Taliban say US pullout from Afghanistan must be done by Aug 31, Biden decides to stick to deadline | 10 points
The Taliban have warned the United States of "consequences" if they do not withdraw forces by August 31. The Biden government, however, said they are on course to maintain the "red line" on evacuation and pullout.
While warning the US and NATO allies that the Taliban will not accept an extension to the evacuation deadline, the group urged the US to stop taking "Afghan experts" such as doctors and engineers.
As the deadline for evacuation nears, G7 leaders, during an emergency meeting on Tuesday, said safe evacuation of foreigners and Afghan partners out of Afghanistan remains the immediate priority.
Putting a figure on India's evacuation efforts, Union Minister Hardeep Puri said the country has so far evacuated 228 Indians, excluding embassy staff.
HERE ARE TOP 10 DEVELOPMENTS
1) India has so far evacuated 626 people from Kabul: Hardeep Puri
Union minister Hardeep Puri said India had organised seven evacuation flights on which 626 people have been evacuated. Total Indian evacuations so far stand at 228, excluding embassy staff. Among the evacuees were 77 Afghan Sikhs.
Guru Maharaj went to Kabul in 1521. He had gone to Afghanistan twice. Sikhism has a strong humanitarian tradition, said Hardeep Puri. Guru Granth Sahib had 13 swaroops. Seven out of them had come earlier, while 3 were brought in today.
2) Ajit Doval holds meeting of BRICS NSAs over Afghanistan
The meeting was attended by Russian NSA Gen Patrushev, Chinese Politburo member Yang Jeichi, Brazilian security official Gen Augusto Helena Ribeiro Pereira and South African Deputy Minister of State Security Ncediso Goodenough Kodwa, an official statement said. The meeting took place over a week after the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan.
Other issues on the agenda were cooperation among law enforcement agencies, healthcare and counter-terrorism.
"India raised the issue of cross-border terrorism and activities of groups such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed which enjoy state support and threaten peace and security," the statement added.
3) Evacuees to undergo mandatory 14-day institutional quarantine in Delhi
All 78 people evacuated from Afghanistan by the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Monday were placed in quarantine upon their arrival in New Delhi. This group included 25 Indian nationals and 53 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus.
The mandatory quarantine was initiated as per a guideline issued by the Health Ministry on August 23. This guideline makes it mandatory for those arriving in India from Afghanistan to remain in institutional quarantine for at least 14 days from the day of arrival at the Chhawla camp in Najafgarh.
Given the situation in Afghanistan, there has been an exemption from mandatory pre-boarding RT-PCTR testing, which is usually compulsory for international travellers.
"As the COVID-19 immunization status of these individuals is unknown, and the exact extent of COVID-19 transmission (including circulation of variants) in Afghanistan is unclear at present, as a matter of abundant precaution, it has been decided that the arriving persons shall undergo a mandatory minimum 14 days' institutional quarantine at Sector Headquarters Logistic and Communications, Indo Tibetan Border Police, Chhawla Camp," the Union Health Ministry's office memorandum said.
4) US must withdraw from Afghanistan by August 31
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the United States should complete its evacuation and withdraw from Afghanistan by August 31. This date was set by the Biden administration for the withdrawal of all American troops.
According to an AP report, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said his group will accept “no extensions” to the deadline. He says life is returning to normal in the country but chaos at the airport remains a problem. Many Afghans are desperate to flee the Taliban takeover of the country.
Mujahid says he is “not aware” of any meeting between the Taliban and the CIA, but he did not deny that such a meeting took place, said the report.
5) Afghanistan women's football team players leave Kabul on evacuation flight
A group of 75, including women's national team players, support staff and their families, were evacuated on a flight from Kabul on Tuesday, marking an "important victory" even as Afghanistan is undergoing a crisis after the Taliban's takeover
Global football players’ union FIFPRO thanked the Australian government for making the evacuation of players, team officials and family members possible, with work continuing to help more leave Afghanistan, according to the Associated Press.
6) G7 leaders prioritise safe passage of foreigners, Afghan partners
The safe evacuation of foreigners and Afghan partners by ensuring a continuing safe passage out of Afghanistan remains the immediate priority, the leaders of the G7 said in a joint statement after an emergency virtual meeting on Tuesday.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who chaired the meeting in the UK’s role as current president of the Group of Seven, told reporters after the talks that the leaders had agreed a "roadmap" for future engagement with the Taliban.
ALSO READ: Safe passage out of Afghanistan is priority, say G7 leaders
While the joint statement indicates that an agreement on an extension to the August 31 deadline of the US-led NATO troop withdrawal from Afghanistan failed to materialise, Johnson declared that the G7’s "number one condition" was that the Taliban must guarantee "safe passage" for those that want to leave the country beyond that deadline.
7) Afghans unhappy with UN body's response to demands
The protest outside UNHCR's office in Delhi is being managed by the Afghan Solidarity Committee (ASC). On August 23, the UNHCR responded to a letter of demands sent by ASC head Ahmad Zia Ghani. The response further irked the protesters.
In the letter accessed by India Today, the UNHCR has expressed its inability to expedite the applications of Afghans for countries which are willing to accept them as immigrants.
“Some countries have recently announced opportunities for Afghan nationals who have worked or been affiliated with those countries to apply for permission to travel to those countries. These programmes have been established by those countries and UNHCR does not refer people to the programmes or process applications,” the UN body said in its letter. However, they assured the Afghans that they would continue to provide food, cash, education and medical assistance to the most vulnerable refugees and asylum-seekers.
8) CIA director meets Taliban leader in Kabul
US President Joe Biden sent the head of the CIA to meet the Taliban's leader on Monday in the highest-level diplomatic encounter since the militant group took over the Afghan capital, said US sources.
CIA Director William Burns met Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar in Kabul, a US official and a source familiar with government activity told Reuters on Tuesday. Both spoke on condition of anonymity.The meeting came as the Biden administration evacuated U.S. citizens and other allies amid chaos at Kabul airport ahead of an Aug. 31 deadline to pull out.
9) American arms acquired by Taliban will create problems for India: Army officials
In a significant development, senior Army officials have said they believe the American weapons seized by the Taliban from the Afghan Army are likely to create havoc in Pakistan first before they are attempted to be smuggled into India.
The Pakistan Army and terrorist groups supported by it are getting huge supplies of these weapons after the Afghan Army surrendered before the Taliban and gave away all its weaponry.
10) Taliban ask women workers to stay at home
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid asked women Afghan government workers to stay at home till the security situation gets better in the country. Earlier this month, the Taliban had vowed to protect women's rights "within the limits" of Islamic law.
Addressing the first official press briefing since the Kabul seizure, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid on August 17 had said the Taliban would honour women's rights, but within the norms of Islamic law. His assertion that the Taliban would protect women's rights came after their resurgence brought back the fear among the women of their earlier rule that severely restricted women's lives and rights.
Comments
Post a Comment