UK To Send More Asylum Seekers From Afghanistan, Syria & Iraq To Rwanda

Under the new decision, asylum seekers from countries like Afghanistan, whose asylum requests have previously been rejected, will be sent to Rwanda.

Previously, the government of Rishi Sunak had stated that asylum seekers who illegally entered the UK after 2022 and had their asylum cases rejected would be sent to Rwanda. However, with the new decision, thousands more, currently residing in limbo, will be deported.

Asylum seekers from war-torn and dangerous countries are reluctant to return to their home countries and expect to remain in Britain even if their requests are denied.

James Cleverly, British Home Secretary said, “Those who have no right to remain in the UK should not be allowed to stay. Failed asylum seekers who do not leave the UK voluntarily will be in line for detention and enforced removal to a safe third country under the new agreement."

The British government claims that Rwanda is a safe country and Afghan asylum seekers and those from other countries who are unwilling to return home will remain in Rwanda.

According to Sky News, rejected asylum seekers will receive support from the British government in Rwanda for up to five years.

Cleverly admitted that many of the asylum seekers cannot be returned to their countries, as their countries are dangerous conflict zones, including those from Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria.

Following this decision, human rights activists and refugee-supporting organisations strongly criticised the government.

According to The Telegraph, refugee rights activists said that the government's decision is not a solution to the migration crisis and the UK must reform its asylum system, curb smugglers, and introduce safe routes for refugees.

The Rishi Sunak government hopes that sending rejected and illegal asylum seekers to Rwanda will reduce the incentive for others to migrate to the UK through dangerous routes.

However, last week, 760 people also entered the country via small boats through the English Channel.

Clashes Between Taliban & Pakistani Forces Continue In Paktia Province

May 16, 2024, 14:44 GMT+1

Afghanistan International sources reported that the clashes between Taliban forces and Pakistani border guards in the Dand Wa Patan district of Paktia province continued for the fourth day in a "scattered" manner.

The reason for this conflict is said to be the construction of a checkpoint at the zero point of the border by Pakistani forces.

Pakistani border forces have constructed a new outpost at the zero point of the Durand Line in the Dand Patan district of Paktia province, which has faced opposition from the Taliban.

As per the sources, the Kharlachi crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan has also been closed due to this conflict.

In the past four days, Taliban forces and Pakistani border guards have clashed several times.

Local sources reported from Paktia province on Monday that a conflict occurred between the forces of the two sides in the border area of Aryob Zazi district.

The Taliban canceled a visit by a Pakistani military delegation to Kandahar due to last Thursday's air and missile attacks by Pakistan on Paktika province.

A Pakistani military delegation was scheduled to travel from Rawalpindi to Kandahar on Sunday, May 12.

Security sources from Pakistan confirmed to Afghanistan International that the Taliban canceled this visit.

Afghan Woman Protests In Front Of Taliban Members & Afghan Activists In Oslo

May 16, 2024, 12:48 GMT+1

Mina Rafiq, a human rights activist, appeared with a placard on the sidelines of the Oslo meeting in front of political figures and Taliban members.

The placard read, "No to the Taliban, no to terrorists, and no to their supporters."

Several Taliban members and political figures have been engaged in discussions regarding Afghanistan in Oslo since Tuesday, May 14.

Omar Samad, former Afghan ambassador to Canada; Jafar Mahdavi, former Afghan parliament member; Faizullah Zaland, a professor at Kabul University; Karim Amin, a senior member of the Hezb-e Islami party led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar; and Qayyum Sajjadi, former Afghan parliament member, are among the Afghan political activists and Taliban supporters present at the meeting.

In addition, Nazar Mohammad Mutmaeen, a Taliban member who previously served as the head of the National Olympic Committee in Kabul, and Faiz Mohammad Usmani, who was the Minister of Hajj and Religious Affairs in the previous government, are also in attendance.

Former Official Who Returned to Afghanistan at Taliban's Invitation Forced to Flee Again

May 16, 2024, 11:27 GMT+1

Ghalib Mujahid, the former district governor of Bihsud in Nangarhar province, said that he returned to Afghanistan at the invitation of the Taliban's Commission for Contact with Afghan Personalities, but after being harassed by the group, he was forced to migrate again.

He told Afghanistan International that after returning to Kabul, he survived four assassination attempts.

In a video message to the Pashto section of Afghanistan International, Mujahid said that he returned to Kabul at the invitation of the Taliban commission. Despite resolving hostilities and disputes with Saifuddin, a Taliban commander in Jalalabad, he did not have a peaceful life.

Mujahid, stating that the Taliban harassed his family on various pretexts, said, "Four days ago, they raided my son Qari Shafi's house after falsely accusing him of storing drugs, while my son is a mullah and recently took on the title."

He added, "During the raid on my son's house in Kabul, they fired at my grandchildren and accused them of storing weapons and drugs."

This former official said, "The Taliban should abandon their vindictive behaviour, conspiracies, and bullying, and adhere to the general amnesty." He mentioned that Taliban leaders have announced a general amnesty, but the group's commanders do not believe in it.

The Taliban established the Commission for Contact with Afghan Personalities and continuously urge former officials to return to the country. However, some officials have been arrested and tortured upon their return.

In the previous government, Mujahid served in the Bihsud, Bati Kot, and Achin districts of Nangarhar. In the early years of the previous government, he was arrested by the US forces on charges of being a member of the al-Qaeda network and transferred to Guantanamo.

Russian & Indian Officials Stress On Providing Developmental Aid To Afghanistan

May 16, 2024, 10:19 GMT+1

JP Singh, India’s External Affairs Ministry Joint Secretary for the Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan division, met with Zamir Kabulov, Russia's special representative for Afghanistan, in Delhi.

Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson for India's Ministry of External Affairs, announced that the meeting emphasised on providing developmental aid for the welfare of the Afghan people.

On the social media platform X, he also wrote that officials from both countries discussed the current situation in Afghanistan.

Further details of the discussion have not yet been disclosed.

Russia and India, like other countries, do not recognise the Taliban and have consistently emphasised on the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan during regional meetings.

However, Russia has close relations with the Taliban, and the Taliban's foreign ministry recently stated that Delhi is also interested in expanding political relations with the group.

Taliban & Pakistani Border Guards Clash In Dand Wa Patan District of Paktia

May 16, 2024, 09:37 GMT+1

Sources informed Afghanistan International that on Wednesday, the Taliban and Pakistani border forces clashed in the Dand Wa Patan district of Paktia province.

According to the sources, the reason for the conflict was the construction of an outpost by Pakistani forces at the zero point between the two countries.

Audio recordings obtained by Afghanistan International reveal relatively intense gunfire between the Taliban and Pakistani border forces.

As per the sources, the Kharlachi crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan has also been closed due to this conflict.

This is the second clash between the Taliban and Pakistani border forces in the past two days.

Local sources reported on Monday from Paktia province that a conflict occurred between the forces of the two sides in the border area of Aryob Zazi district.

The Taliban canceled a visit by a Pakistani military delegation to Kandahar due to last Thursday's air and missile attacks by Pakistan on Paktika province.

A Pakistani military delegation was scheduled to travel from Rawalpindi to Kandahar on Sunday, May 12.

Security sources from Pakistan confirmed to Afghanistan International that the Taliban canceled this visit.

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