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Almost 200 Kandahar checkpoints abandoned to the Taliban: SIGAR
Nearly 200 checkpoints manned by the Afghan National Army’s 205th Corps in Kandahar province were abandoned to the Taliban during December last year, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) stated in its latest quarterly report.
Published late Monday, the SIGAR report states that Resolute Support (RS) mission has long identified the need for an orderly reduction or elimination of the most vulnerable (minimally manned or unsupportable) checkpoints, as well as to consolidate personnel into patrol bases - the new standard fighting structures for the ANA.
According to SIGAR, in November 2019, the Afghan government in coordination with RS estimated that the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) had over 10,000 checkpoints nationwide, with an average of 10–20 personnel at each checkpoint.
During 2020, the Checkpoint Reduction and Base Development Plan was developed but "some checkpoints were not eliminated by plan, but abandoned to the Taliban. Nearly 200 checkpoints manned by the ANA’s 205th Corps in Kandahar Province were abandoned to the Taliban during December 2020,” the report read.
According to Kandahar provincial leaders and security personnel, the ANDSF and the Taliban have clashed regularly in Kandahar province since October, and the recent checkpoint abandonment let government weapons and ammunition fall into Taliban hands.
SIGAR stated that a lack of ANDSF cooperation, 205th Corps personnel shortfalls, adversarial relationships between the 205th Corps soldiers and Kandahar citizens, and the lack of adequate fuel and personnel reserves for 205th Corps checkpoints contributed to the collapse.
The report also stated that all of “the issues are concerns that MOD senior
leaders [are addressing] and continue to improve.”
SIGAR noted that it estimated there are now under 6,000 checkpoints in the country.
Acting Minister of Interior Affairs Sirajuddin Haqqani met on Tuesday with the Japanese Ambassador to Kabul,Takayoshi Kuromiya, the ministry said in a statement.
Abdul Matin Qane, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, said in a post on X that apart from expressing satisfaction over the improved security situation, they discussed boosting Japan's aid to Afghanistan.
They also discussed a working group with UNAMA to tackle issues related to narcotics.
A spokesman for Afghanistan’s foreign affairs said Tuesday Islamic Emirate diplomats have been posted to Oman to reopen the Afghanistan embassy.
Hafiz Zia Ahmad Takal said in a post on X the embassy in Muscat opened last Sunday.
Takal added that resuming the activities of the Afghan embassy with the cooperation of the host country will play a constructive role in strengthening political, economic, social and religious relations between Kabul and Muscat.
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EUAA reports 45,000 Afghans applied for asylum in first six months of 2024
The EUAA said in its report that while the total number of asylum applications remained steady compared to the first half of last year, some variations were observed
The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) said Monday that 45,000 Afghans sought asylum in European countries during the first half of 2024.
In its latest report on asylum trends for the first six months of 2024, the EUAA stated that by the end of July, a total of 513,000 people from around the world had applied for asylum in European countries.
The EUAA said in its report that while the total number of asylum applications remained steady compared to the first half of last year, some variations were observed.
During this period, 71,000 Syrians made asylum requests, making them the most significant applicants in Europe.
The report also highlighted that Afghan asylum seekers predominantly applied in countries like Germany, Greece, France, Switzerland, Belgium, and Italy.
The number of Afghan asylum applications to European countries decreased by 18% compared to the same period in 2023.
Additionally, the report emphasized that European Union member states accepted approximately 65% of Afghan asylum applications.
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