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UN Calls for Advancing Afghan Women’s Role in Countering Violence Extremism

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(Last Updated On: October 24, 2022)

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Marking ‘Global Open Day,’ UN in a press release called for greater role of Afghan women in preventing violent extremism

The empowerment and protection of women are essential to strategies countering violent extremism, said senior UN officials after meeting with Afghan civil society representatives in Kabul.

Two UN officials – the Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan, Pernille Kardel, and the Country Representative for the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), Elzira Sagynbaeva – recognized the essential role women play in fostering a peaceful and tolerant society, including preventing members of their families or communities from becoming violent extremists.

“In Afghanistan, ideologies imposing a discriminatory belief systems continue to deprive women and girls of basic human rights such as freedom of movement and access to education and health,” said Ms. Kardel, who also expressed serious concerns over executions of women and corporal punishments imposed by Anti-Government Elements. Messages of intolerance – political, religious or social – foster discrimination, exclusion and violence, and are incompatible with universal human rights norms protected by the laws of Afghanistan, she added.

Beyond the confined perception of women as victims of extremist ideologies, women play a crucial role in combating violent extremism.

Appreciating the resilience and efforts of women leaders striving for peace and equality in Afghanistan, Ms. Sagynbaeva highlighted the need to recognize women’s transformative leadership, and create spaces for women’s active participation at all levels of decision making.

“Women are the biggest untapped resource in the search for sustainable peace in Afghanistan,” she said.

“Women’s empowerment and gender equality are essential drivers of development, reconciliation and stand as a bulwark against the radicalization of youth.”

At today’s gathering, civil society representatives highlighted local community initiatives whereby women use their influence in their communities, schools, workplaces and homes to challenge extreme ideologies that radicalize, recruit or incite violence.

For example, several women recounted instances of exerting pressure on male family members not to join the ranks of insurgency.

Discussions also highlighted instances where women adhere to or encourage others on the path of radicalization – sometimes motivated by poverty or exclusion.

“I encourage the Afghan government to develop and implement human rights-based gender-sensitive policy responses that address the underlying drivers of violent extremism,” said Ms. Kardel.

“We need to recognize, build and expand on women’s ongoing experiences in prevention and mitigation,” added Ms. Sagynbaeva.

Policy actions need to be supported by ensuring equal representation of women in the field of conflict prevention, through coherent investments in policy and programming for women and girls, and by enabling an environment for women’s participation in the prevention and resolution of conflicts.”

Civil society participants urged the United Nations, government officials and donors for greater support in addressing the root causes of extremism such as corruption and poverty.

Acknowledging women’s persuasive power, participants also requested a greater emphasis on strengthening women’s religious literacy and knowledge to equip them to challenge radical ideologies with powerful narratives on tolerance, non-violence and the peaceful values of religion.

Launched in 2010, Open Days events aim to support dialogue between UN senior leadership and women’s organizations across the world on the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) and its subsequent seven UN Resolutions.

These instruments engender women’s leadership and meaningful participation in political and security transitions, including peace building.

In addition to the national Open Day event in Kabul, UNAMA is conducting similar consultations on violent extremism across the country, including in Herat, Bamyan, Kandahar, Badakshan, Nangarhar and Gardez provinces.

Pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 2242 (2015) and the recently-adopted Secretary-General’s Plan of Action on Preventing Violent Extremism, Ms. Kardel and Ms. Sagynbaeva reiterated the commitment of the United Nations to support efforts by Afghan institutions and civil society to empower women to prevent and respond to violent extremism.

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Three members of one family killed by unknown people in Farah province

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(Last Updated On: May 27, 2024)

Aziz Ahmad Sarbaz, district governor of Golestan district of Farah province, says that three members of one family were killed by unknown people.

According to Sarbaz, among the dead was one women. He said the incident took place in Faizabad village.

According to Sarbar five suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident, which is being investigated.

No further details were given.

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IEA supports cadres and personalities of Afghanistan: deputy PM

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(Last Updated On: May 27, 2024)

Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs Mawlawi Abdul Kabir said on Sunday that the policy of the Islamic Emirate is to appreciate and support the cadres and personalities of the country and efforts are being made to provide them with facilities.

He stated this in a meeting with the representatives of the union of medical specialists abroad.

According to a statement released by Arg, Kabir considered specialists to be one of the the country’s greatest assets, noting that Afghanistan needs specialists in any situation.

He added that due to the fact that Afghans are poor, there is a need for public and private health institutions to work with full accuracy and kindness in diagnosing and treating patients.

According to the statement, in the meeting, the representatives of the union of medical specialists abroad announced that a large number of Afghan specialists living abroad are willing to return to the country.

Kabir assured the members of the union that he will share their problems and suggestions with the relevant institutions to address them.

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Pakistan asks IEA to hand over TTP leaders

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(Last Updated On: May 27, 2024)

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday called on the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) to hand over leaders of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakis­tan (TTP) and other members of the group.

At a press conference in Lahore, Naqvi said the attack, in which five Chinese engineers and their Pakistani driver were killed, was planned in Afghanistan and executed with the help of handlers and facilitators based in Pakistan.

He added that the attack was “completely operated” from Afgha­nistan and planned to specifically target Chinese personnel in Pakistan.

“TTP leadership planned this attack as a flagship project, and enemy intelligence agencies paid them heavily for the attack,” the minister said, without giving more details.

The minister demanded IEA arrest three individuals named Bakhtiar Shah, Qari Abdullah and Khan Lala, along with TTP chief Noor Wali Mehsud, its Malakand Commander Azmatullah and the entire leadership of the group.

“We want good ties with Afgha­nistan, but for that it is important they arrest these terrorists, prosecute them or hand them to us.”

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have soured in recent months. Islamabad says Kabul is not doing enough to tackle militant groups targeting Pakistan.

“Pakistan has raised this issue with the interim government of Afghanistan and stressed that they should act against the terrorists operating there, but so far, we have not received any good results,” Naqvi said.

He said that militants were “exploiting the weakness of the interim Afghan government”.

When asked what Pakistan would do if the Afghan government doesn’t cooperate, Naqvi said then “the government will take a unilateral decision”.

The interior minister’s remarks came almost two weeks after Pakistan military spokesman Major-General Ahmed Sharif said the attack was planned in Afghanistan, and the suicide bomber was also an Afghan national.

National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) coordinator Rai Tahir, who also addressed the press conference, said that the attacker, identified as Muttaqi alias Taqi, hailed from Afghanistan.

Security forces have so far arrested 11 suspects, including the alleged Pakistani handlers.

They were identified as Adil Sheh­baz, Shafiq Qureshi, Zahid Qureshi, Nazeer Hussain, Faizullah, Fasihu­llah, Imran Swati, Sakha­ullah, Abd­u­llah, Abdul Rehman and Kamal Khan.

Rai said the attacker had travelled from Afghanistan four months before the attack and lived with his alleged Pakistani handlers — Adil Shazeb and Shafiq Qureshi — who prepared him for the attack.

The alleged suicide bomber was trained in Afghanistan’s Kunar province and was one of the four terrorists who crossed into Pakistan in Nov 2023, the Nacta chief said.

He said a Malakand-based car showroom owner allegedly helped TTP militants in smuggling the car, fitted with explosives, into Pakistan from Chaman.

When Naqvi was asked how a car fitted with explosives managed to travel around 1,000km inside Pakistan without being detected, he said security officials stopped the vehicle for checking, but no suspicion was raised.

He claimed action had been taken against officials over negligence in checking the car thoroughly.

The IEA’s defence ministry has rejected Pakistan’s allegations that Afghans were involved in an attack on Chinese engineers.

“Afghans are not involved in such matters,” Enayatullah Khorazmim, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, said earlier this month.

“Blaming Afghanistan for such incidents is a failed attempt to divert attention from the truth of the matter and we strongly reject it,” he added.

 

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