FARAH: Radio station Urooj once teemed with journalists producing news bulletins, but since the Taliban came to town, Ebrahim Parhar sits alone, broadcasting hours of religious sermons. Parhar launched Urooj, which means “The Rising” in Pashto, in the western city of Farah six years ago, carefully selecting a diverse range of programmes for an audience … Read more
MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin said hundreds of fighters loyal to the Islamic State militant group were massing in northern Afghanistan, as Moscow prepares to host international talks on the country next week. The United States, China and Pakistan will join talks on the Taliban takeover on Tuesday, the Kremlin’s envoy to Afghanistan said on … Read more
ISLAMABAD: National Security Adviser (NSA) Dr Moeed Yusuf has said that ‘Pakistan will never be up for sale’ and will stand for its interests because Prime Minister Imran Khan has set a new paradigm. “Pakistan is going to stand for what its interests are, not emotively but very pragmatically,” he said during an interview with … Read more
New Zealand Cricket has announced its 15-man ICC T20 World Cup squad 2021. Kane Williamson-led Black Caps are looking to win the T20 World Cup for the first time after they defeated India in the final of the World test Championship in July this year. The New Zealand team includes all-start bowlers, including Ish Lodhi, … Read more
KABUL: Afghanistan’s new Taliban government has warned the US and European envoys that continued attempts to pressure them through sanctions will undermine security and could trigger a wave of economic refugees. Acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi told Western diplomats at talks in Doha that “weakening the Afghan government is not in the interest of … Read more
India on September 8 announced the 15-man ICC T20 World Cup squad 2021. Virat Kohli – currently fourth in ICC T20 players rankings – will lead India in the mega event. The BCCI has included off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in the playing squad with MS Dhoni as the team’s mentor. Jay Shah, the BCCI Honorary Secretary, … Read more
BRUSSELS: The EU on Tuesday pledged a one-billion-euro ($1.2-billion) aid package for Afghanistan, “to avert a major humanitarian and socio-economic collapse,” the bloc’s chief Ursula von der Leyen said. The money adds 250 million euros to a 300-million-euro sum the EU previously announced for urgent humanitarian needs, with the remainder going to Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries … Read more
Pakistan will be departing for the United Arab Emirates on October 15 to take part in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The national team has started their training sessions at the National High Performance Center, Lahore. Pakistan is scheduled to play two warm-up matches as a part of the T20 World Cup. The national … Read more
WASHINGTON: An interpreter who helped rescue US President Joe Biden in a 2008 Afghan snowstorm has escaped Afghanistan with his family after hiding from the Taliban for weeks, the State Department confirmed Monday. After crossing into Pakistan over land, Aman Khalili and his family flew on a US government aircraft to Doha, Qatar, where thousands … Read more
NEW DELHI: India’s largest port operator has said it will not handle cargo from Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan from next month following the seizure of almost three tonnes of heroin. Adani Ports, part of the Adani Group conglomerate, said Monday that its “trade advisory” will apply to all the terminals it operates including third-party terminals … Read more
Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced its final team for the ICC’s T20 World Cup 2021. Mohammad Nabi – currently No. 1 T20 all-rounder – will lead the team after Rashid Khan stepped down from captaincy amid reported conflicts with the board. Farid Ahmed Malik, who was previously in the reserved players, has also joined … Read more
Prime Minister Imran Khan said the United States (US) has to “pull itself together” and deliver an aid package to Afghanistan or face its collapse which would become a haven for Islamic State militants. In an interview with the Middle East Eye (MEE) in Islamabad, the premier said it was important to Pakistan that Washington … Read more
Pakistan has reiterated that the United States withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years of war was a ‘hasty call. In an exclusive interview with Khaleej Times, President Arif Alvi said that peace in Afghanistan would bring prosperity to the region and open a window of business opportunities for the world to connect with Central Asian … Read more
KABUL: The United Nations children’s fund (UNICEF) has urged the Taliban’s caretaker government to resume children’s vaccination amid fear of spreading polio and measles in war-affected Afghanistan. “The health system is about to collapse, we have weeks, not months or years. We will have humanitarian catastrophe,” UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Omar Abdi was quoted as … Read more
Former Zimbabwe captain Andy Flower has been appointed as the team consultant for the upcoming T20 World Cup. He will join the coaching staff which also includes former South African all-rounder Lance Klusener and former Australian pacer Shaun Tait, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced. Flower has represented Zimbabwe in 63 Tests and 213 ODIs … Read more
ZARANJ: The number of Afghans attempting to cross the border to Iran has soared since the Taliban swept to power almost two months ago, but few make it across, an official said. Before the Taliban came to power on August 15, around 1,000 to 2,000 people crossed to Iran through the Zaranj border station in … Read more
KABUL: “The Americans invaded Afghanistan with arrogance, occupied the country for 20 years but went back home with humiliation after leaving Afghans in doldrums and disarray,” Safar Mohammad, a taxi driver, told Xinhua. He made the remarks on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, which ousted the previous Taliban … Read more
DUBAI: Crowds thronged outside Afghanistan’s pavilion at Expo 2020 in Dubai, which was a mystery, because the pavilion remained shuttered, despite the opening of the world fair to visitors the previous day, Arab News reported. The mystery was resolved by the presence of a sign with a distinctive white and yellow logo pointing visitors in … Read more
Taliban’s spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid said on Monday that Mujahidin of the special unit of the Islamic Emirate raided an Islamic State affiliate’s hideout in Kabul and killed several insurgents, hours after a deadly bombing outside a mosque in the Afghan capital. Sunday’s bombing outside a mosque in the Afghan capital, Kabul, has killed at least … Read more
JOHANNESBURG: Sporting assignments do not come much tougher than Lance Klusener’s role as head coach of Afghanistan as he tries to plan a World Cup campaign with a team who are 12,000km away. In an ideal world, Klusener and his squad would already be in the United Arab Emirates preparing for their first fixture of … Read more
WASHINGTON: The Pentagon plans to rely on airstrikes to prevent a resurgence of Al-Qaeda now that US troops have left Afghanistan, but experts and some lawmakers are sceptical about the effectiveness of the so-called “over-the-horizon” strategy. Announcing the complete withdrawal of US troops in April, President Joe Biden vowed he would not allow a comeback … Read more
Former England cricketer, Michael Atherton has once again came forward in support of Pakistan and hit out against the ECB and its chairman, Ian Watmore for not providing a solid justification for the Pakistan tour cancellation. Michael in an article published on The Times said that Ian’s press conference lacked answers. Michael Atherton said, “It … Read more
Former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar prayed for the speedy recovery of the former Pakistan batting legend Inzamam-ul-Haq after suffering from a heart attack. On his official Twitter account, Sachin wrote, “You’ve always been calm yet competitive, and a fighter on the field.” “I hope and pray that you’ll come out stronger from this situation as … Read more
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said it is in talks with the Taliban-led Afghanistan to join the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project to develop Afghanistan’s economy. “Regional connectivity is an important element of our discussion with Afghan leadership and our way forward for our economic interaction with Afghanistan,” Mansoor Ahmad Khan, Pakistan’s envoy to Kabul, told in … Read more
ISLAMABAD: President SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry Iftikhar Ali Malik Sunday disclosed that Pakistan has offered 100 scholarships to Afghan students besides despatching Rs 100 million relief goods to Afghanistan. Talking to a delegation of donors and philanthropists led by Mian Muhammad Saeed Deraywalay, President Anjuman-I-Arain Pakistan, he said valiant people of Afghanistan were … Read more
Acting Deputy Information Minister of Afghanistan Zabihullah Mujahid Sunday appreciated Pakistan for supporting Afghanistan before the international community. In an interview with Pakistan Television, he said Pakistan had been vocal and has urged the international community to engage with Afghanistan. Pakistan was a neighbour and Afghanistan was thankful for Pakistan’s stance regarding Afghanistan, he added. … Read more
On the import of fresh fruits from Afghanistan Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has lifted sales tax. Reports said that FBR has not released apples from sales tax whereas grapes, pomegranates, watermelons, and other fruits can be imported devoid of paying sales tax. The tax collection body has allotted orders to applicable customs collectorates in … Read more
Every weekend, fighters from around Afghanistan gather on a public field in the capital to pit their skills against each other in a sport that is a mix of judo and wrestling. The informal gatherings attract big partisan crowds, with fans cheering for their favourites — usually someone from their home district — and jeering … Read more
