Ever since Taliban took power in Afghanistan in August 2021, it has been a regressive tale of human rights abuses and curtailment of freedom for women and young girls in Afghanistan.

Draconian Taliban rule haunts Afghan women | World News

<p>The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is holding discussions with Afghanistan rulers, the Taliban regarding the "timelines and practicalities" of a potential handover of its education programs to local organisations. As per UNICEF, it has received assurances from the education ministry that community-based classes, which educate 500,000 students, would continue while these discussions took place.</p>

<h2><strong>Participation of international organisations in education</strong></h2>

<p>As per Reuters, aid officials say that the Taliban has indicated that international organisations could no longer be involved in education projects. The move which has been criticised by UNICEF is yet to be officially confirmed by Afghan authorities.</p>

<p>Speaking to Reuters, UNICEF's Afghanistan spokesperson, Samantha Mort expressed appreciation for the commitment from the de facto minister to ensure classes continue during discussions.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-sells-tickets-to-ruins-of-iconic-bamian-buddhas-it-destroyed-two-decades-ago-605721">Taliban selling tickets to ruins of iconic Bamian Buddhas it blasted two decades ago</a></strong></p>

<p>"As the lead agency for the education cluster in Afghanistan, UNICEF is engaged in constructive discussions with the de facto Ministry of Education and appreciates the commitment from the de facto minister to keep all ... classes continuing while discussions take place about timelines and practicalities," said Mort.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She emphasised that "In order to minimise disruption to children's learning, it is imperative that any handover to national NGOs is done strategically and includes comprehensive assessment and capacity building."</p>

<p>The Ministry of Education has not publicly confirmed the reported policy change.</p>

<h2><strong>Taliban and Education in Afghanistan</strong></h2>

<p>Since assuming power in 2021, the Taliban has closed most secondary schools for girls, prevented female students from attending universities, and restricted the participation of Afghan women in aid groups and the United Nations. This has&nbsp;apparently been done in adherence to their strict interpretation of Islamic law.</p>

<p>The Taliban's rapid and unexpected takeover of Afghanistan after a 20-year insurgency against US-led forces has created significant challenges and uncertainties for Afghanistan's education system.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/selective-whatsapp-ban-curtails-talibans-functioning-in-afghanistan-605747">Selective WhatsApp ban on hardliners hits Taliban's functioning in Afghanistan</a></strong></p>

<p>For long, international organisations have played a significant role in education projects in Afghanistan. UNICEF currently operates numerous community-based classes, including those catering to 300,000 girls, often held in rural homes.</p>

<p>As per Reuters, UNICEF reached an agreement with the Taliban to operate community classes before their takeover. However, this month, two "humanitarian sources" informed the news agency that aid agencies had been informed that provincial authorities were directed to exclude international organisations from education projects. This could possibly happen within a few weeks.</p>

<p>The move, if implemented, can be a significant setback. A United Nations spokesperson in New York described the move as a "horrendous step backwards."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is holding discussions with Afghanistan rulers, the Taliban regarding the "timelines and practicalities" of a potential handover of its education programs to local organisations.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is holding discussions with Afghanistan rulers, the Taliban regarding the "timelines and practicalities" of a potential handover of its education programs to local organisations. As per UNICEF, it has received assurances from the education ministry that community-based classes, which educate 500,000 students, would continue while these discussions took place. Participation of international organisations in education As per Reuters, aid officials say that the Taliban has indicated that international organisations could no longer be involved in education projects. The move which has been criticised by UNICEF is yet to be officially confirmed by Afghan authorities. Speaking to Reuters, UNICEF's Afghanistan spokesperson, Samantha Mort expressed appreciation for the commitment from the de facto minister to ensure classes continue during discussions. Also read | Taliban selling tickets to ruins of iconic Bamian Buddhas it blasted two decades ago "As the lead agency for the education cluster in Afghanistan, UNICEF is engaged in constructive discussions with the de facto Ministry of Education and appreciates the commitment from the de facto minister to keep all ... classes continuing while discussions take place about timelines and practicalities," said Mort. She emphasised that "In order to minimise disruption to children's learning, it is imperative that any handover to national NGOs is done strategically and includes comprehensive assessment and capacity building." The Ministry of Education has not publicly confirmed the reported policy change. Taliban and Education in Afghanistan Since assuming power in 2021, the Taliban has closed most secondary schools for girls, prevented female students from attending universities, and restricted the participation of Afghan women in aid groups and the United Nations. This has apparently been done in adherence to their strict interpretation of Islamic law. The Taliban's rapid and unexpected takeover of Afghanistan after a 20-year insurgency against US-led forces has created significant challenges and uncertainties for Afghanistan's education system. Also read | Selective WhatsApp ban on hardliners hits Taliban's functioning in Afghanistan For long, international organisations have played a significant role in education projects in Afghanistan. UNICEF currently operates numerous community-based classes, including those catering to 300,000 girls, often held in rural homes. As per Reuters, UNICEF reached an agreement with the Taliban to operate community classes before their takeover. However, this month, two "humanitarian sources" informed the news agency that aid agencies had been informed that provincial authorities were directed to exclude international organisations from education projects. This could possibly happen within a few weeks. The move, if implemented, can be a significant setback. A United Nations spokesperson in New York described the move as a "horrendous step backwards." (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.

Taliban to stop involvement of international organisations in education projects: Report

UN: Taliban treatment of women could be 'gender apartheid'

<p>A convicted murderer was publicly executed at a mosque in provincial Afghanistan, marking the second such incident since the Taliban regained power in August 2021.</p>

<p>The execution took place in the town of Sultan Ghazi Baba, located in the Laghman province, reported AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"He was executed in public in the town of Sultan Ghazi Baba, centre of Laghman province, so that he could suffer and become a lesson for others," said a statement from provincial information officers.</p>

<p>The purpose of the execution was to serve as a deterrent and a warning to others. Around 2,000 individuals, including the victims' relatives, gathered to witness the event, which was carried out in accordance with Sharia law.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-to-stop-involvement-of-international-organisations-in-education-projects-report-606304">Taliban to stop involvement of international organisations in education projects: Report</a></p>

<h2><strong>Execution carried out in accordance with Sharia law</strong></h2>

<p>Ajmal, the convicted murderer, faced the consequences of his actions in a public display of justice. The execution was conducted in accordance with Sharia law, which governed both the sentencing and the implementation of the punishment. It is important to note that while public executions were more prevalent during the Taliban's previous rule from 1996 to 2001, this recent incident serves as a reminder of their historical practices that persist in the present.</p>

<p>"I saw the criminal being executed for qisas after the victim's family did not forgive him," a witness to Tuesday's execution told AFP.</p>

<p>"He was shot, if I didn't count it wrong, six times. I could not see if he was dead or not, but he was later taken by ambulance," said the witness, who asked not to be named.</p>

<p>In the execution carried out in Farah in December, the father of the murder victim was the one who was asked to pull the trigger on&nbsp;his son's killer.</p>

<p>"For such crimes it is good that people should see and always have the fear before doing such inhuman acts," Tuesday's witness told AFP.</p>

<p>"There was a lot of fear. It was very emotional. We are not used to such things," the witness added.</p>

<p>The Supreme Court of Afghanistan has stated that all possible appeal options in Ajmal's case have been exhausted. As a result, the Supreme Leader has made the final decision to proceed with the execution.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Draconian Taliban rule haunts Afghan women</strong></p>

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<p>"Extraordinary research was done by the Supreme Leader and it was discussed with the scholars in a big gathering," the statement said.</p>

<p>"At the end, the order of qisas for the murderer was approved and the order of implementation of qisas was given," it added.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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A convicted murderer was publicly executed at a mosque in provincial Afghanistan, marking the second such incident since the Taliban regained power in August 2021.

A convicted murderer was publicly executed at a mosque in provincial Afghanistan, marking the second such incident since the Taliban regained power in August 2021. The execution took place in the town of Sultan Ghazi Baba, located in the Laghman province, reported AFP. "He was executed in public in the town of Sultan Ghazi Baba, centre of Laghman province, so that he could suffer and become a lesson for others," said a statement from provincial information officers. The purpose of the execution was to serve as a deterrent and a warning to others. Around 2,000 individuals, including the victims' relatives, gathered to witness the event, which was carried out in accordance with Sharia law. Also read | Taliban to stop involvement of international organisations in education projects: Report Execution carried out in accordance with Sharia law Ajmal, the convicted murderer, faced the consequences of his actions in a public display of justice. The execution was conducted in accordance with Sharia law, which governed both the sentencing and the implementation of the punishment. It is important to note that while public executions were more prevalent during the Taliban's previous rule from 1996 to 2001, this recent incident serves as a reminder of their historical practices that persist in the present. "I saw the criminal being executed for qisas after the victim's family did not forgive him," a witness to Tuesday's execution told AFP. "He was shot, if I didn't count it wrong, six times. I could not see if he was dead or not, but he was later taken by ambulance," said the witness, who asked not to be named. In the execution carried out in Farah in December, the father of the murder victim was the one who was asked to pull the trigger on his son's killer. "For such crimes it is good that people should see and always have the fear before doing such inhuman acts," Tuesday's witness told AFP. "There was a lot of fear. It was very emotional. We are not used to such things," the witness added. The Supreme Court of Afghanistan has stated that all possible appeal options in Ajmal's case have been exhausted. As a result, the Supreme Leader has made the final decision to proceed with the execution. Also watch | Draconian Taliban rule haunts Afghan women "Extraordinary research was done by the Supreme Leader and it was discussed with the scholars in a big gathering," the statement said. "At the end, the order of qisas for the murderer was approved and the order of implementation of qisas was given," it added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Taliban publicly execute murder suspect, second since takeover

<p>The workings of Afghanistan's Taliban government have been reportedly curtailed due to ban on WhatsApp accounts operated by hardline operators as part of the US sanctions.</p>

<p>Such bans or temporarily deactivation of WhatsApp accounts of Taliban officials&nbsp;have become widespread in recent months, New York Times reported.</p>

<h2><strong>What does it mean?</strong></h2>

<p>These interruptions highlight&nbsp;the consequences of international sanctions on Afghanistan's isolated Taliban government.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nearly-80-afghan-school-girls-poisoned-in-taliban-ruled-afghanistan-600753">Nearly 80 Afghan school girls poisoned in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan</a></strong></p>

<p>The United States, as part of sanctions imposed on Taliban&nbsp;criminalises any form of support for the Taliban. The impact of this has been deemed selective over the years.</p>

<h2><strong>How the ban takes place?</strong></h2>

<p>WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook, scans group names, descriptions and group profile photos on the messaging app to identify users among the Taliban and blocks their accounts, according to a Meta spokesman quoted by New York Times.</p>

<h2><strong>What does it mean?</strong></h2>

<p>The ban has affected the Taliban men&nbsp;who relied on WhatsApp’s voice message feature, with which they could send messages and listen to the verbal instructions from their commanders with the press of a button.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;US, UK and UN criticise the Taliban's ban on Afghan women from universities</strong></p>

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<p>The Taliban’s reliance on WhatsApp became more far-reaching as smartphone use proliferated and high-speed internet networks improved across Afghanistan by the end of US withdrawal from the nation.</p>

<p>As the Taliban consolidated control and settled into governance,&nbsp;WhatsApp central to their official communications.</p>

<h2><strong>How WhatsApp has become the medium for Taliban's functioning?</strong></h2>

<p>Taliban's government departments use WhatsApp groups to disseminate information among all organs of the government.</p>

<p>Officials rely on WhatsApp groups to distribute statements to journalists and transmit official communiqués between ministries. Security forces also plan and coordinate raids on Islamic State cells by communicating through WhatsApp.</p>

<p>Overall, since the Taliban seized power in August 2021, the popularity and accessibility of WhatsApp among the group’s ranks has grown rapidly. Former Taliban fighters began using their smartphones around the clock, no longer afraid that Western forces could use the signal to track or target them in drone strikes as was the case when the US was still stationed there.&nbsp;</p>

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The workings of Afghanistan's Taliban government have been reportedly curtailed due to ban on WhatsApp accounts operated by hardline operators as part of the US sanctions.

The workings of Afghanistan's Taliban government have been reportedly curtailed due to ban on WhatsApp accounts operated by hardline operators as part of the US sanctions. Such bans or temporarily deactivation of WhatsApp accounts of Taliban officials have become widespread in recent months, New York Times reported. What does it mean? These interruptions highlight the consequences of international sanctions on Afghanistan's isolated Taliban government. Also read | Nearly 80 Afghan school girls poisoned in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan The United States, as part of sanctions imposed on Taliban criminalises any form of support for the Taliban. The impact of this has been deemed selective over the years. How the ban takes place? WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook, scans group names, descriptions and group profile photos on the messaging app to identify users among the Taliban and blocks their accounts, according to a Meta spokesman quoted by New York Times. What does it mean? The ban has affected the Taliban men who relied on WhatsApp’s voice message feature, with which they could send messages and listen to the verbal instructions from their commanders with the press of a button. Also watch | US, UK and UN criticise the Taliban's ban on Afghan women from universities × The Taliban’s reliance on WhatsApp became more far-reaching as smartphone use proliferated and high-speed internet networks improved across Afghanistan by the end of US withdrawal from the nation. As the Taliban consolidated control and settled into governance, WhatsApp central to their official communications. How WhatsApp has become the medium for Taliban's functioning? Taliban's government departments use WhatsApp groups to disseminate information among all organs of the government. Officials rely on WhatsApp groups to distribute statements to journalists and transmit official communiqués between ministries. Security forces also plan and coordinate raids on Islamic State cells by communicating through WhatsApp. Overall, since the Taliban seized power in August 2021, the popularity and accessibility of WhatsApp among the group’s ranks has grown rapidly. Former Taliban fighters began using their smartphones around the clock, no longer afraid that Western forces could use the signal to track or target them in drone strikes as was the case when the US was still stationed there. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Selective WhatsApp ban on hardliners hits Taliban's functioning in Afghanistan

<p>Over two decades after the previous Taliban government of Afghanistan blew up two great Buddha figures in Bamian, the extremist regime is focusing on selling tickets for the gaping hole in the 125-foor cliff.</p>

<p>Authorities have set up a ticket office at the foot of the larger of the two figures, where they charge Afghans 58 cents and foreigners $3.45 (₹282) to visit, Washington Post reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-destroying-the-bamiyan-buddha-statues-taliban-attempts-to-destroy-the-historic-bazaar-nearby-502907">After destroying the Bamiyan Buddha statues, Taliban attempts to destroy the historic bazaar nearby</a></strong></p>

<p>In 2001, Taliban founder Mullah Omar declared the Buddhas false gods and announced plans to destroy them. Despite relentless pursuance from around the world, the Taliban detonated explosives and fired antiaircraft guns to smash the huge sixth-century reliefs to pieces, as the world watched.</p>

<h2><strong>Why this change of heart?</strong></h2>

<p>As Taliban administration&nbsp;is vying for legitimacy from the world, Afghanistan is currently undergoing a massive economic crisis. The Taliban see the Buddha remnants as a potentially lucrative source of revenue and are working to draw tourism around the site.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;South Asia Diary | The Taliban return to Bamiyan</strong></p>

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<p>"Bamian and the Buddhas in particular are of great importance to our government, just as they are to the world," Atiqullah Azizi, the Taliban’s deputy culture minister, said in an interview. He said more than 1,000 guards have been assigned to protect cultural heritage across Afghanistan, restricting access and overseeing ticket sales.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Last month, senior Taliban officials were present at the inauguration of a prominent section dedicated to Buddhist artifacts at Kabul’s national museum.</p>

<h2><strong>Destruction of Bamian Buddhas was 'good decision': Governor</strong></h2>

<p>Meanwhile, Bamian provincial governor Abdullah Sarhadi said said that tourists should be steered toward other sites.</p>

<p>"We are Muslims," Sarhadi said in an interview. "We should follow the demands of God," adding, that destruction of iconic Buddhas was a "good decision".<br />
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Over two decades after the previous Taliban government of Afghanistan blew up two great Buddha figures in Bamian, the extremist regime is focusing on selling tickets for the gaping hole in the 125-foor cliff.

Over two decades after the previous Taliban government of Afghanistan blew up two great Buddha figures in Bamian, the extremist regime is focusing on selling tickets for the gaping hole in the 125-foor cliff. Authorities have set up a ticket office at the foot of the larger of the two figures, where they charge Afghans 58 cents and foreigners $3.45 (₹282) to visit, Washington Post reported. Also read | After destroying the Bamiyan Buddha statues, Taliban attempts to destroy the historic bazaar nearby In 2001, Taliban founder Mullah Omar declared the Buddhas false gods and announced plans to destroy them. Despite relentless pursuance from around the world, the Taliban detonated explosives and fired antiaircraft guns to smash the huge sixth-century reliefs to pieces, as the world watched. Why this change of heart? As Taliban administration is vying for legitimacy from the world, Afghanistan is currently undergoing a massive economic crisis. The Taliban see the Buddha remnants as a potentially lucrative source of revenue and are working to draw tourism around the site. Also watch | South Asia Diary | The Taliban return to Bamiyan × "Bamian and the Buddhas in particular are of great importance to our government, just as they are to the world," Atiqullah Azizi, the Taliban’s deputy culture minister, said in an interview. He said more than 1,000 guards have been assigned to protect cultural heritage across Afghanistan, restricting access and overseeing ticket sales. Last month, senior Taliban officials were present at the inauguration of a prominent section dedicated to Buddhist artifacts at Kabul’s national museum. Destruction of Bamian Buddhas was 'good decision': Governor Meanwhile, Bamian provincial governor Abdullah Sarhadi said said that tourists should be steered toward other sites. "We are Muslims," Sarhadi said in an interview. "We should follow the demands of God," adding, that destruction of iconic Buddhas was a "good decision". WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Taliban selling tickets to ruins of iconic Bamian Buddhas it blasted two decades ago

In the past few months, Taliban shut down schools and universities for Afghan women, practically depriving them of all education and job opportunities. As the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation is expected to meet Taliban leaders, WION's Mukul Sharma spoke to some of these women. Here are their thoughts, unfiltered.

Afghan women speak to WION from the ground: 'We want our freedoms back' | WION Originals

The United Nations Security Council has put fresh allegations against the Islamist group, Taliban. In their latest report, the UN has raised concerns around the Taliban restoring its past form of governance that was before the US invasion of 2001.

UNSC report on Taliban-governed Afghanistan: End of Opium cultivation in Afghanistan | WION

The United Nations security council's most recent report voiced worries about the Taliban returning to its previous system of government prior to the US invasion in 2001, which has been criticised by the Taliban for new claims made against the Islamist group.

UN Security Council raises alarm over Taliban's autocratic rule

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<p>The connection between the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) remains strong and mutually beneficial for all the parties involved with the Taliban as current rulers of Afghanistan acting as the nucleus of the entire set-up harbouring terror activities, a latest UN report has indicated.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report highlights that terrorist groups are now able to freely operate under the Taliban's authority in Afghanistan, posing a significant threat of terrorism in the country and the wider region.</p>

<p>The report further describes that the Taliban's relationship with Al-Qaeda and TTP remains robust and symbiotic, enabling other terrorist groups to operate more freely under the Taliban's rule except for the ones that it sees as its rival.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The UNSC’s Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team submitted its 14th annual report about the Taliban’s impact on the security situation in Afghanistan this month, in which it accused the regime of reverting to its "autocratic"&nbsp;policies of the late 1990s.</p>

<h2><strong>Taliban is allowing Afghanistan to be used for attack against other nations</strong></h2>

<p>Contrary to the Taliban's promises and subsequent claims of not allowing Afghan soil to be used for attacks against other countries, the report reveals that they have been harboring and actively supporting the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).&nbsp;</p>

<p>In another contradiction, while the Taliban maintains ties with various terrorist entities, it has sought counter-terrorism assistance from member states in its fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province (ISIL-K), which it considers its primary rival.</p>

<p>“The Taliban leadership shows no signs of bending to pressure for reform or compromise, in the hope of earning international political recognition,” the report said, adding that Taliban chief Hibatullah Akhundzada has been “proudly resistant” to external pressure to moderate his policies.</p>

<h2><strong>Taliban is not honoring Doha agreement: UN report</strong></h2>

<p>The Taliban has failed to fulfill its counter-terrorism obligations as outlined in the Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan between the United States and the Taliban, the UN report said.</p>

<p>Moreover, the Taliban is helping Al-Qaeda rebuild its operational capability even amid a crisis of leadership after its leader Al-Zawahiri’s death in 2022.</p>

<h2><strong>What does the Taliban in Afghanistan mean for Pakistan?</strong></h2>

<p>Unlike the popular optics of August 201 showing Pakistani establishment mingling with Taliban as an apparent mark of US’ departure from the region, the snakes Islamabad has fed for decades have come to bite Pakistan itself.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report underscores that the tight bond between the Afghan Taliban and TTP, similar to their relationship with Al-Qaeda, is unlikely to dissipate. This situation puts Pakistan to the test and raises the risk of heightened violence on both sides of the border.</p>

<h2><strong>Taliban shows no signs of reform</strong></h2>

<p>The report, the first to cover the entirety of the Taliban's period in power, indicates that the Taliban leadership shows no intention of reform or compromise to gain international political recognition. With no significant political opposition, the Taliban's unchecked authority has allowed foreign terrorist fighters sheltered by the group to become an increasingly significant security threat to neighboring countries.</p>

<h2><strong>Taliban, Al-Qaeda ties: Afghanistan a safe haven for terror</strong></h2>

<p>While the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Aiman al-Zawahiri in a Kabul house connected to Taliban's acting Interior Minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani, did lead to a sense of distrust among its members, according to the latest UN report, Afghanistan continues to be a safe haven for Al-Qaeda.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Afghan women speak to WION from the ground: 'We want our freedoms back' | WION Originals</strong></p>

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<p>Al-Qaeda aims to strengthen its position in Afghanistan and has been collaborating with the Taliban, supporting the regime, and safeguarding senior Taliban figures.</p>

<p>Al-Qaeda maintains a low profile, utilising the country as an ideological and logistical hub for mobilisation, recruitment, and covertly rebuilding external operational capabilities. Al-Qaeda finances its activities through core funding and donations, including the use of hawala services and cryptocurrencies.</p>

<h2><strong>ISIL-K 'most serious terrorist threat'</strong></h2>

<p>ISIL-K has been identified as the most serious current terrorist threat in Afghanistan, neighboring countries, and Central Asia, according to member states.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/exclusive-why-is-the-world-neglecting-afghan-women-552725">Exclusive: 'Why is the world neglecting Afghan women?'</a></strong></p>

<p>The group has enhanced its operational capabilities and freedom of movement within Afghanistan, aiming to sustain a high pace of mostly low-impact attacks while sporadically executing high-impact actions to incite sectarian conflicts and destabilise the region in the medium to long term.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Over the past year, ISIL-K has claimed responsibility for more than 190 suicide bomb attacks targeting major cities, resulting in the death or injury of approximately 1,300 people.</p>

<h2><strong>Taliban rule in Afghanistan so far</strong></h2>

<p>Barely a month after coming to power, the Taliban banned girls from secondary education in September 2021.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On December 21, 2022, the Taliban <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-women-speak-to-wion-as-taliban-dismantles-their-right-to-education-campus-after-campus-545841">banned women from attending universities</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>WION first reported in January 2023 when the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/exclusive-afghan-women-fear-for-life-as-taliban-ban-male-doctors-from-treating-them-551218">Taliban-ruled in Balkh province</a> that male doctors can no longer treat female patients.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Taliban stormed to power virtually unchallenged after the withdrawal of US-led forces from the country in the first week of August 2021. The regime has not received international recognition especially due to its imposition of anti-women decrees.&nbsp;<br />
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The connection between the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) remains strong and mutually beneficial for all the parties involved with the Taliban as current rulers of Afghanistan acting as the nucleus of the entire set-up harbouring terror activities, a latest UN report has indicated.

The connection between the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) remains strong and mutually beneficial for all the parties involved with the Taliban as current rulers of Afghanistan acting as the nucleus of the entire set-up harbouring terror activities, a latest UN report has indicated. The report highlights that terrorist groups are now able to freely operate under the Taliban's authority in Afghanistan, posing a significant threat of terrorism in the country and the wider region. The report further describes that the Taliban's relationship with Al-Qaeda and TTP remains robust and symbiotic, enabling other terrorist groups to operate more freely under the Taliban's rule except for the ones that it sees as its rival. The UNSC’s Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team submitted its 14th annual report about the Taliban’s impact on the security situation in Afghanistan this month, in which it accused the regime of reverting to its "autocratic" policies of the late 1990s. Taliban is allowing Afghanistan to be used for attack against other nations Contrary to the Taliban's promises and subsequent claims of not allowing Afghan soil to be used for attacks against other countries, the report reveals that they have been harboring and actively supporting the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). In another contradiction, while the Taliban maintains ties with various terrorist entities, it has sought counter-terrorism assistance from member states in its fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province (ISIL-K), which it considers its primary rival. “The Taliban leadership shows no signs of bending to pressure for reform or compromise, in the hope of earning international political recognition,” the report said, adding that Taliban chief Hibatullah Akhundzada has been “proudly resistant” to external pressure to moderate his policies. Taliban is not honoring Doha agreement: UN report The Taliban has failed to fulfill its counter-terrorism obligations as outlined in the Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan between the United States and the Taliban, the UN report said. Moreover, the Taliban is helping Al-Qaeda rebuild its operational capability even amid a crisis of leadership after its leader Al-Zawahiri’s death in 2022. What does the Taliban in Afghanistan mean for Pakistan? Unlike the popular optics of August 201 showing Pakistani establishment mingling with Taliban as an apparent mark of US’ departure from the region, the snakes Islamabad has fed for decades have come to bite Pakistan itself. The report underscores that the tight bond between the Afghan Taliban and TTP, similar to their relationship with Al-Qaeda, is unlikely to dissipate. This situation puts Pakistan to the test and raises the risk of heightened violence on both sides of the border. Taliban shows no signs of reform The report, the first to cover the entirety of the Taliban's period in power, indicates that the Taliban leadership shows no intention of reform or compromise to gain international political recognition. With no significant political opposition, the Taliban's unchecked authority has allowed foreign terrorist fighters sheltered by the group to become an increasingly significant security threat to neighboring countries. Taliban, Al-Qaeda ties: Afghanistan a safe haven for terror While the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Aiman al-Zawahiri in a Kabul house connected to Taliban's acting Interior Minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani, did lead to a sense of distrust among its members, according to the latest UN report, Afghanistan continues to be a safe haven for Al-Qaeda. Also watch | Afghan women speak to WION from the ground: 'We want our freedoms back' | WION Originals × Al-Qaeda aims to strengthen its position in Afghanistan and has been collaborating with the Taliban, supporting the regime, and safeguarding senior Taliban figures. Al-Qaeda maintains a low profile, utilising the country as an ideological and logistical hub for mobilisation, recruitment, and covertly rebuilding external operational capabilities. Al-Qaeda finances its activities through core funding and donations, including the use of hawala services and cryptocurrencies. ISIL-K 'most serious terrorist threat' ISIL-K has been identified as the most serious current terrorist threat in Afghanistan, neighboring countries, and Central Asia, according to member states. Also read | Exclusive: 'Why is the world neglecting Afghan women?' The group has enhanced its operational capabilities and freedom of movement within Afghanistan, aiming to sustain a high pace of mostly low-impact attacks while sporadically executing high-impact actions to incite sectarian conflicts and destabilise the region in the medium to long term. Over the past year, ISIL-K has claimed responsibility for more than 190 suicide bomb attacks targeting major cities, resulting in the death or injury of approximately 1,300 people. Taliban rule in Afghanistan so far Barely a month after coming to power, the Taliban banned girls from secondary education in September 2021. On December 21, 2022, the Taliban banned women from attending universities. WION first reported in January 2023 when the Taliban-ruled in Balkh province that male doctors can no longer treat female patients. The Taliban stormed to power virtually unchallenged after the withdrawal of US-led forces from the country in the first week of August 2021. The regime has not received international recognition especially due to its imposition of anti-women decrees. 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.

Explained | Taliban have put Afghan clock back to 1990s’ autocracy: UN report

Taliban fighters and Iranian border guards exchanged heavy gunfire on 27th of May. The deadly clashes on the Islamic Republic's border with Afghanistan sharply escalated tensions. At least two Iranian guards and a Taliban fighter were reportedly killed, raising fears of a new conflict between the neighbors amid a dispute over water rights. Both sides have accused each other of provoking the shooting though they later issued measured statements in an effort to de-escalate the tense situation.

Decades-long water dispute flares up again

80 elementary school girls have been poisoned in Afghanistan. Many others are suffering from depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. Will Afghan women ever get the help they need? Molly Gambhir tells you more.

Gravitas: 80 girls poisoned in Afghanistan | Mental health crisis in Taliban-ruled country

<p>The anti-women tyranny in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan fiddled to another low as nearly 80 girls were poisoned and hospitalised in two separate attacks at their primary schools in northern Afghanistan's Sar-e-Pul province on June 4.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A local education official confirmed the set of poisoning incidents&nbsp;to Associated Press.&nbsp;The education official said the person who orchestrated the poisoning had a personal grudge but did not elaborate.</p>

<p>According to Mohammad Rahmani, who heads the provincial education department, a total of 80 female students were poisoned in Sangcharak district of Sar-e-Pul.</p>

<p>He said 60 students were poisoned in Naswan-e-Kabod Aab School and 17 others were poisoned in Naswan-e-Faizabad School.</p>

<p>"Both primary schools are near to each other and were targeted one after the other," he told Associated Press. "We shifted the students to hospital and now they are all fine."</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Afghan women speak to WION from the ground: 'We want our freedoms back' | WION Originals</strong></p>

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<p>After replacing democratically-elected President Ashraf Ghani's government&nbsp;in Kabul in August 2021, the globally unrecognised Taliban government has made it a matter of policy to erode rights and freedoms of Afghan women and girls. But it is for the first time that a poisoning assault akin to the ones reported in Iran in recent months has been reported in Afghanistan.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/exclusive-afghan-women-fear-for-life-as-taliban-ban-male-doctors-from-treating-them-551218">Exclusive | Afghan women fear for life as Taliban ban male doctors from treating them</a></strong></p>

<p>The Taliban banned girls from attending schools beyond sixth grade shortly after they came to power. In December 2022, the government banned women from attending university as well.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
WION had reached out Afghan women living under Taliban's tyranny who described harrowing scenes of ouster from classrooms and universities in December 2022.&nbsp;</p>

<p><b>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-women-speak-to-wion-as-taliban-dismantles-their-right-to-education-campus-after-campus-545841">Afghan women speak to WION as Taliban dismantle their right to education, campus after campus</a></b></p>

<p>The department's investigation is ongoing and initial inquiries show that someone with a grudge paid a third party to carry out the attacks, Rahmani said.</p>

<p>He gave no information on how the girls were poisoned or the nature of their injuries. Rahmani did not give their ages but said they were in grades 1 to 6.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The anti-women tyranny in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan fiddled to another low as nearly 80 girls were poisoned and hospitalised in two separate attacks at their primary schools in northern Afghanistan's Sar-e-Pul province on June 4.

The anti-women tyranny in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan fiddled to another low as nearly 80 girls were poisoned and hospitalised in two separate attacks at their primary schools in northern Afghanistan's Sar-e-Pul province on June 4. A local education official confirmed the set of poisoning incidents to Associated Press. The education official said the person who orchestrated the poisoning had a personal grudge but did not elaborate. According to Mohammad Rahmani, who heads the provincial education department, a total of 80 female students were poisoned in Sangcharak district of Sar-e-Pul. He said 60 students were poisoned in Naswan-e-Kabod Aab School and 17 others were poisoned in Naswan-e-Faizabad School. "Both primary schools are near to each other and were targeted one after the other," he told Associated Press. "We shifted the students to hospital and now they are all fine." Also watch | Afghan women speak to WION from the ground: 'We want our freedoms back' | WION Originals × After replacing democratically-elected President Ashraf Ghani's government in Kabul in August 2021, the globally unrecognised Taliban government has made it a matter of policy to erode rights and freedoms of Afghan women and girls. But it is for the first time that a poisoning assault akin to the ones reported in Iran in recent months has been reported in Afghanistan. Also read | Exclusive | Afghan women fear for life as Taliban ban male doctors from treating them The Taliban banned girls from attending schools beyond sixth grade shortly after they came to power. In December 2022, the government banned women from attending university as well. WION had reached out Afghan women living under Taliban's tyranny who described harrowing scenes of ouster from classrooms and universities in December 2022. Also read | Afghan women speak to WION as Taliban dismantle their right to education, campus after campus The department's investigation is ongoing and initial inquiries show that someone with a grudge paid a third party to carry out the attacks, Rahmani said. He gave no information on how the girls were poisoned or the nature of their injuries. Rahmani did not give their ages but said they were in grades 1 to 6. (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.

Nearly 80 Afghan school girls poisoned in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan

<p>The Qatari prime minister held secret talks with the supreme leader of the Taliban this month on resolving tension with the international community, a source briefed on the meeting said, signalling a new willingness by Afghanistan's rulers to discuss ways to end their isolation.</p>

<p>The May 12 meeting in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar between Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani and Haibatullah Akhunzada is the first the reclusive Taliban chief is known to have held with a foreign leader.</p>

<p>US&nbsp;President Joe Biden's administration was briefed on the talks and is "coordinating on all issues discussed" by the pair, including furthering dialogue with the Taliban, said the source.</p>

<p>The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said other issues Sheikh Mohammed raised with Haibatullah included the need to end a Taliban bans on girls' education and women's employment.</p>

<p>The meeting represents a diplomatic success for Qatar, which has criticized Taliban restrictions on women while using long-standing ties with the Islamist movement to push for deeper engagement with Kabul by the international community.</p>

<p>The United States has led demands for the Taliban to end the bans on girls' schooling and women working, including for UN&nbsp;agencies and humanitarian groups, to restore their freedom of movement and bring Afghans from outside Taliban ranks into government.</p>

<p>The source's comments suggested that Washington supported elevating what have been unproductive lower-level talks in the hope of a breakthrough that could end the world's only bans of their kind and ease dire humanitarian and financial crises that have left tens of millions of Afghans hungry and jobless.</p>

<p>The White House declined to comment on the talks. The State Department and the Qatar embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment.</p>

<p>The Taliban did not immediately respond to a request for comment.</p>

<p><strong>EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT BANS</strong></p>

<p>The restrictions on women's schooling and work have stymied humanitarian aid and are key reasons why no country has recognized Taliban rule since they seized power in August 2021, after the Western-backed government collapsed as the last US-led international troops departed following two decades of war.</p>

<p>The treatment by the Taliban of women and girls could amount to a crime against humanity, according to a UN&nbsp;report presented in March at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. The Taliban say they respect women’s rights in line with their interpretation of Islamic law and Afghan customs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Haibatullah, a hardline Islamist, has shown little willingness to compromise on his edicts.</p>

<p>His meeting with Sheikh Mohammed, however, suggests that he is open to exploring avenues for ending Afghanistan's isolation and boosting relief programs as the country sinks into hunger and poverty.</p>

<p>"It was a very positive meeting," said the source. Haibatullah was "very interested" in continuing a dialogue with the international community.</p>

<p>But eventual recognition by other countries of the Taliban administration, senior members of which remain under US&nbsp;and international sanctions, is far from assured given their treatment of women and poor human rights record.</p>

<p>Sheikh Mohammed raised with Haibatullah the need to lift the bans on women's education and employment, including the bar on them working for UN&nbsp;agencies and other humanitarian groups, the source said.</p>

<p>The Taliban administration has been promising since January written guidelines allowing aid groups to operate with female staff.</p>

<p>The Taliban in March 2022 barred girls from high schools and extended the ban to universities in December.</p>

<p>They say they will reopen secondary schools to girls when "conditions" have been met, including devising an Islamic syllabus.</p>

<p><strong>ADDRESSING HUMANITARIAN CRISIS</strong></p>

<p>Sheikh Mohammed and Haibatullah also discussed efforts to remedy Afghanistan's humanitarian crisis, the source said.</p>

<p>The United Nations says nearly three-quarters of Afghanistan's 40 million people need help and it has warned that funding is drying up.</p>

<p>Sheikh Mohammed, the source said, raised with Haibatullah the "continued efforts on the ground" by the Taliban on counterterrorism, an apparent reference to Kabul's drive to crush an Islamic State affiliate.</p>

<p>The main ideological foe of the Taliban is based mostly in eastern Afghanistan but has targeted minorities and embassies in Kabul.</p>

<p>The US&nbsp;and its allies say the Taliban harbor members of al Qaeda and the Pakistani Taliban. The Afghan Taliban deny that.</p>

<p>Sheikh Mohammed, who also serves as Qatar's foreign minister, met publicly in Kandahar with Mullah Hassan Akhund, the Taliban prime minister, on the same day he met the supreme leader. He was accompanied by Qatar's intelligence chief.</p>

<p>Neither side, however, revealed the talks with Haibatullah.</p>

<p>He almost never leaves Kandahar but has been the paramount religious, political and military leader of the Taliban since 2016, guiding the movement to victory over the Western-backed Kabul government.</p>

<p>Qatar allowed the militants to open a political office in Doha in 2013 and facilitated their talks with Washington that led to the 2020 deal for a withdrawal of the US-led international force that they fought for 20 years.</p>

<p>While the tiny Gulf monarchy has no formal diplomatic ties with Afghanistan, its Kabul embassy is open and represents US&nbsp;interests there.</p>

<p>Qatar has long pressed the international community to agree a "roadmap" of steps for the Taliban to gain recognition, arguing that isolating Afghanistan could worsen regional security.</p>

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The Qatari prime minister held secret talks with the supreme leader of the Taliban this month on resolving tension with the international community, a source briefed on the meeting said, signalling a new willingness by Afghanistan's rulers to discuss ways to end their isolation.

The Qatari prime minister held secret talks with the supreme leader of the Taliban this month on resolving tension with the international community, a source briefed on the meeting said, signalling a new willingness by Afghanistan's rulers to discuss ways to end their isolation. The May 12 meeting in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar between Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani and Haibatullah Akhunzada is the first the reclusive Taliban chief is known to have held with a foreign leader. US President Joe Biden's administration was briefed on the talks and is "coordinating on all issues discussed" by the pair, including furthering dialogue with the Taliban, said the source. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said other issues Sheikh Mohammed raised with Haibatullah included the need to end a Taliban bans on girls' education and women's employment. The meeting represents a diplomatic success for Qatar, which has criticized Taliban restrictions on women while using long-standing ties with the Islamist movement to push for deeper engagement with Kabul by the international community. The United States has led demands for the Taliban to end the bans on girls' schooling and women working, including for UN agencies and humanitarian groups, to restore their freedom of movement and bring Afghans from outside Taliban ranks into government. The source's comments suggested that Washington supported elevating what have been unproductive lower-level talks in the hope of a breakthrough that could end the world's only bans of their kind and ease dire humanitarian and financial crises that have left tens of millions of Afghans hungry and jobless. The White House declined to comment on the talks. The State Department and the Qatar embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment. The Taliban did not immediately respond to a request for comment. EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT BANS The restrictions on women's schooling and work have stymied humanitarian aid and are key reasons why no country has recognized Taliban rule since they seized power in August 2021, after the Western-backed government collapsed as the last US-led international troops departed following two decades of war. The treatment by the Taliban of women and girls could amount to a crime against humanity, according to a UN report presented in March at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. The Taliban say they respect women’s rights in line with their interpretation of Islamic law and Afghan customs. Haibatullah, a hardline Islamist, has shown little willingness to compromise on his edicts. His meeting with Sheikh Mohammed, however, suggests that he is open to exploring avenues for ending Afghanistan's isolation and boosting relief programs as the country sinks into hunger and poverty. "It was a very positive meeting," said the source. Haibatullah was "very interested" in continuing a dialogue with the international community. But eventual recognition by other countries of the Taliban administration, senior members of which remain under US and international sanctions, is far from assured given their treatment of women and poor human rights record. Sheikh Mohammed raised with Haibatullah the need to lift the bans on women's education and employment, including the bar on them working for UN agencies and other humanitarian groups, the source said. The Taliban administration has been promising since January written guidelines allowing aid groups to operate with female staff. The Taliban in March 2022 barred girls from high schools and extended the ban to universities in December. They say they will reopen secondary schools to girls when "conditions" have been met, including devising an Islamic syllabus. ADDRESSING HUMANITARIAN CRISIS Sheikh Mohammed and Haibatullah also discussed efforts to remedy Afghanistan's humanitarian crisis, the source said. The United Nations says nearly three-quarters of Afghanistan's 40 million people need help and it has warned that funding is drying up. Sheikh Mohammed, the source said, raised with Haibatullah the "continued efforts on the ground" by the Taliban on counterterrorism, an apparent reference to Kabul's drive to crush an Islamic State affiliate. The main ideological foe of the Taliban is based mostly in eastern Afghanistan but has targeted minorities and embassies in Kabul. The US and its allies say the Taliban harbor members of al Qaeda and the Pakistani Taliban. The Afghan Taliban deny that. Sheikh Mohammed, who also serves as Qatar's foreign minister, met publicly in Kandahar with Mullah Hassan Akhund, the Taliban prime minister, on the same day he met the supreme leader. He was accompanied by Qatar's intelligence chief. Neither side, however, revealed the talks with Haibatullah. He almost never leaves Kandahar but has been the paramount religious, political and military leader of the Taliban since 2016, guiding the movement to victory over the Western-backed Kabul government. Qatar allowed the militants to open a political office in Doha in 2013 and facilitated their talks with Washington that led to the 2020 deal for a withdrawal of the US-led international force that they fought for 20 years. While the tiny Gulf monarchy has no formal diplomatic ties with Afghanistan, its Kabul embassy is open and represents US interests there. Qatar has long pressed the international community to agree a "roadmap" of steps for the Taliban to gain recognition, arguing that isolating Afghanistan could worsen regional security. 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.

Qatar prime minister, Taliban chief hold secret Afghan talks: Source

A new border dispute is brewing in Asia and this is between the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and Iran. Now what started off as a water dispute is now affecting diplomacy and beyond. Watch to know more in this news report.

Afghan-Iran ties: Who does Helmand belong to?

<p>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.</p>

<p>As&nbsp;per&nbsp;Afghanistan-based Khaama Press, Maulvi Kabir will now lead the Taliban government&nbsp;until Hassan Akhund recovers.<br />
<br />
Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund has served as the prime minister of the Taliban government since the group’s return to power in 2021.&nbsp;</p>

<p>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.</p>

<h2><strong>Who is&nbsp;Maulvi Abdul Kabir?</strong></h2>

<p>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.</p>

<p>As an influential Taliban official, Maulvi Kabir played an important role in the Qatar discussions with the US.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Afghan Embassy in Delhi rejects report of Taliban appointing new head</strong></p>

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<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>His selections demonstrate that his duties and influence within the Taliban's leadership structure are increasing.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Condition of women and girls in Afghanistan under the rule of Taliban</strong></h2>

<p>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;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&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></p>

<p>“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.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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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

<p>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;</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: Afghanistan denounces change of guard&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p>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;</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>There were some reports in the Afghan media about allegations of corruption against the embassy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>"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;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>

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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

For years Pakistan has tried to gain strategic depth against India. How? By using its ties with Afghanistan. If that were the case, looks like times are changing. Afghan Embassy Denounces Taliban's replacement for Ambassador to India. What are we talking about?

Gravitas: Afghanistan denounces change of guard

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. A simmering Face-Off between Kabul and its Embassy in India is out in the open now the former had earlier issue a letter for trains of God at the embassy in India on April 28th reports the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Afghanistan had chosen Muhammad Kadasha to lead the embassy a claim which was refuted by current ambassador Farid Mamusde now Shah has previously served as the embassy secretary in India employees at the embassy have collectively refused to welcome the decision from Kabul.

New Delhi: Power tussle at Afghan embassy

<p>China is reportedly mediating between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban regime to tackle the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist group, Express Tribune newspaper reported citing official sources.</p>

<p>The TTP, or Pakistani Taliban, is an armed terrorist group and is considered a close ally of the Afghan Taliban. They seek the ouster of the civilian government and impose stricter Islamic laws like in the present-day Afghanistan.</p>

<p>According to news reports, China has asked Pakistan and the Taliban regime to come up with a “workable solution” and make sure that the TTP is brought back to the discussion table again.</p>

<p>China is reported to have voiced its opinion during a recent trilateral meeting between foreign ministers of the three countries in Islamabad to discuss the current situation in Afghanistan.</p>

<p>During that meeting, Beijing asked the Afghan Taliban to neutralise the threat posed by the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM)— an extremist group of native Uyghurs, a Muslim minority in China, whose objective is to form a sovereign nation of East Turkestan, carved out from China’s Xinjiang province.</p>

<p>The Express Tribune report quoting an unnamed senior official stated that Pakistan had requested China to intervene in the matter and leverage its economic power over Afghan Taliban to tackle the issue of TPP.</p>

<p>Reports further stated that China was keen that both sides do not lose sight of the bigger picture while addressing the issue of TTP.</p>

<h2><strong>China and Pakistan agree to extend BRI to Afghanistan | Inside South Asia</strong></h2>

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<p>“Essentially, China doesn’t want the TTP issue to undermine bilateral ties, something that would be detrimental to regional connectivity,” the report said quoting sources.</p>

<p>Last week at a press conference, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang hoped "Pakistan and Afghanistan will bear in mind the larger picture and try to work out the issues between them through dialogue and consultation."</p>

<p>TTP was officially set up by Pakistani militants in 2007 when different outlawed groups agreed to work together against Pakistan and support the Afghan Taliban, who were fighting US and NATO forces.</p>

<p>The TTP seeks stricter enforcement of Islamic laws, the release of its members in government custody, and a reduction in Pakistani military presence in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the province bordering Afghanistan that it has long used as a base.</p>

<p>Since November last year, the TTP has increased attacks on Pakistani soldiers and police, when it unilaterally ended a cease-fire with the government after the failure of months of talks, hosted by Afghanistan's Taliban rulers in Kabul.</p>

<p>TTP's operations have largely been aimed at targeting Pakistani forces, similar to the Afghan Taliban's agenda of ousting foreign forces from the country.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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China is reportedly mediating between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban regime to tackle the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist group, Express Tribune newspaper reported citing official sources.

China is reportedly mediating between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban regime to tackle the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist group, Express Tribune newspaper reported citing official sources. The TTP, or Pakistani Taliban, is an armed terrorist group and is considered a close ally of the Afghan Taliban. They seek the ouster of the civilian government and impose stricter Islamic laws like in the present-day Afghanistan. According to news reports, China has asked Pakistan and the Taliban regime to come up with a “workable solution” and make sure that the TTP is brought back to the discussion table again. China is reported to have voiced its opinion during a recent trilateral meeting between foreign ministers of the three countries in Islamabad to discuss the current situation in Afghanistan. During that meeting, Beijing asked the Afghan Taliban to neutralise the threat posed by the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM)— an extremist group of native Uyghurs, a Muslim minority in China, whose objective is to form a sovereign nation of East Turkestan, carved out from China’s Xinjiang province. The Express Tribune report quoting an unnamed senior official stated that Pakistan had requested China to intervene in the matter and leverage its economic power over Afghan Taliban to tackle the issue of TPP. Reports further stated that China was keen that both sides do not lose sight of the bigger picture while addressing the issue of TTP. China and Pakistan agree to extend BRI to Afghanistan | Inside South Asia “Essentially, China doesn’t want the TTP issue to undermine bilateral ties, something that would be detrimental to regional connectivity,” the report said quoting sources. Last week at a press conference, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang hoped "Pakistan and Afghanistan will bear in mind the larger picture and try to work out the issues between them through dialogue and consultation." TTP was officially set up by Pakistani militants in 2007 when different outlawed groups agreed to work together against Pakistan and support the Afghan Taliban, who were fighting US and NATO forces. The TTP seeks stricter enforcement of Islamic laws, the release of its members in government custody, and a reduction in Pakistani military presence in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the province bordering Afghanistan that it has long used as a base. Since November last year, the TTP has increased attacks on Pakistani soldiers and police, when it unilaterally ended a cease-fire with the government after the failure of months of talks, hosted by Afghanistan's Taliban rulers in Kabul. TTP's operations have largely been aimed at targeting Pakistani forces, similar to the Afghan Taliban's agenda of ousting foreign forces from the country. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

China plays peacemaker in Pakistan's war with Pakistani Taliban terror group: Report

After bail, what's next for Imran Khan? From economic miracle to economic crisis - why Bangladesh economy is in the doldrums Sri Lanka top court clears decriminalising homosexuality Toyota and the Taliban: An eternal love story 25 years of Pokhran-II. A look back at the Indian Nuclear programme

Islamabad grants bail to Imran Khan | Economic crisis hit Bangladesh | Inside South Asia

<p>In the last six months, the Taliban have carried out hundreds of flogging incidents, stonings and public executions in Afghanistan, which has been slammed by the United Nations (UN) in its latest report.</p>

<p>Ever since the hardline Islamist regime took over Afghanistan in 2021, it has asked fighters, judges and leaders to implement the stringent Sharia law as per their interpretation, a pattern which they have followed from the early days of their previous rule in the 1990s.</p>

<p>And in reaction to the report of the UN, which called the methods of the Taliban “archaic corporal punishment”, the militant group stated that it is obliged to follow Islamic law's strict interpretation.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">UN report on corporal punishment and death penalty released today:<br />
274 men, 58 women and two boys publicly flogged in last six months in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghanistan</a>.<br />
Read full report: <a href="https://t.co/hUvWzrn0lx">https://t.co/hUvWzrn0lx</a><br />
1/3 <a href="https://t.co/eDrZ395pZ8">pic.twitter.com/eDrZ395pZ8</a></p>
— UNAMA News (@UNAMAnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/UNAMAnews/status/1655430606124138498?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>As per the report, 274 men, 58 women and two boys have been publicly flogged by the Taliban leaders in the last six months in at least 43 instances.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-to-school-taliban-on-culture-leadership-and-economics-572083">India to give crash course to Taliban on culture, leadership and economics</a></p>

<p>The report appealed to the interim regime to halt such practices.</p>

<p>“In the event of a conflict between international human rights law and Islamic law, the government is obliged to follow the Islamic law,” said the Taliban foreign ministry in response to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan's (UNAMA) detailed report released on Monday.</p>

<p>The majority of people were punished after they were convicted of adultery and “running away from home,” said the report, while some were also flogged for other crimes like theft, homosexuality, consuming alcohol, fraud and drug trafficking.</p>

<p>In its report, the UNAMA pointed to a statement given by a Taliban official who stated that “cutting off of hands is very necessary for security” for its “deterrent effect, but that the cabinet was still assessing whether punishments would be conducted in public”.</p>

<p>Under the incumbent Taliban regime, the first corporal punishment was recorded on October 20, 2021, when the de facto district court convicted a man and woman of adultery and both of them were publicly lashed 100 times each.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | UN threatens to pull out of Afghanistan after Taliban bans women from working for UN | WION</strong></p>

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<p>UNAMA human rights chief Fiona Frazer, decrying the violations, said, “Corporal punishment is a violation of the Convention against Torture and must cease. The UN is strongly opposed to the death penalty and encourages the DFA to establish an immediate moratorium on executions”.</p>

<p>Frazer, in his comments, was referring to the Department of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan.</p>

<p>Separately, the UN agency had documented at least 182 instances the sentences were given directly by the Taliban during the height of insurgency between 2010 and August 2021, which led to 213 deaths and 64 injuries.</p>

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In the last six months, the Taliban have carried out hundreds of flogging incidents, stonings and public executions in Afghanistan, which has been slammed by the United Nations (UN) in its latest report.

In the last six months, the Taliban have carried out hundreds of flogging incidents, stonings and public executions in Afghanistan, which has been slammed by the United Nations (UN) in its latest report. Ever since the hardline Islamist regime took over Afghanistan in 2021, it has asked fighters, judges and leaders to implement the stringent Sharia law as per their interpretation, a pattern which they have followed from the early days of their previous rule in the 1990s. And in reaction to the report of the UN, which called the methods of the Taliban “archaic corporal punishment”, the militant group stated that it is obliged to follow Islamic law's strict interpretation. UN report on corporal punishment and death penalty released today: 274 men, 58 women and two boys publicly flogged in last six months in #Afghanistan. Read full report: https://t.co/hUvWzrn0lx 1/3 pic.twitter.com/eDrZ395pZ8 — UNAMA News (@UNAMAnews) May 8, 2023 × As per the report, 274 men, 58 women and two boys have been publicly flogged by the Taliban leaders in the last six months in at least 43 instances. ALSO READ | India to give crash course to Taliban on culture, leadership and economics The report appealed to the interim regime to halt such practices. “In the event of a conflict between international human rights law and Islamic law, the government is obliged to follow the Islamic law,” said the Taliban foreign ministry in response to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan's (UNAMA) detailed report released on Monday. The majority of people were punished after they were convicted of adultery and “running away from home,” said the report, while some were also flogged for other crimes like theft, homosexuality, consuming alcohol, fraud and drug trafficking. In its report, the UNAMA pointed to a statement given by a Taliban official who stated that “cutting off of hands is very necessary for security” for its “deterrent effect, but that the cabinet was still assessing whether punishments would be conducted in public”. Under the incumbent Taliban regime, the first corporal punishment was recorded on October 20, 2021, when the de facto district court convicted a man and woman of adultery and both of them were publicly lashed 100 times each. WATCH | UN threatens to pull out of Afghanistan after Taliban bans women from working for UN | WION UNAMA human rights chief Fiona Frazer, decrying the violations, said, “Corporal punishment is a violation of the Convention against Torture and must cease. The UN is strongly opposed to the death penalty and encourages the DFA to establish an immediate moratorium on executions”. Frazer, in his comments, was referring to the Department of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan. Separately, the UN agency had documented at least 182 instances the sentences were given directly by the Taliban during the height of insurgency between 2010 and August 2021, which led to 213 deaths and 64 injuries. 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

Taliban pledge to continue executions, public floggings as UN raises alarm

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

<p>The Taliban will not be part of the UN-led international talks on situation in Afghanistan. The regime has not been invited for the talks that are expected to focus on women's rights in the crisis-stricken country. Representatives from the US, China, Russia, Pakistan and more will be present for the discussions in Qatar to open on Monday (May 1).</p>

<p>The talks, called by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will go on for two days.</p>

<p>The Taliban government's deputy spokesman, Bilal Karimi, said Monday it "wants positive engagement with the world".<br />
But "internal issues" -- such as curbs on women's rights -- should not factor into decisions about diplomatic engagement and formal recognition, he told AFP in Kabul.</p>

<p>"These should not be used as political tools," he said. "Countries should have the moral courage to independently come forward for positive engagement."</p>

<p>A small group of Afghan women staged a weekend protest in Kabul to oppose global recognition to Taliban regime in the country.</p>

<p>In an open letter to the Doha meeting released Sunday, a coalition of Afghan women's groups said they were "outraged" that any country would consider formal ties with the government that the UN calls the "de facto authorities".</p>

<p>The UN and the US have said that recognition to the Taliban regime is not on the agenda.</p>

<p>Rights groups' fears have been fuelled by remarks made last month by UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, who said the Doha meeting could find "baby steps" that lead to a "principled recognition" of the Taliban government.</p>

<p>The UN said the comments were misinterpreted.</p>

<p>UN membership can only be decided by the UN General Assembly. No country has established formal ties with the Taliban regime.</p>

<p>Ahead of his arrival in Doha, Guterres' office said the meeting "is intended to achieve a common understanding within the international community on how to engage with the Taliban" on women's and girls' rights, inclusive governance, countering terrorism and drug trafficking.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The Taliban will not be part of the UN-led international talks on situation in Afghanistan. The regime has not been invited for the talks that are expected to focus on women's rights in the crisis-stricken country.

The Taliban will not be part of the UN-led international talks on situation in Afghanistan. The regime has not been invited for the talks that are expected to focus on women's rights in the crisis-stricken country. Representatives from the US, China, Russia, Pakistan and more will be present for the discussions in Qatar to open on Monday (May 1). The talks, called by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will go on for two days. The Taliban government's deputy spokesman, Bilal Karimi, said Monday it "wants positive engagement with the world". But "internal issues" -- such as curbs on women's rights -- should not factor into decisions about diplomatic engagement and formal recognition, he told AFP in Kabul. "These should not be used as political tools," he said. "Countries should have the moral courage to independently come forward for positive engagement." A small group of Afghan women staged a weekend protest in Kabul to oppose global recognition to Taliban regime in the country. In an open letter to the Doha meeting released Sunday, a coalition of Afghan women's groups said they were "outraged" that any country would consider formal ties with the government that the UN calls the "de facto authorities". The UN and the US have said that recognition to the Taliban regime is not on the agenda. Rights groups' fears have been fuelled by remarks made last month by UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, who said the Doha meeting could find "baby steps" that lead to a "principled recognition" of the Taliban government. The UN said the comments were misinterpreted. UN membership can only be decided by the UN General Assembly. No country has established formal ties with the Taliban regime. Ahead of his arrival in Doha, Guterres' office said the meeting "is intended to achieve a common understanding within the international community on how to engage with the Taliban" on women's and girls' rights, inclusive governance, countering terrorism and drug trafficking. (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 ×

Taliban not invited for UN-talks over the crisis-stricken country

<p>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;</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <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></p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>"Any kind of recognition of the Taliban is completely off the table," US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel stated.&nbsp;</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>UN expert for the International Crisis Group Richard Gowan said that the United Nations is "in a trap over Afghanistan".</p>

<p>"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;</p>

<p>He stated that the international community wishes that the UN's critical presence is maintained.</p>

<p>"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;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Taliban kill I.S. leader behind airport bombing</strong></p>

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<p>A few indications has been given by the United Nations about what proposals could be made during the meeting.&nbsp;</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>The UN also wants "unity or commonality of message" on women's and human rights, drug trafficking and countering terrorism.</p>

<p>"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;</p>

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<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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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

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>However, sporadic gatherings organised by small groups of women have continued.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>The women chanted during the march, which lasted barely more than 10 minutes and ended without a run-in with security forces.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Their chants included "Afghan people, hostages of Taliban" and "We will fight, we will die, we will take our rights".</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Only Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia officially recognised the former Taliban government, which governed from 1996 to 2001.</p>

<p>NGOs, relief organisations, and diplomats are all split on the subject at the moment.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&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></p>

<p>Some people think the possibility of recognition could persuade the Taliban to reverse restrictions on women's rights.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Afghanistan's "de facto authorities" have not received an invitation to the Doha summit, according to the UN.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
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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

<p>Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met Pakistan's former army chief&nbsp;Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa before requesting India on sending its diplomats and technical personnel back to Kabul, revealed a book.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The book is written by Hassan Abbas, a professor of international affairs at the National Defence University (NDU), Washington.</p>

<p>India's return to Kabul "could not have happened without Pakistan, and Pakistan acted this way because it just might open up prospects of some aid for the Taliban in Afghanistan," writes Abbas, who contends that Pakistan is as desperate for financial support to run Afghanistan as the Taliban themselves.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/former-fox-news-host-tucker-carlson-takes-dig-at-us-media-586500">Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson takes dig at US media</a></p>

<p>The book further asserts that for the sake of "international legitimacy and recognition," Kabul wants to patch things up with New Delhi. It emphasises that India had severed links with Afghanistan when the Taliban took power but has strategic interests in the country, reported Dawn citing the book.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It also makes note of the fact that "India is now seriously reassessing its position and moving towards a balancing act in its effort to engage with the Taliban and help stabilise Afghanistan."</p>

<p>The book states that "the Taliban desire is simple — international legitimacy and recognition" when discussing why the Taliban are ready to repair their relationship with India.</p>

<p>India has the financial means to provide the "huge external investments" that Kabul's new rulers require "to reconstruct and revive the country."</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/argentina-moves-away-from-us-dollar-for-trade-in-chinese-currency-586465">Argentina moves away from US dollar for trade in Chinese currency</a></p>

<p>The "Return of the Taliban" illustrates "how as rulers they struggle to reconcile pressures for transition with their rigid ideology," according to Marvin G. Weinbaum, the senior specialist of South Asian affairs in Washington.</p>

<p>It also reveals "the pivotal decisions leading to the Taliban's seizure of power."</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Gemini Sankaran, pioneer of Indian Circus dies at age of 99 in Kerala's Kannur</strong></p>

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<p>The book tells the story of Taliban minister of finance Hidayatullah Badri, also known as Gul Agha Ishaqzai,&nbsp; and how Muttaqi "personally escorted him to Gen. Bajwa." According to the book, Badri was only given the chance to become the nation's finance minister because of Bajwa's endorsement.</p>

<p>“This trend was an important agenda item in the conversation between ISI chief Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum, and CIA Director William Burns in early May 2022, in Washington. The Pakistani delegation included the former ISI chief Gen Hamid as well,” the book said.</p>

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Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met Pakistan's former army chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa before requesting India on sending its diplomats and technical personnel back to Kabul, revealed a book.

Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met Pakistan's former army chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa before requesting India on sending its diplomats and technical personnel back to Kabul, revealed a book. The book is written by Hassan Abbas, a professor of international affairs at the National Defence University (NDU), Washington. India's return to Kabul "could not have happened without Pakistan, and Pakistan acted this way because it just might open up prospects of some aid for the Taliban in Afghanistan," writes Abbas, who contends that Pakistan is as desperate for financial support to run Afghanistan as the Taliban themselves. Also Read | Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson takes dig at US media The book further asserts that for the sake of "international legitimacy and recognition," Kabul wants to patch things up with New Delhi. It emphasises that India had severed links with Afghanistan when the Taliban took power but has strategic interests in the country, reported Dawn citing the book. It also makes note of the fact that "India is now seriously reassessing its position and moving towards a balancing act in its effort to engage with the Taliban and help stabilise Afghanistan." The book states that "the Taliban desire is simple — international legitimacy and recognition" when discussing why the Taliban are ready to repair their relationship with India. India has the financial means to provide the "huge external investments" that Kabul's new rulers require "to reconstruct and revive the country." Also Read | Argentina moves away from US dollar for trade in Chinese currency The "Return of the Taliban" illustrates "how as rulers they struggle to reconcile pressures for transition with their rigid ideology," according to Marvin G. Weinbaum, the senior specialist of South Asian affairs in Washington. It also reveals "the pivotal decisions leading to the Taliban's seizure of power." Watch | Gemini Sankaran, pioneer of Indian Circus dies at age of 99 in Kerala's Kannur × The book tells the story of Taliban minister of finance Hidayatullah Badri, also known as Gul Agha Ishaqzai, and how Muttaqi "personally escorted him to Gen. Bajwa." According to the book, Badri was only given the chance to become the nation's finance minister because of Bajwa's endorsement. “This trend was an important agenda item in the conversation between ISI chief Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum, and CIA Director William Burns in early May 2022, in Washington. The Pakistani delegation included the former ISI chief Gen Hamid as well,” the book said. 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 'consulted' ex-Pak army chief Gen Bajwa before urging India to send diplomats to Kabul

<p>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;</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>The Post quoted a senior defence official as saying that "the duelling groups of religious fanatics are openly warring".&nbsp;</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p><strong>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;</strong></p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>"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;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Pakistan: At least 17 dead, 50 injured in blast at police station; nature of blasts being invested&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p>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;</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>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;</p>

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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?

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