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Biden signs policy limiting drone strikes in Afghanistan, other countries

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(Last Updated On: October 9, 2022)

US President Joe Biden has signed a classified policy limiting counterterrorism drone strikes outside conventional war zones, including Afghanistan, New York Times reported this week.

The policy requires Biden’s approval before a suspected terrorist is added to a list of those who can be targeted for “direct action,” in a return to a more centralized control of decisions about targeted killing operations that was a hallmark of President Barack Obama’s second term. Trump had given commanders in the field greater latitude to decide whom to target.

“The president’s guidance on the use of lethal action and capture operations outside areas of active hostilities requires that US counterterrorism operations meet the highest standards of precision and rigor, including for identifying appropriate targets and minimizing civilian casualties,” said Liz Sherwood-Randall, Biden’s homeland security adviser.

Only Iraq and Syria — where US troops and partners are fighting the remnants of the Islamic State — are currently deemed to be conventional war zones where the new rules will not apply 

The policy will limit any such operations in several other countries where the United States has carried out drone strikes in recent years, including Afghanistan, Somalia and Yemen, as well as the tribal region of Pakistan.

The number of US drone strikes in several of the affected countries had been decreasing in recent years. The last US drone strikes in Pakistan and Yemen were reportedly in 2018 and 2019. In late July, US carried out a drone strike in Kabul, claiming to have killed al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) says US drone strikes are violation of Afghanistan’s airspace, and against international laws.

“No country has the right to intervene in an independent country,” said Bilal Karimi, deputy spokesman of IEA.

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Mujahid claims some ‘circles’ are deliberately spreading false intelligence on Afghanistan

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(Last Updated On: September 28, 2023)

The Islamic Emirate’s spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid once again denied the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan and says that some countries are spreading false intelligence information about Afghanistan in order to cast doubt over the progress being made in the country.

Speaking at an event in Kandahar, Mujahid said Afghanistan has experienced the “bitter taste” of war for four decades and that he does not want the country to suffer another civil war.

“Why are there discussions in meetings that Afghanistan is a threat? And that Afghanistan causes problems for countries? There are problems in Afghanistan, why is this fear created?” Mujahid asked.

“I believe that some intelligence circles who do not want progress in Afghanistan, who do not want Afghanistan to be peaceful, are not tolerant of the current situation in Afghanistan; those intelligence circles indirectly create fear among some countries,” he said.

He also responded to widespread criticism of restrictions against women and girls and said that women currently work in several Afghan government institutions, such as the ministry of interior, national statistics and information authority, airports, and the ministry of industry and commerce.

He stated that in other sectors, jobs for women have been suspended but only until suitable environments can be provided.

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Haqqani says intellectual differences can be resolved

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(Last Updated On: September 28, 2023)

Abdul Mateen Qani, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Interior Affairs, on Thursday wrote on social media that Sirajuddin Haqqani, the acting interior minister, said in a meeting with a number of experts and political activists that difficult intellectual differences can be resolved through consultation and unity.

He said this was important as available opportunities should not go to waste. Haqqani also stated that most problems can be solved with mutual tolerance and the spirit of pessimism and hypocrisy can be eliminated.

He also reportedly pointed out that national and Islamic spirit is the foundation of stability of the nation and it requires attention in order to create a positive mindset.

The minister also said that no one can carry weapons without a permit.

Haqqani also stated that the Islamic Emirate has no problem with any country and commitments made in Doha have been fulfilled by them.

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Food and Drug Authority officials leave for G5 meeting in Iran

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(Last Updated On: September 28, 2023)

The head of Afghanistan’s Food and Drug Authority and his accompanying delegation left Kabul on Thursday for Iran where they will attend the G5 meeting.

Dr. Abdul Bari Omar, the head of the authority, is leading the delegation and will attend the Group of Five (G5) meeting that is being convened under the title “Health Diplomacy and Medicine and Medical Equipment System”.

The G5 meeting with delegations from the food and drug administrations of member countries get together with the World Health Organization with the aim of promoting and developing the health sector in their respective countries.

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