Author: The Afghanistan Post

Manzoor Pashteen, leader of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), addressed the Pashtun tribal jirga in Khyber, stating that nearly 80,000 Pashtuns have been killed over the past 20 years, with over 9,000 from Khyber alone. He emphasized that these deaths were the result of a war that wasn’t theirs. The jirga, delayed due to security and logistical issues, officially began on October 12. It aims to address issues such as ongoing insecurity, forced disappearances, and the control of resources in Pashtun regions. Thousands of participants from various Pashtun areas have attended the three-day event.

Richard Bennett, the UN special rapporteur on human rights for Afghanistan, has welcomed the European Court of Justice’s decision to grant asylum to Afghan women based solely on gender and nationality. He stated that this decision shows that Afghan women are collectively persecuted. Bennett expressed hope that this ruling would be supported by other courts. Meanwhile, Afghan women within the country are calling for their basic rights to be ensured.

As the date for the Pashtun National Justice Jirga approaches, young Pashtuns from various regions are heading towards Khyber. Despite efforts by the Pakistani army and intelligence agencies to prevent the formation of this Jirga, the leader and members of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement assert that it will take place. The Jirga is set to address fundamental solutions to the issues faced by Pashtuns in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and beyond on October 11.

The U.S.-led coalition airstrikes on Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, and ended on August 31, 2021, with the return of the Islamic Emirate to power. President George W. Bush, after the shocking 9/11 terrorist attacks, formed an international coalition to launch the mission on October 7. This 20-year presence in Afghanistan, ending on August 31, 2021, resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands, including civilians. Reports show that over 2,300 U.S. military personnel were killed and more than 20,000 were wounded during the mission.

Dr. Mahrang Baloch, head of the Baloch Solidarity Committee, was barred from traveling to New York by Pakistani authorities at Karachi International Airport today. In a video message, she stated that she had been invited by Time magazine to the “Influential Leader of the Year” ceremony but was banned from traveling. She said, “Pakistan fears the rise of Baloch voices and is trying to block the exposure of the realities in Balochistan to the world.”

Turkish media reported the arrest of 14 Afghan migrants found in a truck in the city of Sakarya. The migrants had entered Turkey illegally and were attempting to travel from Van to Istanbul. Sakarya police announced on Saturday that they detained at least 10 migrants during an operation in the Hendek district. Three individuals were also arrested for human trafficking. The detained migrants have been transferred to holding centers, and the deportation process has begun.

Penny Wong, the Australian Foreign Minister, stated at the UN General Assembly that the Taliban have erased women from society, warning that imprisoning half the population cuts a country’s potential in half. She stressed Australia’s support for initiatives aimed at empowering women. Along with Germany, Canada, and the Netherlands, Australia seeks to hold the Taliban accountable at the International Court of Justice for their violations of women’s rights.

Credible sources report that the Taliban have sentenced two journalists, Mohammad Aref Hijran and Ahmad Kamran, to 10 years in prison. The Taliban military court accused Hijran of photographing checkpoints and Taliban members. The Afghanistan Journalists’ Support Organization has condemned the sentences and called on the international community to pressure the Taliban for their immediate release.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has stated that rising poverty in Afghanistan has left one-third of girls unable to complete primary education. WFP added that providing school meals encourages students to attend, but budget constraints are preventing them from reaching 11 million people in urgent need of aid.

Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, speaking at the UN General Assembly, emphasized that Pakistan’s policy of cross-border terrorism will not succeed. He stated, “Pakistan’s GDP should now be measured by the degree of radicalization and its exports in the form of terrorism.” Jaishankar highlighted that Pakistan’s missteps have affected not only its neighbors but also its own society. He called for a strong global stance against terrorism and stressed that UN sanctions on terrorists must not be blocked for political reasons.