Kabul, Sep 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) Two persons were killed and three others injured in a blast that rocked Police District 17 of Afghan capital Kabul, Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Nafi Takor said.

"A Toyota Corolla car, carrying explosive device, exploded in Police District 17 in today's afternoon, killing two countrymen and injuring three others," Nafi added on his Twitter account on Wednesday.

Without providing more details, the official said that security personnel had reached the area and initiated an investigation, Xinhua news agency reported.

The blast coincided with the first anniversary of the withdrawal of the US-led forces from Afghanistan.

The Taliban-run administration celebrated the first anniversary of the US forces' defeat and their pullout of Afghanistan on Wednesday in the former US main military base Bagram, where the administration displayed its military might by arranging a military parade.

Source: IANS

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By Arul Louis

United Nations, June 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) India has warned of Afghanistan becoming a haven for terrorist organisations that threaten the region and called for unified action against the Islamic State, Al-Qaeda, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba getting entrenched there.

India's Permanent Representative T.S. Tirumurti told the UN Security Council on Thursday, "We need to see concrete progress in ensuring that such proscribed terrorists, entities or their aliases do not get any support, tacit or direct, either from Afghan soil or from the terror sanctuaries based in the region."

"The linkages between groups listed (as terrorist organisations) by the UNSC (Security Council) such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammed, as well as provocative statements made by other terrorist groups operating out of Afghanistan pose a direct threat to the region," he said.

He noted that the Taliban, which now controls Afghanistan, "is yet to dissociate itself with other terrorist groups such as the Al-Qaeda which continue to remain active".

Therefore, he added, unified action was needed to "ensure that Afghanistan does not become a haven" for other terrorist organisations, including the local Islamic State affiliate known by the acronym ISIS-K, Al-Qaeda, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba".

Tirumurti heads the Council's panel overseeing the implementation of its sanctions relating to Afghanistan that is known as the 1988 Sanctions Committee after the resolution setting it up.

He said that the committee's report issued in May indicates "that the current authorities need to take much stronger action to fulfil their anti-terrorism commitments".

In particular, he added that "there is a significant increase in the presence of ISIL-K in the country and their capacity to carry out attacks. ISIL-K, with its base reportedly in Afghanistan, continues to issue threats of terrorist attacks on other countries".

ISIS-K has claimed responsibility for the attack on gurdwara Karte Parwan in Kabul last week and has threatened to strike elsewhere.

Under-Secretary-General Martin Griffiths, who is the UN's Emergency Relief Coordinator, described the "desperate situation" of starvation and drought in Afghanistan which has been compounded by the earthquake this week.

Asking for more aid to that country while pledging to ensure that they are administered properly, he said, "Without intervention, hunger and malnutrition will intensify with devastating consequences. Drought will persist, wreaking havoc on crop yields and availability of safe water."

Tirumurti said that India has sent Afghanistan 30,000 tonne of wheat, 13 ton of medicines, 500,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines and winter clothing.

India has signed an agreement with the World Food Programme (WFP) for the distribution of 50,000 tonne of wheat in Afghanistan.

The wheat supply through the WFP was held up by Pakistan but has since been allowed and they are being sent to Afghanistan.

India has also sent 1 million doses of the Covaxin vaccine to Iran to innoculate Afghan refugees living there against Covid-19, Tirumurti added.

He said that an Indian team had gone to Afghanistan this month to meet representatives of the international organisations involved in distribution of the humanitarian assistance and to visit places where Indian programmes and projects are being implemented like Indira Gandhi Children Hospital, Habibia High School, Chimtala sub-power station and the WFP wheat distribution centre.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the team headed by Joint Secretary J.P. Singh was also to have met with representatives of the Taliban.

Trina Saha, the Acting US Mission's Minister Counselor for Political Affairs, said that if the Taliban wants to normalise relations with the international community, it should heed the Council's demand "to reverse the steps it's taken to exclude women from social, political and economic life -- immediately".

"This is a perilous moment for Afghanistan," she said, adding, "We have been alarmed by the resumption of fighting and reports of abuses against civilians in various parts of Afghanistan, including in Panjshir."

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed @arulouis)

Source: IANS

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United Nations, June 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that he was saddened by the tragic loss of life in the earthquake that struck Afghanistan.

"Hundreds of people have reportedly been killed and injured, and this tragic toll might continue to rise," he added on Wednesday in a statement.

"My heart goes out to the people of Afghanistan who are already reeling from the impact of years of conflict, economic hardship and hunger. I convey my deep condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to the injured," he said.

The United Nations in Afghanistan is fully mobilised, and UN teams are already on the ground assessing the needs and providing initial support, he added.

"We count on the international community to help support the hundreds of families hit by this latest disaster. Now is the time for solidarity," Guterres said.

Guterres' Deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said later on Wednesday that the World Health Organisation and several non-governmental organisations are deploying mobile health teams, medicines and medical equipment to Afghanistan's Paktika and Khost provinces and mobilising additional medical supplies, Xinhua news agency reported.

The UN Children's Fund has deployed at least 12 teams of health workers to the worst-hit Giyan district in Paktika, and several mobile health and nutrition teams to Barmal district of Paktika, and Spera district in Khost. The World Food Programme, along with its humanitarian partners, is conducting a vulnerability assessment mission in the remote areas hit by the earthquake.

UN humanitarians said the Taliban are responding, including with search-and-rescue efforts. But heavy rain and wind are hampering efforts with helicopters reportedly unable to land on Wednesday afternoon, according to Haq.

Those whose homes have been damaged or destroyed are seeking shelter with family and friends, with some reportedly living in the open. The Taliban have delivered food and emergency tents to some of these families. But more assistance is required, he said.

Given the unseasonable heavy rains and cold, emergency shelter is an immediate priority. Other immediate needs include emergency trauma care, non-food items, food assistance and water and sanitation hygiene support, Haq added.

An earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan early Wednesday, and the death toll has surpassed 1,000, with more than 1,500 people injured, news reports said.

Source: IANS

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Kabul, April 27 (SocialNews.XYZ) Some 7,600 herding families received animals feed in two of Afghanistan's southern provinces, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) confirmed on Wednesday.

In the Marjah district of Helmand province, 5,600 people were supported by the FAO with animal feed packages, and each herding family received 200 kg of concentrated animal feed, the organisation tweeted.

According to the FAO, 2,000 families received concentrated animal feedstuff in the neighbouring Uruzgan province, Xinhua news agency reported.

Support to herders at the right time is helping them sustain their livelihood, the organisation said.

Since taking over the country's power last August, the Taliban has been facing extreme economic challenges. However, the Taliban-run administration has speeded up its efforts to solve problems facing Afghan farmers and help them use advanced technologies in farming, according to agriculture officials.

Source: IANS

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Kabul, April 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) At least two children were injured in a blast in Police District 5 here on Thursday, Interior Ministry spokesperson Abdul Nafi said.

It was a roadside bomb that injured two children in the Niazbeg area, he said without providing more details.

An eyewitness, on the condition of anonymity, claimed that the blast targeted a learning course named "Moral" in Charahi Qambar area of Police District 5.

The roadside bomb explosion is the third security incident in Kabul since Tuesday.

On Tuesday, two bomb blasts targeted a school in Police District 18, leaving at least six people dead and many others wounded. On Wednesday, a blast also injured one person, police said.

Source: IANS

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Mazar-i-Sharif, April 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) Five people were killed and 65 others were injured as a blast ripped through a mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif city, the capital of Afghanistan's northern Balkh province on Thursday, a local television channel reported.

"Five dead bodies and 65 injured persons have been taken to a hospital, and the number of casualties could change," health officials said, Xinhua news agency reported citing Tolonews.

Police are yet to comment.

An eyewitness, on condition of anonimity, said that the blast took place inside the mosque when scores of worshippers were offering prayers.

Police have cordoned off the area and are not allowing journalists access to the site of the blast.

Source: IANS

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Kunduz, April 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) A blast rocked Kunduz city, capital of Afghanistan's northern Kunduz province, on Thursday, leaving over a dozen of people injured, a doctor said.

All the injured have been taken to a hospital for treatment, Xinhua news agency reported.

The doctor on condition of anonimity, said: "Fourteen injured persons from the blast have been taken to a hospital and there were no deaths."

However, an eyewitness who also declined to be named said that four dead bodies and 16 injured people had been taken to a hospital in Kunduz city.

Police are yet to make comments.

Kabul and the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif in Afghanistan also experienced bomb blasts on Thursday.

Source: IANS

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Kabul, April 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) One civilian sustained injury as a blast struck a vehicle in Police District 2 of Afghanistan's Kabul on Wednesday, police spokesman Khalid Zadran said.

A sticky bomb targetted a civilian vehicle in Qwai Markaz area injuring a civilian on Wednesday, Zadran said without providing more details, Xinhua news agency reported.

In the meantime, an eyewitness on condition of anonymity claimed that two security personnel of the administration were injured in the blast.

This is the second security incident in the shape of blast in Kabul over the past two days.

Over two dozen civilians, mostly school children were also killed and injured in three blasts that rocked the Dasht-e-Barchi area on the western edge of Kabul city on Tuesday.

Source: IANS

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Shiberghan, April 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) Security forces in Afghanistan have discovered a weapons cache in Khaniqa district of Jawzjan province, senior police officer Mullah Mohammad Dindost said on Wednesday.

The weapons cache containing a variety of arms and ammunition including 44 pieces of mortar mines was found in Agam Turkmania village of Khaniqa district a couple of days ago, Dindost said, adding that locals' support is important to collect weapons as part of efforts to stabilize security, Xinhua news agency reported.

By launching cleanup operations in parts of the country, the Taliban-run administration has been trying to collect arms and ammunition from irresponsible armed groups and individuals, and thousands of pieces of arms including assault rifles have been seized over the past couple of months, officials said.

Source: IANS

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Kabul, April 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) Afghanistan received a fresh batch of $32 million in humanitarian cash aid on Thursday, the country's central bank Da Afghanistan Bank (DBA) has confirmed.

"As part of series of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, $32 million in cash arrived in Kabul today (Thursday, April 7) and transferred to Afghanistan International Bank," the Afghan central bank said in a statement.

While thanking the international community for the aid, the DAB vowed that the cash would be spent transparently, Xinhua news agency reported.

Earlier, the war-torn Asian country received a batch of $32 million in humanitarian cash assistance on Wednesday.

More than 22 million out of Afghanistan's some 35 million population are facing acute food shortages, and the nation would face humanitarian catastrophe if not assisted, according to the UN.

Source: IANS

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Kunduz, April 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) As many as 17 children have lost their lives due to measles in the northern Kunduz province over the past month, the provincial head of the health department Najibullah Sahel said on Thursday.

According to the official, 915 children who come from different parts of Kunduz, Badakhshan, Takhar and Baghlan provinces, after contracting measles had to be taken to the civil hospital in Kunduz city over the past month. Seventeen of them succumbed to the disease, Xinhua news agency reported.

To cope with the disease, the humanitarian organisation Medicines Sans Frontiers recently opened an 80-bed clinic within the Kunduz hospital to provide medical treatment to children affected with measles, the official said.

Source: IANS

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Kabul, April 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) At least six people were injured in a hand grenade explosion inside a mosque in Kabul on Wednesday, sources said.

"A man hurled a hand grenade inside Pul-e Khishti Mosque at midday. As a result, six people were wounded," Xinhua news agency reported citing the Afghan Interior Ministry's tweet.

The wounded were shifted to hospitals and a suspected man has been arrested, according to the ministry.

The official report spelled no further details.

"The blast occurred shortly after the people offered prayers at midday. The Taliban security forces have cordoned off the area for precautionary measures," eyewitness Najib Ullah told Xinhua.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

Source: IANS

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Kabul, April 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) Landmines continue to kill or maim over 120 people every month in Afghanistan, one of the most landmine contaminated countries, authorities said on Wednesday.

"Landmines and explosive remnants of war kill or maim more than 120 Afghans every month," Nooruddin Rustamkhil from the State Ministry for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Affairs said at an event marking the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.

The day is observed every year on April 4, Xinhua news agency reported.

"We are marking the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. Marking this special day gives us opportunities to study and observe all challenges and problems ahead of mine clearing program in Afghanistan," Rustamkhil, head of the Directorate for Mine Action Coordination of the ministry, said.

The official noted that the Afghan caretaker government has speeded up its efforts to clear the country from mines. However, he acknowledged that "it was impossible to have Afghanistan free of mines without international support."

"During the past four decades of war, Afghanistan has been contaminated by millions of mines. During the past 30 years, about 3,323 square km of land has been cleared from millions of mines and explosive remnants of war. However, some 606 square km of Afghan land is still contaminated by landmines," he said.

The official said it would take seven to eight years to have the mountainous country completely free from the menace of mines.

The Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan has cleaned some 26 square km from landmines and explosive ordnance in 21 of the country's 34 provinces since August in last year, according to Rustamkhil.

Source: IANS

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Kabul, April 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) Afghanistan has received another $32 million in humanitarian cash assistance, the Afghan caretaker government confirmed on Wednesday.

Citing officials of the country's national bank, Da Afghanistan Bank, the government said in a statement that the 20th package of humanitarian aid of $32 million reached Afghanistan on Tuesday, and was delivered to the Afghanistan International Bank, Xinhua news agency reported.

While appreciating the humanitarian assistance from the international community, the statement called for more cooperation of the international community in humanitarian assistance to the Asian country.

More than 22 million Afghans, out of some 35 million of the country's total population, are facing acute food shortages, and the war-torn country would face humanitarian catastrophe if not assisted, according to aid agencies' reports.

Source: IANS

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Pul-e-Khumri, March 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Afghan security forces have launched a crackdown on armed opponents in Deh Salah district of the northern Baghlan province.

The crackdown, according to the official, was launched on Tuesday on the outskirts of Deh Salah district, Xinhua reported citing provincial police spokesman Edris Shirzad.

In the meantime, some locals on the condition of anonymity confirmed the fighting which inflicted casualties on both sides.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, March 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has called for the unity of the Islamic world to deal with problems faced by Muslims and bring peace across the globe.

Khan made the remarks during his keynote speech at the 48th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which kicked off here on Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan, global and regional landscapes, sustainable development and climate change are among the topics that will be discussed at the two-day session under the theme of "Building Partnerships for Unity, Justice and Development."

Talking about the Afghanistan issue, Khan said that the country has suffered a years-long conflict, adding that helping Afghanistan and removing sanctions on it is important for avoiding a humanitarian crisis and fighting terrorism.

Speaking at the session, Secretary-General of the OIC Hissein Brahim Taha called for concerted efforts by all member states of the OIC to counter challenges being faced by the Muslim community across the world.

Talking about Afghanistan, he said that efforts should be made to bring stability to the country, adding that Muslim countries should continue providing financial support to Afghanistan.

Source: IANS

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Kabul, March 9 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum of Afghanistan has said the delegates of Turkmenistan expect to visit Kabul on March 10 to discuss the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan and India (TAPI) project which has reportedly been put on hold.

Shahabuddin Delawar, Acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum, added that Afghanistan is fully prepared to implement the TAPI project, TOLOnews reported.

"There are no problems on the Afghanistan side, we will do our best to resume soon. Previously, there was a security problem but security is completely provided in Afghanistan now and TAPI partners know this," he said.

A Pakistan news agency quoted a top Pakistani official of the Energy Ministry, saying that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has paused all due diligence and processing activities of TAPI until the official recognition of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan by the UN and major global economies.

At a meeting between a Turkmenistan delegation and Pakistani officials on January 31, 2022, the Turkmen side disclosed that ADB had reduced its interest in the project due to the global lack of recognition of the Taliban regime.

However, Afghan economists believe the project is facing delays due to regional rivalry between India and Pakistan.

"Rivalry between India and Pakistan and rivalry between Turkmenistan, Iran and Qatar, as well as the internal political problems in Afghanistan, all caused the TAPI to be paused," said Sayed Massoud, a university professor.

The TAPI gas pipeline is planned to span 1,680 km and connect Herat and Kandahar in Afghanistan with Pakistan and India.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that Taiwan is an integral part of China and will eventually return "to the arms of the motherland".

"Taiwan will eventually return to the arms of the motherland," he said at a press conference.

He recalled that some forces in the US, in order to contain China, encourage those who advocate Taiwan independence, thereby challenging the "one China" principle, RT reported.

"Attempts to use Taiwan to contain China are doomed to failure," RIA Novosti quoted the Minister as saying.

Wang also said that China will firmly defend national sovereignty against the backdrop of increasing US pressure and is ready to take all possible measures to this end.

In February, China decided to take countermeasures against the US over arms sales to Taiwan that would target Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies.

Source: IANS

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Kabul, March 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) Afghanistan has received a fresh batch of $32 million in humanitarian cash assistance, the country's central bank said on Monday.

"Following a series of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, the 17th package of humanitarian aid of $32 million reached Afghanistan on Sunday and was delivered to the Afghanistan International Bank," Xinhua news agency quoted Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB) as saying in a statement.

The DAB, while appreciating the humanitarian assistance from the international community, calls for more cooperation in this field, according to the statement.

Following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, the US froze more than $9 billion in assets belonging to the Afghan central bank.

Source: IANS

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By Hamza Ameer

Peshawar, March 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) The recent devastating suicide bombing, targeted at a Shia Muslim mosque in Peshawar has marked the re-emergence of the dreaded Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) terror group in Pakistan.

The IS-K claimed responsibility for the attack in which a suicide bomber blew himself up after entering into the mosque during Friday prayers, claiming lives of at least 63 and injuring over 200.

It also claimed the terror attack just outside Kabul airport during the evacuation process of foreign forces was underway after the Taliban takeover, as well as many others on mosques and other places in Afghanistan, becoming the biggest opposition to the incumbent regime.

Pakistan had been on consultation with the Afghan Taliban and working towards a joint strategy to counter terror threats from organisations operating along the two countries' border.

The attack in Peshawar comes at a time when the country's Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) killed an IS-K commander named Bilal Khan, during a police encounter on January 19 this year.

It is believed that the commander's killing activated many sleeper cells, associated with the terror group, who planned to respond with a major suicide attacks.

It is believed that Bilal Khan, who was a member of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), joined the IS in 2015, pledging allegiance to Abu Bakar Al-Baghdadi, the group's slain leader.

Experts believe that intelligence-based operations by Pakistani security agencies against terror elements, including the IS-K, have not only increased targeted attacks, but supporters of the Afghan Taliban have also come under deadly attacks in Peshawar.

The emergence of the IS-K in the heart of Peshawar raises major concerns and a new set of challenges for the Pakistani authorities, as neighbouring Afghanistan conducts search operations in various parts, looking to neutralise the militants.

Some reports also indicate that many IS-K militants have already fled Afghanistan and entered Pakistan, while sleeper cells of the group have also been activated.

It is because of this reason that a major surge of terror attacks is being witnessed in Pakistan.

According to data from Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies (PIPS), there were at least 207 incidents of terrorism in Pakistan in 2021, a 45 per cent increase over 2020.

The TTP has also been carrying out targeted attacks in various parts of the country, adding on to the challenges Pakistani security forces are confronted with.

Pakistan's Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed said that a fresh wave of terrorism has hit the country where the TTP is targeting policemen in major cities with an aim to breach and break the first line of defense.

While the threat of terrorism looms, many believe that the IS-K can be a much bigger problem than the TTP.

While negotiations with the TTP remains on the agenda of the Pakistani government, it is feared that disagreements among the TTP militants, as well as a deal with Islamabad, may push them towards joining the IS-K.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan lashed out at foreign diplomats who pressured his country to join a UN resolution condemning Russia over its military attack on Ukraine, accusing the envoys of treating Pakistanis like "slaves".

At a rally on Sunday, Khan shot back at a March 1 letter from diplomats representing 22 missions, including countries in the European Union along with Japan, Switzerland, Canada, the UK, and Australia, which called on Pakistan to drop its neutrality and join them in condemning Moscow, RT News reported.

"What do you think of us? Are we your slaves that whatever you say, we will do?" questioned Khan, before asking EU ambassadors whether they wrote "such a letter to India", which also remains neutral, RT reported.

Khan claimed that Pakistan had suffered for previously supporting NATO's military action in Afghanistan and declared: "We are friends with Russia, and we are also friends with America; we are friends with China and with Europe; we are not in any camp."

On march 2, Pakistan, along with 34 other countries, abstained from voting on the UN's resolution condemning Russian "aggression against Ukraine".

India, Bangladesh, China, Iran, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan also abstained, RT reported.

Khan met Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on February 24, the day Moscow launched its military operation in Ukraine, to discuss bilateral ties and regional issues.

Source: IANS

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Kabul, March 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) Nadima, an Afghan female comedian, have been reportedly missing from Kabul since 25 days ago, a relative said.

Nadima, also known as known as Patingara Kakai, is a famous comedian who is well-known by Afghans. She makes funny videos and posts them on TikTok, Facebook and Instagram.

The relative told TOLO News on Sunday that she went missing from her office and there has been no information about her since then.

The Taliban regime is yet to comment on the disappearance.

Meanwhile, a family member of Sayed Baqir Mohsini, an Afghan professor who went missing on Friday, told TOLO News that the latter was released on Sunday.

The disappearance of these two high-profile figures faced a widespread reaction by international organisations as well as Afghans on social media.

"The disappearances and detentions of Taliban critics, journalists & activists continue. Sayed Baqir Mohsini and Nadima are taken by the Taliban and there is no information about their whereabouts. This a group of dictators & repressors who must never be recognized and supported," Samira Hamidi, a member of Amnesty International, said in a tweet on Sunday.

"The detention of political, civil and media activists is against the law and a violation of basic rights. Any detention should take place based on the legal system," said Sayed Javad Sijadi, a political analyst.

Source: IANS

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Kabul, March 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) Some 3,000 Afghans have entered Poland from Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's war on Kiev started on February 24, Kabul's Embassy in Warsaw said.

Embassy officials have said that in cooperation with the Polish border police, they will issue travel documents for other Afghans remaining in Ukraine after they have been identified, reports TOLO News.

"According to statistics provided by the Polish Foreign Ministry two days ago, more than 3,000 of our compatriots were able to enter Poland, and these numbers are changing because a large number of people still cross the border and return to Poland every day," said Sayed Ismail Yousefi, an Afghan envoy in Warsaw.

According to statistics, more than 5,000 Afghan refugees were living in Ukraine, most of them young people who had gone to study in the country.

But as the conflict intensified, the families of these students in Afghanistan urged the Taliban regime to try to move them to a safe place.

Source: IANS

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Kabul, March 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has opened an office in Kabul which will coordinate with international agencies over humanitarian activities in Afghanistan.

Muhammad Saeed Al-Ayash has been appointed as director of OIC's Afghanistan office, the Organisation said in a tweet on Sunday.

The office was opened on March 4, it added.

According to the OIC, the office will follow up the implementation of the outcome of the organization's extraordinary ministerial meeting held in Pakistan last December.

"The OIC office in Kabul will coordinate the OIC's humanitarian efforts with Afghanistan and international partners. It will be strengthened with human and material resources in conformity with the resolution adopted by the extraordinary ministerial conference on the situation in Afghanistan.

"This is to enable it fulfil its obligations to support the Afghan people in various fields," it said.

At the OIC meeting on Afghanistan in Pakistan, a draft resolution was passed to establish a humanitarian trust fund to channel humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.

The member states agreed to "establish a Humanitarian Trust Fund, under the aegis of the Islamic Development Bank, to serve as a vehicle to channel humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan including in partnership with other international actors".

During the meeting, the OIC urged the Islamic Development Bank to operationalise the trust fund by the first quarter of 2022 to accelerate the provision of humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) Pakistani Senator Mushahid Hussain has said that past mistakes in the context of Afghanistan should not be repeated and no proxy war should be fought on Afghan soil by the foreign countries.

Hussain, a Senator from the Islamabad Capital Territory, made the remarks at an international conference in Dushanbe hosted by the Council for Strategic Affairs, Indian Institute of Management Rohtak.

He said the solution for the stability of Afghanistan is regional and not to be determined by the West.

"Further, we must realise that Economic development, tackling unemployment and inclusive growth is the antidote for radicalisation and this needs to be implemented in Afghanistan.

"Regional infrastructure and connectivity initiatives such as Iran-Pakistan-India oil pipeline, belt-road initiatives etc. are welcome. We need to revive the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India economic corridor as well for the economic interests of these countries particularly Afghanistan," he added.

The conference, which focused on the topic "Framework of engagement: Afghanistan in focus of Central and South Asian nations", was attended by representatives from all Central Asian nations, along with India and Russia. The countries came together to discuss finding innovative methods of engagement in conflict situations.

Saidov Saidovich, Professor of the Department of International Relations and Diplomacy of the Russian-Tajik (Slavonic) University, said that drug trafficking is a major reason for destabilising Afghanistan.

Revenues from drug trafficking are supporting the Taliban regime even while they have a limited acceptance in Afghanistan, he said, adding that India and Russia are the most important countries that can help stabilise the Afghan situation.

In his remarks, Prof Abdul Ghani said that the old Silk Route must be revived with the support of India through Iran. Railroads should also be developed to have greater trade relations between Central Asia and India through Iran.

Ruslan Kazkenov, Chairman of the Civic Peace Association, said that they are looking forward towards cooperation with India to get peace.

Referring to his recent visit to Afghanistan, he added that he was approached by the representatives of the Taliban government, who sought his help for providing humanitarian assistance to the people of the war-torn nation.

Source: IANS

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Kabul, March 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) After several complaints against the soaring prices of essential goods such as cooking supplies and fuel, the Kabul municipality has ordered a price cap on such items, the media reported.

"The price cap has been issued by the municipality to control the prices. We call on the residents to help us enforce the price cap," TOLO News quoted Niamatullah Barakzai, a spokesman for the Kabul municipality, as saying.

The move was welcomed by the residents of the Afghan capital, who said that such decisions will help keep the prices of food materials fair.

"The government should allocate a price cap and a limit for commodities based on the price of the dollar. If the government can control this, it is a good move," said Samim Amiri, a resident of Kabul.

"All commodities are imported from abroad. We don't have our own products. The price of the dollar is not stable," said Zar Alam, a shopkeeper.

After the Taliban took over the country in August last year, the price of commodities, particularly food items, has significantly increased.

The Afghan currency has also drastically lost its value against the dollar.

Source: IANS

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Kabul, March 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) A humanitarian non-profit has urged the international community not to "neglect" the grave situation in Afghanistan amid Russia's ongoing war on Ukraine.

In a statement, the New York-based International Rescue Committee (IRC) said that due to the pollical change with subsequent cut off of development aids to the country, Afghanistan has been facing a severe economic and humanitarian situation, reports TOLO News.

"Now with the war in Ukraine, it is believed that the world's attention might divert from Afghanistan to Ukraine," it said.

The IRC said that currently nine million Afghans live on the brink of famine, and urged for the immediate distribution of the new funds for the vulnerable Afghans as well as paying the salaries of civil servants.

The non-profit's statement come as the UK government said it will co-host a virtual pledging event along with the UN later this month aimed at helping alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

The virtual pledging conference is aimed to help the UN raise $4.4 billion for Afghanistan, the largest amount it has ever requested for a single country.

"Until sweeping measures are taken to restore the Afghanistan economy, people will suffer and lives will be lost. Women and girls are especially at risk, and the IRC calls for urgent action to save lives and avert famine," IRC said.

On a positive note, the IRC said that it welcomed the recent moves by the US to issue a general license and the scaling up of humanitarian support to Afghanistan by international partners.

"The international community should seize this window of opportunity in Afghanistan to prevent famine, save lives, and put an end to the horrific conditions facing women and girls," TOLO News quoted the organisation as saying.

On March 1, the World Bank's executive board approved a plan to use more than $1 billion from Afghanistan's Trust Fund to finance urgently needed education, agriculture and family programs.

The US Treasury Department also recently announced a general license that allows commercial activities in Afghanistan.

"We applaud the recent good work done by the US and other donor governments to alleviate the suffering in Afghanistan. Specifically, the World Bank board's decision to provide $1 billion from the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund to UN agencies and aid organisations operating in the country," IRC's Vice President of Policy and Advocacy Amanda Catanzano said.

Source: IANS

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Kabul, March 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Taliban government in Afghanistan have urged civilians to handover government property, including weapons, as house-to-house searches continued in Kabul and neighbouring provinces, the media reported.

In a statement, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said to prevent further continuation of the ongoing searches, termed by the regime as "clean-up operations", it would be better if people voluntarily handed over all government property, reports Khaama Press.

"The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) asks all Afghans to hand over weapons, government property, and illegal items and share information about kidnappers and thieves before the searching teams reach out to their houses. We ask people to cooperate with the IEA and voluntarily hand over weapons," he was quoted as saying.

The searches were launched by the IEA last week. Friday was the eighth day of the raids, TOLO News reported.

A spokesman for the Kabul security department, Khalid Zadran, said that the Taliban forces had seized military equipment from houses in Kabul.

"Hundreds light and heavy weapons were seized in these clearing operations. In PD2 of (Kabul city) we detected six Humvees," he said.

Earlier the IEA in a statement said that seven Humvees were seized from a residence in PD2.

According to some reports, the house-to-house raids began in the northern provinces of Balkh and Faryab.

Source: IANS

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Kabul, March 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) Unicef said that it has raised 15 per cent of its $2 billion goal aimed at countering the challenges faced by children Afghanistan amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

"The Unicef Afghanistan Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) appeal is the largest in the history of the organisation, valued at $2 billion for 2022. Thanks to partners' generous contributions, the appeal is currently 15 per cent funded," TOLO News quoted the UN agency as saying in a report.

The devastated economy of Afghanistan has affected the children from various sides, with many suffering from severe malnutrition and other diseases and many others engaged in child labour to provide food for their families, the report said.

According to the Unicef report, 2,475,535 people were reached with basic primary healthcare services provided by 10,200 health workers in 1,031 facilities across 17 provinces.

Some 8.6 million children under five years were reached through a four-day nationwide national polio immunization campaign launched mid-January 2022.

A total of 281,302 children were reached with education services through 8,982 community-based education classes.

Around 3,240 children on the move (897 girls) received protective services through Unicef-supported programs.

Winterization and hygiene kits were provided to 30,355 households with vulnerable children.

This comes as the UN and other humanitarian organizations have repeatedly voiced concerns over the humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 4 (SocialNews.XYZ) A suicide blast inside a Shia mosque shook Peshawar's Kocha Risaldar area on Friday, with officials saying that at least 56 people were killed and 194 were injured, Dawn reported.

Mohammad Asim, a spokesperson for Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), confirmed the casualties, adding that some of the injured were in critical condition.

Officials, who termed the incident a suicide attack, initially said that two attackers were involved. However, CCTV footage released later in the day showed a lone attacker clad in a black shalwar kameez reaching the mosque in the city's Qissa Khwani Bazaar on foot and brandishing a pistol.

He opened fired on police personnel deployed outside the main entrance for security before running inside. The attacker also opened fire on a man who tried to stop him and managed to enter the mosque, where worshippers had gathered for Friday prayers, after which an explosion took place.

Talking to the media, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Moazzam Jah Ansari said two police officials were deputed at the mosque for security.

He said that one constable was killed while another police official was in critical condition. The senior police officer said that around five to six kilogrammes of explosive material was used, adding that there were no prior reports about the attack.

Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Peshawar Mohammad Ijaz Khan confirmed the chain of events, adding that one police official was killed in the gunfight outside the mosque.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 4 (SocialNews.XYZ) Pakistan Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said on Friday that the government should promote and restore sports between India and Pakistan, including cricket, to connect with people across the border, Express Tribune reported.

Speaking to the media, along with Sindh Governor Imran Ismail at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, the minister underscored the importance of strengthening bilateral ties between neighbouring countries through sports.

Referring to the opposition's plan to stage a protest in Rawalpindi during the Australian team's tour, Fawad stated that he believed the opposition was working against the interests of the Pakistani people.

He remarked that he will offer the opposition a "free box" in the stadium to "sit in, watch the match and decide their course of action".

Taking to his official Twitter handle earlier, the minister said that the first clash between Pakistan and Australia, after 24 years, will begin today and thanked the Australian team for "making this March beautiful for us". He also wished the Pakistani team success.

He also extended his gratitude to the Australian High Commission for its efforts in bringing the Aussies to Pakistan.

Source: IANS

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Peshawar, March 4 (SocialNews.XYZ) At least five people were killed and over 30 others injured when a bomb went off near a mosque in Pakistan's Peshawar city on Friday, police said.

Police sources told Xinhua news agency that the blast occurred during the Friday prayers in the city's Kocha Risaldar area, adding that the death toll might rise as several injured were in critical condition.

Rescue teams, police and security forces have reached the site and shifted the injured to a nearby hospital.

No group or individual has claimed the attack so far.

Source: IANS

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Kabul, March 4 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Taliban government on Friday said that First Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar has urged Afghan investors to return to the country.

He made the remarks at the Afghan National Private Sector Conference held in Kabul, the government said in a statement.

"Baradar called on Afghan investors living abroad to return to the country and invest here, as security of investors and their assets will be guaranteed," Xinhua news agency quoted the statement as saying.

"International sanctions are being eased day by day and we are trying to provide more facilities in industry, trade and investment, and efforts are being made to improve the economic situation," Baradar was quoted as saying.

On Tuesday, the World Bank board of directors decided to unfreeze $1 billion of the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund which was frozen after the Taliban's takeover on August 15, 2021, according to Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB), the country's central bank.

The DAB welcomed the move by the World Bank as a goodwill gesture, calling for further cooperation with the global financial institution in the Afghan banking and financial sectors.

Source: IANS

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Kabul, March 4 (SocialNews.XYZ) A cycling competition with the participation of more than 100 students took place in Kabul to forge unity and togetherness among Afghans.

"Aimed at forging unity and togetherness among Afghans, we contribute to the development of our society by organising sport, scientific and cultural programs," public relations officer of the private Rana University Milad Bawar told Xinhua news agency on Thursday.

The university organised the four-km biking competition, which started from the historic Darul Aman Palace at 7 a.m. and ended at Baraki area in Kabul city.

Bawar also said that the university would provide scholarship to those securing the first, the second and the third positions in the competition and they would get education free of charge in the educational centre.

A cyclist Mustafa who secured the first position in the race told Xinhua: "I feel very happy today and believe that by promoting sport we can also build our country."

The competition is the first of its kind to take place in Kabul since the Taliban took control of the country in August last year.

Sarwar, a 75-year-old participant, said: "I attended the race to boost the morale of youngsters and show them that an aged man can challenge and the youngsters should stay away of illicit drugs to have a healthy life."

Source: IANS

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Quetta, March 3 (SocialNews.XYZ) At least three people were killed and 24 others injured in a blast in Pakistan's Quetta city, an official has confirmed.

Media Coordinator of Health Department of Balochistan province Waseem Baig said that the victims included a deputy superintendent of police, reports Xinhua news agency.

The blast took place on Wednesday night near a police vehicle in a busy market located at the Fatima Jinnah Road of the city.

Police, security forces and rescue teams rushed to the site and shifted the bodies and the injured to a hospital.

The death toll might further increase as five of the wounded were in critical condition, the police said.

The bomb disposal squad of police is currently investigating the nature of the blast.

Several vehicles parked nearby were also damaged, while a shop was engulfed in flames, said local reports.

Police and security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation.

No group or individual has claimed the blast yet.

Source: IANS

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