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US pays Afghans stranded in Qatar to repatriate, plan labeled ‘betrayal’

Shawn VanDiver, head of AfghanEvac, a coalition of veterans and advocacy groups, told Reuters the payments being offered were $4,500 for a main applicant and $1,200 per additional person who relocates.

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The U.S. State Department has begun paying Afghans to repatriate as it attempts to close a camp in Qatar where they have been stranded for years, Reuters quoted the top State Department official for South and Central Asia told lawmakers on Wednesday.

More than 1,100 people have been held at the former U.S. Army base Camp As Sayliyah (CAS) since at least early last year, when Republican President Donald Trump’s administration halted resettlement for Afghans who feared retribution from Islamic Emirate authorities for their links to the U.S. military.

Advocates say the group includes civilian refugees, women who served as special operators for the U.S. during its 20-year war in Afghanistan, and family members of U.S. servicemembers, all of whom would be in danger if returned to the country, read the report.

Democrats have blasted the administration’s plan to offer payment to those who agree to “self-deport” ahead of the planned closure of the facility at the end of March. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee holding the hearing on Wednesday, called it a “betrayal of our Afghan allies.”

Assistant Secretary of State S. Paul Kapur said he believed around 150 had already accepted the payments, but did not know what happened to them after they returned.

“We are not forcibly repatriating Afghans to Afghanistan. Some have gone of their own volition, but we’re not forcing anybody,” Kapur said.

“We’re looking to relocate them. We’re in negotiations with third countries to do that. Our belief is that is actually a good outcome. Keeping them indefinitely on CAS is not … reasonable.”

Kapur did not offer details of the payments and the State Department did not respond to a request for comment.

Shawn VanDiver, head of AfghanEvac, a coalition of veterans and advocacy groups, told Reuters the payments being offered were $4,500 for a main applicant and $1,200 per additional person who relocates.

VanDiver said the repatriation was not truly voluntary, saying that staff at the facility in Qatar were telling the Afghans they should accept the offer, with third-country relocation uncertain.

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Dozens of Kunar University staff and students wounded in Pakistani rocket attack

The ministry described the strike as an attack on education, knowledge and the country’s future, and urged international organizations not to remain silent over the incident.

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Afghanistan’s Ministry of Higher Education says a rocket attack allegedly launched from Pakistan struck Sayed Jamaluddin Afghani University in Kunar province, injuring dozens of students and lecturers and causing major damage to campus facilities.

In a statement, the ministry said approximately 30 students and academic staff members were wounded in the attack, while several university buildings and infrastructure were extensively damaged.

Higher Education Minister Nida Mohammad Nadim strongly condemned the incident, calling it a “cowardly and brutal act”. He said it violated Islamic values and international principles.

The ministry described the strike as an attack on education, knowledge and the country’s future, and urged international organizations not to remain silent over the incident.

Officials said the minister had ordered that all injured students and staff be transferred immediately to medical centers for treatment.

The ministry also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting educational institutions and maintaining the security of universities and academic centers across Afghanistan.

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Pakistan rocket attack on Kunar leaves 4 dead, dozens injured

According to the sources, the attack took place on Monday, leaving at least four people dead and 45 others injured.

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Local sources in Kunar province have confirmed to Ariana News that several civilians have been killed and wounded following rocket attacks by Pakistani military forces.

According to the sources, the attack took place on Monday, leaving at least four people dead and 45 others injured.

They said the majority of those wounded are women and children. This has raised serious concerns about the humanitarian situation in the area.

Local sources further reported that Pakistani forces once again targeted the Yargul area in the center of Kunar province with rocket fire.

The sources also stated that the Kunar University hostel was among the sites damaged in the attacks.

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IEA statement on Saur anniversaries emphasizes unity and system protection

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The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has issued a statement marking the anniversaries of the 7th and 8th of Saur, reflecting on key historical events and reaffirming its current political stance.

In the statement, the Islamic Emirate said that on the 7th of Saur 1357 (April 1978), a military coup carried out by communist elements against the then-government led to conditions that paved the way for a subsequent foreign intervention in Afghanistan.

It stated that the Afghan people, through what it described as a 14-year armed struggle, resisted former Soviet Union presence and eventually achieved what it called victory and independence on the 8th of Saur 1371 (April 1992).

The statement described the 8th of Saur as a historic day of success and a significant national milestone, adding that it should be remembered with gratitude.

However, it also noted that despite the end of that conflict, Afghanistan later faced internal divisions and factional fighting, which it said undermined hopes for the establishment of a pure Islamic system.

Reiterating its current position, the Islamic Emirate said it was established with the aim of ending chaos, promoting unity, and implementing an Islamic governance system. It stated that it considers these objectives achieved at present.

The statement further stressed the importance of safeguarding the current system and called on Afghans to remain united and committed to maintaining stability and strengthening governance structures in the country.

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