Afghanistan is a beautiful country with a rich culture, but it is also home to people who have suffered immense hardships. Afghanistan is now at the center of human rights concerns since the Taliban took back power in 2021. Many Young Afghan girls are disproportionately targeted by the Taliban government. They suffer from forced, child, and early marriages as well as an education restriction, which is quite concerning. However, their struggle for equality, education, and basic human rights remains a poignant and often ignored narrative. Millions of Afghan women are left on the verge of extinction as restrictions are rammed…
Author: Web Desk2
The Hindu Pathans living along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border are a living testament to the power of culture, tradition, and resilience. Their commitment to preserving Dussehra and other Hindu customs in a predominantly Muslim region exemplifies the strength of cultural identity. As they gather to celebrate Dussehra each year, they not only keep their legacy alive but also serve as a source of inspiration for cultural preservation and harmony amidst diversity. Yograj Sahni is one such example of this. He is a Pashto-speaking native of Thal and Bannu towns in Pakistan’s “wild west,”. Yograj prefixes “Hindu” to any conversation about his…
In a significant development, the Taliban have announced their plans to formally join China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by Chinese President Xi Jinping’s. The Taliban administration announced that they would send a technical team to China for talks. Afghan interim Commerce Minister Haji Nooruddin Azizi said, We requested China to allow us to be a part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and Belt and Road Initiative.” Azizi said the administration would also send a technical team to China to enable it to “better understand” the issues standing in the way of it joining the initiative, but did not elaborate…
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by area, has long grappled with a severe education crisis. These crises are marked by low literacy rates and a lack of quality schooling facilities. One of the most perplexing and concerning issues among many other challenges is the prevalence of “ghost teachers.” These ghost teachers continue to haunt the educational landscape of Balochistan. That contributes to the deterioration of an already fragile system. Ghost teachers are one of the most disheartening problems in Balochistan. There are about 10,000 ghost teachers in Balochistan, and most of them get salaries without performing their duties. Ghost teachers are…
In a surprising display of bipartisan consensus, the Associated Press-National Opinion Research Center (AP-NORC) conducted a poll. According to the results, a substantial majority of both Republicans and Democrats believe that the two-decade-long war in Afghanistan wasn’t worth fighting. The poll provides compelling evidence that public sentiment regarding the Afghanistan conflict transcends political affiliations. A growing number of Americans are questioning the efficacy and wisdom of the prolonged military engagement in the region. The poll from the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts and the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research comes two years after…
As Afghanistan undergoes a seismic shift in governance, the call to help resettle Afghans who worked with the British military has become increasingly urgent. The Afghan people, who risked their lives to support British troops, now face grave threats to their safety following the Taliban’s takeover. The UK government is under mounting pressure to fulfill its moral obligations and strategic interests by accelerating the resettlement process. Amidst these urgent pleas, there is also the troubling case of Afghan militants being left in Islamabad, a matter that requires careful scrutiny. Around 2,300 Afghans who worked alongside British armed forces have been…
In August 2021, the world watched as Afghanistan fell into the hands of the Taliban, marking a somber moment in history. The images of desperate Afghans clinging to departing planes and the swift collapse of the Afghan government raised a crucial question: Why has the world seemingly abandoned Afghanistan? This article will delve into the complex factors that have contributed to this situation, from the legacy of foreign intervention to geopolitical interests, humanitarian concerns, and the evolving global landscape. The Legacy of Foreign Intervention One of the key factors behind the world’s abandonment of Afghanistan is the legacy of foreign…
The bilateral relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan has always been under duress. A major point of contention between the two neighbors is the status of a colonial legacy along the Durand Line, cutting through the Pashtun-dominated tribal areas. Between 1809 and 1947, Afghan rulers and British officials signed numerous agreements and treaties. However, the one treaty that keeps resurfacing is an 1893 treaty (or the so-called Durand Treaty) between the Afghan ruler Amir Abdur Rahman Khan and the British Indian Foreign Secretary Sir Mortimer Durand. To put into perspective the dispute over the boundary, it is imperative to understand the…
The government of Pakistan has officially started a crackdown against undocumented Afghans residing in the country. Hundreds of refugees have been arrested and detained on the grounds that they do not have adequate paperwork and are involved in crimes and other activities. The government, citing a rising number of crime activities, has ordered all the undocumented Afghan migrants and refugees to leave Pakistan by the beginning of next month, either voluntarily or by force. The announcement immediately drew criticism from national and international observers. The humanitarian organizations are urging the Government of Pakistan to continue its historic support for Afghan…
Sharmin Obaid Chinoy, a renowned journalist and documentary filmmaker, initiated a mentorship program. This program intends to assist upcoming filmmakers from the KPK-adjacent Kurram, Orakzai, North Waziristan, and Khyber Districts. The program’s objective is to give the kids the resources and guidance they need to produce their own quick documentaries. Chenoy’s Patakha Pictures has started this mentoring initiative. In order to inspire and aid a new generation of Pakistani storytellers, Patakha Pictures was established. Patakha Pictures’ programs encourage young people to make short documentaries that raise awareness of significant topics and appeal to a larger audience. This can be done…