Tag: Kabul

  • ‘Cannot defend a nation whose leaders gave up and fled’: US President

    ‘Cannot defend a nation whose leaders gave up and fled’: US President

    United States (US) President Joe Biden blamed the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan on Afghan political leaders who fled the country and the unwillingness of the US-trained Afghan army to fight the militant group.

    In his speech, Biden said that the US troops could not defend a nation whose leaders “gave up and fled”, as did Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

    “I stand squarely behind my decision. After 20 years, I have learned the hard way that there was never a good time to withdraw US forces,” Biden said in a televised address from the White House.

    While Biden said he took responsibility for the fate of the US mission, he lashed out at the former Afghan government and military commanders who were put in place, organised, and supported by Washington over the last 20 years.

    Instead of standing up to the advancing Taliban — a highly experienced guerrilla force but more lightly armed than the US-supplied Afghan army — the government fled.

    “We gave them every chance to determine their own future. We could not provide them with the will to fight for that future,” Biden said, adding he could no longer ask US soldiers to risk their lives in the country, 20 years on.

    “Our mission in Afghanistan was never supposed to have been nation-building. It was never supposed to be creating a unified, centralised democracy.”

    “American troops cannot and should not be fighting in a war and dying in a war that Afghan forces are not willing to fight for themselves,” said the US president.

    “We gave them every chance to determine their own future. We could not provide them was the will to fight for their future,” added Biden.

    “If Afganistan is unable to mount any real resistance at the Taliban now, there is no chance that one more year, five more years or 20 more years the US military boots on the ground would have made any difference,” said Biden.

    Biden said that the political leaders were unable to stand for their own people. He said that the leaders were unable to negotiate for the future of their people when the chips were down.

    Biden acknowledged that the Taliban’s speed in retaking the country was unexpected.

    “The truth is: This did unfold more quickly than we anticipated. So what’s happened? Afghanistan’s political leaders gave up and fled the country. The Afghan military gave up, sometimes without trying to fight,” Biden said.

    “Our true strategic competitors, China and Russia, would love nothing more than the United States to continue to funnel billions of dollars in resources and attention into stabilizing Afghanistan indefinitely,” he said.

    Biden said he was “left again to ask of those who argue that we should stay: how many more generations of America’s daughters and sons would you have me send to fight Afghans — Afghanistan’s civil war — when Afghan troops will not?”

    “I will not repeat the mistakes we made in the past,” said Biden.

    President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan fled the country as the Taliban entered Kabul, amidst severe criticism from his opponents, saying that now is not the time for him to leave his country as the dreaded Taliban come back to rule once more.

    The Taliban declared that the war in Afghanistan was over after its fighters swept into the capital, Kabul, and President Ashraf Ghani fled the country on Sunday.

  • Pakistan wants an all-inclusive settlement in Afghanistan: NSC

    Pakistan wants an all-inclusive settlement in Afghanistan: NSC

    A meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) was held on Monday to deliberate on the emerging situation in Afghanistan. The NSC meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan and attended by senior cabinet members and services chiefs.

    The participants were briefed on the latest developments in Afghanistan and their possible impact on Pakistan and the region.

    “The NSC noted that Pakistan was a victim of the decades-long conflict in Afghanistan and therefore desired peace and stability. Participants reiterated that Pakistan remains committed to an inclusive political settlement as the way forward representing all Afghan ethnic groups. It was reaffirmed that Pakistan would continue to work with the international community and all Afghan stakeholders to facilitate an inclusive political settlement in the country,” read a press release issued after the meeting.

    “The NSC called on all parties in Afghanistan to respect the rule of law, protect the fundamental human rights of all Afghans, and ensure that Afghan soil is not used by any terrorist organisation/group against any country.”

    PM Khan said all possible facilities be made available to repatriate Pakistanis, diplomats, journalists, and staff of international organisations seeking to leave Afghanistan. The committee reiterated Pakistan’s stance that the conflict in Afghanistan never had a military solution.

    “The ideal time to end the conflict through negotiations might have been when the United States (US)/ North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) troops were at maximum military strength in Afghanistan. Continuation of foreign military presence for a longer duration now would not have yielded a different outcome. Therefore, endorsement by the Biden administration of the previous US administration’s decision of troops withdrawal is indeed a logical conclusion to this conflict,” added the press release.

    “It is now time for the international community to work together to ensure an inclusive political settlement for long-term peace, security, and development of Afghanistan/ the region.”

  • Afghan women fear for their lives as Taliban take charge

    Afghan women fear for their lives as Taliban take charge

    The Taliban have declared that the war in Afghanistan is over after taking control of the Presidential Palace in Kabul as western nations evacuate their citizens from the Afghan capital.

    Executive Director of an NGO for girls’ education Pashtana Durrani, while speaking to Journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy of Channel 4 News, said, “This means losing your houses, your dreams, your goals, your ambition… everything. This means losing our identity as Afghans.”

    “That was selling us out. That was to let the elite and the posh people get a way out. Let’s sell the people of Afghanistan. Let’s sell the civilians of Afghanistan,” said Pashtana, referring to the Doha peace talks.

    She further added, “Let’s throw them to the wolves again.”

    “Children are bleeding, people are taking refuge in parks of Kabul, people are taking refuge in shops of Kandahar. There is no way out…I am going to lose everything that my father, my whole family, and I have worked for. Every girl and every person has worked for, in the last 20 years,” added Pashtana.

    “What are you going to do if there is a bang on the door?” asked the anchorperson.

    “[Sighs] Pray … Pray, probably. It’s going to be the last thing that I’m going to do, but that’s the only thing I can do. I don’t have anything else to do,” replied Pashtana.

    Talking to BBC News, spokesman for the Taliban, Shaheeh Suhail said that the militants want a “peaceful transfer of power” in Afghanistan in the next few days.

    BBC’s Yalda Hakim questioned Suhail that the women in Afghanistan are fearful that the Taliban will reimpose the regime of the 90’s back in Afghanistan where women couldn’t go to school and could not work.

    She asked him if it would be the same now. “There are hundreds of schools and universities in which students are studying and no restrictions have been imposed on them, they are continuing their studies,” said Suhail.

    Hakim questioned that in Herat when women arrived at their university they were asked to leave by the Taliban forces. “What I am telling you is the policy. The policy is that women can have access to education, work, and observe the hijab, that is it,” replied Suhail.

    Meanwhile, a senior analyst who specialises in Afghan relations says that “You never know with the Taliban. They have become really media savvy and know what to say and how to say it. In regards to women, they are saying that they will let them have their freedom now, but they can change their stance anytime.”

    Afghanistan’s Minister of Education Rangina Hamidi says she is fearful “like every woman in Afghanistan”.

    Talking to BBC News, Hamidi said, “Yes, Like the fear that every mother has in Afghanistan, the fear that every woman has in the country [I have it too].”

    “Deep down in my heart I keep telling myself to think that I haven’t done anything bad and hopefully I wouldn’t have to pay the price for joining a government position,” added Hamidi.

    “I might face consequences that I never ever dreamed of. I guess that’s the price we pay for trying to make the world a little better than one we came into, particularly Afghanistan,” said Hamidi.

    The anchorperson questioned if she was fearful of a “knock on the door”.

    “Anything is possible, I am actually sitting in the hallway of our house, where there are not many windows close by. Just a little earlier there were gunshots, I brought my daughter and the other people living in the house with us to be a bit safe. But in terms of how safe we are, and how this night if we remain until the morning, it is very difficult to predict if we [will be alive],” replied Hamidi.

    Speaking from the capital Kabul as Taliban insurgents take control of the country, the minister said she didn’t expect such a response from a president who she “trusted fully”.

     “I’m in shock, I’m in disbelief. I did not think that things would happen the way they did.

    “And the saddest part is that I didn’t expect this. I didn’t expect this from the president that I knew and a president who I trusted fully.”

    “Somehow in my heart, in the back of my mind, I still want to believe that this is not true – that he left – but if he did, it’s really a shame.”

    Journalist Anisa Shaheed says she will not give in to the Taliban. “There are many untold stories in Afghanistan and we need to tell them.”

    https://twitter.com/BBCWorld/status/1426921642505211911

    “Nothing is harder than reporting on a child who has been disabled, a child’s rights being violated, or a child crying, or when a woman is crying because of sheer oppression,” said Anisa.

    Previously, under the Taliban rule, women were not allowed to work, to go to school. At times they weren’t allowed to leave their home without a male guardian.

  • ‘Afghanistan has broken the shackles of slavery’: PM Imran Khan

    ‘Afghanistan has broken the shackles of slavery’: PM Imran Khan

    Prime Minister Imran Khan said that cultural imposition is equivalent of ‘mental slavery’ and it is very hard to break the shackles of mental slavery, adding that the Afghans had “broken the shackles of slavery”. PM Khan was speaking at the launch of the first phase of the Single National Curriculum (SNC) for students of grades one to five today.

    https://twitter.com/hoorainp1/status/1427163765859041280?s=21

    PM’s comments come as the Taliban rapidly take control of Afghanistan.

    The Taliban declared that the war in Afghanistan was over after its fighters swept into the capital, Kabul, and President Ashraf Ghani fled the country on Sunday.

    Criticising the two parallel systems of education in the country, PM said that the existence of English medium schools has led to the adoption of “someone else’s culture” in Pakistan.

    “When you adopt someone’s culture, you believe it to be superior and you end up becoming a slave to it,” said PM Khan.

    “I had the vision to introduce the Single National Curriculum, but the elites making the most of the current system will not change that easily,” said the premier.

    “When you acquire English medium education, you adopt the entire culture and it’s a major loss because you become a slave to that particular culture,” he said.

    “Our class divisions were formed only on the basis of an English education,” said PM Khan.

    He said a decision had also been taken to teach the life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) from grades eight to 10. However, he told Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood that the plan to introduce the course by 2024 was too far away, adding that it should be implemented in five to six months.

    The SNC had been launched from classes one to five in public and private schools as well as seminaries in all provinces except Sindh.

  • ‘I thought it would be best to get out’, President Ashraf Ghani leaves, Taliban takeover Kabul

    ‘I thought it would be best to get out’, President Ashraf Ghani leaves, Taliban takeover Kabul

    President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan fled the country as the Taliban entered Kabul, amidst severe criticism from his opponents, saying that now is not the time for him to leave his country as the dreaded Taliban come back to rule once more.

    Ashraf left a note for his countrymen on social media, stating, “The Taliban have made it to remove me, they are here to attack all Kabul and the people of Kabul. In order to avoid the bleeding flood, I thought it was best to get out.”

    “Taliban have won the judgement of swords and guns and now they are responsible for protecting the countrymen’s honour, wealth and self-esteem. Didn’t they win the legitimacy of hearts,” wrote Ashraf Ghani.

    “Never in history has dry power given legitimacy to anyone and won’t give it to them. They are now facing a new historical test; either they will protect the name and honour of Afghanistan or they will prioritze other places and networks,” penned Ghani.

    Ghani further added, “Many people and many Aqshar are in fear and are unreliable in the future. It is necessary for the Taliban to assure all the people, nations, different sectors, sisters and women of Afganistan to win the legitimacy and the hearts of the people. Make a clear plan to do and share it with the public.”

    “I will always continue to serve my nation with an intellectual moment and a plan to develop. Lots more talk for the future. Long live Afghanistan,” said Ghani.

    The Taliban declared that the war in Afghanistan was over after its fighters swept into the capital, Kabul, and President Ashraf Ghani fled the country on Sunday.

    Ghani did not say where he had travelled to, but leading Afghan media group Tolo News suggested he had gone to Tajikistan.

    Abdullah Abdullah, who heads the peace process, had earlier accused Ghani of “leaving the people to this situation”.

    However, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Saturday in a televised speech said that the remobilisation of Afghanistan’s armed forces was a “top priority”.

    “As a historic mission, I will not let the imposed war on people cause more deaths,” said Ashraf Ghani.

    “In the current situation, the remobilisation of our security and defence forces is our top priority, and serious steps are being taken in this regard,” he said on Saturday. A day later, he fled Afghanistan.

  • ‘I will not let the imposed war on people cause more deaths’: Ashraf Ghani

    ‘I will not let the imposed war on people cause more deaths’: Ashraf Ghani

    Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said Saturday the remobilisation of Afghanistan’s armed forces was a “top priority”.

    In a televised speech, Ashraf Ghani said, “As a historic mission, I will not let the imposed war on people cause more deaths.”

    “In the current situation, the remobilisation of our security and defence forces is our top priority, and serious steps are being taken in this regard,” he said.

    With the country’s second and third-largest cities having fallen into Taliban hands, Kabul has effectively become a besieged last stand for government forces who have offered little or no resistance elsewhere.

    “Therefore, I have started extensive consultations inside the government with the elders, political leaders, representatives of people, and international partners on achieving a reasonable and certain political solution in which the peace and stability of the people of Afghanistan are envisaged.”

    But Ghani praised the forces “that have defended the nation courageously and showed strong determination”.

  • ‘Kabul should avoid pointing fingers at Pakistan for its own failures’: Shah Mahmood Qureshi

    ‘Kabul should avoid pointing fingers at Pakistan for its own failures’: Shah Mahmood Qureshi

    Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi asked the Afghan government to avoid pointing fingers at Pakistan for its own failures and look into its governance issues.

    In a press briefing at the Foreign Office (FO), he said Pakistan had repeatedly said it had no favourites in Afghanistan and saw all sides of the conflict as Afghans.

    “It is unfortunate to scapegoat Pakistan for the failures of others; the issues of governance and meltdown of Afghan National Defence Forces need to be looked into — and not just start pointing fingers at Pakistan.”

    “The time has come when the world wants answers to what has been achieved in Afghanistan in these past 20 years. The taxpayer in the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), and Europe wants to know who is responsible for no achievement. Pakistan will not be apologetic, as we are not accountable nor responsible for the trillions spent and nothing to show for it. No capacity building, no arms, where has everything gone?” remarked Qureshi.

    “Pakistan is against a forceful takeover of Afghanistan. Pakistan does not want a military takeover, as we do not support one. We speak of a political takeover. A military takeover will result in more bloodshed and the people of Afghanistan have suffered and this suffering should end. Leadership inside Afghanistan should rise to the occasion and avoid a military takeover. We urge all sides to show respect for human rights and international humanitarian laws,” said Qureshi.

    “We had made a request to be present there, but unfortunately, it was not accepted,” he said, adding that at the time of India assuming the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) presidency, Pakistan had asked it to operate objectively.

    However, India did not behave in a manner that was befitting of that responsibility, the foreign minister said. “India has been, in our view, in breach of its obligation as president of the Security Council.”

    Pakistan has been facilitating the peace process, and its role has been and will continue to be of a facilitator, the foreign minister said.

    “We cannot guarantee, we can only facilitate,” he said, noting it was up to the Afghans to decide their future, and now the world community was backing Pakistan’s narrative that there is no military solution in Afghanistan.

    While on the request of President Ashraf Ghani, intra-Afghan peace talks were postponed in Islamabad, Pakistan now looks forward to the August 11 peace talks of the troika consisting of Pakistan, China, and Russia with an aim of chartering a political way out for an Afghan-led peace process.

    “We reiterate the need for the effective use of available peace mechanisms,” Qureshi said, adding Pakistan has always stressed the need for talks.

  • Kabul University teacher feeding student’s child during an exam wins hearts

    Kabul University teacher feeding student’s child during an exam wins hearts

    A picture of a professor at Kabul University, Afghanistan feeding one of his student’s child while she was taking her exam went viral on social media.

    As per reports, last week, a four-month-old son of a student at Kabul University cried and she was trying to make her baby calm instead of solving the exam. Amid all this, a teacher came forward and took the child in his arms and started feeding him through a feeder.

    The mother of the child completed her exam and someone in the examination hall took the picture and posted it on social media.

    https://twitter.com/NiqabiTilFajr/status/1300195905832914945?s=20

    The teacher in the picture is actually Mahmood Marhoon, a lecturer in the Pashto department at Kabul University. While speaking to BBC, he said that after the photo, he had received messages from many countries around the world appreciating him for his kind gesture.

  • PTM lawmakers travel to Kabul on Afghan army helicopter

    PTM lawmakers travel to Kabul on Afghan army helicopter

    Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) lawmakers Mohsin Dawar and Ali Wazir on Monday got a free ride on an Afghan National Army helicopter from the Pak-Afghan border crossing to Kabul to attend the oath-taking ceremony of President Ashraf Ghani, Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported.

    Mohsin Dawar thanked Afghan President Ashraf Ghani for delaying his oath, because of the two Pakistani legislators who were barred by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from flying to Kabul for being on the Exit Control List (ECL).

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Sunday gave one-time permission to the two Pashtun legislators to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Afghan President Ghani.

    Mohsin Dawar, in his tweet after reaching Kabul, said, “Wanted to express my gratitude to President @ashrafghani for delaying his oath-taking for the arrival of @Aliwazirna50 and myself.”

    The Afghan government specially dispatched a military helicopter to rush the two parliamentarians to the ceremony from Torkham.

    Mohsin Dawar, in another Twitter post, from Kabul said, “Overwhelmed by the welcome we have received here. Wishing a peaceful future for Afghanistan and the region.”

    Dawar also shared some pictures showing them travelling in an Afghan army helicopter.

    According to Afghan media, before reaching Kabul, the PTM leaders also briefly visited some officials in eastern Nangarhar province.