor and be able to support his family back in Afghanistan.&nbsp;

"Then I started therapy from my clinical psychologist. Before therapy and even in the war zone, running and exercising kept me going."&nbsp;

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<h2>Arian WellBeing</h2>

Waheed founded Arian WellBeing, a mental health initiative to support people in conflict zones.&nbsp;"We have been supporting now medics in the UK and we are hoping to scale this more throughout the globe."&nbsp;

He expresses concerns that a lot of the times therapy is randomly used by people.&nbsp;"What sort of theraphy and who is providing this theraphy is really important," he said.&nbsp;

<h2>Message to children of war</h2>

"My message to children of war or any child who is going through really traumatic experience and going through really challenging times is not to give up on hope of living. Even if we cant see anything hopeful just imagine that one day things will be okay. Number two is to continue dreaming. Its very easy to forget our dreams to forget what we want for our future." 
&nbsp; 
"Another would be to think about compassion, compassion to give to other people. We dont have to have a lot of money. wheather its serving your parents, your neighbours, somebody who is in need... close to you. It could be with your words of kindness. It could be with giving your hand and telling them things are okay. That is giving."

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"When the going gets tough, the tough get going." This adage sits very well with Dr. Waheed Arian, who despite all circumstances penned the tale of his life in the finest ink possible.

"When the going gets tough, the tough get going." This adage sits very well with Dr. Waheed Arian, who despite all circumstances penned the tale of his life in the finest ink possible. How many of us really keep refugees in our thoughts? Dr. Waheed Arian has come a long way from being an Afghan refugee himself to becoming an inspiration to millions. A humanitarian at heart, he is an emergency doctor with National Health Service (NHS) in the UK, a global philanthropist and an author. Dr. Waheed spoke with WION and shared his amazing life story, loaded with the harrowing recollections of his childhood spent in Afghanistan during the Soviet conflict, yet brimming with optimism and tenacity. "I was born into the war during the Afghan-Soviet conflict in the mid-80s. I did not know any other reality except war, hiding in the cellars from the rockets, the bombs, and the shelling. These are the gothic memories I have... seeing soldiers outside tanks and planes in the sky," Dr. Waheed said as if it happened just yesterday. Millions of refugees are denied basic human rights. Their stories go unheard and unnoticed. With his father in hiding from the military, Dr Waheed as a child would go and visit him every summer in the far-away province of Logar. His mother would not tell him where they were going and then only once they'd arrived, his father would emerge out of a room suddenly. These were magical moments for Waheed Arian. Looking back, he thinks of this fond memory and realises that people in conflict areas frequently experience this constant cycle of reunion and loss, which bruise them with traumas. Waheed just have two happy childhood memories. Once when his mother took him to a local park for ice cream with his cousins and another of his father who once gave him a big kite. In danger from constant shellings and tanks, Waheed's family decided to migrate to Pakistan as refugees. But the normal borders were closed so they had to take a very dangerous route: the same route used by the mujaheedin to bring in the weapons to fight the government. Sadly, the family came under the attack three times. At one time, his father hid him in an oven set in a floor. The spy planes were zooming in. That is when his father hugged him and said, "son if anything happened to me, you would be responsible for looking after our family and to take them back to Kabul." Recalling that day and the words of his father, Waheed, with a heaviness in his voice, said, "that's when actually I lost my childhood. I knew I was second-in-command. I knew I had a responsibility for my family." Miraculously, they survived the attack. After that attack, the family arrived in Pakistan and were settled in one of the refugee camps. Within three months, Waheed was detected with advanced tuberculosis. But his father's resilience, despite so many adversities, made him healthy again. His father could not afford toys. He would play doctor and patient with Waheed. Waheed recounted, "He would buy some syringes from the local pharmacy and he would allow me to inject boiled water into his arm. I was pretending that I was a doctor. His arms would turn black and blue because I kept missing the vein but he would let me do that." "I would not let my son do that to me," he chuckled. But then two and a half years later, the family went to Afghanistan and in 1996 the Taliban took over and again everything was already destroyed and the economy crumbled even more. Then in 1999, when Waheed got to the age of 15, his parents felt that he could be asked to serve in military. "My entire family could not come with me to the West and they sold the house and all the belongings to get enough money to put in the hands of an agent to get me out of Afghanistan. Well, I was sat on a plane in Peshawar city and then I landed in Dubai and from Dubai I landed in Heathrow in London." Arriving in UK with $100 in his pocket only to be arrested "I was first actually arrested. I was arrested because I did not have the correct documents so I was sent to prison and it was a young offenders institute called Feltham. I was there for two weeks." But fortunately enough, there was a kind barrister who then fought his corner in the court and said that refugees should not be penalised for the route they take to safety according to the UN Geneva Convention. "The judge agreed. The charges were dropped and then I started my asylum claim in the UK which was a lengthy process that took two and a half years before I was granted a refugee status." Worked during day, studied during night First he started working in three jobs which was cleaning, sales and kitchen porter during the day. In night time, he would study. Along with safety, Waheed knew he also have found opportunities that he never had as a child. "I was like a child in a candy shop... Now I knew. There is school, there is education. I have to get it all and I was really working extremely hard, day and night. But things were not all glossy for Dr Waheed in UK as, being separated from family, he struggled with mental health issues: from PTSD to deep anxiety. "I was suffering from a Post-Traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. I did not know what it was when I was walking in streets of London wherever I would see a red bus they turn into a tank and at night time, I would wake in the middle of the night because I had a nightmares of a sniper taking my head off so I had to open the window to see for myself that I was actually in London not in a war zone." The route to Cambridge Waheed applied to Cambridge University despite so many people, including his tutor telling him that he was crazy an it was silly of him because Cambridge is not for refugees. "But I actually felt you know, if the Russian bombs and jets did not kill me, applying for Cambridge would not do any harm. Let's do it." He got into Cambridge and studied there for three years. Then, he came to Imperial College in London to complete clinical studies and also got a scholarship at Harvard university in 2008. But in 2009, Waheed hit rock bottom and had a breakdown. That is when, for the first time, he opened up to his tutor, who gave Waheed a big hug. "I cried on his shoulders." His tutor told him he cannot back off when he is so close now to becoming a doctor and be able to support his family back in Afghanistan. "Then I started therapy from my clinical psychologist. Before therapy and even in the war zone, running and exercising kept me going." × Arian WellBeing Waheed founded Arian WellBeing, a mental health initiative to support people in conflict zones. "We have been supporting now medics in the UK and we are hoping to scale this more throughout the globe." He expresses concerns that a lot of the times therapy is randomly used by people. "What sort of theraphy and who is providing this theraphy is really important," he said. Message to children of war "My message to children of war or any child who is going through really traumatic experience and going through really challenging times is not to give up on hope of living. Even if we cant see anything hopeful just imagine that one day things will be okay. Number two is to continue dreaming. Its very easy to forget our dreams to forget what we want for our future." "Another would be to think about compassion, compassion to give to other people. We dont have to have a lot of money. wheather its serving your parents, your neighbours, somebody who is in need... close to you. It could be with your words of kindness. It could be with giving your hand and telling them things are okay. That is giving." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

EXCLUSIVE | Afghan child of war, once a refugee, Dr Waheed Arian now heals ailing in war zones

India is planning to send 10,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan as it reels under a hunger crisis. Will Pakistan show sympathy and help Afghans dying of hunger? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: India to send 10,000 tonnes wheat to Afghans

The United Nations may soon abandon millions of Afghan nationals living under Taliban rule if it fails to convince Afghanistan's hardline rulers&nbsp;to let local women work for the organisation.&nbsp;

The UN officials are negotiating with the Afghan government, hoping that Taliban will make an exception to its anti-women diktat that bans&nbsp;local women from working for the organisation.

"It is fair to say that where we are right now is the entire United Nations system having to take a step back and re-evaluating its ability to operate there,"&nbsp;the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) administrator Achim Steiner told The Associated Press.&nbsp;"But it’s not about negotiating fundamental principles, human rights."

The Taliban have allowed Afghan women to engage in some work, Steiner said. A report released by the United Nations itself showed&nbsp;that the country desperately needs more women working.

Afghanistan's Gross Domestic Product, the sum of all goods and services produced within Afghanistan’s borders, is expected to be outstripped by population growth, meaning that per capita income will decline from $359 in 2022 to $345 in 2024, the UN report says.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Afghan women speak to WION from the ground: 'We want our freedoms back' | WION Originals

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Some of Afghanistan's&nbsp;economic problems are due to Taliban policies keeping most women out of the workplace, Steiner said.

The UN has decided that it will leave Afghanistan in May if the Taliban do not relent to its demands of letting women work.

"I think there is no other way of putting it than heartbreaking," Steiner said. "I mean, if I were to imagine the UN family not being in Afghanistan today, I have before me these images of millions of young girls, young boys, fathers, mothers, who essentially will not have enough to eat."

<h2>Dim hopes of Taliban allowing women to work for the UN</h2>

Taliban&nbsp;has officially allowed women to work in specific circumstances in health, education and some small businesses. But reports from Afghanistan show otherwise.

In January 2023, shortly after Taliban banned women from attending universities, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/exclusive-afghan-women-fear-for-life-as-taliban-ban-male-doctors-from-treating-them-551218">WION reported exclusively</a> how Afghanistan's women doctors were denied jobs in Kabul's private clinics due to fear of Taliban's tyranny.&nbsp;

"In one sense, the de facto authorities have enabled the UN to roll out a significant humanitarian and also emergency development assistance set of activities,"&nbsp;Steiner said. "But they also continuously are shifting the goalposts, issuing new edicts."

Since replacing the democratically-elected President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul's corridors on power, Taliban have imposed harsh measures to restrict women's rights to study and work.&nbsp;

This month the Taliban took a step further in the restrictive measures they have imposed on women and said that female Afghan staff employed with the UN mission can no longer report for work.

"This is a very fundamental moment that we’re approaching,"&nbsp;Steiner said. "And obviously our hope and expectation is that there will be some common sense prevailing."

Aid agencies have been providing food, education and healthcare support to Afghans since the Taliban takeover and the economic collapse that followed it.

The 3,300 Afghans employed by the UN – 2,700 men and 600 women – have stayed at home since 12 April but continue to work and will be paid, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric has said.

The UN’s 600 international workers, including 200 women, are not affected by the Taliban ban.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The United Nations may soon abandon millions of Afghan nationals living under Taliban rule if it fails to convince Afghanistan's hardline rulers to let local women work for the organisation.

The United Nations may soon abandon millions of Afghan nationals living under Taliban rule if it fails to convince Afghanistan's hardline rulers to let local women work for the organisation. The UN officials are negotiating with the Afghan government, hoping that Taliban will make an exception to its anti-women diktat that bans local women from working for the organisation. "It is fair to say that where we are right now is the entire United Nations system having to take a step back and re-evaluating its ability to operate there," the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) administrator Achim Steiner told The Associated Press. "But it’s not about negotiating fundamental principles, human rights." The Taliban have allowed Afghan women to engage in some work, Steiner said. A report released by the United Nations itself showed that the country desperately needs more women working. Afghanistan's Gross Domestic Product, the sum of all goods and services produced within Afghanistan’s borders, is expected to be outstripped by population growth, meaning that per capita income will decline from $359 in 2022 to $345 in 2024, the UN report says. ALSO WATCH | Afghan women speak to WION from the ground: 'We want our freedoms back' | WION Originals × Some of Afghanistan's economic problems are due to Taliban policies keeping most women out of the workplace, Steiner said. The UN has decided that it will leave Afghanistan in May if the Taliban do not relent to its demands of letting women work. "I think there is no other way of putting it than heartbreaking," Steiner said. "I mean, if I were to imagine the UN family not being in Afghanistan today, I have before me these images of millions of young girls, young boys, fathers, mothers, who essentially will not have enough to eat." Dim hopes of Taliban allowing women to work for the UN Taliban has officially allowed women to work in specific circumstances in health, education and some small businesses. But reports from Afghanistan show otherwise. In January 2023, shortly after Taliban banned women from attending universities, WION reported exclusively how Afghanistan's women doctors were denied jobs in Kabul's private clinics due to fear of Taliban's tyranny. "In one sense, the de facto authorities have enabled the UN to roll out a significant humanitarian and also emergency development assistance set of activities," Steiner said. "But they also continuously are shifting the goalposts, issuing new edicts." Since replacing the democratically-elected President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul's corridors on power, Taliban have imposed harsh measures to restrict women's rights to study and work. This month the Taliban took a step further in the restrictive measures they have imposed on women and said that female Afghan staff employed with the UN mission can no longer report for work. "This is a very fundamental moment that we’re approaching," Steiner said. "And obviously our hope and expectation is that there will be some common sense prevailing." Aid agencies have been providing food, education and healthcare support to Afghans since the Taliban takeover and the economic collapse that followed it. The 3,300 Afghans employed by the UN – 2,700 men and 600 women – have stayed at home since 12 April but continue to work and will be paid, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric has said. The UN’s 600 international workers, including 200 women, are not affected by the Taliban ban. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Soon, like United States, UN too may abandon Afghanistan

The United Nations has announced that it is reconsidering operations in Afghanistan after the Taliban government banned women from working for the organisation. The UN assistance mission in Afghanistan issued a statement condemning the Taliban regime and is threatening to pull out of Afghanistan altogether.

UN threatens to pull out of Afghanistan after Taliban bans women from working for UN | WION

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