Tag: Afghanistan

  • Afghan journalist confuses Aamir Liaquat as dead Pak Army soldier in Panjshir

    Afghan journalist confuses Aamir Liaquat as dead Pak Army soldier in Panjshir

    An Afghan journalist, Noor Quraishi, claimed that Pakistani commando Colonel Adil was killed in Panjshir Valley and shared a picture of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Aamir Liaquat.

    He shared the picture on his Twitter account, claiming that he [Amir Liaqat] was killed in the clashes with anti-Taliban forces. His tweet translated to, “The first casualty of Pakistani commandos: Colonel Adil died during the fighting in Panjshir.”

    Shortly after the tweet, netizens started mocking the journalist for a faux pas.

    Fake and misleading news regarding Pakistan’s involvement in Taliban takeover in Afghanistan has been making rounds on social media.

    Earlier, a Twitter user had shared a picture of a fighter jet, claiming that a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) plane was shot down in Afghanistan’s Panjshir valley. Later, a fact check by Dawn showed that the picture is actually from 2018 in the United States.

    Apart from this, Indian News Channels, Republic TV and Zee Hindustan, ran footage from a video game Arma-3 as visuals stating that it was the PAF attacking the anti-Taliban fighters.

  • Maryam Nawaz to appoint new lawyer for Avenfield reference case

    Maryam Nawaz to appoint new lawyer for Avenfield reference case

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz has said that her lawyer Amjad Pervez has recused himself from the case because of his health condition after he had contracted Covid-19.

    “I told him to contest my case, and until he recovers, I will arrange another counsel for my case,” said Maryam.

    A journalist questioned Maryam whether Pakistan should recognise the new Taliban government in Afghanistan.

    Maryam responded, “Pakistan must accept the will of the Afghan people and refrain from imposing its decision on Afghanistan.”

    The PML-N leader said Afghanistan was a sovereign country and insisted that Pakistan must not interfere in the internal matters of the neighbouring country.

  • 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)

  • Taliban announce interim cabinet, Mullah Hasan Akhund to lead new Taliban government

    Taliban announce interim cabinet, Mullah Hasan Akhund to lead new Taliban government

    Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid on Tuesday 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.

    Taliban’s deputy leader Sirajuddin Haqqani will be the acting interior minister, political chief Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai will be the deputy foreign minister and Mullah Yaqoob will be the defence minister, he added. Mullah Yaqoob is Mullah Omar’s son.

    Qari Fasihuddin will be the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Mullah Abdul Haq Wasiq head of National Directorate of Security (NDS).

    The heads of various other ministries will be appointed soon, Mujahid added.

    The heads of various other ministries will be appointed soon, Mujahid added.

    The Taliban spokesperson said Afghanistan had “gained freedom”, stressing that “only the will of Afghans” will be applicable in the country.

    “After today, no one will be able to interfere in Afghanistan,” he emphasised.

  • Taliban stop at least four planes from leaving Afghanistan: Report

    Taliban stop at least four planes from leaving Afghanistan: Report

    At least four planes chartered to evacuate several hundred people trying to escape the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan have not been successful in leaving the country for days, reported TIME.

    Contradictory reports are emerging about why the flights weren’t able to take off as pressure builds upon the United States (US) to help those left behind to flee.

    An Afghan official at the  Mazar-e-Sharif airport said that the would-be passengers were Afghans, many of whom did not have passports or visas, and thus were unable to leave the country. He said they had left the airport while the situation was sorted out.

    Residents of Mazar-e-Sharif also said the passengers were no longer at the airport. At least 10 families were seen at a local hotel waiting, they said, for a decision on their fates. None of them had passports or visas but said they had worked for companies allied with the US or German military. 

    Republican Michael McCaul of Texas told Fox News Sunday that American citizens and Afghan interpreters were being kept on six planes.

    “The Taliban will not let them leave the airport,” he said, adding that he’s worried “they’re going to demand more and more, whether it be cash or legitimacy as the government of Afghanistan.” He did not offer more details.

    The US State Department has no reliable way to confirm information about such charter flights, including how many American citizens might be on them, since it no longer has people on the ground, according to a US official, reported AP.

  • ‘We should export Burnol to India after seeing their jealousy over Afghanistan’: Fawad Chaudhry

    ‘We should export Burnol to India after seeing their jealousy over Afghanistan’: Fawad Chaudhry

    “Seeing India’s jealousy over the situation in Afghanistan, we should export Burnol to them,” said Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry.

    https://twitter.com/FawadPTIUpdates/status/1434458264553639936

    Regarding Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency’s director-general Lt-Gen Faiz Hameed’s visit to Kabul, Chaudhry said, “General Faiz is not the first intelligence chief to visit Kabul. Earlier, according to the United States (US) media, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) chief, Turkish and Qatari intelligence chiefs had visited Kabul as well.”

    “Pakistan’s efforts to evacuate foreigners from Afghanistan are immense and we will continue to do so,” added Fawad.

    https://twitter.com/FawadPTIUpdates/status/1434444791580868608

    “It would not be fair to say that we should not care for the people who did not leave Kabul,” added the minister.

    https://twitter.com/FawadPTIUpdates/status/1434444791580868608

    The federal minister further said, “Unconventional contacts are necessary for discussion on various issues at a time when there is a power vacuum in Afghanistan.”

    “There’s no government in Afghanistan at present and there’s a power vacuum there. In such a situation, who should a leader from the political setup of Pakistan meet there? The prime minister and foreign minister will meet their counterparts [who are not there],” said the minister.

  • Taliban have taken control of Panjshir: Sources

    Taliban have taken control of Panjshir: Sources

    Taliban forces have taken full control of Afghanistan, including the Panjshir Valley, three Taliban sources said on Friday, reported Dawn.

    “By the grace of Allah Almighty, we are in control of entire Afghanistan. The troublemakers have been defeated and Panjshir is now under our command,” said one Taliban commander.

    Former vice president Amrullah Saleh, one of the leaders of the opposition forces, told Tolo News that reports he had fled the country were lies.

    Meanwhile, the Taliban are due to form a government within days despite fighting in Panjshir Valley.

    China confirmed the country will be keeping its embassy in Kabul open.

    “We hope the Taliban will establish an open and inclusive political structure, pursue moderate and stable domestic and foreign policy and make a clean break with all terrorist groups,” foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said.

  • Taliban paint over mural demolishing art in Afghanistan

    Taliban paint over mural demolishing art in Afghanistan

    Activist Omaid Sharifi took to Twitter to share how the Taliban have started painting over murals in Afghanistan.

    He tweeted, “And it begun. The Taliban have started painting over our murals.”

    They started with the historic one that marked the signing of #DohaDeal. #BaradarKhalilzadMural is no more. Instead, the black and white message says don’t trust the enemy’s propaganda, quoting Mullah Haibatullah,” read the tweet.

    Twitter reacted when Omaid shared the pictures on the platform.

    Journalist Magda Gad tweeted, “Staden förändras varje dag [The city changes every day].”

    Journalist Amie Ferris-Rotman tweeted, “First they whitewashed images of women. Now they’re going for the art.”

    A Twitter user wrote, “These Taliban terrorists are intent on destroying joy. They want to extinguish everything that makes us human.”

    Journalist Lyse Doucet tweeted, “The face of the city is changing .. the colour and character of #Kabul erased #Afghanistan.”

    Prior to this, images of women were covered up or vandalised on storefronts around Kabul. One of the salons in Kabul was whitewashed to cover up advertisements pasted on its outdoor walls, showing the faces of smiling women in bridal regalia.

  • Fully armed Taliban stand by Afghan anchor during political debate

    Fully armed Taliban stand by Afghan anchor during political debate

    A video went viral on Twitter a few days ago when Mirwais Haqdost, Afghanistan Television (TV) presenter, was seen conducting a debate in the presence of fully armed Taliban soldiers standing behind him.

    A total of eight soldiers were present on the show, fully armed when the TV host presented his set of news.

    Talking to an Afghan television later, the presenter said, ” When the program was broadcast, some threatened me by saying you mocked Mujahiddin.”

    “Although I gave the questions and they wrote the answers on paper before the program,” added Haqdost.

    Twitter reacted to the video questioning the freedom that the Taliban promised saying that people could live and work in Afghanistan without any fear and threats.

    A journalist said, “Free press. Taliban’s version of it.”

    Journalist Suzanne Kianpour tweeted, ” During which he’s asking the Afghan people to work together with the ‘Islamic Emirate’… flanked by armed Taliban soldiers #Afghanistan.”

    Anti-Modi activist and feminist, Kavita Krishnan tweeted, “The world over, parody is dead because reality has killed it. Do not be afraid, the anchor tells viewers as armed Taliban soldiers stand behind him, careful to show themselves on camera to the viewers.”

    She further added,”This scene would make for a brilliant semiotics class.”

  • Female Afghan presenter who interviewed Taliban leader flees the country

    Beheshta Arghand, a female news presenter at TOLO News, has left Afghanistan according to CNN.

    “If the Taliban do what they said – what they promise – and the situation becomes better, and I know I am safe and there is no threat for me, I will go back to my country and I will work for my country. For my people,” she said while speaking to CNN.

    Talking about her experience of interviewing Taliban spokesperson, Arghand added that the interview was difficult, “but I did it for Afghan women.”

    “I told myself, ‘One of us must start…If we stay in our houses or don’t go to our offices, they will say the ladies don’t want to work,’ but I said to myself, ‘Start working,’” Arghand said.

    “And I said to the Taliban member, ‘We want our rights. We want to work. We want — we must —be in society. This is our right.’”

    On August 17, Arghand sat down with senior Taliban representative Mawlawi Abdulhaq Hemad. During the interview she talked about the Taliban’s home searches in Kabul and the general situation on the ground.