NEW DELHI , AUG 19 ( KINS ) The Taliban on Thursday celebrated Afghanistan’s Independence Day, marking 102 years of the Anglo-Afghan Treaty of 1919. Celebrations in parts of the country were marred by violence as the Taliban continued to face challenges to their rule.
A member of the Taliban leadership, Wahidullah Hashemi, hinted at the possibility of Afghanistan being led by a council governed under the authority of Taliban’s top leader – Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada.
Multiple reports confirmed that rising food prices and many ATMs running out of cash have added to the troubles of 38 million Afghans who are struggling to cope with drastic changes in the country’s political reality.
In an interview with ABC News, US President Joe Biden said the Afghan Taliban must decide whether they want international recognition. Biden also said that the deadline for withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan may extend beyond August 31 if evacuations are not complete by that time.
Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar told reporters in New York on Thursday that Indians share a historical relationship with the Afghan people and that will continue to guide India’s thoughts and outlook.
- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has suspended Afghanistan’s access to IMF resources, including $440 million in new monetary reserves, citing political turmoil in the country. Even the US has declared that Taliban will not be allowed access to Afghan government reserves held in US bank accounts.
- Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai and ousted Ghani government’s peace envoy, Abdullah Abdullah, met Mansoor Ahmed Khan, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan. Later in the day, Abdullah Abdullah also met a group of Taliban leaders led by Khalil Al-Rahman Haqqani.
- A day after Taliban fighters opened fire at a crowd of protesters for hoisting the Afghan flag in Jalalabad, a similar incident was reported from Asadabad, capital of the eastern province of Kunar, on Thursday. Reports suggest that several people were killed when the Taliban fired at a crowd for waving the Afghan flag at an Independence Day rally, triggering a stampede. Amrullah Saleh, the country’s first vice president, lauded his countrymen who raised Afghan flags in the face of Taliban aggression.
- On Thursday, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) allowed domestic air carriers and civilian pilots to fly into Kabul with prior approval from the Department of Defence. The Pentagon said that the US military has managed to evacuate 7,000 civilians from Afghanistan since August 14. US Army Major General Hank Taylor said 5,200 US troops are currently stationed at the Hamid Karzai International airport in Kabul. The Taliban have asked Afghans to avoid crowding at the airport.
- Samira Asghari, a member of Afghanistan’s International Olympic Committee (IOC), has appealed to the UN to help evacuate the country’s female athletes and coaching staff before “it is too late”.
- US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris received a briefing on the situation in Afghanistan. Soon after, the US suspended all arms sales to Afghanistan by issuing a notice to defence contractors.
- Taliban have halted all exports and imports from India days after seizing control of Afghanistan. However, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said on Thursday that the “Islamic Emirate” wants “good diplomatic and trade relations” with all countries. “We have not talked about doing business with any country. We reject any rumours that are not true,” he claimed.
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters at a press conference in Moscow the Taliban does not control all of Afghanistan. “There are reports of the situation in the Panjshir Valley where the resistance of Afghanistan’s vice president Mr Saleh and Ahmad Massoud is concentrated,” he added. “We have maintained contacts with the Taliban for the last seven years, discussing many issues,” Kremlin envoy on Afghanistan – Zamir Kabulov – had said earlier this week.
- Appealing for an “objective judgement” on the Taliban’s actions, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Thursday that the Afghan Taliban will not repeat past mistakes and are “clear-eyed and rational” compared to the last time they were in power.
- Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen, in an interview with China’s state-owned CGTN television, said China could “contribute to the development of Afghanistan” in the future.
