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The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan: The First 100 Days
BLUF: Afghanistan world’s unhappiest country: ISIS running amok, Talib government still not recognized internationally, most news outlets closed, females back in purdah — no work, no schools, no independence. Forward to the past!
Afghanistan tops the world ranking as the ‘least happy’ country

Security Situation in the 100 Days Since Takeover
TOLOnews’ findings show that in the first 100 days of the Islamic Emirate rule, in addition to minor incidents, seven big security incidents occurred in the country that caused 630 cases of death or injury.

The suicide attack outside of Kabul airport during the evacuation in August, suicide attacks on Shia mosques in Kunduz and Kandahar, and the attack on Sardar Mohammad Daud Hospital in Kabul were some of the major security incidents.

The attack on Kabul airport happened amid the evacuation of foreign nationals and their local partners. At the time, the airport was under the control of US soldiers. In that attack over 100 people including 13 US soldiers were killed and over 100 were injured. Daesh claimed responsibility for the attack.

Three days after the airport attack, a US drone targeted a house in Kabul in which 10 civilians, including seven children, were killed. US forces targeted a vehicle they believed to be carrying Daesh fighters, according to public statements, but later their findings showed all the victims were civilians.

On October 3rd, an explosion occurred outside Eid Gah Mosque in Kabul, killing and wounding several people. Later in the evening of the same day, the Islamic Emirate launched an operation in Kabul against a Daesh hideout and--according to officials--10 Daesh members were killed.

Although the Islamic Emirate has said Daesh is not a serious threat in Afghanistan, the group has claimed responsibility for many of the attacks, including the attacks at the airport and the Kunduz and Kandahar mosques’ attacks, all of which had heavy casualties.

Additionally, five Daesh suicide bombers attacked Sardar Mohammad Daud Hospital in Kabul in early November. Security forces responded to the attack. Four security members were killed in the clashes. The attackers were also killed.

Despite the security incidents, there have been achievements too. In response to complaints about harassment by some security members as well as extrajudicial killings, the Islamic Emirate established a reform commission.

Officials of the commission said that so far 650 force members have been dismissed for misusing the name of the Islamic Emirate, and some of them have been detained.

A decrease in criminal activity and a decrease in kidnapping are other improvements people experienced in the past 100 days.

“In the last 45 years, this is the first time that there is a strong central government and no island of power exists in the country,” said Saeed Khosti, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry.

Human Rights Situation After 100 Days of the Islamic Emirate
[ToloNews] After the political change in the country, human rights, especially the rights of Afghan women and girls, have become a hotly debated issue both within Afghanistan and internationally.

The international community has stated that the involvement of Afghan women in the government and respect for women's rights are conditions for the recognition of the new government.

“In contrary to the Taliban’s commitments, in the last three weeks many women were banned from going to their work and are marginalized. In many areas they are not even allowed to go out of home without a Muharram,” said Michel Bachelet, the UN high commissioner for human rights.

On September 16, the Islamic Emirate announced its lineup of cabinet members and there were no women in the cabinet. Further, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs was suspended and named the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice.

Meanwhile, female students at secondary schools, along with female teachers, were banned from attending school, although male students and teachers were allowed to continue their education.

Based on numbers reported by the United Nations, in 2020, 27% of the members of the Parliament's lower house and one-fifth of the former government employees were women, and 5.3 million girls were going to school. But after the political change in the country, women were not only barred from working in the government structure but also the fate of high school girls remains unclear, which has sparked a sustained international reaction. The status of Afghanistan's representation in the UN remains unclear. Suhail Shaheen was proposed by the Islamic Emirate to represent the country at the international body, but his appointment was rejected by the UN.

Following strong reactions over the closure of girls' schools in the country, the Ministry of Education said that now girls and young women in grades 7-12 will be allowed to go to school in 8 provinces.

“The issue of the girls' education is very important. We are working on a plan; when completed, we will provide the right environment for girls to pursue their education,” said Nazar Mohammad Irfan, spokesman for the Ministry of Education.

In the meantime, Afghanistan has been removed from the list of countries classified with a "hybrid system" in terms of “backward democracies," and has been placed on the list of authoritarian governments.

After 100 Days, Islamic Emirate Still Seeks Intl Recognition
[ToloNews] The Islamic Emirate marked 100 days in power on Tuesday, following repeated diplomatic efforts led by Amir Khan Muttaqi to achieve international recognition for Afghanistan’s new government, which is led by Mawlawi Hebatullah Akhundzada, the Islamic Emirate supreme leader.

Islamic Emirate officials flew to various regional countries--and further--to seek engagement and to build relations with foreign governments. In return, representatives of at least six countries visited Afghanistan and held talks with officials.

Faiz Hameed, general-director of Pakistain's Inter-Services Intelligence
...the Pak military intelligence agency that controls the military -- heads of ISI typically get promoted into the Chief of Army Staff position. It serves as a general command center for favored turban groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, tries to influence the politix of neighboring countries, and carries out a (usually) low-level war against India in Kashmir...
(ISI), Shah Mehmood Wormtongue Qureshi
...a Pak political shape-changer. He is undistinguished except for his habit of periodically needing to have his lips reattached...
, Pak foreign minister, Abdulaziz Kamilov, Uzbekistan's foreign minister, Mutlaq bin Majed al-Qahtani, special envoy of the foreign ministry of the state of Qatar
...an emirate on the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It sits on some really productive gas and oil deposits, which produces the highest per capita income in the world. They piss it all away on religion, financing the Moslem Brotherhood and several al-Qaeda affiliates. Home of nutbag holy manYusuf al-Qaradawi...
, Hasan Qazemi Qomi, Iran’s special envoy to Afghanistan, Germany's Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistain Jasper Wieck, and the Dutch Special Envoy for Afghanistan Emiel de Bont are foreign officials who visited Afghanistan during the first 100 days of the Islamic Emirate.

"The diplomatic and foreign policy of the Islamic Emirate was limited to some neighboring and regional countries during the hundred days. Countries are waiting to see whether the Taliban
...Arabic for students...
will fulfil whatever they committed to earlier or not," said Fakhruddin Qarizada, former adviser to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the first 100 days, six significant regional and international meetings were held on Afghanistan. Iran, Pakistain, India, Russia, China hosted meetings on Afghanistan, and G20 leaders and as well as the United Nations
...a lucrative dumping ground for the relatives of dictators and party hacks...
Security Council (UNSC) discussed Afghanistan’s issues in separate sessions.

Against expectations, the recognition of the Islamic Emirate government was not discussed at the meetings; and the outcomes of the meetings were mostly alike.

The meetings mainly focused on--and stressed-- topics such as an inclusive government, human rights
...which are usually open to widely divergent definitions...
, freedom of expression, the right of education and employment for Afghan women and girls, and Afghanistan’s soil not being used as a platform for insurgency.

In reaction to the statements of many of the meetings, the Islamic Emirate officials insisted that they have fulfilled the demands.

"The world countries and region have one opinion about the Taliban that they must change, and they (the Islamic Emirate) must act in accordance with international standards; however, I think the Taliban deserve to be recognized," said Abdul Moqadam Amin, political analyst.

At the same time, some regional and world countries including Pakistain, China, Russia and Britannia stressed that they would take steps toward engagement with the new government in Afghanistan to assist in overcoming the crisis in the country. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson
...pro-Brexit British prime minister, succeeding no-Brexit Theresa May. BoJo is noted as much for his sparkling personality and his hair as for his Conservative policies....
said: ""They may not speak for all Afghans, far from it, but they are some kind of authority."

Currently, it is reported that eleven countries, including Iran, Pakistain, China, Russia, The Sick Man of Europe Turkey
...the decaying remnant of the Ottoman Empire...
, Qatar, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Italia and United Arab Emirates, have open embassies in Afghanistan.

257 Media Outlets Closed in 100 Days Since Takeover
[ToloNews] So far, the Islamic Emirate has released two lists of principles for the media’s operation which have raised concerns over restrictions of media activities in the country.

"Recently access to information have been limited which has caused problems for news hounds. The recent statement of the Ministry of Virtue and Vice has increased the concerns over restrictions of media activities," Abdurraqib Fayaz, a news hound said.

Meanwhile,
...back at the chili cook-off, Chuck reached for the green sauce...
organizations supporting media said they are worried about the possible restrictions against media outlets.

"The recent statement, which has eight articles (from the Virtue and Vice ministry) has raised concerns. We hope the issue is resolved in consultation with the media," said Hujatullah Mujadedi, head of the Afghanistan Independent Journalists’ Association.

Afghanistan National Journalists’ Union, an organization supporting media in Afghanistan, said that since the Islamic Emirate rule, over 257 media outlets have ceased operating in the country due to financial challenges as well as restrictions. This includes print, radio and TV stations. According to NAI, over 70 percent of media workers have become jobless or left the country.

Reports show that during these 100 days, six news hounds have bit the dust in various incidents including attacks by unknown gunnies, explosions, committing suicide and traffic incidents.


Posted by: trailing wife 2021-11-24
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=618258