All articles tagged with #kabul
Afghanistan has accused Pakistan of conducting an air strike on Kabul, escalating tensions between the two countries amid ongoing conflict. The article primarily discusses the allegations and the broader context of regional security issues.
Pakistani drone strikes in Kabul have killed two senior Taliban members, marking a significant escalation in tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with subsequent suspected Pakistani air strikes in eastern Afghanistan and international concerns about the increasing violence and regional instability.
India has reopened its embassy in Kabul, marking its first high-level diplomatic engagement with the Taliban since their 2021 takeover, aiming to strengthen regional stability and cooperation despite ongoing concerns over women's rights and international sanctions.
Kabul's six million residents face a severe water shortage that could lead to the city running out of water by 2030 due to drought, unregulated groundwater extraction, and lack of infrastructure, with the government unable to fund necessary solutions amidst economic challenges.
Khalil Haqqani, the Taliban's refugee minister and uncle of Interior Minister Sarajuddin Haqqani, was killed in a suicide bombing at the Ministry of Refugees in Kabul. The attacker, disguised as a visitor, detonated the bomb while Haqqani was signing paperwork. Khalil Haqqani was a high-profile figure, previously designated as a global terrorist by the U.S. and listed on the UN's sanctions list. The Haqqani network, known for major attacks, has had tensions with the Taliban. This incident marks the most significant bombing casualty since the Taliban's return to power.
Retired top US generals blamed the Biden administration for the chaotic evacuation of Afghanistan, citing inadequate planning and delayed orders. They highlighted the military's advice to maintain 2,500 service members in Afghanistan for stability and concerns about the State Department's slow response. The chaos resulted in the tragic deaths of 13 US service members and the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, leading to significant changes for the population. The White House's internal review attributed the chaotic withdrawal to constraints from previous agreements and shifted blame for the Kabul airport suicide bombing to the US military.
The ISIL (ISIS) group has claimed responsibility for a blast at a sports club in Kabul, Afghanistan, that killed four people. The explosion occurred in the Dasht-e-Barchi neighborhood, predominantly inhabited by the historically oppressed Shia Hazara community. The blast, caused by a parcel bomb, targeted a room where Shia Muslims gather. Seven people were injured in the attack. Afghanistan's Hazara community has faced regular attacks, both from the Taliban and ISIL, due to their Shia beliefs. Despite a decrease in bomb blasts and suicide attacks since the Taliban takeover, armed groups, including ISIL, continue to carry out attacks in the country.
US Marines in Kabul were ordered to clean up human feces and trash at the Hamid Karzai International Airport after losing 13 comrades to a suicide bomber. The soldiers, including their battalion commander, were left furious and humiliated by the decision, which they viewed as a disrespectful final task following the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan. The area they were ordered to clean had previously been occupied by Afghan refugees, resulting in piles of trash and unsanitary conditions. Despite their efforts, the remaining Marines left the country shortly after midnight on August 29, preparing for the Taliban's arrival. General Frank McKenzie, who oversaw the withdrawal, now believes the decision to leave Afghanistan was a fatal flaw and regrets not evacuating embassy personnel and at-risk individuals earlier.
The Taliban has issued a ban on beauty salons in Kabul, causing panic and dismay among Afghan women. This is one of the latest restrictions imposed by the Taliban, severely curbing women's participation in public life. The ban will result in the closure of around 3,000 women-run salons, which were one of the few places where women could openly work under Taliban rule. The UN has warned that the Taliban's actions may amount to gender apartheid and gender persecution. The ban has been condemned by U.N. officials and Western diplomats, who argue that it further restricts women's work opportunities and transforms the country into a cruel outlier.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul has issued a subpoena to the State Department for a July 2021 cable from U.S. diplomats that warned of Kabul's potential collapse. The subpoena calls for the dissent cable that was written by nearly two-dozen State Department officials working in the Kabul embassy at the time, as well as Blinken's response. The State Department declined to provide the confidential cable, which McCaul said in a statement Monday has forced him to issue the subpoena.
At least six people were killed and many more were wounded in a suicide attack near Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul. The attack appeared to target the country's ruling Taliban regime, and no group has claimed responsibility yet. The dangerous affiliate of ISIS, ISIS-K, has carried out many deadly suicide bombings across the country since the Taliban retook the country following the U.S. military withdrawal in 2021.
A suicide attack near Afghanistan's foreign ministry has killed at least six civilians and wounded several others. The attacker was targeted by Afghan forces but the explosives he carried detonated. No group has claimed responsibility so far. The Taliban administration has said it is focused on securing the country and has carried out several raids against suspected ISIL members in recent weeks.