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US House approves Republicans’ resolution condemning Biden and Harris over Afghanistan withdrawal
Democrats on Wednesday faulted House Republicans for rushing the resolution to the House floor and criticized it as an attempt to further politicize blame for the withdrawal.
House Republicans on Wednesday voted to condemn President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for the disastrous U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, capping their work in Washington with legislation that carried no legal weight but drove a political point ahead of the November elections.
The resolution passed 219 – 194 with 10 Democrats and all Republicans voting in favor. It condemned Biden, Harris and other officials in the administration for “decision-making and execution failures throughout the withdrawal from Afghanistan” as well as blamed them for the deaths of 13 U.S. service members who were killed by a suicide bomber at Kabul’s airport during the final days of the evacuation, the Associated Press reported.
On the campaign trail, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who as president negotiated the withdrawal deal with the Taliban, has repeatedly blamed Harris for the chaotic and deadly evacuation while she was serving as Biden’s vice president. Harris, now the Democratic candidate for president, has shot back that Trump is to blame for his role in the deal and that she agrees with Biden’s decision to end America’s longest war.
Republicans have used their House majority to make Trump’s case in recent weeks, releasing a report that mostly blamed Biden. On Tuesday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee also advanced contempt of Congress charges against Secretary of State Antony Blinken following a contentious back-and-forth with the Cabinet secretary over an appearance to testify on the withdrawal.
“Three years ago, the world witnessed one of the most devastating policy disasters in American history. The Biden-Harris administration withdrew all U.S. forces from Afghanistan with no plan, no care and no remorse,” Rep. Michael McCaul, the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said on the House floor Wednesday.
“As a result, 13 brave U.S. servicemembers and over 170 Afghan civilians were murdered and 45 U.S. servicemembers and countless others were injured,” added McCaul, a Texas Republican.
Most assessments have concluded Trump and Biden share blame for the collapse that concluded the 20-year war, which saw Taliban fighters take over Afghanistan again before the last American troops even flew out of the Kabul airport. Over 2,000 U.S. troops were killed in Afghanistan.The reviews, including the 18-month House investigation led by House Republicans, have not pinpointed any instance where Harris had a particular impact on decision-making on the withdrawal.
The main U.S. government watchdog for the war points to Trump’s 2020 deal with the the Islamic Emirate to withdraw all U.S. forces and military contractors as “the single most important factor” in the collapse of U.S.-allied Afghan security forces and the Islamic Emirate takeover. Biden’s April 2021 announcement that he would proceed with the withdrawal set in motion by Trump was the second-biggest factor, the watchdog said.
Democrats on Wednesday faulted House Republicans for rushing the resolution to the House floor and criticized it as an attempt to further politicize blame for the withdrawal.
“Republicans are trying desperately to clean up a candidate, a candidate that truly has a flawed record — Trump’s record — on this withdrawal,” said Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
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Torkham crossing reopens for returning Afghan migrants
According to reports, the reopening has allowed the flow of Afghan returnees from Pakistan to resume, with many families entering Afghanistan through the crossing.
The Torkham border crossing was reopened on Thursday at 2 p.m. for Afghan migrants returning to the country after nearly a month of closure.
According to reports, the reopening has allowed the flow of Afghan returnees from Pakistan to resume, with many families entering Afghanistan through the crossing.
Torkham is considered one of the most important crossing gateways between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Its closure had created significant challenges for migrants and disrupted crossing movement.
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Two killed, hundreds affected in severe floods in Kandahar
Tragically, two people, including a five-year-old child, lost their lives in Daman district as a result of the floodwaters.
Heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding in Kandahar have caused significant destruction, leaving dozens of families affected, according to the province’s Department for Disaster Response and Preparedness.
Officials reported that approximately 85 homes in Kandahar city were either completely or partially destroyed due to the severe weather. Additionally, around 90 families living in temporary shelters were also impacted by the floods.
Tragically, two people, including a five-year-old child, lost their lives in Daman district as a result of the floodwaters.
Authorities confirmed that joint response teams have been dispatched to the affected areas to assess the damage and provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the displaced and affected families.
The local administration emphasized the need for coordinated relief efforts to help the flood-affected population recover from the disaster.
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Afghanistan highlights water diplomacy at Tashkent ministerial forum
Speaking at the event, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman Omar Akhundzada emphasized the need for equitable water distribution between Afghanistan and Central Asian nations.
Afghanistan has underscored the importance of water diplomacy and regional cooperation during a ministerial forum held in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.
The country’s Deputy Minister for Water at the Ministry of Water and Energy participated in the “Water Week” forum, where he called for stronger collaboration among regional partners in managing shared water resources.
Speaking at the event, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman Omar Akhundzada emphasized the need for equitable water distribution between Afghanistan and Central Asian nations. He also highlighted the importance of enhancing water diplomacy and adopting modern technologies to improve water management systems.
Akhundzada further stressed the urgency of joint regional efforts to tackle the effects of climate change and prevent environmental degradation along the Amu Darya River. He reaffirmed Afghanistan’s commitment to respecting the water rights of neighboring countries while strengthening its domestic water infrastructure.
On the sidelines of the forum, Akhundzada met with Shavkat Khamrayev to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation in water management between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.
Afghanistan’s participation in the forum is seen as a significant step toward boosting its engagement in regional and international water discussions, potentially paving the way for deeper cooperation across Central Asia.
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