Afghanistan

According to a WFP report, the prolonged drought and deep economic crisis will threaten the livelihoods of millions of people across Afghanistan, TOLO News reports. The report said that humanitarian assistance averted a catastrophe in the harsh winter months, but hunger continues across the country at unprecedented levels.

In a statement on Saturday, the Taliban's Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice said that if a woman did not cover her face outside the home, her father or closest male relative would be summoned and eventually incarcerated or fired from government jobs, reports Khaama Press.

According to the US government's Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), the Department of Defense (DOD) on January 19 had notified Congress that it intended to transfer five US-procured former Afghan Mi-17 helicopters that had been undergoing maintenance in Ukraine to the Kiev government.

Since seizing power in August 2021, the Taliban have waged a ruthless crackdown against IS-K militants and their followers. But IS-K has remained resilient and has launched regular attacks on Taliban fighters and officials. Experts say IS-K is seeking to undermine the Taliban-led government and expose its failure to provide security.

The blast took place in the Darul-Aman area of Kabul and follows a spate of similar attacks around the country in the recent past, Tolo News reported. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, Abdul Nafay Takor, said that at least 10 people were killed and more than 20 others were wounded in the blast. The casualties were reportedly worshipers.

Speaking for the first time about the plans, Lt Gen Sami Sadat told the BBC that eight months of Taliban rule has convinced many Afghans that military action is the only way forward. He said operations could begin next month after Eid, when he plans to return to Afghanistan. The Taliban took control of the country in a rapid offensive last August.

According to the new timetable for the universities, three days of the week are allocated for all-female students during which no boy will be attending classes while the remaining three days will be given to boys with no female presence. Based on this decision, Monday, Wednesday and Saturday are allocated for girls and Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday for boys.

Officials familiar with the development told The Express Tribune on Sunday that Pakistan after recent spate of cross-border terrorist attacks conveyed to the Afghan Taliban in clear terms to take action against terrorist groups or face the consequences. In response to Islamabad's strong message, the Taliban have decided to persuade the banned terror outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its affiliates to move from border regions to other areas of Afghanistan.

Based on a new timetable issued by the Ministry of Higher Education, three days of the week have been allocated for female students during which no boy will be attend classes, while the remaining three days will be given to boys without the presence of girls, Khaama News reported.

The Economic Commission headed by Baradar, "after a detailed discussion on all issues in which the private sector is ready to invest, prioritized power generation", Xinhua news agency quoted the office as saying in a tweet. It said the commission has instructed related departments to start work on assessing renovation of coal-fuelled power generation in the capital Kabul and big cities in a bid to ensure power supply for the private sector.