India is facing a triple whammy of threats. Pakistan, China and the Taliban are joining hands. Together, they form a new axis of evil - one that presents a clear and present danger to India. How can New Delhi neutralise this threat? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: The Taliban, Pakistan & China: India braces for three-front threat

For years innocent civilians have been paying the price for the US war on terror. US intel have led to the killing of an aid worker and members of his family including children.

Afghanistan: 10 civilians killed due to faulty intelligence ?

Taliban foreign minister held his first press conference after the takeover of Afghanistan.

Taliban FM holds press conference

The Taliban are killing civilians in Panjshir Valley, said a report by BBC. It said that it had evidence of such killings. Taiban have already declared that they have complete control over the valley but the resistance fighters have contested the claim.

The BBC report referred to a video of a man being gunned down by Taliban fighters at roadside in Panjshir. There have reportedly been 20 such deaths across Panjshir.&nbsp;

Panjshir has remained at the focus of resistance in Afghanistan since times of Soviet invasion. The fighters in the valley repelled Soviet attacks and later, Taliban onslaught. Panjshir Valley has geographical advantage as it is surrounded by mountain peaks making effective defence possible.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-co-founder-abdul-ghani-baradar-releases-audio-statement-amid-rumours-of-death-412791">Taliban co-founder Abdul Ghani Baradar releases audio statement amid rumours of death</a>

This time however, Taliban have claimed to have control of the valley. A video surfaced earlier this month that showed Taliban fighters entering the governor's house in Panjshir and raising their flag. The claim of fall of Panjshir however, has been contested by resistance fighters who say that they continue to repel the Taliban. Ahmad Massoud, leader of the resistance has called for a "national uprising" in Afghanistan.

When the Taliban entered the valley, a Taliban spokesperson had been quoted as saying that they were there to "protect" the people and their families. However, reports emerging from the region appear to paint a different picture

The Taliban are killing civilians in Panjshir Valley, said a report by BBC. It said that it had evidence of such killings. Taiban have already declared that they have complete control over the valley but the resistance fighters have contested the claim.

The Taliban are killing civilians in Panjshir Valley, said a report by BBC. It said that it had evidence of such killings. Taiban have already declared that they have complete control over the valley but the resistance fighters have contested the claim. The BBC report referred to a video of a man being gunned down by Taliban fighters at roadside in Panjshir. There have reportedly been 20 such deaths across Panjshir. Panjshir has remained at the focus of resistance in Afghanistan since times of Soviet invasion. The fighters in the valley repelled Soviet attacks and later, Taliban onslaught. Panjshir Valley has geographical advantage as it is surrounded by mountain peaks making effective defence possible. Also Read | Taliban co-founder Abdul Ghani Baradar releases audio statement amid rumours of death This time however, Taliban have claimed to have control of the valley. A video surfaced earlier this month that showed Taliban fighters entering the governor's house in Panjshir and raising their flag. The claim of fall of Panjshir however, has been contested by resistance fighters who say that they continue to repel the Taliban. Ahmad Massoud, leader of the resistance has called for a "national uprising" in Afghanistan. When the Taliban entered the valley, a Taliban spokesperson had been quoted as saying that they were there to "protect" the people and their families. However, reports emerging from the region appear to paint a different picture

Taliban killing civilians in Panjshir Valley, says report

Taliban foreign minister held his first press conference. In his presser, he accused the US of handling the Afghan property badly.

Taliban Foreign Minister holds first press briefing, accuses the US of mishandling Afghan property

Taliban soldiers belied their stern image when they enjoyed a day out at Kabul City Park The amusement park had been noticeably empty since the Taliban took power back in August and like many other venues it has been taken over by the new government.

Taliban riding the dodgem cars at Kabul amusement park

Thousands of Afghans protested against the Taliban in the southern city of Kandahar on Tuesday, according to a former government official and local television footage, after residents were asked to vacate a residential army colony.

Protesters gathered in front of the governor`s house in Kandahar after around 3,000 families were asked to leave the colony, according to the former government official who witnessed the crowds.

Footage from local media showed crowds of people blocking a road in the city.

The affected area is predominantly occupied by the families of retired army generals and other members of the Afghan security forces.

The families, some of whom had lived in the district for almost 30 years, had been given three days to vacate, the official, who had spoken to some of those affected, said.

Taliban spokesmen did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the evictions.

Sporadic protests against the Taliban, who swept to power in Afghanistan with the capture of Kabul almost a month ago, have ended in occasionally deadly clashes, although there were no confirmed reports of violence on Tuesday.

Taliban leaders have vowed to investigate any instances of abuse, but have ordered demonstrators to seek permission before holding protests.

The United Nations said on Friday the Taliban`s response to peaceful protests was becoming increasingly violent.

Thousands of Afghans protested against the Taliban in the southern city of Kandahar on Tuesday, according to a former government official and local television footage, after residents were asked to vacate a residential army colony.

Thousands of Afghans protested against the Taliban in the southern city of Kandahar on Tuesday, according to a former government official and local television footage, after residents were asked to vacate a residential army colony. Protesters gathered in front of the governor`s house in Kandahar after around 3,000 families were asked to leave the colony, according to the former government official who witnessed the crowds. Footage from local media showed crowds of people blocking a road in the city. The affected area is predominantly occupied by the families of retired army generals and other members of the Afghan security forces. The families, some of whom had lived in the district for almost 30 years, had been given three days to vacate, the official, who had spoken to some of those affected, said. Taliban spokesmen did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the evictions. Sporadic protests against the Taliban, who swept to power in Afghanistan with the capture of Kabul almost a month ago, have ended in occasionally deadly clashes, although there were no confirmed reports of violence on Tuesday. Taliban leaders have vowed to investigate any instances of abuse, but have ordered demonstrators to seek permission before holding protests. The United Nations said on Friday the Taliban`s response to peaceful protests was becoming increasingly violent.

Thousands protest against Taliban in Kandahar over evictions

The Taliban compelled a large number of Afghan women to gather at Kabul University clothed in head-to-toe black robes that they had distributed on the 9/11 terrorist attacks' anniversary.

Students who dared to resist were to be expelled, according to the students.

The women were forced to wave signs in support of the Taliban and their rigid interpretation of Islam, which included males and women having separate education.

The Taliban's interim government, which was formed from their loyalist ranks, comprises hardliners in all major positions and no women, making it a long cry from the "inclusive" administration it promised.&nbsp;

"A female student of Kabul University: "The Taliban pressured us to gather in the university hall for an hour with the black robes they had distributed, and they told us that if you do not attend, you will be expelled from university And you will never go to university anywhere." tweeted an Afghan Journalist Natiq Malikzada.

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A female student of Kabul University: "The Taliban pressured us to gather in the university hall for an hour with the black robes they had distributed, and they told us that if you do not attend, you will be expelled from university And you will never go to university anywhere." <a href="https://t.co/aRlVqpxA4C">pic.twitter.com/aRlVqpxA4C</a>
— Natiq Malikzada (@natiqmalikzada) <a href="https://twitter.com/natiqmalikzada/status/1436689492883042310?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Earlier on September 11, at a university lecture theatre in Kabul, over 300 Afghan women wearing full-face veils held a pro-Taliban rally. 
 
Watch | Afghanistan: Burqa clad women march with Taliban flag

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/afghanistan-burqa-clad-women-march-with-taliban-flag-412521/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The ladies sat in rows hoisting the Taliban flag, promising devotion to the group's gender segregation laws. They wore head-to-toe gowns, as per the Taliban's new policy.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Taliban compelled a large number of Afghan women to gather at Kabul University clothed in head-to-toe black robes that they had distributed on the 9/11 terrorist attacks' anniversary.

The Taliban compelled a large number of Afghan women to gather at Kabul University clothed in head-to-toe black robes that they had distributed on the 9/11 terrorist attacks' anniversary. Students who dared to resist were to be expelled, according to the students. The women were forced to wave signs in support of the Taliban and their rigid interpretation of Islam, which included males and women having separate education. The Taliban's interim government, which was formed from their loyalist ranks, comprises hardliners in all major positions and no women, making it a long cry from the "inclusive" administration it promised. "A female student of Kabul University: "The Taliban pressured us to gather in the university hall for an hour with the black robes they had distributed, and they told us that if you do not attend, you will be expelled from university And you will never go to university anywhere." tweeted an Afghan Journalist Natiq Malikzada. A female student of Kabul University: "The Taliban pressured us to gather in the university hall for an hour with the black robes they had distributed, and they told us that if you do not attend, you will be expelled from university And you will never go to university anywhere." pic.twitter.com/aRlVqpxA4C — Natiq Malikzada (@natiqmalikzada) September 11, 2021 × Earlier on September 11, at a university lecture theatre in Kabul, over 300 Afghan women wearing full-face veils held a pro-Taliban rally. Watch | Afghanistan: Burqa clad women march with Taliban flag The ladies sat in rows hoisting the Taliban flag, promising devotion to the group's gender segregation laws. They wore head-to-toe gowns, as per the Taliban's new policy. (With inputs from agencies)

Female students forced to attend pro-Taliban gatherings in head-to-toe black robes at Kabul University

The Taliban’s record in recent weeks on making good on promises to respect human and women’s rights as well as uphold freedom of the press is mixed at best. Afghanistan’s neighbours and near-neighbours are not holding their breath even if some are willing to give the Central Asian country’s new rulers the benefit of the doubt.

A litmus test of Taliban willingness to compromise may come sooner than later.

It’s most likely only a matter of time before China knocks on newly appointed Afghan acting interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani’s door demanding the extradition of Uighur fighters.

The Chinese demand would be challenging not only because of the Taliban’s consistent rejection, no matter the cost, of requests for the expulsion of militants who have helped them in their battles.

The Taliban already made that clear two decades ago when they accepted the risk of a US invasion of Afghanistan in the wake of 9/11 by refusing for the umpteenth time to hand over Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. There is little in Taliban 2.0 that suggests that this has changed.

If Haneef Atamar, the foreign minister in the US-backed Afghan government of former president Ashraf Ghani, is to be believed, Uighurs, including one-time fighters in Syria, contributed significantly to the Taliban’s most recent battlefield successes in northern Afghanistan.

A demand to extradite Uighurs to China would also be challenging because Mr Haqqani himself, the Afghan official in charge of internal security, is a wanted man with a $5 million US bounty on his head. Moreover, the United Nations has sanctioned Mr Haqqani’s prime minister, Mullah Hasan Akhund, and several other members of the caretaker government.

“It’s hard to see a wanted man turning over someone who is wanted for similar reasons,” said a Western diplomat.

Moreover, honouring extradition requests could threaten unity within the Taliban’s ranks. "Taliban actions against foreign jihadist groups to appease neighbouring countries would be especially controversial, because there is quite a widespread sense of solidarity and comradeship with those who fought alongside the Taliban for so long," said Afghanistan scholar Antonio Giustozzi.

Unanswered is the question of whether China would go along with what seems to be an unspoken international consensus that it may be best not to seek extraditions if the Taliban keep their word and prevent militants from striking at targets beyond Afghanistan.

Counterterrorism experts and diplomats argue that if forced, the Taliban would quietly let foreign militants leave their country rather than hand them over. That would make it difficult to monitor these individuals.

China has in recent years successfully demanded the extradition of its Turkish Muslim citizens from countries like Egypt, Malaysia, and Thailand and has pressured many more to do so even though they were not suspected of being foreign fighters and/or members of the Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP). The United Nations Security Council has designated TIP’s predecessor, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) as a terrorist organisation.

There is little reason to assume that China would make Afghanistan, a refuge from Syria for Uighur fighters, the exception.&nbsp;

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi made that clear when he hinted at possible extradition requests during talks in July in China with Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a co-founder of the Taliban and the new government’s first deputy prime minister. Mr Wang demanded that the Taliban break relations with all militant groups and take resolute action against the TIP.

Moreover, the Taliban may have destroyed any chance of Chinese reliance on them by demonstrating early on that they and the international community may be speaking different languages even if they use the same words.

The Taliban made clear that their definition of inclusivity, a term the group and the international community, including China, Russia and India, appeared to agree on, was very different. The Taliban formed an overwhelming ethnic, all-male government that was anything but inclusive by the universally agreed meaning of the word.

Similarly, Mr Haqqani and his colleagues, including Qari Fasihuddin Badakhshani, the Afghan military’s new Taliban chief of staff, a Tajik and one of only three non-Pashtuns in the new 33-member government structure, is believed to have close ties to Uighur, Pakistani and other militants.&nbsp;

As a result, they are likely to be equally reticent about entertaining Chinese-backed Pakistan requests for the transfer of members of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), more commonly known as the Pakistani Taliban.

The TTP is a coalition of Pashtun Islamist groups with close ties to the Afghan Taliban that last year joined forces with several other militant Pakistani groups, including Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a violently anti-Shiite Sunni Muslim supremacist organization.&nbsp;

Hazara Shiites, who account for 20 per cent of the Afghan population were not included in the newly appointed Afghan government even though the Taliban made a point of last month protecting Shiite religious celebrations. Nonetheless, the Taliban’s notion of inclusivity has already troubled relations with Iran and could persuade the Islamic republic to covertly support resistance to the group’s rule.

China fears that the fallout of the Taliban’s sweep across Afghanistan could affect China beyond Afghanistan’s borders, perhaps no more so than in Pakistan, a major focus of the People’s Republic’s single largest Belt-and Road (BRI)-related investment.

The killing in July of nine Chinese nationals in an attack on a bus transporting Chinese workers to the construction site of a dam in the northern mountains of Pakistan raised the spectre of Afghanistan-based religious militants jihadists targeting China. Until now, it was mainly Baloch nationalists who targeted the Chinese in Pakistan.

The attack occurred amid fears that the Taliban victory would bolster ultra-conservative religious sentiment in Pakistan where many celebrated the group’s success in the hope that it would boost chances for austere religious rule in the world’s second-most populous Muslim-majority state.

“Our jihadis will be emboldened. They will say that ‘if America can be beaten, what is the Pakistan army to stand in our way?’” said a senior Pakistani official.

Indicating concern in Beijing, China has delayed the signing of a framework agreement on industrial cooperation that would have accelerated the implementation of projects that are part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a crown jewel of the People’s Republic’s transportation, telecommunications and energy-driven BRI.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid recently kept the Taliban’s relationship with the TTP ambiguous.

"The issue of the TTP is one that Pakistan will have to deal with, not Afghanistan. It is up to Pakistan, and Pakistani Islamic scholars and religious figures, not the Taliban, to decide on the legitimacy or illegitimacy of their war and to formulate a strategy in response," Mr Mujahid said during an interview on a Pakistani television program. The spokesman stopped short of saying the Taliban would abide by a decision of the scholars.

Afghan sources suggest that the Taliban advised the TTP to restrict their fight to Pakistani soil and have offered to negotiate with the Pakistan government an amnesty and the return of the Pakistani militants to the South Asian nation. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Uncertainty about where the Taliban may be taking Afghanistan has also cast a shadow over Indian hopes that the Iranian port of Chabahar would facilitate trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia and counterbalance the Chinese-supported Pakistani port of Gwadar.

Eager to maintain leverage in its relations with Pakistan as well as China, Taliban official Sher Mohammed Abbas Stanekzai chose his words carefully by stressing that economics should be at the centre of Afghan-Indian relations. “We give due importance to our political, economic and trade ties with India and we want these ties to continue. We are looking forward to working with India in this regard,” Mr Stanekzai said.

Mr. Stanekzai’s business-focused approach coupled with the pressure on Taliban to police militants on Afghan soil, some of whom have attacked India in the past, dovetails with Islamic scholars in the Deobandi alma mater in the Uttar Pradesh town of Deoband stressing the divide between themselves and their Afghan and Pakistani brethren.&nbsp;

The Indian Deobandi posture created an opportunity that the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has yet to grasp to involve them in India’s backchannel and direct contacts with the Taliban. India invested US$3 billion over the last 20 years in building Afghan roads, girls' schools and health clinics. Mr. Stanekzai’s remarks indicate that the Taliban would like India to continue its investments in the country.

The Taliban as well as a significant number of Pakistani ultra-conservatives root their worldview in Deobandism, a strand of Islam that emerged in India in the mid-19th century to oppose British colonial rule by propagating an austere interpretation of the faith. Deobandism became prevalent among Pashtuns even if Deobandis in Pakistan, Afghanistan and India went their separate ways after the 1947 partition of the subcontinent.

Arshad Madani, the principal of the Darul Uloom Deoband, the original Deobandi madrassa established in 1886, recently welcomed a decision by India’s Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) to set up a training centre in Deoband.

“There is nothing wrong with what we teach, and we welcome the ATS staff to be a part of our classes whenever they like,” Mr. Madani said. A spokesman for the madrassa added that “we are a religious school, but we are also Indians. To doubt our integrity every time the Taliban spread terror is shameful.”

Mr. Madani’s posture should serve as an incentive for the Modi government to work with Indian Deobandis in the hope that the Taliban may be more willing to listen to religious figures with whom they share a history.

Mr. Madani has never had contact with the Taliban nor has he ever visited Afghanistan. “I'm weak and old,” says the 80-year-old cleric. “But if given the chance, I would go to Afghanistan.”

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

The Taliban’s record in recent weeks on making good on promises to respect human and women’s rights as well as uphold freedom of the press is mixed at best. Afghanistan’s neighbours and near-neighbours are not holding their breath even if some are willing to give the Central Asian country’s new rulers the benefit of the doubt.

The Taliban’s record in recent weeks on making good on promises to respect human and women’s rights as well as uphold freedom of the press is mixed at best. Afghanistan’s neighbours and near-neighbours are not holding their breath even if some are willing to give the Central Asian country’s new rulers the benefit of the doubt. A litmus test of Taliban willingness to compromise may come sooner than later. It’s most likely only a matter of time before China knocks on newly appointed Afghan acting interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani’s door demanding the extradition of Uighur fighters. The Chinese demand would be challenging not only because of the Taliban’s consistent rejection, no matter the cost, of requests for the expulsion of militants who have helped them in their battles. The Taliban already made that clear two decades ago when they accepted the risk of a US invasion of Afghanistan in the wake of 9/11 by refusing for the umpteenth time to hand over Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. There is little in Taliban 2.0 that suggests that this has changed. If Haneef Atamar, the foreign minister in the US-backed Afghan government of former president Ashraf Ghani, is to be believed, Uighurs, including one-time fighters in Syria, contributed significantly to the Taliban’s most recent battlefield successes in northern Afghanistan. A demand to extradite Uighurs to China would also be challenging because Mr Haqqani himself, the Afghan official in charge of internal security, is a wanted man with a $5 million US bounty on his head. Moreover, the United Nations has sanctioned Mr Haqqani’s prime minister, Mullah Hasan Akhund, and several other members of the caretaker government. “It’s hard to see a wanted man turning over someone who is wanted for similar reasons,” said a Western diplomat. Moreover, honouring extradition requests could threaten unity within the Taliban’s ranks. "Taliban actions against foreign jihadist groups to appease neighbouring countries would be especially controversial, because there is quite a widespread sense of solidarity and comradeship with those who fought alongside the Taliban for so long," said Afghanistan scholar Antonio Giustozzi. Unanswered is the question of whether China would go along with what seems to be an unspoken international consensus that it may be best not to seek extraditions if the Taliban keep their word and prevent militants from striking at targets beyond Afghanistan. Counterterrorism experts and diplomats argue that if forced, the Taliban would quietly let foreign militants leave their country rather than hand them over. That would make it difficult to monitor these individuals. China has in recent years successfully demanded the extradition of its Turkish Muslim citizens from countries like Egypt, Malaysia, and Thailand and has pressured many more to do so even though they were not suspected of being foreign fighters and/or members of the Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP). The United Nations Security Council has designated TIP’s predecessor, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) as a terrorist organisation. There is little reason to assume that China would make Afghanistan, a refuge from Syria for Uighur fighters, the exception. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi made that clear when he hinted at possible extradition requests during talks in July in China with Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a co-founder of the Taliban and the new government’s first deputy prime minister. Mr Wang demanded that the Taliban break relations with all militant groups and take resolute action against the TIP. Moreover, the Taliban may have destroyed any chance of Chinese reliance on them by demonstrating early on that they and the international community may be speaking different languages even if they use the same words. The Taliban made clear that their definition of inclusivity, a term the group and the international community, including China, Russia and India, appeared to agree on, was very different. The Taliban formed an overwhelming ethnic, all-male government that was anything but inclusive by the universally agreed meaning of the word. Similarly, Mr Haqqani and his colleagues, including Qari Fasihuddin Badakhshani, the Afghan military’s new Taliban chief of staff, a Tajik and one of only three non-Pashtuns in the new 33-member government structure, is believed to have close ties to Uighur, Pakistani and other militants. As a result, they are likely to be equally reticent about entertaining Chinese-backed Pakistan requests for the transfer of members of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), more commonly known as the Pakistani Taliban. The TTP is a coalition of Pashtun Islamist groups with close ties to the Afghan Taliban that last year joined forces with several other militant Pakistani groups, including Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a violently anti-Shiite Sunni Muslim supremacist organization. Hazara Shiites, who account for 20 per cent of the Afghan population were not included in the newly appointed Afghan government even though the Taliban made a point of last month protecting Shiite religious celebrations. Nonetheless, the Taliban’s notion of inclusivity has already troubled relations with Iran and could persuade the Islamic republic to covertly support resistance to the group’s rule. China fears that the fallout of the Taliban’s sweep across Afghanistan could affect China beyond Afghanistan’s borders, perhaps no more so than in Pakistan, a major focus of the People’s Republic’s single largest Belt-and Road (BRI)-related investment. The killing in July of nine Chinese nationals in an attack on a bus transporting Chinese workers to the construction site of a dam in the northern mountains of Pakistan raised the spectre of Afghanistan-based religious militants jihadists targeting China. Until now, it was mainly Baloch nationalists who targeted the Chinese in Pakistan. The attack occurred amid fears that the Taliban victory would bolster ultra-conservative religious sentiment in Pakistan where many celebrated the group’s success in the hope that it would boost chances for austere religious rule in the world’s second-most populous Muslim-majority state. “Our jihadis will be emboldened. They will say that ‘if America can be beaten, what is the Pakistan army to stand in our way?’” said a senior Pakistani official. Indicating concern in Beijing, China has delayed the signing of a framework agreement on industrial cooperation that would have accelerated the implementation of projects that are part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a crown jewel of the People’s Republic’s transportation, telecommunications and energy-driven BRI. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid recently kept the Taliban’s relationship with the TTP ambiguous. "The issue of the TTP is one that Pakistan will have to deal with, not Afghanistan. It is up to Pakistan, and Pakistani Islamic scholars and religious figures, not the Taliban, to decide on the legitimacy or illegitimacy of their war and to formulate a strategy in response," Mr Mujahid said during an interview on a Pakistani television program. The spokesman stopped short of saying the Taliban would abide by a decision of the scholars. Afghan sources suggest that the Taliban advised the TTP to restrict their fight to Pakistani soil and have offered to negotiate with the Pakistan government an amnesty and the return of the Pakistani militants to the South Asian nation. Uncertainty about where the Taliban may be taking Afghanistan has also cast a shadow over Indian hopes that the Iranian port of Chabahar would facilitate trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia and counterbalance the Chinese-supported Pakistani port of Gwadar. Eager to maintain leverage in its relations with Pakistan as well as China, Taliban official Sher Mohammed Abbas Stanekzai chose his words carefully by stressing that economics should be at the centre of Afghan-Indian relations. “We give due importance to our political, economic and trade ties with India and we want these ties to continue. We are looking forward to working with India in this regard,” Mr Stanekzai said. Mr. Stanekzai’s business-focused approach coupled with the pressure on Taliban to police militants on Afghan soil, some of whom have attacked India in the past, dovetails with Islamic scholars in the Deobandi alma mater in the Uttar Pradesh town of Deoband stressing the divide between themselves and their Afghan and Pakistani brethren. The Indian Deobandi posture created an opportunity that the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has yet to grasp to involve them in India’s backchannel and direct contacts with the Taliban. India invested US$3 billion over the last 20 years in building Afghan roads, girls' schools and health clinics. Mr. Stanekzai’s remarks indicate that the Taliban would like India to continue its investments in the country. The Taliban as well as a significant number of Pakistani ultra-conservatives root their worldview in Deobandism, a strand of Islam that emerged in India in the mid-19th century to oppose British colonial rule by propagating an austere interpretation of the faith. Deobandism became prevalent among Pashtuns even if Deobandis in Pakistan, Afghanistan and India went their separate ways after the 1947 partition of the subcontinent. Arshad Madani, the principal of the Darul Uloom Deoband, the original Deobandi madrassa established in 1886, recently welcomed a decision by India’s Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) to set up a training centre in Deoband. “There is nothing wrong with what we teach, and we welcome the ATS staff to be a part of our classes whenever they like,” Mr. Madani said. A spokesman for the madrassa added that “we are a religious school, but we are also Indians. To doubt our integrity every time the Taliban spread terror is shameful.” Mr. Madani’s posture should serve as an incentive for the Modi government to work with Indian Deobandis in the hope that the Taliban may be more willing to listen to religious figures with whom they share a history. Mr. Madani has never had contact with the Taliban nor has he ever visited Afghanistan. “I'm weak and old,” says the 80-year-old cleric. “But if given the chance, I would go to Afghanistan.” (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Opinion | Initial Taliban moves fail to convince Afghanistan’s neighbours

For some time, two senior Taliban leaders, the group’s supreme leader and new deputy prime minister, have been missing from public view. Several questions are being raised about their whereabouts and health. &nbsp;

Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, the top Taliban leader, has not been seen by public in a month since the group seized control of Afghanistan. However, a spokesperson has denied the rumours of his death. &nbsp;

The Taliban’s most recognised face, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, seems to have gone missing too. Several eyebrows have raised over his disappearance. The concerns about the well-being of the head of the political office and key figure in peace talks has been growing in last some days.

Watch:&nbsp;Taliban co-founder releases audio statement after death rumours &nbsp;

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Several rumours of his death or getting badly injured in a fight with another senior Taliban figure in an argument about how to divide Afghanistan’s ministries seem to be doing rounds. &nbsp;

These disappearances have been fuelling rumours of growing infighting in the group. The real question is that will it be able to hold or result in a full-scale civil war. &nbsp;

The efforts of the officials to dispel the rumours seem to have deepened the mystery. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-killing-civilians-in-panjshir-valley-says-report-412897" hreflang="en">Taliban killing civilians in Panjshir Valley, says report</a>

Earlier, the Taliban released photos of a handwritten note from a Baradar deputy, which said he was in Kandahar. Then, they shared an audio message purporting to be from Baradar. The absence of a video raised more doubts. The videos and a photo, which has been shared online, doesn’t confirm about when they were taken. &nbsp;

Denying the rumours, spokesman Suhail Shaheen said on Twitter, “Mullah Bradar, deputy PM, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, in a voice message rejected all those claims that he was injured or killed in a clash. He says it is lies and totally baseless.”&nbsp;

For some time, two senior Taliban leaders, the group’s supreme leader and new deputy prime minister, have been missing from public view. Several questions are being raised about their whereabouts and health.

For some time, two senior Taliban leaders, the group’s supreme leader and new deputy prime minister, have been missing from public view. Several questions are being raised about their whereabouts and health. Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, the top Taliban leader, has not been seen by public in a month since the group seized control of Afghanistan. However, a spokesperson has denied the rumours of his death. The Taliban’s most recognised face, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, seems to have gone missing too. Several eyebrows have raised over his disappearance. The concerns about the well-being of the head of the political office and key figure in peace talks has been growing in last some days. Watch: Taliban co-founder releases audio statement after death rumours × Several rumours of his death or getting badly injured in a fight with another senior Taliban figure in an argument about how to divide Afghanistan’s ministries seem to be doing rounds. These disappearances have been fuelling rumours of growing infighting in the group. The real question is that will it be able to hold or result in a full-scale civil war. The efforts of the officials to dispel the rumours seem to have deepened the mystery. Also Read: Taliban killing civilians in Panjshir Valley, says report Earlier, the Taliban released photos of a handwritten note from a Baradar deputy, which said he was in Kandahar. Then, they shared an audio message purporting to be from Baradar. The absence of a video raised more doubts. The videos and a photo, which has been shared online, doesn’t confirm about when they were taken. Denying the rumours, spokesman Suhail Shaheen said on Twitter, “Mullah Bradar, deputy PM, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, in a voice message rejected all those claims that he was injured or killed in a clash. He says it is lies and totally baseless.”

Are two top Taliban leaders alive? Several questions arise after disappearance  

The United Nations which has warned of a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover is convening an aid conference in Geneva on Monday in an effort to raise more than $600 million for the Afghans.

UN hopes to raise over $600 million to avert humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan

Qatar’s foreign minister Abdulrahman held talks with the prime minister of Taliban-ruled Afghanistan during a visit to the war-torn country. It is being seen as the highest diplomatic level delegation to visit Kabul since the Taliban announced their interim Cabinet.

Qatar's foreign minister visits Taliban-ruled Afghanistan

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged the international community to engage with the Taliban to prevent Afghanistan's economy from collapsing completely.

"It is hard to give humanitarian assistance within Afghanistan without engaging with the de facto authorities," Guterres told journalists on the sidelines of a donor conference, adding that working with the Taliban was "extremely necessary at the moment."&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/amid-cash-crunch-fleeing-afghans-sell-possessions-at-kabuls-busy-bazaars-412774">Also read | Amid cash crunch, fleeing Afghans sell possessions at Kabul's busy bazaars</a>

The United Nations has requested the international community to contribute $606 million to Afghanistan, where poverty and hunger have increased dramatically since the Taliban took power, and billions in foreign aid have dried up due to Western mistrust of the new leadership.&nbsp; 
 
Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-women-can-study-but-in-gender-segregated-classrooms-taliban-minister-412606">Afghan women can study but in gender-segregated classrooms: Taliban Minister</a>

After decades of war, suffering and insecurity, Afghans are facing "perhaps their most perilous hour", UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday in his opening remarks to a conference in Geneva seeking aid for Afghanistan, adding that "the people of Afghanistan need a lifeline.

"Let us be clear: This conference is not simply about what we will give to the people of Afghanistan. It is about what we owe," he said.

Between 1996 and 2001, the Taliban ruled Afghanistan, prohibiting women from working and preventing young girls from attending school. They were deposed in an operation led by the United States, which accused them of sheltering al-Qaeda militants responsible for the September 11 attacks.

Last month, the Taliban surged back to power in a rapid sweep when the last US-led NATO troops withdrew and the Western-backed government's forces melted away.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged the international community to engage with the Taliban to prevent Afghanistan's economy from collapsing completely.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged the international community to engage with the Taliban to prevent Afghanistan's economy from collapsing completely. "It is hard to give humanitarian assistance within Afghanistan without engaging with the de facto authorities," Guterres told journalists on the sidelines of a donor conference, adding that working with the Taliban was "extremely necessary at the moment." Also read | Amid cash crunch, fleeing Afghans sell possessions at Kabul's busy bazaars The United Nations has requested the international community to contribute $606 million to Afghanistan, where poverty and hunger have increased dramatically since the Taliban took power, and billions in foreign aid have dried up due to Western mistrust of the new leadership. Also Read | Afghan women can study but in gender-segregated classrooms: Taliban Minister After decades of war, suffering and insecurity, Afghans are facing "perhaps their most perilous hour", UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday in his opening remarks to a conference in Geneva seeking aid for Afghanistan, adding that "the people of Afghanistan need a lifeline. "Let us be clear: This conference is not simply about what we will give to the people of Afghanistan. It is about what we owe," he said. Between 1996 and 2001, the Taliban ruled Afghanistan, prohibiting women from working and preventing young girls from attending school. They were deposed in an operation led by the United States, which accused them of sheltering al-Qaeda militants responsible for the September 11 attacks. Last month, the Taliban surged back to power in a rapid sweep when the last US-led NATO troops withdrew and the Western-backed government's forces melted away. (With inputs from agencies)

Engage with Taliban to avert total collapse of Afghan economy: UN chief Antonio Guterres

Afghan women have returned to their job at the Kabul international airport weeks after the Taliban took over Afghanistan. These 12 brave women are among 80 employed at the airport.

12 Afghan women return to work at Kabul international airport

With the Taliban taking control of Afghanistan, all trade and import of raw materials inside the country have stopped completely. As a result, the price of basic commodities has increased and there is a lack of jobs available.

Cash-strapped Kabul residents resort to selling household items

Afghan women have taken to the streets in groups large and small to protest against Taliban rule, the regime's new curbs on their rights, and Pakistan's influence in Afghanistan.

Afghan women protest against Taliban restrictions, fearing curbs on women's rights

The United Nations is convening an aid conference in Geneva in order to raise more than USD 600 million in humanitarian aid for Afghanistan. It has warned of a humanitarian crisis after the Taliban takeover.

More than half the population, or 18 million people were dependent on aid even before Taliban's seizure of Kabul last month. The number is likely to increase due to shortage of cash and food as well as drought, UN officials warned.

Abrupt end in foreign donations following collapse of Ashraf Ghani-led government has put pressure on UN programmes.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the organisation was struggling financially.

"At the present moment the U.N. is not even able to pay its salaries to its own workers," he told reporters on Friday.

The Geneva conference, due to begin on Monday afternoon, will be attended by top U.N. officials including Guterres, the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross Peter Maurer, as well as dozens of government representatives including German foreign minister Heiko Maas.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-women-can-study-but-in-gender-segregated-classrooms-taliban-minister-412606">Afghan women can study but in gender-segregated classrooms: Taliban Minister</a>

About a third of the $606 million being sought would be used by the U.N. World Food Programme which found that 93% of the 1,600 Afghans it surveyed in August and September were not consuming sufficient foods, mostly because they could not get access to cash to pay for it.

"It's now a race against time and the snow to deliver life-saving assistance to the Afghan people who need it most," said WFP deputy regional director Anthea Webb. "We are quite literally begging and borrowing to avoid food stocks running out."

(With inputs from agencies)

The United Nations is convening an aid conference in Geneva in order to raise more than USD 600 million in humanitarian aid for Afghanistan. It has warned of a humanitarian crisis after the Taliban takeover.

The United Nations is convening an aid conference in Geneva in order to raise more than USD 600 million in humanitarian aid for Afghanistan. It has warned of a humanitarian crisis after the Taliban takeover. More than half the population, or 18 million people were dependent on aid even before Taliban's seizure of Kabul last month. The number is likely to increase due to shortage of cash and food as well as drought, UN officials warned. Abrupt end in foreign donations following collapse of Ashraf Ghani-led government has put pressure on UN programmes. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the organisation was struggling financially. "At the present moment the U.N. is not even able to pay its salaries to its own workers," he told reporters on Friday. The Geneva conference, due to begin on Monday afternoon, will be attended by top U.N. officials including Guterres, the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross Peter Maurer, as well as dozens of government representatives including German foreign minister Heiko Maas. Also Read | Afghan women can study but in gender-segregated classrooms: Taliban Minister About a third of the $606 million being sought would be used by the U.N. World Food Programme which found that 93% of the 1,600 Afghans it surveyed in August and September were not consuming sufficient foods, mostly because they could not get access to cash to pay for it. "It's now a race against time and the snow to deliver life-saving assistance to the Afghan people who need it most," said WFP deputy regional director Anthea Webb. "We are quite literally begging and borrowing to avoid food stocks running out." (With inputs from agencies)

UN seeks to raise $600 million to avoid Afghan humanitarian crisis

Qatar’s foreign minister Abdulrahman held talks with the prime minister of Taliban-ruled Afghanistan in the highest-level foreign visit to Kabul since the group seized the capital last month.

Qatar FM Abdulrahman visits Kabul for talks with Taliban

The Taliban government's new higher education minister said that women in Afghanistan can continue to study in universities, including at post-graduate levels, but classrooms will be gender-segregated and Islamic dress is compulsory.

Taliban says women can study in gender-segregated universities

The Taliban co-founder and now deputy prime minister of Afghanistan released an audio statement on Monday saying he was alive and well after news of his supposed demise went viral on social media.

Abdul Ghani Baradar, who was last week named as the number two to Mullah Mohammed Hassan Akhund, blamed "fake propaganda" for the death rumours in an audio message posted by the Taliban.

Social media has been in a frenzy over the speculation -- particularly in India, where rumours swirled that he had been mortally wounded in a shootout between rival Taliban factions at the presidential palace. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/amid-cash-crunch-fleeing-afghans-sell-possessions-at-kabuls-busy-bazaars-412774">Also read | Amid cash crunch, fleeing Afghans sell possessions at Kabul's busy bazaars</a>

"There had been news in the media about my death. Over the past few nights, I have been away on trips. Wherever I am at the moment, we are all fine, all my brothers and friends," Baradar said in the clip.

"Media always publish fake propaganda. Therefore, bravely reject all those lies, and I 100 per cent confirm to you there is no issue and we have no problem." 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/i-guarantee-trump-claims-china-russia-reverse-engineering-us-weapons-left-behind-in-afghanistan-412771">Also read | ‘I guarantee’: Trump claims China, Russia reverse-engineering US weapons left behind in Afghanistan</a>

Taliban spokesperson from Qatar office Suhail Shaheen also tweeted denying the reports of the Taliban co-founder's death.

It was not possible to authenticate the message, but it was posted on official Taliban sites, -- including that of the spokesman of the political office of the new government.

The Taliban's supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, was also rumoured to have died for several years before the group's spokesman said he was "present in Kandahar" two weeks after they took power.

The chatter in Pakistan and Afghanistan had suggested he had contracted Covid or been killed in a bombing.

The Taliban co-founder and now deputy prime minister of Afghanistan released an audio statement on Monday saying he was alive and well after news of his supposed demise went viral on social media.

The Taliban co-founder and now deputy prime minister of Afghanistan released an audio statement on Monday saying he was alive and well after news of his supposed demise went viral on social media. Abdul Ghani Baradar, who was last week named as the number two to Mullah Mohammed Hassan Akhund, blamed "fake propaganda" for the death rumours in an audio message posted by the Taliban. Social media has been in a frenzy over the speculation -- particularly in India, where rumours swirled that he had been mortally wounded in a shootout between rival Taliban factions at the presidential palace. Also read | Amid cash crunch, fleeing Afghans sell possessions at Kabul's busy bazaars "There had been news in the media about my death. Over the past few nights, I have been away on trips. Wherever I am at the moment, we are all fine, all my brothers and friends," Baradar said in the clip. "Media always publish fake propaganda. Therefore, bravely reject all those lies, and I 100 per cent confirm to you there is no issue and we have no problem." Also read | ‘I guarantee’: Trump claims China, Russia reverse-engineering US weapons left behind in Afghanistan Taliban spokesperson from Qatar office Suhail Shaheen also tweeted denying the reports of the Taliban co-founder's death. It was not possible to authenticate the message, but it was posted on official Taliban sites, -- including that of the spokesman of the political office of the new government. The Taliban's supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, was also rumoured to have died for several years before the group's spokesman said he was "present in Kandahar" two weeks after they took power. The chatter in Pakistan and Afghanistan had suggested he had contracted Covid or been killed in a bombing.

Taliban co-founder Abdul Ghani Baradar releases audio statement amid rumours of death

Former President Donald Trump slammed US President Joe Biden's pullout from Afghanistan, speculating that China and Russia are already reverse-engineering US military hardware left there.

During an interview with an American media house on Sunday, Trump blasted the withdrawal as "incompetent," warning that it would put the US in jeopardy and help its adversaries.&nbsp;

Trump went on to say that the country's enemies are already taking advantage of the weaponry, armoured vehicles, and aircraft left behind by US forces. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-shows-off-its-might-by-carrying-out-parade-with-us-armys-weapons-410042">Also read | Taliban shows off its might by carrying out parade with US army's weapons</a>

"Now I'm saying, ‘How can they take this equipment?’ And I guarantee that China and Russia already have our Apache helicopters and they're taking them apart to find out exactly how they're made. They're the best in the world by far. And they're taking them apart so they can make the same equipment. They're very good at that. It's a disgrace."

Since 2001, the United States has provided Afghan security forces with over $83 billion in training and equipment.&nbsp;

According to USA Today, the military abandoned 73 aircraft in Afghanistan, some of which were inoperable.

At the airport, soldiers were alleged to be operating Apache attack helicopters, according to Pentagon authorities.

Afghan pilots are said to have flown some of the advanced aircraft to other nations while abandoning the rest.&nbsp;

At a time when tensions are high with both of the US' key adversaries, China and Russia, located on Afghanistan's doorsteps, a European research group has called the choice to leave Afghanistan "inexplicable."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Former President Donald Trump slammed US President Joe Biden's pullout from Afghanistan, speculating that China and Russia are already reverse-engineering US military hardware left there.

Former President Donald Trump slammed US President Joe Biden's pullout from Afghanistan, speculating that China and Russia are already reverse-engineering US military hardware left there. During an interview with an American media house on Sunday, Trump blasted the withdrawal as "incompetent," warning that it would put the US in jeopardy and help its adversaries. Trump went on to say that the country's enemies are already taking advantage of the weaponry, armoured vehicles, and aircraft left behind by US forces. Also read | Taliban shows off its might by carrying out parade with US army's weapons "Now I'm saying, ‘How can they take this equipment?’ And I guarantee that China and Russia already have our Apache helicopters and they're taking them apart to find out exactly how they're made. They're the best in the world by far. And they're taking them apart so they can make the same equipment. They're very good at that. It's a disgrace." Since 2001, the United States has provided Afghan security forces with over $83 billion in training and equipment. According to USA Today, the military abandoned 73 aircraft in Afghanistan, some of which were inoperable. At the airport, soldiers were alleged to be operating Apache attack helicopters, according to Pentagon authorities. Afghan pilots are said to have flown some of the advanced aircraft to other nations while abandoning the rest. At a time when tensions are high with both of the US' key adversaries, China and Russia, located on Afghanistan's doorsteps, a European research group has called the choice to leave Afghanistan "inexplicable." (With inputs from agencies)

‘I guarantee’: Trump claims China, Russia reverse-engineering US weapons left behind in Afghanistan

Hundreds of Afghan women have taken to social media to protest against the Taliban's burqa diktat. They posted photos of themselves in colourful attires.

Hundreds of Afghan women take to social media to protest against Taliban's burqa diktat

What represents a 'proper' dress? That too for a woman? Common sense dictates that it is she who will decide that and no other. But unfortunately, every culture in the world has its fair share of men dictating what's good/ proper/ admissible/ allowed for women. The list is endless.

Taliban's return to power has seen its all-male government deciding what women should wear in public. They are acting as self-declared custodians of Afghan women and think they have all the rights to dictate terms. They want Afghan women to wear burqa.

And Afghan women are not taking any of this. They are expressing their freedom in a unique way. Dr Bahar Jalali, who started the first gender studies program in Afghanistan wore a traditional Afghan dress and boldly proclaimed "This is Afghan culture. I am wearing a traditional Afghan dress"

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This is Afghan culture. I am wearing a traditional Afghan dress. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AfghanistanCulture?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AfghanistanCulture</a> <a href="https://t.co/DrRzgyXPvm">pic.twitter.com/DrRzgyXPvm</a>
— Dr. Bahar Jalali (@RoxanaBahar1) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoxanaBahar1/status/1436845110906478592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The tweet has gone viral and seems to have started a movement among Afghan women

Waslat Hasrat-Nazimi, head of Afghan service at DW News joined Dr Jalali and repeated the chant "This is Afghan culture"

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Me wearing traditional Afghan attire in Kabul. This is Afghan culture and this is how Afghan women dress. <a href="https://twitter.com/RoxanaBahar1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RoxanaBahar1</a> <a href="https://t.co/fUZSqy4rRK">pic.twitter.com/fUZSqy4rRK</a>
— Waslat Hasrat-Nazimi (@WasHasNaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/WasHasNaz/status/1437156150022221831?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The expression soon found resonance

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So how do Afghan women dress then? They ask. 
 
This is how. If I was in Afghanistan then I would have the scarf on my head. This is as “conservative” and “traditional” as I/you can get. <a href="https://t.co/4fjoSUuJZY">https://t.co/4fjoSUuJZY</a> <a href="https://t.co/VkQLQoBXDy">pic.twitter.com/VkQLQoBXDy</a>
— Sana Safi ثنا ساپۍ (@BBCSanaSafi) <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCSanaSafi/status/1436997184671584259?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
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This is Afghan culture. My traditional dress <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AfghanWomen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AfghanWomen</a> 
 
Thank you to Dr <a href="https://twitter.com/RoxanaBahar1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RoxanaBahar1</a> for the inspiration. 
 
Our cultural attire is not the dementor outfits the Taliban have women wearing. <a href="https://t.co/i9wFASfWR6">pic.twitter.com/i9wFASfWR6</a>
— Peymana Assad 🏔 (@Peymasad) <a href="https://twitter.com/Peymasad/status/1436974465750118403?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
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"...the black burqa has never been part of the Afghan culture"

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This is our Afghan authentic dress. Afghan women wear such colorful and modest attires. The black burqa never has been part of the Afghan culture. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FreeAfghanistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FreeAfghanistan</a>🇦🇫 <a href="https://t.co/v9LIbcvklG">pic.twitter.com/v9LIbcvklG</a>
— Spozhmay Maseed (@spozhmey) <a href="https://twitter.com/spozhmey/status/1437022301069922305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
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This is how <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghan</a> cultural dress for women look like. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghanistan</a> <a href="https://t.co/mcikMUHilQ">https://t.co/mcikMUHilQ</a> <a href="https://t.co/XPZfstkGc8">pic.twitter.com/XPZfstkGc8</a>
— Malali Bashir (@MalaliBashir) <a href="https://twitter.com/MalaliBashir/status/1437124777483853837?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
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This is how <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghan</a> cultural dress for women look like. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghanistan</a> <a href="https://t.co/mcikMUHilQ">https://t.co/mcikMUHilQ</a> <a href="https://t.co/XPZfstkGc8">pic.twitter.com/XPZfstkGc8</a>
— Malali Bashir (@MalaliBashir) <a href="https://twitter.com/MalaliBashir/status/1437124777483853837?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
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When we talk about Afg clothing, we mean ds beautiful clothing that we have inherited from our elders for centuries. 
We meant this beautiful Afg dress that we have always been supported by the Afghan community by wearing it &amp; we have been accepted in every part of the territory. <a href="https://t.co/qSETchvg1e">pic.twitter.com/qSETchvg1e</a>
— Zarifa Ghafari (@Zarifa_Ghafari) <a href="https://twitter.com/Zarifa_Ghafari/status/1437081974028570627?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Afghan men raised their voice in support of these women as well

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This is how Afghan girls/women dress, 
The polar opposite of that radical Arab dress code for women. 
 
In this picture it’s my sister Zent Jn in shine Laghman our lovely hometown🇦🇫 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghanistan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AfghanWomen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AfghanWomen</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DoNotRecognizeTaliban?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DoNotRecognizeTaliban</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCYaldaHakim?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BBCYaldaHakim</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCSanaSafi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BBCSanaSafi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Peymasad?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Peymasad</a> <a href="https://t.co/6Oq2D8ryCW">https://t.co/6Oq2D8ryCW</a> <a href="https://t.co/eOrIrTR5bi">pic.twitter.com/eOrIrTR5bi</a>
— Ehsanullah Karim (@KarimEhsanullah) <a href="https://twitter.com/KarimEhsanullah/status/1437109520338092032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Many men, pretending to be of 'open minded' sort, proudly proclaim that they let their sisters, wives do certain things. The question is, who put the men on this perch? Who are they to 'let' or 'allow' women to do anything? Who is anyone to dictate terms to anyone?

In today's Afghanistan sadly, these questions find limited resonance in the ruling class.

What represents a 'proper' dress? That too for a woman? Common sense dictates that it is she who will decide that and no other. But unfortunately, every culture in the world has its fair share of men dictating what's good/ proper/ admissible/ allowed for women.

What represents a 'proper' dress? That too for a woman? Common sense dictates that it is she who will decide that and no other. But unfortunately, every culture in the world has its fair share of men dictating what's good/ proper/ admissible/ allowed for women. The list is endless. Taliban's return to power has seen its all-male government deciding what women should wear in public. They are acting as self-declared custodians of Afghan women and think they have all the rights to dictate terms. They want Afghan women to wear burqa. And Afghan women are not taking any of this. They are expressing their freedom in a unique way. Dr Bahar Jalali, who started the first gender studies program in Afghanistan wore a traditional Afghan dress and boldly proclaimed "This is Afghan culture. I am wearing a traditional Afghan dress" This is Afghan culture. I am wearing a traditional Afghan dress. #AfghanistanCulture pic.twitter.com/DrRzgyXPvm — Dr. Bahar Jalali (@RoxanaBahar1) September 12, 2021 × The tweet has gone viral and seems to have started a movement among Afghan women Waslat Hasrat-Nazimi, head of Afghan service at DW News joined Dr Jalali and repeated the chant "This is Afghan culture" Me wearing traditional Afghan attire in Kabul. This is Afghan culture and this is how Afghan women dress. @RoxanaBahar1 pic.twitter.com/fUZSqy4rRK — Waslat Hasrat-Nazimi (@WasHasNaz) September 12, 2021 × The expression soon found resonance So how do Afghan women dress then? They ask. This is how. If I was in Afghanistan then I would have the scarf on my head. This is as “conservative” and “traditional” as I/you can get. https://t.co/4fjoSUuJZY pic.twitter.com/VkQLQoBXDy — Sana Safi ثنا ساپۍ (@BBCSanaSafi) September 12, 2021 × This is Afghan culture. My traditional dress #AfghanWomen Thank you to Dr @RoxanaBahar1 for the inspiration. Our cultural attire is not the dementor outfits the Taliban have women wearing. pic.twitter.com/i9wFASfWR6 — Peymana Assad 🏔 (@Peymasad) September 12, 2021 × "...the black burqa has never been part of the Afghan culture" This is our Afghan authentic dress. Afghan women wear such colorful and modest attires. The black burqa never has been part of the Afghan culture. #FreeAfghanistan🇦🇫 pic.twitter.com/v9LIbcvklG — Spozhmay Maseed (@spozhmey) September 12, 2021 × This is how #Afghan cultural dress for women look like. #Afghanistan https://t.co/mcikMUHilQ pic.twitter.com/XPZfstkGc8 — Malali Bashir (@MalaliBashir) September 12, 2021 × This is how #Afghan cultural dress for women look like. #Afghanistan https://t.co/mcikMUHilQ pic.twitter.com/XPZfstkGc8 — Malali Bashir (@MalaliBashir) September 12, 2021 × When we talk about Afg clothing, we mean ds beautiful clothing that we have inherited from our elders for centuries. We meant this beautiful Afg dress that we have always been supported by the Afghan community by wearing it & we have been accepted in every part of the territory. pic.twitter.com/qSETchvg1e — Zarifa Ghafari (@Zarifa_Ghafari) September 12, 2021 × Afghan men raised their voice in support of these women as well This is how Afghan girls/women dress, The polar opposite of that radical Arab dress code for women. In this picture it’s my sister Zent Jn in shine Laghman our lovely hometown🇦🇫 #Afghanistan #AfghanWomen #DoNotRecognizeTaliban @BBCYaldaHakim @BBCSanaSafi @Peymasad https://t.co/6Oq2D8ryCW pic.twitter.com/eOrIrTR5bi — Ehsanullah Karim (@KarimEhsanullah) September 12, 2021 × Many men, pretending to be of 'open minded' sort, proudly proclaim that they let their sisters, wives do certain things. The question is, who put the men on this perch? Who are they to 'let' or 'allow' women to do anything? Who is anyone to dictate terms to anyone? In today's Afghanistan sadly, these questions find limited resonance in the ruling class.

Burqa not part of Afghan culture, defiant women in traditional wear tell Taliban

Taliban raised flag over Afghan presidential palace as United States marks 20 years of 9/11 attacks. Watch this report to know more.

Afghanistan: Taliban flag raised in Kabul on 9/11 anniversary

48 hours before the 31st of August deadlines the Americans conducted yet another strike in Kabul. Now this claimed the Americans was in retaliation to the 26th of august suicide bombing at the Kabul International Airport that resulted in the killing of over 200 of Afghan nationals and about 13 American service personnel.

US strike wipe out Kabul family, brother says

Qatari foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani held talks with Taliban Prime Minister Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund in Kabul, according to reports.

Mohammed met the prime minister and a number of other senior ministers, a Taliban spokesman said on Sunday.

“The meeting focused on bilateral relations, humanitarian assistance, economic development and interaction with the world,” according to a statement from Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen.

Shaheen said the leadership of the Islamic Emirate, the term used to describe the Taliban government in Afghanistan, thanked the Qatar government for supporting the Afghan people.

It said the Doha agreement, signed by the United States and the Taliban, was a “landmark achievement, all sides should adhere to its implementation.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/panjshir-for-kashmir-a-sinister-plan-of-pakistan-and-the-taliban-411953">Panjshir for Kashmir: A sinister plan of Pakistan and the Taliban</a>

Sunday’s meeting in the presidential palace, first reported by Al Jazeera television, was attended by a number of other Afghan ministers including deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi, Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, Defence Minister Yaqoob Mujahid, Interor Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani and intelligence chief Abdul Haq Wasiq.

Qatar is considered one of the countries with the most influence over the Taliban and played a pivotal role in the massive US-led airlift of its own citizens, other Western nationals and Afghans who helped Western countries

The Qatari capital Doha was also the home of the Taliban’s political office which oversaw the negotiations with the United States that eventually led to the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan.

(With inputs from agencies)

Qatari foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani held talks with Taliban Prime Minister Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund in Kabul, according to reports.

Qatari foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani held talks with Taliban Prime Minister Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund in Kabul, according to reports. Mohammed met the prime minister and a number of other senior ministers, a Taliban spokesman said on Sunday. “The meeting focused on bilateral relations, humanitarian assistance, economic development and interaction with the world,” according to a statement from Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen. Shaheen said the leadership of the Islamic Emirate, the term used to describe the Taliban government in Afghanistan, thanked the Qatar government for supporting the Afghan people. It said the Doha agreement, signed by the United States and the Taliban, was a “landmark achievement, all sides should adhere to its implementation.” Also read | Panjshir for Kashmir: A sinister plan of Pakistan and the Taliban Sunday’s meeting in the presidential palace, first reported by Al Jazeera television, was attended by a number of other Afghan ministers including deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi, Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, Defence Minister Yaqoob Mujahid, Interor Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani and intelligence chief Abdul Haq Wasiq. Qatar is considered one of the countries with the most influence over the Taliban and played a pivotal role in the massive US-led airlift of its own citizens, other Western nationals and Afghans who helped Western countries The Qatari capital Doha was also the home of the Taliban’s political office which oversaw the negotiations with the United States that eventually led to the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan. (With inputs from agencies)

Qatar foreign minister visits Kabul, meets Taliban PM: Reports

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid, who remained underground for over a decade and only showed his face when the militia group seized control of Kabul on August 15, said he lived in the Afghan capital right under the nose of his adversaries who considered him a “ghost-like” figure during the conflict.

Speaking to Pakistani media outlet The Express Tribune, Mujahid boasted how he “successfully” evaded from the radars of the western forces.

The Taliban spokesman worked under the shadows for many years that there was once speculation as to whether the faceless spokesman might be more than one person.

“They (US and Afghan National Forces) used to think I did not exist,” said Mujahid, who also admitted that he studied at the Haqqania seminary in Nowshera in northwest Pakistan, which has also been dubbed the Taliban University or the “University of Jihad” internationally.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-offers-the-taliban-a-warm-welcome-while-urging-peace-talks-401278">China offers the Taliban a warm welcome while urging peace talks</a>

“I escaped so many times from their raids and attempts to capture me that they seriously considered that ‘Zabiullah'’ was a made-up figure, not a real man who exists,” the 43-year-old spokesman said.

“And yet, I managed to move about Afghanistan freely. I think this perception helped with that," he explained.

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-20-years-after-911-here-is-how-the-taliban-is-celebrating-its-victory-412216/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The spokesman said he lived in Kabul for a long time, right under everyone’s noses, and freely roamed across the country.

“But due to the nature of this job, there have been times where I could not sleep enough or eat enough. Coordinating with our commanders is a round-the-clock job, as is answering phones and providing information to media outlets,” he said.

Mujahid said he became the spokesman of the Taliban following the arrest of his predecessor. He also said that he had never seen the Taliban founder Mullah Umar.

&nbsp;"But I have worked with Sheikh Mullah Mansoor, and Sheikh Hebatullah," he said, referring to Mullah Omar's successors.

(With inputs from agencies)

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid, who remained underground for over a decade and only showed his face when the militia group seized control of Kabul on August 15, said he lived in the Afghan capital right under the nose of his adversaries who considered him a “ghost-like” figure during the conflict.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid, who remained underground for over a decade and only showed his face when the militia group seized control of Kabul on August 15, said he lived in the Afghan capital right under the nose of his adversaries who considered him a “ghost-like” figure during the conflict. Speaking to Pakistani media outlet The Express Tribune, Mujahid boasted how he “successfully” evaded from the radars of the western forces. The Taliban spokesman worked under the shadows for many years that there was once speculation as to whether the faceless spokesman might be more than one person. “They (US and Afghan National Forces) used to think I did not exist,” said Mujahid, who also admitted that he studied at the Haqqania seminary in Nowshera in northwest Pakistan, which has also been dubbed the Taliban University or the “University of Jihad” internationally. Also read | China offers the Taliban a warm welcome while urging peace talks “I escaped so many times from their raids and attempts to capture me that they seriously considered that ‘Zabiullah'’ was a made-up figure, not a real man who exists,” the 43-year-old spokesman said. “And yet, I managed to move about Afghanistan freely. I think this perception helped with that," he explained. Watch | The spokesman said he lived in Kabul for a long time, right under everyone’s noses, and freely roamed across the country. “But due to the nature of this job, there have been times where I could not sleep enough or eat enough. Coordinating with our commanders is a round-the-clock job, as is answering phones and providing information to media outlets,” he said. Mujahid said he became the spokesman of the Taliban following the arrest of his predecessor. He also said that he had never seen the Taliban founder Mullah Umar. "But I have worked with Sheikh Mullah Mansoor, and Sheikh Hebatullah," he said, referring to Mullah Omar's successors. (With inputs from agencies)

US thought I was a ghost, roamed freely across Afghanistan, boasts Taliban spokesman Mujahid

Taliban fighters have taken over the glitzy Kabul mansion of one of their fiercest enemies -- the&nbsp;warlord&nbsp;and fugitive ex-vice president Abdul Rashid Dostum.

Now in the hands of rank and file Taliban fighters, the opulent villa has given the austere Islamists a peek into the lives of Afghanistan's former rulers, and they say the luxury is the proceeds of years of endemic corruption.

Along an endless corridor with a thick apple-green carpet, a young fighter sleeps slumped on a sofa, his Kalashnikov rifle resting against him, as exotic fish glide above him in one of seven giant tanks.

The fighter is part of the personal security detail of Qari Salahuddin Ayoubi -- one of the new regime's most powerful commanders -- who installed his company of 150 men in the mansion on August 15, the day Kabul fell.

The luxury AFP saw on a tour of the mansion would be unimaginable for most ordinary Afghans.

Huge glass chandeliers hang in cavernous halls, large soft sofas furnish a maze of lounges and an indoor swimming pool is finished with intricate turquoise tiles.

It even boasts a sauna, a Turkish steam bath and a fully equipped gym.

It is an out of this world experience for the new occupants, who for years sacrificed creature comforts for rebellion -- living on their wits in the plains, valleys and mountains of rural Afghanistan.

But the new head of the household -- now the military commander of four provinces -- makes it clear his men will not get used to the luxury.&nbsp;

"Islam never wants us to have a luxurious life," Ayoubi told AFP, adding luxury comes in paradise, "the life after death". &nbsp;

<h2>The thieves'&nbsp;quarter&nbsp;</h2>

The mansion's owner, Dostum, is a notorious figure woven into the fabric of Afghanistan's recent history.

A former paratrooper, communist commander,&nbsp;warlord&nbsp;and vice president, he was the very definition of a cunning political survivor who weathered over four decades of conflict in war-torn Afghanistan.&nbsp;

Despite a series of war crimes linked to Dostum's forces, the former Afghan government hoped his military acumen and seething hatred of the Taliban would help them survive.&nbsp;

But his stronghold was overrun and the greying 67-year-old fled across the border to Uzbekistan.

Dostum is widely suspected to have hugely profited from the corruption and embezzlement that discredited the former government.

Several officials illegally took land to build luxurious mansions in one neighbourhood, earning it the nickname "Thieves' Quarter" among locals.

In one wing of the enormous house, Taliban fighters relaxed in a massive tropical greenhouse of several hundred square metres under a huge glass roof.

That is overlooked by a mezzanine dominated by a dark wood bar -- a testament to the reported decadent tastes of a general renowned for a penchant for late nights and strong liquor.

The Taliban have good reason to hate Dostum.

In 2001, he was accused of killing more than 2,000 fighters -- locking many in containers in the middle of the desert where they suffocated under a scorching sun.

But Commander Ayoubi rejected any desire for revenge.

"If other people who had been oppressed like us came here, you would not have seen the chairs and tables. They might have destroyed them," he said.

But the new regime will not allow such luxury to be built with ill-gotten gains in the future, he said.

"We are on the side of the poor," he says, as dozens of visitors wait patiently in the corridor, idly watching the indifferent fish.

Taliban fighters have taken over the glitzy Kabul mansion of one of their fiercest enemies -- the warlord and fugitive ex-vice president Abdul Rashid Dostum. Now in the hands of rank and file Taliban fighters, the opulent villa has given the austere Islamists a peek into the lives of Afghanistan's former rulers, and they say the luxury is the proceeds of years of endemic corruption.

Taliban fighters have taken over the glitzy Kabul mansion of one of their fiercest enemies -- the warlord and fugitive ex-vice president Abdul Rashid Dostum. Now in the hands of rank and file Taliban fighters, the opulent villa has given the austere Islamists a peek into the lives of Afghanistan's former rulers, and they say the luxury is the proceeds of years of endemic corruption. Along an endless corridor with a thick apple-green carpet, a young fighter sleeps slumped on a sofa, his Kalashnikov rifle resting against him, as exotic fish glide above him in one of seven giant tanks. The fighter is part of the personal security detail of Qari Salahuddin Ayoubi -- one of the new regime's most powerful commanders -- who installed his company of 150 men in the mansion on August 15, the day Kabul fell. The luxury AFP saw on a tour of the mansion would be unimaginable for most ordinary Afghans. Huge glass chandeliers hang in cavernous halls, large soft sofas furnish a maze of lounges and an indoor swimming pool is finished with intricate turquoise tiles. It even boasts a sauna, a Turkish steam bath and a fully equipped gym. It is an out of this world experience for the new occupants, who for years sacrificed creature comforts for rebellion -- living on their wits in the plains, valleys and mountains of rural Afghanistan. But the new head of the household -- now the military commander of four provinces -- makes it clear his men will not get used to the luxury. "Islam never wants us to have a luxurious life," Ayoubi told AFP, adding luxury comes in paradise, "the life after death". The thieves' quarter The mansion's owner, Dostum, is a notorious figure woven into the fabric of Afghanistan's recent history. A former paratrooper, communist commander, warlord and vice president, he was the very definition of a cunning political survivor who weathered over four decades of conflict in war-torn Afghanistan. Despite a series of war crimes linked to Dostum's forces, the former Afghan government hoped his military acumen and seething hatred of the Taliban would help them survive. But his stronghold was overrun and the greying 67-year-old fled across the border to Uzbekistan. Dostum is widely suspected to have hugely profited from the corruption and embezzlement that discredited the former government. Several officials illegally took land to build luxurious mansions in one neighbourhood, earning it the nickname "Thieves' Quarter" among locals. In one wing of the enormous house, Taliban fighters relaxed in a massive tropical greenhouse of several hundred square metres under a huge glass roof. That is overlooked by a mezzanine dominated by a dark wood bar -- a testament to the reported decadent tastes of a general renowned for a penchant for late nights and strong liquor. The Taliban have good reason to hate Dostum. In 2001, he was accused of killing more than 2,000 fighters -- locking many in containers in the middle of the desert where they suffocated under a scorching sun. But Commander Ayoubi rejected any desire for revenge. "If other people who had been oppressed like us came here, you would not have seen the chairs and tables. They might have destroyed them," he said. But the new regime will not allow such luxury to be built with ill-gotten gains in the future, he said. "We are on the side of the poor," he says, as dozens of visitors wait patiently in the corridor, idly watching the indifferent fish.

Warlord chic: Taliban make themselves at home in Dostum's mansion

As international donors gather in Geneva on Monday to discuss humanitarian relief for Afghanistan under Taliban rule, neighbours China and Pakistan have already reached out with aid and discussions of future assistance.

The economy in the war-torn country is in crisis and a humanitarian crisis is looming, experts say.

Yet the United States and other Western nations are reluctant to provide the Taliban with funds until the Islamist militant movement provides assurances that it will uphold human rights, and in particular the rights of women.

The country`s roughly $10 billion in foreign assets, held overseas, are also frozen.

"The understandable purpose is to deny these funds to the de facto Taliban administration," Deborah Lyons, the U.N. Secretary General`s special representative for Afghanistan, told the U.N. Security Council this week.&nbsp;

"The inevitable effect, however, will be a severe economic downturn that could throw many more millions into poverty and hunger, may generate a massive wave of refugees from Afghanistan, and indeed set Afghanistan back for generations."

Another possible effect could be to drive Afghanistan closer to its neighbours and close allies Pakistan and China, who have already sent planeloads of supplies to Afghanistan. They have also signalled they are open to ramped-up engagement.

China announced last week it would send $31 million worth of food and health supplies to Afghanistan, among the first foreign aid pledges since the Taliban took power last month.

Pakistan last week sent supplies such as cooking oil and medicine to authorities in Kabul, while the country`s foreign minister called on the international community to provide assistance without conditions and to unfreeze Afghanistan’s assets.

Minerals and Militancy

Pakistan has had deep ties with the Taliban and has been accused of supporting the group as it battled the US-backed government in Kabul for 20 years - charges denied by Islamabad.

China, with a strong alliance with Pakistan, has also been engaging with the Taliban. Some analysts said it was enticed by the country`s mineral wealth, including large reserves of lithium, a key component for electric vehicles.

China has also expressed concern about militancy that could spill over from Afghanistan across its border, which it wants the Taliban administration to help contain.

Beyond humanitarian aid, some experts and officials in the region say China's huge Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) could provide Afghanistan with long-term economic viability.

One possibility is Afghanistan joining the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a central part of the BRI, under which Beijing has pledged over $60 billion for infrastructure projects in Pakistan, much of it in the form of loans.

"The Taliban would welcome joining CPEC, China would also be very happy," said Rustam Shah Mohmand, Pakistan`s former ambassador to Afghanistan.

China has not made any comment on the BRI but Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said Beijing is ready to actively discuss the resumption of China-Afghanistan freight trains and facilitate

Afghanistan`s interaction with the outside world, especially its access to humanitarian supplies.

Pakistan`s foreign office and a Taliban spokesperson did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Taliban, China Talk — Source

Taliban leaders in recent weeks have said they want good relations with China.

A senior Taliban source said discussions have taken place with China in Doha about possible investment opportunities. China is interested in mining in particular but any activity in the sector will be open to tender, the source said.

"The Taliban welcomes foreign investment that will benefit the country," he said.

Two sources in Afghanistan and Pakistan familiar with the matter said China had been proactively encouraging Afghanistan to join CPEC for years but had been met with a non-committal response from the previous U.S.-backed government.

The Taliban, with a need for economic stimulus and international recognition, seems more keen.

"The best way forward and the immediately available alternative option for Afghanistan`s economic development is CPEC, which includes Pakistan and China," said Mushahid Hussain Sayed, a Pakistani senator and former chairman of the China-Pakistan Institute.

"The new administration in Kabul would also be receptive to this and they are keen on it."

For China, though, which already has mining interests in Afghanistan that have struggled to get off the ground, any further investment would come with risks attached, given the uncertain security situation in the country.

"Absolutely the security and stability of Afghanistan is also of importance to China," said Wang Huiyao, president of the Centre for China and Globalisation, a think-tank.

"But also links to Central Asia and the connectivity through the Belt and Road, it`s all related for the regional stability and prosperity...There`s a stake there for China."

As international donors gather in Geneva on Monday to discuss humanitarian relief for Afghanistan under Taliban rule, neighbours China and Pakistan have already reached out with aid and discussions of future assistance.

As international donors gather in Geneva on Monday to discuss humanitarian relief for Afghanistan under Taliban rule, neighbours China and Pakistan have already reached out with aid and discussions of future assistance. The economy in the war-torn country is in crisis and a humanitarian crisis is looming, experts say. Yet the United States and other Western nations are reluctant to provide the Taliban with funds until the Islamist militant movement provides assurances that it will uphold human rights, and in particular the rights of women. The country`s roughly $10 billion in foreign assets, held overseas, are also frozen. "The understandable purpose is to deny these funds to the de facto Taliban administration," Deborah Lyons, the U.N. Secretary General`s special representative for Afghanistan, told the U.N. Security Council this week. "The inevitable effect, however, will be a severe economic downturn that could throw many more millions into poverty and hunger, may generate a massive wave of refugees from Afghanistan, and indeed set Afghanistan back for generations." Another possible effect could be to drive Afghanistan closer to its neighbours and close allies Pakistan and China, who have already sent planeloads of supplies to Afghanistan. They have also signalled they are open to ramped-up engagement. China announced last week it would send $31 million worth of food and health supplies to Afghanistan, among the first foreign aid pledges since the Taliban took power last month. Pakistan last week sent supplies such as cooking oil and medicine to authorities in Kabul, while the country`s foreign minister called on the international community to provide assistance without conditions and to unfreeze Afghanistan’s assets. Minerals and Militancy Pakistan has had deep ties with the Taliban and has been accused of supporting the group as it battled the US-backed government in Kabul for 20 years - charges denied by Islamabad. China, with a strong alliance with Pakistan, has also been engaging with the Taliban. Some analysts said it was enticed by the country`s mineral wealth, including large reserves of lithium, a key component for electric vehicles. China has also expressed concern about militancy that could spill over from Afghanistan across its border, which it wants the Taliban administration to help contain. Beyond humanitarian aid, some experts and officials in the region say China's huge Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) could provide Afghanistan with long-term economic viability. One possibility is Afghanistan joining the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a central part of the BRI, under which Beijing has pledged over $60 billion for infrastructure projects in Pakistan, much of it in the form of loans. "The Taliban would welcome joining CPEC, China would also be very happy," said Rustam Shah Mohmand, Pakistan`s former ambassador to Afghanistan. China has not made any comment on the BRI but Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said Beijing is ready to actively discuss the resumption of China-Afghanistan freight trains and facilitate Afghanistan`s interaction with the outside world, especially its access to humanitarian supplies. Pakistan`s foreign office and a Taliban spokesperson did not immediately respond to request for comment. Taliban, China Talk — Source Taliban leaders in recent weeks have said they want good relations with China. A senior Taliban source said discussions have taken place with China in Doha about possible investment opportunities. China is interested in mining in particular but any activity in the sector will be open to tender, the source said. "The Taliban welcomes foreign investment that will benefit the country," he said. Two sources in Afghanistan and Pakistan familiar with the matter said China had been proactively encouraging Afghanistan to join CPEC for years but had been met with a non-committal response from the previous U.S.-backed government. The Taliban, with a need for economic stimulus and international recognition, seems more keen. "The best way forward and the immediately available alternative option for Afghanistan`s economic development is CPEC, which includes Pakistan and China," said Mushahid Hussain Sayed, a Pakistani senator and former chairman of the China-Pakistan Institute. "The new administration in Kabul would also be receptive to this and they are keen on it." For China, though, which already has mining interests in Afghanistan that have struggled to get off the ground, any further investment would come with risks attached, given the uncertain security situation in the country. "Absolutely the security and stability of Afghanistan is also of importance to China," said Wang Huiyao, president of the Centre for China and Globalisation, a think-tank. "But also links to Central Asia and the connectivity through the Belt and Road, it`s all related for the regional stability and prosperity...There`s a stake there for China."

As West ponders aid for Afghanistan, China and Pakistan quick to provide relief

As the world mourned the immense loss on the US went through 20 years ago on 9/11, former US President Donald Trump concentrated on slamming Joe Biden.<o:p></o:p>

Unhappy with President Biden’s decision to withdraw US army from Afghanistan, Trump blamed Biden for the ‘horrible thing’ and called it Biden’s 'incompetence'.<o:p></o:p>

"It's a horrible thing that took place, a horrible, horrible thing," Trump said in televised comments during a visit to the New York Police Department's 17th precinct.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/with-display-of-unity-biden-obama-clinton-mark-911-anniversary-in-nyc-412414" hreflang="en">With display of unity, Biden, Obama, Clinton mark 9/11 anniversary in NYC</a>

"It looked like we retreated, it looked like we gave up. Like, they use the word surrender," Trump added. "And we didn't surrender, our people didn't surrender and our soldiers sure as hell didn't surrender."<o:p></o:p>

He claimed that during his time in the White House, he had a strong conversation with Taliban and warned them to not target any American in Afghanistan. "I had a very strong conversation with the Taliban and we told him if any American is hit, we will hit hard,"&nbsp;he recalled. "And there was not one American dead in 18 months. We lost no soldier in 18 months because of me"<o:p></o:p>

Trump also blamed Biden for ‘leaving’ some of the American helicopters, guns, and more in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan after the withdrawal. "Now they have our planes, why the hell didn’t we fly them all out?"&nbsp;Trump questioned. "Use them don’t give them away".

<o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/the-911-terror-attacks-3-hours-that-changed-the-world-412425">WATCH |</a></o:p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/the-911-terror-attacks-3-hours-that-changed-the-world-412425/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Local reporters also questioned Trump if he would like to run for the post of New York’s mayor, rather than the post of President. Trump simply laughed describing it as an "interesting idea".<o:p></o:p>

Taliban took control of Afghanistan on August 16 as former leader Ashraf Ghani fled the country and the US troops started withdrawing from the war-torn country. On August 31, the US announced that the withdrawal process has been completed, and the Taliban soon after declared their new government.<o:p></o:p>

As the world mourned the immense loss on the US went through 20 years ago on 9/11, former US President Donald Trump concentrated on slamming Joe Biden. Unhappy with President Biden’s decision to withdraw US army from Afghanistan, Trump blamed Biden for the ‘horrible thing’ and called it Biden’s 'incompetence'.

As the world mourned the immense loss on the US went through 20 years ago on 9/11, former US President Donald Trump concentrated on slamming Joe Biden. Unhappy with President Biden’s decision to withdraw US army from Afghanistan, Trump blamed Biden for the ‘horrible thing’ and called it Biden’s 'incompetence'. "It's a horrible thing that took place, a horrible, horrible thing," Trump said in televised comments during a visit to the New York Police Department's 17th precinct. Also read | With display of unity, Biden, Obama, Clinton mark 9/11 anniversary in NYC "It looked like we retreated, it looked like we gave up. Like, they use the word surrender," Trump added. "And we didn't surrender, our people didn't surrender and our soldiers sure as hell didn't surrender." He claimed that during his time in the White House, he had a strong conversation with Taliban and warned them to not target any American in Afghanistan. "I had a very strong conversation with the Taliban and we told him if any American is hit, we will hit hard," he recalled. "And there was not one American dead in 18 months. We lost no soldier in 18 months because of me" Trump also blamed Biden for ‘leaving’ some of the American helicopters, guns, and more in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan after the withdrawal. "Now they have our planes, why the hell didn’t we fly them all out?" Trump questioned. "Use them don’t give them away". WATCH | Local reporters also questioned Trump if he would like to run for the post of New York’s mayor, rather than the post of President. Trump simply laughed describing it as an "interesting idea". Taliban took control of Afghanistan on August 16 as former leader Ashraf Ghani fled the country and the US troops started withdrawing from the war-torn country. On August 31, the US announced that the withdrawal process has been completed, and the Taliban soon after declared their new government.

As world mourns 9/11, Trump slams Biden for Afghan withdrawal

India's border forces and armed police units deployed in the counter-terrorism grid have been directed by the central security establishment to prepare and administer a new training module on the Taliban and its modus operandi to the troops in view of the "emerging" scenario following the Islamic militia taking over Afghanistan.

Stating that the fall of Kabul to the Taliban last month may have a "serious bearing" on the security situation in India, the ground forces and their intelligence setup have been asked to update both their strategy, tactics and combat syllabus on the new "geo-political situation in central and south Asia and its grave security implication on India's borders and the hinterland."

The directive issued by the security establishment a few days back also envisages a scenario where infiltration from across the border from Pakistan on India's west and illegal entry of terrorist operatives from open fronts in the east may increase including that by foreign terrorist fighters.

Officials in the central security forces and intelligence wings acknowledged the new developments that have taken place in the neighbourhood after the Taliban swiftly took over almost all provinces of Afghanistan last month following the US military retreating from their 20-year war in that country launched after the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001 in their country.

A senior officer told PTI that the existing training module of border guarding forces like the BSF and SSB, state police units and those involved in counter-terrorist duties like the CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police have an existing title "changing dynamics of border management".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/what-starts-in-afghanistan-does-not-stay-in-afghanistan-china-india-and-iran-grapple-with-the-fallout-405693">What starts in Afghanistan does not stay in Afghanistan: China, India, and Iran grapple with the fallout</a>

"This included information on the Taliban as well but it was not updated. That is being added through open-source authentic information and others available in a classified manner to us and the focus is the developments of the last twenty years that took place in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks," the officer said.

Watch

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A full-fledged training, intelligence and combat module on Taliban, its leadership and their modus operandi is being prepared apart from specific case studies that have taken place in that country and the region, he said.

The directives have been forwarded to the central and state police forces which have multiple levels of training centres and academies to train their personnel and officers during induction and while in service.

"It is very important for the last man standing at the border, a checkpost or under a police jurisdiction to know about the Taliban's history and linked activities and strategies.

"Senior and top commanders of the security forces may know most of the things about Afghanistan and Taliban situation but they draw their operational strength from the troops or the constable standing on the ground. They need to be informed well," another senior officer working in the training management division of a paramilitary force said.

At least one such session has been conducted in two central forces post the issuance of the new directives while a webinar for all these forces is being planned in a combined manner to be held later this month, a Union home ministry official said.

A third officer said the latest directions make it clear that such sessions should also be held for the troops and commanding officers on the ground during "daily operational briefing sessions" in their area of deployment and case studies on the Taliban are being prepared in "local and vernacular languages" for the troops.

The security forces are also enhancing their training quota of personnel for understanding IEDs (improvised explosive devices) and vehicle-borne IEDs (VBIEDs).

"IEDs remain a constant threat to the security personnel and their operations everywhere be it anti-Naxal operations or counter-terrorist duties.

"However, for those deployed in the Kashmir valley knowing IEDs and VBIEDs, their detection and crippling is very important post the Afghanistan development," one of the officers cited above said and referred to the fatal and non-fatal casualties suffered by the NATO forces from IEDs in Afghanistan.

India's border forces and armed police units deployed in the counter-terrorism grid have been directed by the central security establishment to prepare and administer a new training module on the Taliban and its modus operandi to the troops in view of the "emerging" scenario following the Islamic militia taking over Afghanistan.

India's border forces and armed police units deployed in the counter-terrorism grid have been directed by the central security establishment to prepare and administer a new training module on the Taliban and its modus operandi to the troops in view of the "emerging" scenario following the Islamic militia taking over Afghanistan. Stating that the fall of Kabul to the Taliban last month may have a "serious bearing" on the security situation in India, the ground forces and their intelligence setup have been asked to update both their strategy, tactics and combat syllabus on the new "geo-political situation in central and south Asia and its grave security implication on India's borders and the hinterland." The directive issued by the security establishment a few days back also envisages a scenario where infiltration from across the border from Pakistan on India's west and illegal entry of terrorist operatives from open fronts in the east may increase including that by foreign terrorist fighters. Officials in the central security forces and intelligence wings acknowledged the new developments that have taken place in the neighbourhood after the Taliban swiftly took over almost all provinces of Afghanistan last month following the US military retreating from their 20-year war in that country launched after the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001 in their country. A senior officer told PTI that the existing training module of border guarding forces like the BSF and SSB, state police units and those involved in counter-terrorist duties like the CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police have an existing title "changing dynamics of border management". Also read | What starts in Afghanistan does not stay in Afghanistan: China, India, and Iran grapple with the fallout "This included information on the Taliban as well but it was not updated. That is being added through open-source authentic information and others available in a classified manner to us and the focus is the developments of the last twenty years that took place in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks," the officer said. Watch A full-fledged training, intelligence and combat module on Taliban, its leadership and their modus operandi is being prepared apart from specific case studies that have taken place in that country and the region, he said. The directives have been forwarded to the central and state police forces which have multiple levels of training centres and academies to train their personnel and officers during induction and while in service. "It is very important for the last man standing at the border, a checkpost or under a police jurisdiction to know about the Taliban's history and linked activities and strategies. "Senior and top commanders of the security forces may know most of the things about Afghanistan and Taliban situation but they draw their operational strength from the troops or the constable standing on the ground. They need to be informed well," another senior officer working in the training management division of a paramilitary force said. At least one such session has been conducted in two central forces post the issuance of the new directives while a webinar for all these forces is being planned in a combined manner to be held later this month, a Union home ministry official said. A third officer said the latest directions make it clear that such sessions should also be held for the troops and commanding officers on the ground during "daily operational briefing sessions" in their area of deployment and case studies on the Taliban are being prepared in "local and vernacular languages" for the troops. The security forces are also enhancing their training quota of personnel for understanding IEDs (improvised explosive devices) and vehicle-borne IEDs (VBIEDs). "IEDs remain a constant threat to the security personnel and their operations everywhere be it anti-Naxal operations or counter-terrorist duties. "However, for those deployed in the Kashmir valley knowing IEDs and VBIEDs, their detection and crippling is very important post the Afghanistan development," one of the officers cited above said and referred to the fatal and non-fatal casualties suffered by the NATO forces from IEDs in Afghanistan.

Indian security forces to have training module on Taliban

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