Taliban's forming of an all-male cabinet has raised concerns from many countries of the world including the US.

Countries including US respond to Taliban's new government formation

Women protestors take to the streets of Afghanistan against the lack of representation of women in the Taliban's cabinet.

Female protesters take to Afghanistan's streets to protest against Taliban

After the formation of the new government in Afghanistan, the Taliban's supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has said that the Taliban will uphold the Sharia law.

Taliban's supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada says it will uphold the Sharia law in Afghanistan

Former President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke to WION's Palki Sharma on the crisis in Afghanistan. On Pakistan's intervention in Afghanistan, he said, 'Pak will face the consequences.'

Afghanistan Dialogues: Former Iran Prez Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaks to WION on Afghan crisis

Tajikistan held a military parade in its capital Dushanbe. The parade was held weeks after Taliban swept into power.

Tajikistan holds military parade in its capital Dushanbe

In a press conference, the Taliban spokesperson has announced the caretaker Cabinet for Afghanistan's new government. Mullah Mohammad Hassan has been declared as acting PM. Mullah Baradar, who is the co-founder of the Taliban, has been given the post of Deputy Prime Minister.

Taliban unveils new govt of Afghanistan, Mullah Hassan declared acting PM & Baradar as Deputy PM

The Taliban announced the first members of their new Afghanistan government after delaying it twice. Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund will lead the government and the group co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar will be one of the two deputies.

Mullah Hassan to lead Taliban's interim government, Mullah Baradar to be deputy PM

<p>Amid still unfolding situation in Afghanistan India's National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval&nbsp;met his Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev on Wednesday (September 8) in New Delhi. The meet had&nbsp;been scheduled just one day&nbsp;the Taliban announced its government on Tuesday. The government has a number of hardliners and does not give representation to any woman</p>

<p>ANI quoted sources to say that Patrushev will also meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.</p>

<p>The high-level consultations will reflect on the situation in Afghanistan after US withdrawal.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-will-judge-taliban-by-its-actions-says-us-on-new-government-411468">We will judge Taliban by its actions, says US on new government</a></strong></p>

<p>Both NSA`s will also review activities of terrorist groups including Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, threats from drugs, the role of regional countries and details of Indo-Russia cooperation to meet current and future threats and measures to assist Afghanistan, said the sources.</p>

<p>Earlier, Doval hosted the 11th Meeting of the BRICS High Representatives Responsible for National Security through video conferencing on August 31. His Russian counterpart was also present in the meeting.</p>

<p>India raised the issue of cross-border terrorism and activities of groups such as the Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed at the meeting of BRICS representatives responsible for national security and said these groups "enjoy state support" and threaten peace and security.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Amid still unfolding situation in Afghanistan India's National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval met his Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev on Wednesday (September 8) in New Delhi.

Amid still unfolding situation in Afghanistan India's National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval met his Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev on Wednesday (September 8) in New Delhi. The meet had been scheduled just one day the Taliban announced its government on Tuesday. The government has a number of hardliners and does not give representation to any woman ANI quoted sources to say that Patrushev will also meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. The high-level consultations will reflect on the situation in Afghanistan after US withdrawal. Also Read | We will judge Taliban by its actions, says US on new government Both NSA`s will also review activities of terrorist groups including Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, threats from drugs, the role of regional countries and details of Indo-Russia cooperation to meet current and future threats and measures to assist Afghanistan, said the sources. Earlier, Doval hosted the 11th Meeting of the BRICS High Representatives Responsible for National Security through video conferencing on August 31. His Russian counterpart was also present in the meeting. India raised the issue of cross-border terrorism and activities of groups such as the Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed at the meeting of BRICS representatives responsible for national security and said these groups "enjoy state support" and threaten peace and security. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian NSA Ajit Doval meets Russian counterpart over Afghanistan

The Taliban have named Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund to lead their new interim government. He was previously the foreign minister and then deputy prime minister during the Taliban’s last stint in power from 1996-2001.

Taliban appoint UN-sanctioned Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund as PM

Secretary of State, Antony Blinken will appear before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on September 14 to testify about the administration's withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Secretary of State, Antony Blinken to appear before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee

<p>India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday said that “nobody saw the endgame coming” in Afghanistan and called on the international community to “work in the collective interest” of Afghans.</p>

<p>These were the first public comments by the minister on the current situation in Afghanistan, which saw a surprise takeover from the Taliban of Kabul on August 15. Earlier, he only made a public statement&nbsp;on the Afghanistan evacuation process but didn't express his views on the Taliban seizing power.</p>

<p>Speaking at the JG Crawford Oration 2021, he pointed out, “All of us understood for some years that the presence of the United States and its allies would wind down eventually in Afghanistan... The fact was that for all the debate and deliberations on it, it would be a fair statement to assert that the endgame was not something that anybody saw it coming. It wasn't exactly the scenario anybody was prepared for.”</p>

<p>Ever since the fall of Kabul, India left no stones unturned to evacuate as many of the citizens it can. It has been coordinating with several countries like the US, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Oman and lifted more than 500 people, of which more than 200 are Afghans, mostly Sikhs and Hindus.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Highlighting New Delhi’s role in taking up the Afghanistan issue in the United Nations Security Council, he said, “I should emphasise that in the UNSC, in the month where we held the presidency, the members passed resolution 2593 on Taliban, demanding that Afghanistan’s territory should not be used for terrorism, and expecting them to live up to their promises of forming an inclusive government, and better treatment of minorities, women, children.”</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/how-will-the-taliban-govern-a-history-of-rebel-rule-offers-clues-410481">How will the Taliban govern? A history of rebel rule offers clues</a></p>

<p>India is the non-permanent member of the council and it held the chair of the presidency in August, presiding over key meetings. Under its presidency, three meetings took place on Afghanistan—on August 6, August 16, and August 30—the last one saw a resolution being passed on the Afghanistan crisis. The resolution saw the backing of 13 countries, while the remaining two—Russia and China—abstained from voting.</p>

<p>Cautioning against some countries’ “natural temptation of diplomacy to score a point above the others and try to get ahead in the game", he said, “This is the time for the international community to actually come together and work in what is true for the collective interest.”</p>

<p>While heartbreaking visuals of Afghans fleeing the country via the Hamid Karzai International Airport emerged, there has been a deafening silence by the international community on the crisis. During the UNSC meeting, a divide emerged between the West, led by the US, and Russia and China on the issue of engaging with the Taliban.</p>

<p>Speaking on the role of the US in the aftermath of the Afghan crisis, the EAM said, “US is the US, it has deep strengths, an extraordinary capacity to re-invent itself, re-energize itself. We have seen that in history and that some variant of the debate would have also happened in the 1970s&nbsp;after Washington's Vietnam debacle.”</p>


India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday said that “nobody saw the endgame coming” in Afghanistan and called on the international community to “work in the collective interest” of Afghans.

India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday said that “nobody saw the endgame coming” in Afghanistan and called on the international community to “work in the collective interest” of Afghans. These were the first public comments by the minister on the current situation in Afghanistan, which saw a surprise takeover from the Taliban of Kabul on August 15. Earlier, he only made a public statement on the Afghanistan evacuation process but didn't express his views on the Taliban seizing power. Speaking at the JG Crawford Oration 2021, he pointed out, “All of us understood for some years that the presence of the United States and its allies would wind down eventually in Afghanistan... The fact was that for all the debate and deliberations on it, it would be a fair statement to assert that the endgame was not something that anybody saw it coming. It wasn't exactly the scenario anybody was prepared for.” Ever since the fall of Kabul, India left no stones unturned to evacuate as many of the citizens it can. It has been coordinating with several countries like the US, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Oman and lifted more than 500 people, of which more than 200 are Afghans, mostly Sikhs and Hindus. Highlighting New Delhi’s role in taking up the Afghanistan issue in the United Nations Security Council, he said, “I should emphasise that in the UNSC, in the month where we held the presidency, the members passed resolution 2593 on Taliban, demanding that Afghanistan’s territory should not be used for terrorism, and expecting them to live up to their promises of forming an inclusive government, and better treatment of minorities, women, children.” Also read | How will the Taliban govern? A history of rebel rule offers clues India is the non-permanent member of the council and it held the chair of the presidency in August, presiding over key meetings. Under its presidency, three meetings took place on Afghanistan—on August 6, August 16, and August 30—the last one saw a resolution being passed on the Afghanistan crisis. The resolution saw the backing of 13 countries, while the remaining two—Russia and China—abstained from voting. Cautioning against some countries’ “natural temptation of diplomacy to score a point above the others and try to get ahead in the game", he said, “This is the time for the international community to actually come together and work in what is true for the collective interest.” While heartbreaking visuals of Afghans fleeing the country via the Hamid Karzai International Airport emerged, there has been a deafening silence by the international community on the crisis. During the UNSC meeting, a divide emerged between the West, led by the US, and Russia and China on the issue of engaging with the Taliban. Speaking on the role of the US in the aftermath of the Afghan crisis, the EAM said, “US is the US, it has deep strengths, an extraordinary capacity to re-invent itself, re-energize itself. We have seen that in history and that some variant of the debate would have also happened in the 1970s after Washington's Vietnam debacle.”

Endgame was not something that anybody saw coming: Jaishankar on Afghanistan

Anti-taliban forces were determined to prevent Taliban rule. But after taking over the country, Taliban zeroed down its forces on Panjshir to eventually capturing it. Anas Mallick has been on ground zero covering the rise of resistance to the fall of valley. Here's a flashback

WION Ground Report: From rise of resistance to capture of Panjshir

The Taliban have taken over the entry and exit points of Panjshir Valley. WION get you the latest report of developments at the valley.

Taliban takes over the entry and exit points of Panjshir Valley

The Taliban has announced the new caretaker government for Afghanistan. The new regime will be led by Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, the head of the Taliban's powerful decision-making body 'Rehbari Shura'. Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar will be his deputy.

Taliban's new caretaker government will be led by Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund

Afghanistan's medical infrastructure is at the risk of falling apart. Hundreds of medical infrastructure are facing immediate closure.

Afghanistan's medical infrastructure at the risk of falling apart

The Taliban has announced a new caretaker government for Afghanistan with Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund as interim Prime Minister and Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a co-founder of the militant group, as his deputy. Mullah Yaqoob, one of the deputy leaders of the Taliban since 2016, will act as caretaker Defense Minister.

Breaking News: Taliban announces first members of new caretaker government

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{2661e509-f51b-4f66-ba86-30f850fb6b1d}{152}" paraid="633104752" >In order to pay homage to the old guard of the group, The Taliban on Tuesday announced a caretaker Cabinet. It has given top posts to Taliban personalities, who dominated the 20-year battle against the US-led coalition and its Afghan government allies.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{2661e509-f51b-4f66-ba86-30f850fb6b1d}{190}" paraid="1424877520" >The Interim Prime Minister will be Mullah Hasan Akhund, who had headed the Taliban government in Kabul during the last years of its rule.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{2661e509-f51b-4f66-ba86-30f850fb6b1d}{190}" paraid="1424877520" ><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Hundreds of Afghans took to the streets of Kabul to protest against Pakistan</strong></p>

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<p>Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, who led talks with the United States and signed the deal that led to America's final withdrawal from Afghanistan, will be one of Akhund's two deputies.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{2661e509-f51b-4f66-ba86-30f850fb6b1d}{246}" paraid="1739080402" >Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid made the announcement. Mullah Yaqub, the son of the Taliban founder and late supreme leader Mullah Omar, was named defence minister.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{d5f1cb9c-0a35-4c72-816d-1b025821be36}{19}" paraid="1472787606" >The position of interior minister was given to Sirajuddin Haqqani, the leader of the feared Haqqani network.</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{d5f1cb9c-0a35-4c72-816d-1b025821be36}{19}" paraid="1472787606" ><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/south-asia/breaking-taliban-announce-leader-first-ministers-in-new-government-411393" hreflang="en">Breaking: Taliban announce leader, first ministers in new government</a></strong> &nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{d5f1cb9c-0a35-4c72-816d-1b025821be36}{47}" paraid="986622448" >"The cabinet is not complete, it is just acting," Mujahid said at the Government Information and Media Centre in Kabul. "We will try to take people from other parts of the country."&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{d5f1cb9c-0a35-4c72-816d-1b025821be36}{61}" paraid="376499756" >Amir Khan Muttaqi, a Taliban negotiator in Doha and member of the first regime's cabinet, was named foreign minister.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{d5f1cb9c-0a35-4c72-816d-1b025821be36}{75}" paraid="1666722243" >In the lineup, there was no evidence of non-Taliban representation, which was a big demand of the international community.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{d5f1cb9c-0a35-4c72-816d-1b025821be36}{89}" paraid="521887117" ><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In order to pay homage to the old guard of the group, The Taliban on Tuesday announced a caretaker Cabinet. It has given top posts to Taliban personalities, who dominated the 20-year battle against the US-led coalition and its Afghan government allies.

In order to pay homage to the old guard of the group, The Taliban on Tuesday announced a caretaker Cabinet. It has given top posts to Taliban personalities, who dominated the 20-year battle against the US-led coalition and its Afghan government allies. The Interim Prime Minister will be Mullah Hasan Akhund, who had headed the Taliban government in Kabul during the last years of its rule. Watch: Hundreds of Afghans took to the streets of Kabul to protest against Pakistan × Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, who led talks with the United States and signed the deal that led to America's final withdrawal from Afghanistan, will be one of Akhund's two deputies. Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid made the announcement. Mullah Yaqub, the son of the Taliban founder and late supreme leader Mullah Omar, was named defence minister. The position of interior minister was given to Sirajuddin Haqqani, the leader of the feared Haqqani network. Also Read | Breaking: Taliban announce leader, first ministers in new government "The cabinet is not complete, it is just acting," Mujahid said at the Government Information and Media Centre in Kabul. "We will try to take people from other parts of the country." Amir Khan Muttaqi, a Taliban negotiator in Doha and member of the first regime's cabinet, was named foreign minister. In the lineup, there was no evidence of non-Taliban representation, which was a big demand of the international community. (With inputs from agencies)

Paying homage to old guard, Taliban name caretaker Afghanistan cabinet

The Taliban on Tuesday fired shots into the air to disperse crowds who had gathered for an anti-Pakistan rally in Kabul. Afghans rallied outside the Pakistani embassy, holding banners and chanting against what they said was meddling by Islamabad.

Taliban fire shots to disperse anti-Pakistan rally in Kabul

<p>Over two decades, the United States and its allies spent hundreds of millions of dollars building databases for the Afghan people. The nobly stated goal: Promote law and order and government accountability and modernize a war-ravaged land.</p>

<p>But in the Taliban's lightning seizure of power, most of that digital apparatus,&nbsp;including biometrics for verifying identities,&nbsp;apparently fell into the Taliban hands. Built with few data-protection safeguards, it risks becoming the high-tech jackboots of a surveillance state. As the Taliban get their governing feet, there are worries it will be used for social control and to punish perceived foes.</p>

<p>Putting such data to work constructively boosting education, empowering women, battling corruption&nbsp;requires democratic stability, and these systems were not architected for the prospect of defeat.</p>

<p>"It is a terrible irony,"&nbsp;said Frank Pasquale, Brooklyn Law School scholar of surveillance technologies. "It's a real object lesson in The road to hell is paved with good intentions.'"</p>

<p>Since Kabul fell August&nbsp;15, indications have emerged that government data may have been used in Taliban efforts to identify and intimidate Afghans who worked with the US&nbsp;Forces.</p>

<p>People are getting ominous and threatening phone calls, texts and WhatsApp messages, said Neesha Suarez, constituent services director for Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, an Iraq War veteran whose office is trying to help stranded Afghans who worked with the U.S. Find a way out.</p>

<p><strong>Also read </strong>|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-open-fire-to-disperse-demonstrators-who-chant-anti-pakistan-slogans-in-kabul-411312">Taliban open fire to disperse demonstrators who chant anti-Pakistan slogans in Kabul</a></p>

<p>A 27-year-old US&nbsp;Contractor in Kabul told The Associated Press he and co-workers who developed a US-funded database used to manage army and police payrolls got phone calls summoning them to the Defense Ministry. He is in hiding, changing his location daily, he said, asking not to be identified for his safety.</p>

<p>In victory, the Taliban's leaders say they are not interested in retribution. Restoring international aid and getting foreign-held assets unfrozen are a priority. There are few signs of the draconian restrictions "especially on women"&nbsp;they imposed when they ruled from 1996 to 2001. There are also no indications that Afghans who worked with Americans have been systematically persecuted.</p>

<p>Ali Karimi, a University of Pennsylvania scholar, is among Afghans unready to trust the Taliban. He worries the databases will give rigid fundamentalist theocrats, known during their insurgency for ruthlessly killing enemy collaborators, "the same capability as an average US&nbsp;Government agency when it comes to surveillance and interception.? The Taliban are on notice that the world will be watching how they wield the data.</p>

<p><strong>Watch</strong></p>

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<p>"All Afghans and their international partners have an obligation together to ensure sensitive government data only be used for development purposes&nbsp;and not for policing or social control by the Taliban or to serve other governments in the region, said Nader Nadery," a peace negotiator and head of the civil service commission in the former government.</p>

<p>Uncertain for the moment is the fate of one of the most sensitive databases, the one used to pay soldiers and police.</p>

<p>The Afghan Personnel and Pay System has data on more than 700,000 security forces members dating back 40 years, said a senior security official from the fallen government. Its more than 40 data fields include birth dates, phone numbers, fathers' and grandfathers' names, fingerprints and iris and face scans, said two Afghan contractors who worked on it, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution.</p>

<p>Only authorized users can access that system, so if the Taliban can't find one, they can be expected to try to hack it, said the former official, who asked not to be identified for fear of the safety of relatives in Kabul. He expected Pakistan's ISI intelligence service, long the Taliban's patron, to render technical assistance. US&nbsp;Analysts expect Chinese, Russian and Iranian intelligence also to offer such services.</p>

<p>Originally conceived to fight payroll fraud, that system was supposed to interface eventually with a powerful database at the Defense and Interior ministries modelled on one the Pentagon created in 2004 to achieve identity "dominance"&nbsp;by collecting fingerprints and iris and face scans in combat areas.</p>

<p>But the homegrown Afghanistan Automated Biometric Identification Database grew from a tool to vet army and police recruits for loyalty to contain 8.5 million records, including on government foes and the civilian population. When Kabul fell it was being upgraded, along with a similar database in Iraq, under a $75 million contract signed in 2018.<br />
US&nbsp;Officials say it was secured before the Taliban could access it.</p>

<p>Before the US&nbsp;pullout, the entire database was erased with military-grade data-wiping software, said William Graves, chief engineer at the Pentagon's biometrics project management office.</p>

<p>Similarly, 20 years of data collected from telecommunications and internet intercepts since 2001 by Afghanistan's intelligence agency were wiped clean, said the former Afghan security official.</p>

<p>Among crucial databases that remained are the Afghanistan Financial Management Information System, which held extensive details on foreign contractors, and an Economy Ministry database that compiled all international development and aid agency funding sources, the former security official said.</p>

<p>Then there is the data with iris scans and fingerprints for about 9 million Afghans&nbsp;controlled by the National Statistics and Information Agency. A biometric scan has been required in recent years to obtain a passport or a driver's license and to take a civil service or university entrance exam.</p>

<p>Western aid organizations led by the World Bank, one of the funders, praised the data's utility for empowering women, especially in registering land ownership and obtaining bank loans. The agency was working to create electronic national IDs, known as e-Tazkira, in an unfinished project somewhat modelled on India's biometrically enabled Aadhaar national ID.</p>

<p>"That's the treasure chest,"&nbsp;said a Western election assistance official, speaking on condition of anonymity so as not to jeopardize future missions.</p>

<p>"It is unclear whether voter registration databases&nbsp;records on more than 8 million Afghan"&nbsp;are in Taliban hands, the official said. Full printouts were made during the 2019 presidential elections, though the biometric records used then for anti-fraud voter verification were retained by the German technology provider. After the 2018 parliamentary elections, 5,000 portable biometric handhelds used for verification went inexplicably missing.</p>

<p>Yet another database the Taliban inherit contains iris and face scans and fingerprints on 420,000 government employees&nbsp;another anti-fraud measure&nbsp;which Nadery oversaw as civil service commissioner. It was eventually to have been merged with the e-Tazkira database, he said.</p>

<p>On August&nbsp;3, a government website touted the digital accomplishments of President Ashraf Ghani, who would soon flee into exile, saying biometric information on all civil servants, from every corner of the country" would allow them to them to be linked "under one umbrella"&nbsp;with banks and cellphone carriers for electronic payment. U.N. Agencies have also collected biometrics on Afghans for food distribution and refugee tracking.</p>

<p>The central agglomeration of such personal data is exactly what worries the 37 digital civil liberties groups who signed an Aug. 25 letter calling for the urgent shutdown and erasure, where possible, of Afghanistan's digital identity tool,&nbsp;among other measures. The letter said authoritarian regimes have exploited such data to target vulnerable people&nbsp;and digitized, searchable databases amplify the risks. Disputes over including ethnicity and religion in the e-Tazkira database&nbsp;for fear it could put digital bullseyes on minorities, as China has done in repressing its ethnic Uyghurs&nbsp;delayed its creation for most of a decade.</p>

<p>John Woodward, a Boston University professor and former CIA officer who pioneered the Pentagon's biometric collection, is worried about intelligence agencies hostile to the United States getting access to the data troves.</p>

<p>"ISI (Pakistani intelligence) would be interested to know who worked for the Americans,"&nbsp;said Woodward, and China, Russia and Iran have their own agendas. Their agents certainly have the technical chops to break into password-protected databases.</p>


Over two decades, the United States and its allies spent hundreds of millions of dollars building databases for the Afghan people. The nobly stated goal: Promote law and order and government accountability and modernize a war-ravaged land.

Over two decades, the United States and its allies spent hundreds of millions of dollars building databases for the Afghan people. The nobly stated goal: Promote law and order and government accountability and modernize a war-ravaged land. But in the Taliban's lightning seizure of power, most of that digital apparatus, including biometrics for verifying identities, apparently fell into the Taliban hands. Built with few data-protection safeguards, it risks becoming the high-tech jackboots of a surveillance state. As the Taliban get their governing feet, there are worries it will be used for social control and to punish perceived foes. Putting such data to work constructively boosting education, empowering women, battling corruption requires democratic stability, and these systems were not architected for the prospect of defeat. "It is a terrible irony," said Frank Pasquale, Brooklyn Law School scholar of surveillance technologies. "It's a real object lesson in The road to hell is paved with good intentions.'" Since Kabul fell August 15, indications have emerged that government data may have been used in Taliban efforts to identify and intimidate Afghans who worked with the US Forces. People are getting ominous and threatening phone calls, texts and WhatsApp messages, said Neesha Suarez, constituent services director for Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, an Iraq War veteran whose office is trying to help stranded Afghans who worked with the U.S. Find a way out. Also read | Taliban open fire to disperse demonstrators who chant anti-Pakistan slogans in Kabul A 27-year-old US Contractor in Kabul told The Associated Press he and co-workers who developed a US-funded database used to manage army and police payrolls got phone calls summoning them to the Defense Ministry. He is in hiding, changing his location daily, he said, asking not to be identified for his safety. In victory, the Taliban's leaders say they are not interested in retribution. Restoring international aid and getting foreign-held assets unfrozen are a priority. There are few signs of the draconian restrictions "especially on women" they imposed when they ruled from 1996 to 2001. There are also no indications that Afghans who worked with Americans have been systematically persecuted. Ali Karimi, a University of Pennsylvania scholar, is among Afghans unready to trust the Taliban. He worries the databases will give rigid fundamentalist theocrats, known during their insurgency for ruthlessly killing enemy collaborators, "the same capability as an average US Government agency when it comes to surveillance and interception.? The Taliban are on notice that the world will be watching how they wield the data. Watch "All Afghans and their international partners have an obligation together to ensure sensitive government data only be used for development purposes and not for policing or social control by the Taliban or to serve other governments in the region, said Nader Nadery," a peace negotiator and head of the civil service commission in the former government. Uncertain for the moment is the fate of one of the most sensitive databases, the one used to pay soldiers and police. The Afghan Personnel and Pay System has data on more than 700,000 security forces members dating back 40 years, said a senior security official from the fallen government. Its more than 40 data fields include birth dates, phone numbers, fathers' and grandfathers' names, fingerprints and iris and face scans, said two Afghan contractors who worked on it, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. Only authorized users can access that system, so if the Taliban can't find one, they can be expected to try to hack it, said the former official, who asked not to be identified for fear of the safety of relatives in Kabul. He expected Pakistan's ISI intelligence service, long the Taliban's patron, to render technical assistance. US Analysts expect Chinese, Russian and Iranian intelligence also to offer such services. Originally conceived to fight payroll fraud, that system was supposed to interface eventually with a powerful database at the Defense and Interior ministries modelled on one the Pentagon created in 2004 to achieve identity "dominance" by collecting fingerprints and iris and face scans in combat areas. But the homegrown Afghanistan Automated Biometric Identification Database grew from a tool to vet army and police recruits for loyalty to contain 8.5 million records, including on government foes and the civilian population. When Kabul fell it was being upgraded, along with a similar database in Iraq, under a $75 million contract signed in 2018. US Officials say it was secured before the Taliban could access it. Before the US pullout, the entire database was erased with military-grade data-wiping software, said William Graves, chief engineer at the Pentagon's biometrics project management office. Similarly, 20 years of data collected from telecommunications and internet intercepts since 2001 by Afghanistan's intelligence agency were wiped clean, said the former Afghan security official. Among crucial databases that remained are the Afghanistan Financial Management Information System, which held extensive details on foreign contractors, and an Economy Ministry database that compiled all international development and aid agency funding sources, the former security official said. Then there is the data with iris scans and fingerprints for about 9 million Afghans controlled by the National Statistics and Information Agency. A biometric scan has been required in recent years to obtain a passport or a driver's license and to take a civil service or university entrance exam. Western aid organizations led by the World Bank, one of the funders, praised the data's utility for empowering women, especially in registering land ownership and obtaining bank loans. The agency was working to create electronic national IDs, known as e-Tazkira, in an unfinished project somewhat modelled on India's biometrically enabled Aadhaar national ID. "That's the treasure chest," said a Western election assistance official, speaking on condition of anonymity so as not to jeopardize future missions. "It is unclear whether voter registration databases records on more than 8 million Afghan" are in Taliban hands, the official said. Full printouts were made during the 2019 presidential elections, though the biometric records used then for anti-fraud voter verification were retained by the German technology provider. After the 2018 parliamentary elections, 5,000 portable biometric handhelds used for verification went inexplicably missing. Yet another database the Taliban inherit contains iris and face scans and fingerprints on 420,000 government employees another anti-fraud measure which Nadery oversaw as civil service commissioner. It was eventually to have been merged with the e-Tazkira database, he said. On August 3, a government website touted the digital accomplishments of President Ashraf Ghani, who would soon flee into exile, saying biometric information on all civil servants, from every corner of the country" would allow them to them to be linked "under one umbrella" with banks and cellphone carriers for electronic payment. U.N. Agencies have also collected biometrics on Afghans for food distribution and refugee tracking. The central agglomeration of such personal data is exactly what worries the 37 digital civil liberties groups who signed an Aug. 25 letter calling for the urgent shutdown and erasure, where possible, of Afghanistan's digital identity tool, among other measures. The letter said authoritarian regimes have exploited such data to target vulnerable people and digitized, searchable databases amplify the risks. Disputes over including ethnicity and religion in the e-Tazkira database for fear it could put digital bullseyes on minorities, as China has done in repressing its ethnic Uyghurs delayed its creation for most of a decade. John Woodward, a Boston University professor and former CIA officer who pioneered the Pentagon's biometric collection, is worried about intelligence agencies hostile to the United States getting access to the data troves. "ISI (Pakistani intelligence) would be interested to know who worked for the Americans," said Woodward, and China, Russia and Iran have their own agendas. Their agents certainly have the technical chops to break into password-protected databases.

US-built databases a potential tool of Taliban repression

Earlier reports have emerged that Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar will lead the new government in Afghanistan. But according to a new report, Mullah Mohammed Hassan Akhund instead is being pitched as the new head of state.

Reports challenge prospect of Mullah Baradar leading new Afghanistan govt

Britain MP Chris Bryant has revealed that people stranded in Afghanistan who have connections to the UK have faced horrors including being raped, shot, and tortured after missing out on evacuations out of the Taliban-controlled country.

'Shot, raped and tortured': UK MP reveals horrors faced by stranded Afghans

Hundreds of Afghans took to the streets of Kabul in an anti-Pakistan rally in which they chanted slogans against Islamabad. As the protests intensified, the Taliban opened fire on the rally.

Hundreds of Afghans took to the streets of Kabul to protest against Pakistan

Gravitas | The Taliban held a 'chilling' victory parade to mark America's retreat. On display were suicide bombers, rockets, barrel bombs & armoured vehicles. Meanwhile, at another Taliban parade in Kandahar, a top leader declared 'May Islam spread to the entire world'. WION's Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: Taliban holds 'chilling' victory parade

Afghanistan is in the middle of a transition. The people of Afghanistan did not choose the Taliban, just like they did not choose the corrupt governments that preceded the Taliban. Afghans were forced to pick between the devil and the deep blue sea. WION's Palki Sharma brings you a report.

Gravitas: Afghanistan: A country where the people have little choice

America spent more than $2.2 trillion on the war in Afghanistan. Most of this money went back to the US via private contractors and companies. Top US arms dealers got $2 trillion in public funds between 2001 & 2021. WION's Palki Sharma exposes the truth of the Afghan war.

Gravitas: America's lies on the trillion-dollar Afghan war

Did the Pakistani Military lead the Taliban's offensive in Panjshir? Iran has launched an investigation into "foreign interference" in Panjshir. Palki Sharma tells you why the global community must investigate Pakistan.

Gravitas: Pakistan "invades" Panjshir, Iran launches an investigation

<p>Amid tensions in Afghanistan, actor Michael Ealy has given a touching tribute to his wife Khatrina Rafiqzada, who is a native of Kabul.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The actor took to Instagram to write a long post and stated that this has been the hardest moment that he has witnessed her go through in all these years.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
“My love,” his message begins. “This may have been one of the hardest moments I’ve ever witnessed for you. I’ve struggled to find the words about the situation in Kabul. I can only talk about what I see on the ground here.”<br />
The actor revealed that Rafiqzada suffered postpartum depression after having both their children but that it "simply can’t compare to watching your birthplace fall apart. I imagine this loss has a lot to do with the nostalgia of your childhood, and for that, I’m so sorry.”<br />
<br />
“I’ve felt your sense of loss, confusion, and hurt,” Ealy wrote. “I’ve witnessed you crying in the corner alone just to gather yourself.” The actor revealed that Rafiqzada has turned rooms in their home into “mini command centers,” noting that she is trying to sponsor Afghan families and locate family members.</p>

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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CTdLyyeBCf1/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Michael Ealy (@themichaelealy)</a></p>
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<p>“The devastation you endured the last few weeks has been undeniable,” he continued. “I pray that you have felt seen, heard, supported &amp; free in your space here to be vulnerable and whatever else you needed. I’ve seen you try to put into words what this ALL means. The worst part may have been watching you try to explain this devastation to Elijah,” their son.<br />
<br />
“We love you and we are with u always,” Ealy contended. “People even reached out to me to check on you and some sent flowers! I’m grateful for all of their well wishes, thoughts, and prayers. For many of them, you were the only Afghan they’ve ever met.”<br />
<br />
Ealy and Rafiqzada married in 2012. A former actress, Rafiqzada fled Afghanistan with her parents when she was 12 years old. Her family was sponsored for citizenship by Catholic Charities as victims of war.<br />
<br />
Earlier in 2017, Rafiqzada had posted on Instagram, she wrote that she loved her childhood “and bc war hadn’t yet made it to our backyard, I couldn’t understand why we left my country.”&nbsp;</p>


Amid tensions in Afghanistan, actor Michael Ealy has given a touching tribute to his wife Khatrina Rafiqzada, who is a native of Kabul. The actor took to Instagram to write a long post and stated that this has been the hardest moment that he has witnessed her go through in all these years.

Amid tensions in Afghanistan, actor Michael Ealy has given a touching tribute to his wife Khatrina Rafiqzada, who is a native of Kabul. The actor took to Instagram to write a long post and stated that this has been the hardest moment that he has witnessed her go through in all these years. “My love,” his message begins. “This may have been one of the hardest moments I’ve ever witnessed for you. I’ve struggled to find the words about the situation in Kabul. I can only talk about what I see on the ground here.” The actor revealed that Rafiqzada suffered postpartum depression after having both their children but that it "simply can’t compare to watching your birthplace fall apart. I imagine this loss has a lot to do with the nostalgia of your childhood, and for that, I’m so sorry.” “I’ve felt your sense of loss, confusion, and hurt,” Ealy wrote. “I’ve witnessed you crying in the corner alone just to gather yourself.” The actor revealed that Rafiqzada has turned rooms in their home into “mini command centers,” noting that she is trying to sponsor Afghan families and locate family members. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Michael Ealy (@themichaelealy) × “The devastation you endured the last few weeks has been undeniable,” he continued. “I pray that you have felt seen, heard, supported & free in your space here to be vulnerable and whatever else you needed. I’ve seen you try to put into words what this ALL means. The worst part may have been watching you try to explain this devastation to Elijah,” their son. “We love you and we are with u always,” Ealy contended. “People even reached out to me to check on you and some sent flowers! I’m grateful for all of their well wishes, thoughts, and prayers. For many of them, you were the only Afghan they’ve ever met.” Ealy and Rafiqzada married in 2012. A former actress, Rafiqzada fled Afghanistan with her parents when she was 12 years old. Her family was sponsored for citizenship by Catholic Charities as victims of war. Earlier in 2017, Rafiqzada had posted on Instagram, she wrote that she loved her childhood “and bc war hadn’t yet made it to our backyard, I couldn’t understand why we left my country.”

Actor Michael Ealy pays warm tribute to Afghan wife amid Kabul violence

The Taliban took control of Panjshir today. A team from WION travelled from Kabul to Panjshir to document how the Taliban imposed its rule on what was the last bastion of resistance in Afghanistan. Palki Sharma brings you a ground report.

Gravitas: Exclusive: The day Panjshir fell to the Taliban

The Afghans are disappointed with the international community for their failure to back the resistance forces. WION's Anas Mallick tells Palki Sharma how the Taliban is imposing its brutal rule in Panjshir.

Gravitas: Ground Report: What happened after the Taliban took Panjshir

<p>Universities in Kabul wore a deserted look on the first day of Afghan school year on Monday. Professors and students are still trying to decide&nbsp;what&nbsp;to make of Taliban's new rules. Taliban have promised a lenient stance than their previous regime in 90s towards women's education.</p>

<p>From 1996-2001 women's freedoms in Afghanistan were ruthlessly curtailed. They faced ban from receiving higher education.</p>

<p>This time, the hardline Islamist group have said women will be allowed to go to private universities under the new regime, but they face tough restrictions on their clothing and movement.</p>

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<p>Women can only attend class if they wear an abaya -- a flowing robe -- and a niqab -- a face veil with a small window to see through -- and are separated from men, the Taliban said.</p>

<p>"Our students don't accept this and we will have to close the university," said Noor Ali Rahmani, the director of Gharjistan University in Kabul, on an almost empty campus on Monday.</p>

<p>"Our students wear the hijab, not the niqab," he added, referring to a headscarf.</p>

<p>The Taliban education authority issued a lengthy document on Sunday outlining their measures for the classroom, which also ruled that men and women should be segregated -- or at least divided by a curtain if there are 15 students or less.</p>

<p>"We said we didn't accept it because it will be difficult to do," Rahmani told AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We also said that it is not real Islam, it is not what the Koran says."</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-open-fire-to-disperse-demonstrators-who-chant-anti-pakistan-slogans-in-kabul-411312">Taliban open fire to disperse demonstrators who chant anti-Pakistan slogans in Kabul</a></strong></p>

<p>From now on at private colleges and universities, which have mushroomed since the Taliban's first rule ended, women must only be taught by other women, or "old men", and use a women-only entrance.</p>

<p>They must also end their lessons five minutes earlier than men to stop them from mingling outside.</p>

<p>So far, the Taliban has said nothing about public universities.</p>

<p>Usually on the first day of the academic year, university campuses are packed with students catching up after the summer break. This did not happen on Tuesday.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Universities in Kabul wore a deserted look on the first day of Afghan school year on Monday. Professors and students are still trying to decide what to make of Taliban's new rules.

Universities in Kabul wore a deserted look on the first day of Afghan school year on Monday. Professors and students are still trying to decide what to make of Taliban's new rules. Taliban have promised a lenient stance than their previous regime in 90s towards women's education. From 1996-2001 women's freedoms in Afghanistan were ruthlessly curtailed. They faced ban from receiving higher education. This time, the hardline Islamist group have said women will be allowed to go to private universities under the new regime, but they face tough restrictions on their clothing and movement. × Women can only attend class if they wear an abaya -- a flowing robe -- and a niqab -- a face veil with a small window to see through -- and are separated from men, the Taliban said. "Our students don't accept this and we will have to close the university," said Noor Ali Rahmani, the director of Gharjistan University in Kabul, on an almost empty campus on Monday. "Our students wear the hijab, not the niqab," he added, referring to a headscarf. The Taliban education authority issued a lengthy document on Sunday outlining their measures for the classroom, which also ruled that men and women should be segregated -- or at least divided by a curtain if there are 15 students or less. "We said we didn't accept it because it will be difficult to do," Rahmani told AFP. "We also said that it is not real Islam, it is not what the Koran says." Also Read | Taliban open fire to disperse demonstrators who chant anti-Pakistan slogans in Kabul From now on at private colleges and universities, which have mushroomed since the Taliban's first rule ended, women must only be taught by other women, or "old men", and use a women-only entrance. They must also end their lessons five minutes earlier than men to stop them from mingling outside. So far, the Taliban has said nothing about public universities. Usually on the first day of the academic year, university campuses are packed with students catching up after the summer break. This did not happen on Tuesday. (With inputs from agencies)

Afghan universities wear deserted look as Taliban impose fresh rules

22 days after marching into Kabul, the Taliban are yet to announce a government. Reports say internal fighting over key positions is delaying the announcement. Palki Sharma decoded the fight within the Taliban.

Gravitas: Infighting delays Taliban government formation

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