Latest News
Outcry grows as another journalist slain in Afghanistan
As the outcry grows over Nangarhar journalist Malalai Maiwand’s assassination on Thursday morning, the AJSC (Afghan Journalists Safety Committee) warned that if the targeted killings of media workers does not stop, Afghanistan stands to lose one of its greatest achievements over the past 19 years – that of Press Freedom.
Maiwand was gunned down in Jalalabad city on Thursday morning, along with her driver, while on her way to work and in turn became the third journalist to be killed in the country in a month.
The AJSC said in a tweet that “if the killing of Afghan journalists does not stop, Afghanistan will lose one of its greatest achievements, which is press freedom. We demand action from the government for safety of journalists.”
NAI, an NGO supporting open media in Afghanistan, also reacted in horror at the latest attack and said in a statement that this incident will also scare off women who want to work in the industry.
NAI called on government to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
“With Malala’s death, the opportunities for female journalists will become limited, and journalists will no longer dare to work as journalists, something that the enemies of the Afghan people have long sought,” NAI said in the statement.
According to NAI, Thursday’s attack brings the total number of media workers killed in Afghanistan this year to 10.
President Ashraf Ghani also immediately condemned the attack on Maiwand and called it a war crime.
He said all responsible security institutions must thoroughly investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.
UK’s ambassador to Kabul Alison Blake was also quick to condemn the assassination of Maiwand and said: “We must unite to uphold Press Freedom, their deaths must be investigated and their killers face justice for this wicked act.”
Danish envoy to Afghanistan Mette Knudsen also responded in horror to the attack and said: “Not again! These killings of journalists are horrific crimes, aimed at silencing critical voices, and must be condemned by all. Let us unite in support of Press Freedom.”
The EU in Afghanistan also immediately issued a statement and condemned the killing of Maiwand. The EU said it is “saddened and outraged” about the attack.
“Attacks on media representatives are attacks on the freedom of speech and can never be tolerated,” they said.
US Chargé d’Affaires to Kabul Ross Wilson also condemned the attack on female journalist Maiwand and said “I condemn the assassination of journalist Malalai Maiwand …We must protect press freedom. These attacks must stop immediately and the killers brought to justice.”
Maiwand worked as a journalist at Enikass Radio and TV in Nangarhar and was gunned down along with her driver at about 7:10am, local officials confirmed.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
However, MoI spokesman Tariq Arian, who also reacted immediately to the news of Maiwand’s death that “unfortunately, in the last decade and a half, the vast majority of journalists have been killed by the Taliban.”
This latest assassination meanwhile comes as prominent journalists and champions of press freedom from across the world are currently examining ways to overcome increasing challenges facing the media at a two-day online conference organized jointly by the UN’s cultural and educational agency, UNESCO, and the Netherlands.
The European Union announced Tuesday it has made available 400,000 euros (over 30 million afghani) in response to widespread flooding in the north of Afghanistan in the past few weeks.
This humanitarian aid will provide immediate emergency assistance to beneficiaries in the regions of Baghlan, Badakhshan, and Takhar, the EU said in a statement.
The assistance will be delivered by EU humanitarian partners ACTED and DACAAR. It will include an emergency multi-sectoral response through cash assistance as well as access to clean water, emergency sanitation and hygiene supplies, the statement read.
The EU mentioned that it has been funding humanitarian operations in Afghanistan since 1994, providing close to 1.8 billion euros ($1.9 billion) in funding.
Last year alone, the EU mobilised 159 million euros ($172 million) in humanitarian funding.
In addition, since 2021 the EU has organised a Humanitarian Air Bridge to Afghanistan, with 35 flights so far that have carried over 1,600 tonnes of aid.
Turkish Airlines will resume its flights to Afghanistan tomorrow (Tuesday), officials said on Monday.
The Ministry of Transport said that a Turkish Airlines plane will land in Kabul airport on Tuesday.
“Tomorrow, Turkish Airlines will resume its flights to Kabul International Airport. There will be four flights between Kabul and Istanbul per week. This is good news for Afghan travelers. For those Afghans who travel to European countries, they can move easily through Turkey,” said Imamuddin Ahmadi, the spokesman of the Ministry of Transport.
However, the Chamber of Commerce and Investment emphasized that visas should be provided to businessmen and citizens of the country, otherwise companies will benefit the most, not Afghan citizens and businessmen.
“Not a single passenger is allowed, the reason is that they do not issue visas. If the Turks don’t start issuing visas, or the Arabs don’t issue visas, the plane will come for the cargo and there will be little movement of people,” said Khanjan Alokozay, a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment.
In a meeting with Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, the Deputy Prime Minister said the Islamic Emirate will participate in the third Doha meeting if its “position” is accepted.
He said that Afghanistan is under the complete control of the Islamic Emirate and that the country “has an Emir” and the government is “obeyed”.
According to a statement issued by Mawlavi Abdul Kabir’s office, the deputy prime minister told DiCarlo: “The previous meeting in Doha was incomplete due to some shortcomings of its organizers, and the position of the Islamic Emirate should be accepted in the next meeting so that the delegation of the Islamic Emirate will participate in it.”
The Secretary General of the United Nations once expressed regret for the Islamic Emirate’s non-participation in the Doha meeting, but at the same time said that accepting the demands of the Islamic Emirate is equivalent to its recognition.
Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate is asking the United Nations and other countries to recognize them as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.
Kabir said that the Islamic Emirate has fulfilled all its obligations and “rules over the entire geography of Afghanistan… There is a central government in all of Afghanistan that has an emir and is obeyed.”
The United Nations is expected to hold the third Doha meeting with the participation of special representatives of countries for Afghanistan, but it has not set a date for it yet.
The Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs of the United Nations meanwhile visited Kabul this week and invited the Islamic Emirate’s officials to participate in the Doha meeting.
According to the deputy prime minister’s office, DiCarlo informed Kabir about the Doha meeting and said that “the Islamic Emirate’s conditions for participating in this meeting are not difficult.”
She expressed hope that a delegation of the Islamic Emirate will participate.
She said that representatives of a number of international organizations and countries have been invited to the Doha meeting, including the World Bank.
EU provides 400,000 euros to assist flood victims in Afghanistan
ICC prosecutor seeks arrest warrants for Israel’s Netanyahu and Hamas leaders
Tahawol: Iranian president’s death discussed
Saar: Upcoming UN Doha meeting on Afghanistan discussed
Turkish Airlines to resume flights to Afghanistan from Tuesday
Afghanistan announce T20 World Cup 2024 squad
Rashid Khan named AWCC’s brand ambassador
New Zealand to go ahead with Afghanistan cricket Test
Afghanistan beat Iraq 5-3, inch closer to Futsal World Cup berth
Afghanistan qualify for FIFA Futsal World Cup for first time ever
Tahawol: Iranian president’s death discussed
Saar: Upcoming UN Doha meeting on Afghanistan discussed
Tahawol: Concerns over spread of floods in the country discussed
Tahawol: Killing of 3 foreign tourists in Bamyan province
Saar: Efforts to solve Afghanistan’s political issue discussed
-
Latest News5 days agoTorkham crossing closes temporarily to travelers
-
Business5 days agoAzizi meets with head of Tatarstan on sidelines of Kazan Forum
-
Latest News5 days agoJapan pledges emergency aid to Afghanistan’s flood victims
-
Sport4 days agoT20 World Cup warm-up match schedule released, Afghanistan to face Oman and Scotland
-
Latest News4 days agoGunmen kill three foreigners in Bamyan
-
Sport3 days agoRashid Khan returns home, officially introduced as AWCC’s brand ambassador
-
Latest News4 days agoChina and Pakistan call for inclusive ‘political framework’ and ‘moderate policies’ in Afghanistan
-
Latest News3 days agoSpain confirms three tourists killed in Afghanistan attack