Language

Don't you have an account with Pajhwok Afghan News?

Click here to subscribe.

4 killed, as many injured in Afghanistan last week

KABUL (Pajhwok): Last week, President Joe Biden said Afghanistan no longer posed a threat to the United States, with some countries calling on the Islamic Emirate to lift restrictions on women.

Italy, Switzerland and Japan announced $8.6 million in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan during the outgoing week.

Last week’s key events

  • Biden: Afghanistan not a threat to US
  • Several countries want IEA to lift curbs on women
  • IEA’s reaction to Asif’s statement: IS has bases in Paksitan.
  • Italy, Switzerland & Japan announced $8.5m in aid to Afghanistan.

Casualties

Last week, four people were killed and as many wounded in various incidents across Afghanistan.

According to reports, an armed robber was shot dead in a clash with security forces in Jalalabad, the capital of eastern Nangarhar province. A security force member was injured.

Armed robbers shot injured two individuals in firing at shopkeepers in eastern Kandahar province.

Local officials said a man was killed by his father and brother in Faryab. In Balkh, another man was killed by his wife and children.

In Logar, the body of a 40-year-old man was found, and in Laghman, a woman was injured in a clash between two tribes over the ownership of a mountain.

Note: These figures are based on reports reaching Pajhwok Afghan News. Some incidents may have gone unreported or sources could have provided incorrect figures.

In the previous week, four people had been killed and two others wounded in various incidents across Afghanistan.

Before the regime change in 2021, hundreds of civilians, insurgents and security personnel would be killed and maimed every week.

Biden: Afghanistan not a threat to US

Last week, US President Joe Biden said after the withdrawal of American forces, Afghanistan had not become a “safe haven for terrorists,” and that there was no threat to the US from that country.

He expressed confidence that the primary threat from Al Qaeda in the future would no longer originate from Afghanistan but from other regions.

He also said Washington could manage Afghanistan from a distance.

OIC conference in Pakistan

A two-day international conference on girls’ education, initiated by the Muslim World League (MWL) was hosted by Pakistan last week.

Muslim World League (MWL) Secretary-General Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul Kareem Al-Issa said Islam imposes no restrictions on girls’ education.

He added the conference in Islamabad was not a short-term initiative, but a significant step towards towards ensuring girls’ right to education.

Al-Issa said the objective behind the moot was to provide equal educational rights for boys and girls and to ensure educational opportunities for every girl deprived of this right.

“Our Islamic faith has always celebrated the education of every Muslim, both male and female, because the message of Islam is to enlighten all, regardless of gender,” Al-Issa told participants.

But former US special representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad slammed the meeting as part of Islamabad’s ongoing conflict with the caretaker government in Kabul.

Khalilzad wrote on his X handle: “Pakistan is organising an Islamic conference on women’s education targeting #Afghanistan to embarrass the IEA leader who has imposed severe limitations on women’s education.

He clarified: “Obviously, this is not out of any sincere concern for Afghan women, but is a propaganda move as part of its ongoing conflict with the IEA.  But sometimes, even your enemy can end up doing you a favour.”

Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Canada urged the Islamic Emirate to remove the current restrictions on women.

A statement from Germany’s foreign ministry said IEA must adhere to Afghanistan’s commitments to international laws.

It added: “We have repeatedly and urgently called on Afghanistan and the de facto Taliban government to meet all of Afghanistan’s obligations under international law and to lift all legal restrictions on women and girls. In particular, women and girls must no longer be denied the right to an education.”

Soon after returning to power in 2021, IEA banned girls above the sixth grade from going to school and then extended the ban to university education.

IEA has repeatedly said the ban is temporary and girls will be allowed to study once a suitable environment is created.

Pakistani defence minister’s remarks

KhwajaAsif claimed Afghanistan was a centre for the recruitment and facilitation of ISIS-K fighters and various other groups, including TTP. These groups had a presence in Afghanistan, he alleged.

In response to Asif’s remarks, IEA spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said in an audio clip: “These claims by the Pakistani side are false. The Islamic Emirate has repeatedly stated and proven in practice that it does not allow foreign groups to operate in Afghanistan, nor does it allow them to pose a threat to other countries from Afghanistan.

“On the contrary, ISIS financing sources and centers are operating in Balochistan and other areas of Pakistan. It appears they have received permission to operate under their umbrella and are carrying out destructive acts.”

He added everything was documented and evidence is available. Fitrat said that Pakistan’s security incidents were a domestic issue for that country and had nothing to do with Afghanistan

Last week, Switzerland announced $2.6 million in aid to Afghanistan. Japan pledged $1.5 million and Italy contributed 4.5 million euros to the Afghanistan Humanitarian Assistance Fund.

sa/mud

GET IN TOUCH

SUGGEST A STORY

Pajhwok is interested in your story suggestions. Please tell us your thoughts by clicking here.

PAJHWOK MOBILE APP

Download our mobile application to get the latest updates on your mobile phone. Read more