Taliban Publicly Flogs Two Individuals For Theft

May 2, 2024, 09:13 GMT+1

The Taliban’s Supreme Court announced on Thursday that two individuals have been publicly flogged on charges of theft in Paktika province.

The court said that one of them received 39 lashes, while the other received 35 lashes.

The punishment was carried out by the provincial court of Paktika on Thursday, following an approval by the Taliban’s Supreme Court.

The identities of these individuals were not disclosed.

In a recent case, the Taliban’s Court announced on Tuesday, the punishment of three individuals in Khost province for fraud and engaging in extramarital relations in public.

Previously, a spokesperson for the Taliban’s Supreme Court stated that over the past month, the group has subjected more than 40 individuals to physical punishments for various charges across different cities in Afghanistan.

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World Bank Allocates USD 84 Million Assistance For Afghanistan

May 1, 2024, 16:49 GMT+1

The World Bank has announced an USD 84 million aid package for Afghanistan. The World Bank stated that this aid package has been allocated by the International Development Association for Afghanistan Community Resilience and Livelihoods Project.

On Tuesday, the World Bank wrote in a statement that the executive board of the bank approved support for livelihoods and services in urban and rural areas of Afghanistan.

The institution has stated that the Afghanistan Community Resilience and Livelihoods Project began in 2022 with a grant of USD 265 million from the Afghanistan Resilience Trust Fund, focusing on providing livelihood support and services in rural and urban areas, providing social grants for women and the most vulnerable, and strengthen community institutions for inclusive service delivery.

According to the World Bank statement, with the allocation of this new aid package, the project's activities will expand to more rural and urban areas, providing more services specially for women.

The bank stated that this aid package will also be used to provide employment for returning migrants to Afghanistan.

Melinda Good, World Bank Country Director for Afghanistan said, “In the past 18 months, the project has laid the foundation for an effective service delivery platform and operational model at scale for delivering jobs, providing essential services and assets, and, importantly, reaching women”.

She stated that with the allocation of new assistance, this project will continue to provide services in 26 provinces and 6200 villages, including eight major cities.

According to the World Bank's announcement, this project has created short-term employment for more than 776,000 Afghan families so far, benefiting around 5.4 million individuals.

The organisation stated that 92,200 vulnerable families in Afghanistan, including families headed by women, have received cash or in-kind assistance from this project, and nearly 7.4 million Afghans have accessed social services such as roads, health centres, and drinking water during this period.

The World Bank stated that in the past two years, more than 2.1 million people have received training in health and nutrition, the effects of climate change and disaster risk management.

US & Pakistani Officials Discuss Regional Security

May 1, 2024, 15:34 GMT+1

John Bass, the Acting Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs of the US State Department, held meetings with several senior officials in Pakistan during his visit to the country.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry said that discussions between both parties encompassed regional security, trade, and Pakistan's economic stability.

This meeting marks the first official visit of senior US officials to Pakistan following the formation of the new government led by Shehbaz Sharif.

The US State Department stated that various topics were discussed, including regional and bilateral matters, with an emphasis on US support for Pakistan's economic stability and shared priorities for regional prosperity and development.

According to the US State Department, Bass emphasised on the US commitment to fostering a stable, secure, and prosperous future for both nations during these discussions.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry, in a press release, described the talks as productive and highlighted mutual commitments to enhancing cooperation in trade, investment, and addressing regional security challenges.

Additionally, informed sources told Afghanistan International that US and Pakistani officials discussed counterterrorism efforts, particularly focusing on combatting ISIS and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Taliban Must Provide Security To Minorities in Afghanistan To Avoid Facing Pakistan's Fate

May 1, 2024, 14:21 GMT+1

The Western Region Political Convergence Council, in response to the ISIS attack on a Shia Mosque in Herat province, warned that Afghanistan is facing a situation similar to Pakistan.

The organisation condemned the attack on the Imam Zaman Mosque in the Mohammadi town of Guzara district in Herat, stating, "Different ethnicities and religions have always coexisted peacefully in Afghanistan."

Expressing concern over these attacks, the Western Region Political Convergence Council has said in a statement that Afghanistan should not fall into sectarian conflict like Pakistan.

The council said, "The rulers, who claim to provide security, should be most concerned about the security of ethnic and religious minorities. Otherwise, Afghanistan may face similar sectarian conflicts like Pakistan due to continued attacks."

On Monday, in an armed attack claimed by ISIS, six worshippers had been killed in the Imam Zaman Mosque. Among the victims were a child and a woman.

UN Official To Persuade Pakistan To Decrease Expulsion of Refugees, Says Taliban

May 1, 2024, 11:51 GMT+1

The Taliban's Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation has stated that Indrika Ratwatte, the United Nations’ Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan, is trying to persuade Pakistani authorities to decrease the forced expulsion of Afghan refugees.

Ratwatte has also assessed the situation of refugees at Torkham border crossing.

According to the Taliban's statement, Saeed Ahmad Banawri, the Taliban’s deputy governor of Nangarhar province, held discussions with Ratwatte on Tuesday.

Assisting families returning from Pakistan, providing shelter, employment, humanitarian aid, education, and health services were among the topics discussed by Banawri and Ratwatte.

The deputy governor of the Taliban in Nangarhar province has sought increased UN assistance for refugees during this meeting.

The expulsion of Afghan refugees from Pakistan has drawn significant criticism both within and outside Afghanistan. Recently, Islamabad initiated the second phase of expelling Afghan refugees.

Engagement With Taliban Is Best Way To Protect US Interests, Says US State Dept Spokesman

May 1, 2024, 10:34 GMT+1

Vedant Patel, the US State Department Deputy Spokesperson, has said that the country engages with the Taliban when it favours the US interests.

He stated that engagement with the Taliban is not only the best way to protect US interests, but also a way to support the people of Afghanistan.

On Tuesday, during a press conference, Patel said that engaging with the Taliban provides an opportunity for direct dialogue with the group.

According to him, this engagement is an opportunity to continue pressure on the Taliban for the immediate and unconditional release of US citizens, including those "wrongfully" detained.

“We’ll also use those opportunities to directly talk about the Taliban’s commitments to counterterrorism, and of course, as always, human rights is also on the agenda,” he said.

While US officials and the United Nations have repeatedly emphasised on engagement with the Taliban, this approach has faced significant criticism from Afghan activists and politicians.

The Taliban has widely violated the rights of the Afghan people, especially women.

•

World Bank Allocates USD 84 Million Assistance For Afghanistan

May 1, 2024, 16:49 GMT+1

On Tuesday, the World Bank wrote in a statement that the executive board of the bank approved support for livelihoods and services in urban and rural areas of Afghanistan.

According to the World Bank statement, with the allocation of this new aid package, the project's activities will expand to more rural and urban areas, providing more services specially for women.

The bank stated that this aid package will also be used to provide employment for returning migrants to Afghanistan.

She stated that with the allocation of new assistance, this project will continue to provide services in 26 provinces and 6200 villages, including eight major cities.

According to the World Bank's announcement, this project has created short-term employment for more than 776,000 Afghan families so far, benefiting around 5.4 million individuals.

The World Bank stated that in the past two years, more than 2.1 million people have received training in health and nutrition, the effects of climate change and disaster risk management.

US & Pakistani Officials Discuss Regional Security

May 1, 2024, 15:34 GMT+1

John Bass, the Acting Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs of the US State Department, held meetings with several senior officials in Pakistan during his visit to the country.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry said that discussions between both parties encompassed regional security, trade, and Pakistan's economic stability.

This meeting marks the first official visit of senior US officials to Pakistan following the formation of the new government led by Shehbaz Sharif.

According to the US State Department, Bass emphasised on the US commitment to fostering a stable, secure, and prosperous future for both nations during these discussions.

Taliban Must Provide Security To Minorities in Afghanistan To Avoid Facing Pakistan's Fate

May 1, 2024, 14:21 GMT+1

The Western Region Political Convergence Council, in response to the ISIS attack on a Shia Mosque in Herat province, warned that Afghanistan is facing a situation similar to Pakistan.

Expressing concern over these attacks, the Western Region Political Convergence Council has said in a statement that Afghanistan should not fall into sectarian conflict like Pakistan.

On Monday, in an armed attack claimed by ISIS, six worshippers had been killed in the Imam Zaman Mosque. Among the victims were a child and a woman.

UN Official To Persuade Pakistan To Decrease Expulsion of Refugees, Says Taliban

May 1, 2024, 11:51 GMT+1

Ratwatte has also assessed the situation of refugees at Torkham border crossing.

According to the Taliban's statement, Saeed Ahmad Banawri, the Taliban’s deputy governor of Nangarhar province, held discussions with Ratwatte on Tuesday.

Assisting families returning from Pakistan, providing shelter, employment, humanitarian aid, education, and health services were among the topics discussed by Banawri and Ratwatte.

The deputy governor of the Taliban in Nangarhar province has sought increased UN assistance for refugees during this meeting.

The expulsion of Afghan refugees from Pakistan has drawn significant criticism both within and outside Afghanistan. Recently, Islamabad initiated the second phase of expelling Afghan refugees.

Engagement With Taliban Is Best Way To Protect US Interests, Says US State Dept Spokesman

May 1, 2024, 10:34 GMT+1

Vedant Patel, the US State Department Deputy Spokesperson, has said that the country engages with the Taliban when it favours the US interests.

He stated that engagement with the Taliban is not only the best way to protect US interests, but also a way to support the people of Afghanistan.

On Tuesday, during a press conference, Patel said that engaging with the Taliban provides an opportunity for direct dialogue with the group.

According to him, this engagement is an opportunity to continue pressure on the Taliban for the immediate and unconditional release of US citizens, including those "wrongfully" detained.

“We’ll also use those opportunities to directly talk about the Taliban’s commitments to counterterrorism, and of course, as always, human rights is also on the agenda,” he said.

While US officials and the United Nations have repeatedly emphasised on engagement with the Taliban, this approach has faced significant criticism from Afghan activists and politicians.

The Taliban has widely violated the rights of the Afghan people, especially women.

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