Afghanistan
America in touch with India regarding ‘over-the-horizon’ support: Antony Blinken
The “over-the-horizon” strategy comes into the picture as the WH has promised to fight any transnational terrorism threats emanating from Afghanistan in the wake of withdrawing troops from Kabul. This strategy has been repeatedly used by Biden and his administration to identify and strike terrorists with aerial surveillance and drones launched from outside the country.
'US Central Command still assessing deadly drone strike in Kabul'
"I would say that the assessment by the Central Command is ongoing, and I'm not going to get ahead of that," Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby as saying to reporters here. Kirby's remarks were in response to a question over media investigations that suggested the US military might have mistaken an aid worker for a suicide bomber in the drone strike during its military withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Cautious India extends support to 'people' of Afghanistan but no monetary aid to Taliban-led govt
This is probably for the first since the Taliban lost control over Kabul two decades ago, India has decided not to pledge any money to Afghanistan. However, Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar on Monday said that India will stand with the people of Afghanistan adding that it is essential to provide humanitarian assistance without any restriction to the country.
153 Afghan media outlets stop operations after Taliban takeover
The TOLO News report on Monday said these outlets include radio, print and TV channels, and their closure was mainly due to economic problems and restrictions. "If the organisations supporting media do not pay attention to the outlets, soon we will witness the closing of the remaining ones in the country," TOLO News quoted Hujatullah Mujadadi, deputy head of the Afghanistan Federation of Journalists, as saying.
Taliban fighters force men into car boots
Michelle Bachelet, speaking at the UN Human Rights Council on Monday, said she has seen "credible reports" that Taliban fighters are searching house-to-house to track down anyone who helped the former government or the US. "Officials who worked for previous administrations and their family members (are) being arbitrarily detained. In some cases, the officials were released, and in others, they were found dead."
Kabul airport to be ready for int'l flights soon: Official
"Domestic flight operations have already started and the international flights would begin soon and efforts are underway to remove the remaining 10 to 15 per cent technical problems at the airport," Xinhua news agency quoted Hamadani as saying in a video clip on Monday.
Baradar absent from meetings with Qatar delegation; arch-rivals Haqqanis present in full strength
On Monday, the Taliban were forced to deny that Mullah Baradar is dead after rumours emerged that he was killed during a gunfight with his political rivals. The Taliban insisted that Baradar is in Kandahar province, meeting with the group's supreme leader Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada to discuss the country's future now that the US troops have withdrawn.
Mullah Baradar issues audio message to say he is alive
"Taliban spokesman says rumours of the killing of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban's Deputy PM, is not true. He has been saying the same thing about Haibatullah Akhundzada for the past 2 years, but so far in the past 2 years, no one saw him or heared from him until now," a Twitterati said.
Afghans face perhaps their most perilous hour: UN
"The people of Afghanistan need a lifeline. After decades of war, suffering and insecurity, they face perhaps their most perilous hour. Now is the time for the international community to stand with them," Guterres said. One in two Afghans do not know where their next meal is coming from, the UN chief explained, adding that "many people could run out of food by the end of the month, just as winter approaches".
Taliban seize $6 mn in cash, 15 gold bricks from ex-VP Saleh's house
Saleh and the resistance front have not commented on the issue yet, Khaama News reported. Afghanistan's ambassador to Tajikistan, Mohammad Zahir Agbar, had claimed that President Ashraf Ghani had "taken $169 million with him" when he fled Afghanistan. He said Ghani should be arrested and the wealth of the Afghan nation be restored, Ozodi reported.
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