400 Iranian Cargo Trucks Stranded in Afghanistan, Reports Country’s Media Outlet

Jul 16, 2024, 11:33 GMT+1

Iranian media have reported that 400 Iranian trucks are stranded in Afghanistan due to the rejection of their cargo.

According to the IRIB, these trucks have been stuck within Afghanistan's borders since the past 23 days and are facing numerous problems.

The media outlet did not provide an explanation for the "rejection of the cargo by the other side”.

Taliban sources have not yet publicly commented on this news, but previously they had reported returning some Iranian goods, including petroleum products.

The reports from Iranian media do not clarify what the trucks' cargo contained.

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Former Security Forces Member Killed In Kandahar

Jul 16, 2024, 10:53 GMT+1

Sources in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar reported that Mohammad Rangin Achakzai, a former government soldier, was shot dead by unknown armed individuals on Monday.

Achakzai was arrested by the Taliban last year and later released through the mediation of tribal elders. He had previously served in the logistics section of the Border Forces Brigade in Spin Boldak district.

So far, no details are available about the motive behind this murder or the perpetrators of this incident.

Mohammad Sangin Achakzai, the victim’s brother, was also the former commander of the 03 National Police Unit in the previous government.

Rangin Achakzai had close relations with General Abdul Raziq Achakzai’s family, the former chief of police in Kandahar. Abdul Khaliq, General Raziq's brother, expressed regret over his death and said that Rangin Achakzai was "killed by a ruthless enemy”.

General Abdul Raziq Achakzai was a prominent commander and a staunch opponent of the Taliban in southern Afghanistan. He was killed on October 18, 2018, in a shooting by the former Kandahar governor's bodyguard, who was a Taliban infiltrator.

After the fall of the previous government, dozens of soldiers and individuals close to General Raziq's family in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar were killed by the Taliban, and some of them are still being held in Taliban private prisons.

Taliban Shuts Down Telecom Networks in Kabul During Ashura Ceremonies

Jul 16, 2024, 09:29 GMT+1

As the Shia Ashura ceremonies take place in Afghanistan, sources in Kabul reported that the Taliban have shut down all telecommunication networks in the capital.

Sources told Afghanistan International that under the pretext of ensuring security, Taliban fighters have also blocked all roads in western Kabul.

The sources stated that the telecommunication networks in Kabul were cut off on Tuesday morning.

Afghanistan International's sources indicated that the Taliban, in addition to cutting communication networks, have prohibited residents of western Kabul from moving around the Shia neighbourhoods.

According to the sources, there is a significant presence of Taliban fighters in western Kabul.

In previous years, the Taliban had also cut off telecommunication networks in several Afghan cities on the occasion of Ashura.

The Taliban have not officially commented on the shutdown of telecommunication networks and the internet in Afghanistan.

Over 15,000 Afghan Migrants Expelled From Pakistan In Past 2 Weeks

Jul 15, 2024, 15:54 GMT+1

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of Pakistan announced on Monday, that 15,727 Afghan migrants have been deported from the country in the past two weeks.

The ministry stated that since the implementation of the plan to deport Afghan migrants began, more than 653,000 Afghans have been repatriated to their country.

Pakistani media reported that from July 3 to July 15, 7,126 men, 4,926 women, and 3,675 Afghan children have been deported from Pakistan.

According to the media reports, these migrants were returned to Afghanistan using 510 vehicles.

The programme to deport Afghan migrants from Pakistan started in October 2023.

Recently, Pakistan extended the validity of Afghan Proof of Registration (PoR) cards for one year, but the deportation of migrants without residence documents continues.

Taliban Official Killed In Badghis, Claims NRF

Jul 15, 2024, 15:05 GMT+1

The National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRF) has announced that in an attack on the Badghis provincial building, the Taliban's finance and administrative head for the province was killed along with three of his companions.

The Taliban police command in Badghis and local residents have confirmed that the explosion was caused by a grenade.

However, the Taliban have stated that no one was harmed in the incident.

Local sources told Afghanistan International on Monday morning that they heard an explosion in Qala-e-Naw, the capital of Badghis.

Hours after the explosion, NRF, led by Ahmad Massoud, released a statement claiming responsibility for the incident.

The front claims that in their guerrilla attack, four Taliban members, including a local official, were killed and two other Taliban members were injured.

NRF also claimed that this was the second attack against the Taliban in Badghis province in the past 12 hours. They added that on Sunday night, their forces attacked the Taliban in the Bala Murghab district of the province, resulting in the deaths of two Taliban members and the injury of two others.

Independent sources and the Taliban have not yet confirmed the attack in Bala Murghab.

NRF stated that their forces were not harmed in these attacks.

One-Third Of Women Give Birth Outside Health Facilities In Afghanistan, Reports UNICEF

Jul 15, 2024, 12:12 GMT+1

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported that one-third of pregnant women in Afghanistan give birth outside of healthcare facilities.

According to the organisation, over 67% of births in Afghanistan are attended by a skilled health professional.

UNICEF said that giving birth outside of healthcare facilities and without the assistance of skilled healthcare providers puts pregnant women's lives at serious risk.

In a report, the organisation shared the story of Fahima, a midwife in Mazar-i-Sharif, who emphasised that pregnant women should meet with a skilled doctor at least four times before giving birth, but only one-third of women in Afghanistan do this.

Fahima told UNICEF that many pregnant women do not know how to provide themselves with healthy meals during pregnancy.

Previously, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had reported that every day, 24 mothers and 167 children in Afghanistan die from preventable diseases related to pregnancy and childbirth.

The United Nations has also described Afghanistan as one of the worst countries for maternal mortality rates during childbirth.

According to statistics released by WHO in December 2023, since 2017, 638 women in Afghanistan die annually per 100,000 live births.

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Former Security Forces Member Killed In Kandahar

Jul 16, 2024, 10:53 GMT+1

Sources in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar reported that Mohammad Rangin Achakzai, a former government soldier, was shot dead by unknown armed individuals on Monday.

So far, no details are available about the motive behind this murder or the perpetrators of this incident.

Mohammad Sangin Achakzai, the victim’s brother, was also the former commander of the 03 National Police Unit in the previous government.

Taliban Shuts Down Telecom Networks in Kabul During Ashura Ceremonies

Jul 16, 2024, 09:29 GMT+1

As the Shia Ashura ceremonies take place in Afghanistan, sources in Kabul reported that the Taliban have shut down all telecommunication networks in the capital.

Sources told Afghanistan International that under the pretext of ensuring security, Taliban fighters have also blocked all roads in western Kabul.

The sources stated that the telecommunication networks in Kabul were cut off on Tuesday morning.

Afghanistan International's sources indicated that the Taliban, in addition to cutting communication networks, have prohibited residents of western Kabul from moving around the Shia neighbourhoods.

According to the sources, there is a significant presence of Taliban fighters in western Kabul.

In previous years, the Taliban had also cut off telecommunication networks in several Afghan cities on the occasion of Ashura.

The Taliban have not officially commented on the shutdown of telecommunication networks and the internet in Afghanistan.

Over 15,000 Afghan Migrants Expelled From Pakistan In Past 2 Weeks

Jul 15, 2024, 15:54 GMT+1

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of Pakistan announced on Monday, that 15,727 Afghan migrants have been deported from the country in the past two weeks.

The ministry stated that since the implementation of the plan to deport Afghan migrants began, more than 653,000 Afghans have been repatriated to their country.

Pakistani media reported that from July 3 to July 15, 7,126 men, 4,926 women, and 3,675 Afghan children have been deported from Pakistan.

According to the media reports, these migrants were returned to Afghanistan using 510 vehicles.

The programme to deport Afghan migrants from Pakistan started in October 2023.

Recently, Pakistan extended the validity of Afghan Proof of Registration (PoR) cards for one year, but the deportation of migrants without residence documents continues.

Taliban Official Killed In Badghis, Claims NRF

Jul 15, 2024, 15:05 GMT+1

The Taliban police command in Badghis and local residents have confirmed that the explosion was caused by a grenade.

However, the Taliban have stated that no one was harmed in the incident.

Local sources told Afghanistan International on Monday morning that they heard an explosion in Qala-e-Naw, the capital of Badghis.

Hours after the explosion, NRF, led by Ahmad Massoud, released a statement claiming responsibility for the incident.

The front claims that in their guerrilla attack, four Taliban members, including a local official, were killed and two other Taliban members were injured.

Independent sources and the Taliban have not yet confirmed the attack in Bala Murghab.

NRF stated that their forces were not harmed in these attacks.

One-Third Of Women Give Birth Outside Health Facilities In Afghanistan, Reports UNICEF

Jul 15, 2024, 12:12 GMT+1

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported that one-third of pregnant women in Afghanistan give birth outside of healthcare facilities.

According to the organisation, over 67% of births in Afghanistan are attended by a skilled health professional.

UNICEF said that giving birth outside of healthcare facilities and without the assistance of skilled healthcare providers puts pregnant women's lives at serious risk.

Fahima told UNICEF that many pregnant women do not know how to provide themselves with healthy meals during pregnancy.

Previously, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had reported that every day, 24 mothers and 167 children in Afghanistan die from preventable diseases related to pregnancy and childbirth.

The United Nations has also described Afghanistan as one of the worst countries for maternal mortality rates during childbirth.

According to statistics released by WHO in December 2023, since 2017, 638 women in Afghanistan die annually per 100,000 live births.

400 Iranian Cargo Trucks Stranded in Afghanistan, Reports Country’s Media Outlet

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Khalil Haqqani’s Mysterious Killing, A Year On, & the Deal That Freed Him

Mediation Between Pakistan & Taliban Not Planned For Tehran Talks, Says Iran

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Former Security Forces Member Killed In Kandahar

Taliban Shuts Down Telecom Networks in Kabul During Ashura Ceremonies

Over 15,000 Afghan Migrants Expelled From Pakistan In Past 2 Weeks

Taliban Official Killed In Badghis, Claims NRF

One-Third Of Women Give Birth Outside Health Facilities In Afghanistan, Reports UNICEF

Former Security Forces Member Killed In Kandahar

Taliban Shuts Down Telecom Networks in Kabul During Ashura Ceremonies

Over 15,000 Afghan Migrants Expelled From Pakistan In Past 2 Weeks

Taliban Official Killed In Badghis, Claims NRF

One-Third Of Women Give Birth Outside Health Facilities In Afghanistan, Reports UNICEF

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