Swiss Court Rules Some Afghan Asylum Seekers Can Be Deported
Switzerland’s Federal Administrative Court has ruled that some Afghan asylum seekers may be returned to Afghanistan, depending on their individual circumstances.
Afghanistan
Four Detained By Taliban After Explosion At Kabul School
Following the deadly explosion at Sham-e Hedayat School in western Kabul that left dozens wounded, the Taliban detained four people, including the school principal, a teacher and the father of two students, while restricting access to the school.
Opposition Groups Feature Prominently In Taliban Leaders’ Speeches
Top Taliban leaders, including the group’s economic and administrative deputy prime ministers, interior and foreign ministers and army chief, devoted a significant part of their Independence Day speeches to opponents, urging them to end fighting & activities against the Taliban.
Engagement With Taliban Has Gained Momentum, Says India
India’s Foreign Ministry defended the presence of an official at a Taliban takeover anniversary event at the Afghan embassy in Delhi, saying India’s engagement with the Taliban has gained momentum over the past year.
Taliban Must Listen To Afghan People, Says Interior Minister Haqqani
Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani called on the group’s opponents to stop fighting, saying they should not ruin their own lives or those of the Afghan people.
600,000 Returnee Children In Afghanistan Remain Deprived Of Education, Says UN
Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary-general, said around two-thirds of the 900,000 children who have returned to Afghanistan remain out of school, with nearly 600,000 lacking access to education.
42 Children Wounded In Kabul Education Centre Blast, Says UN
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) says at least 42 children aged between 9 and 14 were wounded in an explosion at an educational centre in Kabul’s Dasht-e Barchi area on Monday evening.
Taliban Envoy In New Delhi Refers To Pakistan’s Lahore As Indian City
The Taliban’s envoy in New Delhi referred to Lahore, alongside Delhi, as one of India’s cities during a ceremony.
ISIS May Have Carried Out Attack On Kabul School, Says Taliban Spokesperson
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told Afghanistan International that the explosion at a school in western Kabul may have been carried out by Islamic State or “groups affiliated with it”.
India Deepens Taliban Engagement With Official Presence At ‘Victory’ Event
In the latest sign of closer ties between India and the Taliban, Anand Prakash, a senior Indian Foreign Ministry official, attended an event in New Delhi marking the fifth anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power.
Repeated Attacks On Kabul’s Hazara Community Are ‘Appalling’, Says UN Rapporteur
Richard Bennett, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, has described an explosion near a school in Dasht-e Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area of Kabul, as deplorable.
Relations With Taliban Can Continue Without Formal Recognition, Says Iran
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Tehran has not yet reached a final decision on formally recognising the Taliban government.
Explosion Near School In Western Kabul Wounds Several People
Residents of Kabul reported an explosion in the Dasht-e Barchi area of western Kabul on Monday, 17 August. Some residents said the blast occurred near a school. Details about the cause and possible casualties remain unclear.
Anti-Taliban Demonstrations Held In 28 Cities Around The World
Protests marking the fifth anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power have spread to 28 cities worldwide, with many demonstrators urging governments not to normalise ties with the group and to recognise gender apartheid in Afghanistan.
Over 700 Aid Trucks Enter Afghanistan Through Pakistan, Says UN
The United Nations said on Sunday that more than 700 trucks carrying international humanitarian aid had entered Afghanistan through Pakistan.
Afghans Hold Anti-Taliban Protest In Washington
Afghan artists, civil society activists and citizens gathered in Washington to protest Taliban policies, joining demonstrations in cities worldwide and calling for support for Afghans’ rights, particularly those of women and girls.
Dissident Taliban Commander Juma Khan Fateh ‘Surrenders’
Sources in Badakhshan told Afghanistan International on Monday that dissident Taliban commander Juma Khan Fateh left his military positions and surrendered to Taliban army chief Fasihuddin Fitrat in Nusay district centre.
No Diplomatic Normalisation With Taliban Without Respect for Human Dignity, Says Spain
Spain’s Foreign Ministry said on Sunday that normalising relations with the Taliban depends on respect for human rights and human dignity in Afghanistan, where women and girls still face “systematic discrimination”.
Taliban Re-Enacts Bomb Attack On US Forces In Eastern Afghanistan
The Taliban re-enacted a bomb attack on US forces in Paktia province as part of events marking the fifth anniversary of its return to power.
Afghanistan Freedom Front & Taliban Clash In Zebak, Badakhshan
Local sources reported new clashes on Saturday, 15 August, between the Afghanistan Freedom Front and Taliban forces in Zebak district of Badakhshan.
Taliban Positions Targeted In Pre-Emptive Attack, Says AFF
As fighting intensifies in Nusay district of Badakhshan’s Darwaz area, the Afghanistan Freedom Front says it carried out a “pre-emptive” attack on Taliban positions in Zebak district.
Badakhshan Situation Is Being Closely Monitored, Says UN
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) told Afghanistan International that it is closely monitoring the situation in Badakhshan but does not yet have verified information on civilians in areas affected by the fighting.