Tag: Afghan Taliban

  • ‘Taliban will legally qualify for recognition once they take over the entire country,’ PM Khan

    ‘Taliban will legally qualify for recognition once they take over the entire country,’ PM Khan

    American Magazine ‘Newsweek’ has published an exclusive interview with Pakistani Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, conducted by its Senior Foreign Policy Writer Tom O’Connor.

    PM Khan talked about the troubles occurring in Afghanistan, China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the US emerging close relations with Pakistan’s top rival India and shed some light on Sino-US rivalry.

    In reply to a question by Tom about recognising the new Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, PM Khan said, “Pakistan is obliged to engage with the de-facto authorities in Afghanistan to prevent an economic and humanitarian collapse.”

    “Once a government in Kabul establishes control over the entire country, it would legally qualify for recognition. However, Pakistan would prefer to reach a decision regarding recognition of the new government together with other neighbors of Afghanistan,” he added.

    He stressed that the authorities in Kabul [Taliban] need to neutralise terrorist groups present in Afghanistan, particularly the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and said, “Pakistan will work with the authorities in Afghanistan to halt TTP and other terrorism from there.”

    While answering the question about the US and China’s influence in South Asia after Washington’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, Khan stated, “The US can work with a new government in Afghanistan to promote common interests and regional stability and can play an important and positive role in Afghanistan by providing humanitarian assistance.”

    “But if China offers economic support to Afghanistan, it’s natural that the Afghans will accept it. The Taliban have welcomed the prospects of being incorporated in the CPEC and establishing close relations with China,” he added.

    Talking about the close ties between the US and India, PM Khan stated, “We understand that the U.S. military support to India is designed to contain China. However India will never confront China, especially not to serve U.S. strategic objectives. India’s purpose in arming itself so massively is to establish its hegemony in South Asia and especially to threaten and coerce Pakistan.”

    “We believe that the current US-China rivalry is unnecessary and contrary to the interests of both these global powers,” he said while hoping that both countries will reach the same conclusion in the near future.

    He concluded by saying that Afghanistan will only be stabilized through help and that the U.S., China and Russia and all other countries must “contribute” to reconstructing the country.

  • ‘If Taliban fail to form inclusive govt, Afghanistan could enter into civil war’: PM Khan

    Prime Minister Imran Khan, while giving an interview to BBC, said that it was likely that Afghanistan could descend into a civil war if the Taliban fail to form an inclusive government.

    “If they do not include all the factions, sooner or later they will have a civil war,” said PM Khan. “That would mean an unstable, chaotic Afghanistan and an ideal place for terrorists. That is a worry.”

    Speaking on women and their education, PM Khan stated that the girls of Afghanistan would soon be able to attend schools. He said preventing women from acquiring education in Afghanistan would be un-Islamic.

    “If anyone has any idea of what our religion was, it was a liberation of women, and so whenever the idea that women should not get educated, it’s just not Islamic. It might have been some rural culture in Afghanistan but it has nothing to do with religion,” said PM Khan.

    “The statements they have made since they assumed power, I mean it’s very encouraging,” said the premier. “They have said they will give education to women and allow them to work. They have said they will give amnesty. The soil will not be used for terrorism by anyone.”

    PM Khan reiterated that the statements made by the Taliban were encouraging but where they go from here is unknown to all.

    “What they [Taliban] do from now onwards, we can only hope to persuade them and encourage them, incentivise them in that direction. But you know sitting today, what happens, where they will go, I’m afraid, I don’t know,” says PM Khan.

    “Afghan are strong people, their women are very strong, give them time and they will assert their rights,” said the premier.

  • IPL broadcast banned in Taliban’s Afghanistan over presence of female spectators

    IPL broadcast banned in Taliban’s Afghanistan over presence of female spectators

    The Taliban have warned media outlets in Afghanistan not to broadcast the UAE leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 due to the presence of female spectators in stadiums.

    “Ridiculous: Taliban have banned the broadcasting of Indian Premier League (IPL) in Afghanistan. Taliban have warned that Afghan media outlets should not broadcast the Indian Cricket League due to girls dancing and the presence of the female audience and spectators in stadiums,” tweeted Afghan journalist Fawad Aman.

    The UAE leg of IPL is underway and two matches have been played between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

    The knockout stage of IPL 2021 is scheduled to begin on October 10 with the final slated to be held on October 15.

    Notably, the Taliban banned most forms of entertainment — including many sports and women have been completely banned from playing sport. Even though the hardline group has shown they do not mind men playing cricket, pulling together a match in Kabul shortly after foreign forces withdrew.

    Australia had earlier issued a statement, saying if the recent media allegations against the Taliban-led hardline government in Afghanistan that it will not support women’s cricket were proved to be true, then Cricket Australia will not host the Afghanistan men’s team for the proposed Test match in Hobart.

    Meanwhile, it has also been reported that teams will also not play against Afghanistan in T20 World Cup, which is slated to be starting from October 17 in the UAE and Oman.

  • Bollywood announces a ‘patriotic’ film on the Taliban Takeover in Afghanistan

    Bollywood announces a ‘patriotic’ film on the Taliban Takeover in Afghanistan

    Indian producer Ajay Kapoor and actor-director Subhash Kale are making a movie titled Garud, which is a fictionalised version of events based on the recent evacuation of people from Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover.

    As per reports, the upcoming film is inspired by real events. Garud presents a fictionalised depiction of the rescue mission in Afghanistan. The film will be based on the experiences of the Indian Air Force.

    Talking about the film, the producer said, “Subhash and I go long way and have been friends since years, when he approached me for Garud, I was really hooked to the script and instantly came on board. The film narrates an inspirational, patriotic story with a strong emotional connection, we are looking forward to mounting the story on a large scale to give proper justice to the script. “

    Garud’s music will be given by Ravi Basrur, who has worked in films like KGF and KGF2, the movies is reportedly said to release on August 15, 2022.

    Meanwhile, the cast members are yet to be announced.

  • ‘We will continue to support a stable, sovereign and prosperous Afghanistan’: PM Khan

    Prime Minister Imran Khan said that Pakistan will continue to support a stable, sovereign, and prosperous Afghanistan. He was addressing the 20th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Heads of State (SCO-CHS) Summit in Tajikistan.

    “Pakistan had suffered a lot due to the spillover of conflict and instability in the neighbouring country [Afghanistan]”, he said.

    Moreover, he urged the international community to stand with the Afghans as it is a rare opportunity that the 40 years war has finally ended and this moment should not be squandered. He commended the United Nations secretary-general and UN agencies for mobilising support for ‘humanitarian assistance’.

    PM Imran said, “A new reality had been established after the Taliban’s takeover and withdrawal of foreign troops. That all this happened without bloodshed, without civil war, and without a mass exodus of refugees, should be a matter of relief. It is now in the international community’s collective interest to ensure that there is no renewed conflict in Afghanistan and the security situation is stabilised.”

    We must remember that the previous govt [Ashraf Ghani’s] depended heavily on foreign aid and its removal could lead to economic collapse.”

    ‘Taliban must fulfil promises’

    “The Taliban must fulfill the pledges made, above all for an inclusive political structure where all ethnic groups are represented. This is vital for Afghanistan’s stability,” PM said.

    Furthermore, Khan added that it is also important for the Taliban to ensure respect for the rights of all Afghans make sure that the country is never again a safe haven for terrorists.

    Talking about terrorism threats

    While talking about the 9/11 incident, PM Imran said, “Associating one religion with terrorism has enabled far right, populist and supremacist groups around the world to propagate, multiply and accumulate influence.”

    He assured that Pakistan will continue to be a reliable and willing partner of the international community in the fight against terrorism and extremism. According to him, addressing threats to international and regional peace is a topic of vital interest for the SCO.

    Proposed a five-point way forward

    “We must also advance the agenda of regional connectivity. In this regard, taking the process forward, Pakistan would like to host a conference on the theme ‘Transport Connectivity for Regional Prosperity’ in a virtual mode in 2022,” the premier announced.

    Imran Khan arrived in Tajikistan on Thursday for a two-day visit and was received by Tajik Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzod at the airport.

    Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf, and Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry were also present alongside the PM.

  • ‘You are lucky you weren’t beheaded’, Journalists open up about Taliban beatings

    Adding to a list of Taliban atrocities, two Afghan Journalists were left with immense bruises in Kabul. Their crime: covering protests in the Afghan capital.

    According to Taqi Daryabi and his colleague Nematullah Naqdi, of the daily newspaper Etilaat Roz (Information Daily), the Taliban separated them into two rooms, insulted, and flogged them with cables after accusing them of organising the protest as per Agence France-Presse (AFP).

    https://twitter.com/lnajafizada/status/1435818054332653576?s=21

    The two were reporting on a protest by women demanding the right to work and education in front of a police station.

    Naqdi said he was stopped by a Taliban fighter as soon as he started taking pictures.

    “They told me that you cannot film’,” he told AFP. Moreover he said that Taliban fighters insulted him and kicked him in the head and that a Taliban fighter placed his foot on his head and crushed his face against the concrete. When he was asked why he was being beaten, he was told, “you are lucky you weren’t beheaded.”

    Zaki Daryabi, the daily newspaper publisher told Committee to Protect Journalist (CPJ) via phone that the Taliban subjected the reporters to severe physical abuse that he described as “torture” for four hours that each lost consciousness at least four times in custody. However, CPJ could not independently confirm allegations of torture.

    According to the BBC, their journalists were also prevented from filming. Not only this, Al-Jazeera reported that three of their reporters said that Taliban fighters pushed, slapped them and took their belongings.

    Over the last days, the Taliban detained and later released at least 14 journalists covering protests against the group, At least nine of these journalists were subject to violence during their detention.

  • Australia warns of cancelling Afghanistan Test if Taliban ban women’s cricket

    Australia warns of cancelling Afghanistan Test if Taliban ban women’s cricket

    Cricket Australia (CA) warned to cancel the Test match against Afghanistan in November if women are not allowed to play the sport under the Taliban regime.

    The updated stance from CA follows the developments on Wednesday where the Taliban indicated that women would not be able to participate in sport, including cricket.

    In a statement released on Thursday, Cricket Australia confirmed it would be unable to proceed with the planned Test at Hobart’s Blundstone Arena from November 27 if news reports of Taliban views on the women’s game were true.

    “Driving the growth of women’s cricket globally is incredibly important to Cricket Australia,” the statement said.

    “Our vision for cricket is that it is a sport for all and we support the game unequivocally for women at every level.”

    “If recent media reports that women’s cricket will not be supported in Afghanistan are substantiated, Cricket Australia would have no alternative but to not host Afghanistan for the proposed Test Match due to be played in Hobart,” it added.

    The ICC has said that Afghanistan’s status in the international game will be discussed at their next board meeting but that is not scheduled until November, which raises further questions about their participation in the T20 World Cup.

    Afghanistan is the only Full Member to have received that status without having an operational women’s team in place. Last year, the Afghanistan Cricket Board had announced their first contracts for women as they looked to build a team.

  • ‘Not necessary,’ Afghan women to be banned from playing sports by Taliban

    The Taliban spokesperson has said that the Afghan women, including the country’s women’s cricket team, will be prohibited from participating in sports under the new Taliban regime, The Gurdian has reported.

    Ahmadullah Wasiq, the deputy chairman of the Taliban’s culture commission, claimed in an interview with Australian network SBS that women’s sport was neither appropriate nor required.

    “I don’t think women will be allowed to play cricket because it is not necessary that women should play cricket,” Wasiq said. “In cricket, they might face a situation where their face and body will not be covered. Islam does not allow women to be seen like this”.

    “It is the media era, and there will be photos and videos, and then people watch it. Islam and the Islamic Emirate [Afghanistan] do not allow women to play cricket or play the kind of sports where they get exposed.”

    On September 7, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid announced members of the new interim government in Afghanistan. Afghanistan will be led by Mohammad Hasan Akhund while the group’s co-founder Abdul Ghani Baradar will be the deputy Afghan leader.

  • Journalists question absence of women from Taliban’s ‘all male interim cabinet’

    Taliban announced the formation of its interim government on Tuesday. There was not even one woman among the 33 members.

    In their first press conference after the takeover of Kabul, spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid had said the group would honour women and assured that it was ready to provide them with the opportunity to be “present in different government (structures) according to Islamic law and in accordance with our cultural values”, reports Dawn.

    In late August, the group had also said that they wanted an inclusive government (inclusion of other Afghan parties and groups) in the country.

    Later, International and Pakistani journalists started questioning the absence of women, with most not expressing any surprise.

    The acting body is stacked with veterans of Taliban’s hardline rule from the 1990s and the 20-year battle against the US.

    Sirajuddin Haqqani, who is on the FBI’s most-wanted list with a reward of up to $10 million, has been appointed to the key post of interior minister.

    The country will be led by Mohammad Hasan Akhund who is on a UN sanctions list and was previously the foreign minister and then deputy prime minister during the Taliban’s last stint in power from 1996-2001.

  • Reema Khan reunites with husband Tariq, reveals ‘horrifying’ plight of Afghan refugees

    Actor Reema Khan has joyfully reunited with her husband Dr Syed Tariq Sahab as he came back from Doha and shed light on the ‘disturbing’ situation of Afghan refugees.

    “Thank God my husband is back from Doha safe and sound. However what he told me about the refugees is very disturbing,” wrote the Nikkah star adding, “Infants, toddlers, pregnant women and elderly had to stand in 105 degree for hours to get on the plane.”

    Reema continued, “Although I am relieved that he is back home, but it perturbs me to know that the Afghan refugees were worried and distressed, not to know where they were headed and what their future holds.”

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Reema Khan (@iamreemakhan)

    Reema’s husband was in Doha, to help and take care of Afghan refugees who left the country after the Taliban took over.

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Reema Khan (@iamreemakhan)