Afghanistan
Pakistan to resume commercial flights to Kabul from Monday
The PIA official said that a permission to land at the Kabul airport has been granted by Afghanistan's Civil Aviation Authority. Meanwhile, PIA's Spokesman Abdullah Hafeez Khan said that Pakistan has got all the technical clearance for flight operations, and an Airbus A320 jet is scheduled to take passengers from Islamabad to Kabul.
Veiled Afghan women rally in support of Taliban in Kabul
Around 300 women, wearing black veils marched on the streets of Kabul and later sat at the Kabul university lecture theatre, asserting their support to the Taliban leadership, especially on gender segregation. The women were carrying with them Taliban flags while the speakers criticized the west for what they called, an illegal invasion of Afghanistan.
Afghanistan's Hazaras fearful of uncertain future under Taliban rule
The Hazara community, belonging to the Shiite sect, had previously been persecuted, executed and ethnically cleansed by the Taliban and Daesh militant groups for being Shia Muslim. However, with the current and a little 'moderate' new Taliban government in place, they feel a little secure. But this feeling of security also comes with traumatic fears of the past, making them uncertain about their present and the future.
Barbaric video shows Taliban celebrating with severed head of their victim
The 36-second video, which was obtained by the Washington Examiner, was posted a week ago. It's unclear when it was made, but on August 17, Taliban leaders promised amnesty for government workers and protection for women. In the video, six Taliban fighters surround the soldier, lying on his back in the desert with his head atop his chest.
Guterres underlines importance of engaging Taliban, aiding Afghans
Speaking about the economic situation in the country, the UN chief noted that "an economic meltdown of Afghanistan is in nobody's interest". "We need to find ways to avoid a situation that would be catastrophic for the people," he added. Regarding the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, the mandate of which expires next week, Guterres said it would be difficult to create a new mandate given the country's current unpredictability.
Why China's engagement with Taliban is threat rather than opportunity
Even as the Taliban looks towards China for investment, officials in Beijing worry that extremists could use Afghanistan to sow violence around the region, according to a report by NPR. Although the Taliban has promised that Afghan territory will not be used as a staging ground for attacks inside China, their relations with terrorist groups like ISIS-K and ETIM is widely known.
China's Islamists wanting separate homeland welcome Taliban's Afghanistan takeover
The warning comes from ETIM despite the Taliban's assurance to China that terror outfits will not be allowed to use Afghanistan for their activities. Several foreign policy watchers are of the opinion that the Taliban would have little control over the multiple terror outfits that have made Afghanistan their base and ETIM could become a major cause for concern.
Taliban execute Amrullah Saleh's brother
Taliban has denied the news and has said that Azizi was killed during a conflict with them. This is the second family member of the resistance front's leaders who lost their lives in Panjshir province. Earlier, Commander Abdul Wodood, the nephew of slain guerrilla leader Ahmad Shah Massoud, was killed along with the spokesperson of the front Fahim Dashti.
Food, job insecurity now primary concerns in Afghanistan: UN
Afghanistan has also witnessed drought this year, which led to a 40 per cent decline in domestic food production. It has caused food prices to skyrocket. Wheat prices have gone up by 25 per cent while many essential ration items have to be imported and purchased at higher rates. Presently in Afghanistan, half of the population, 18 million people, need humanitarian assistance to survive.
Panjshir resistance forces are hiding in valleys and caves: Taliban
The Taliban, however, said some of the opposition fighters had fled to the mountains but talks were ongoing to convince them to return to normal life. Anaamullah Samangani, a member of the Taliban's Cultural Commission, said Taliban forces have captured all parts of Panjshir and that the resistance forces are not there in any public way, the report said.
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