The human rights magazine
Bitter Winter reported on Wednesday that the government of Afghanistan deported ten Chinese nationals last week initially accused of engaging in terrorist activity, but later believed to be attempting to create a fake Uyghur terrorist cell to defame the ethnic group.
Reports of the arrests in Kabul first surfaced in India’s
Hindustan Times and named the alleged leader of the group as Li Yangyang, a Han Chinese name. The
Hindustan Times was the first to report, last week, that Kabul had reached a deal with China to return the Chinese citizens implicated to their home country without creating a public scandal.
(Last Updated On: January 15, 2021)
Coinciding with the announcement by the United States that American troop numbers are now down to 2,500 in Afghanistan, First Vice President Amrullah Saleh told the BBC in an interview that Washington has made a mistake by conceding too much to the Taliban.
“US talks with the Taliban were not a mistake in themselves, but that Mr. Trump’s administration made an error in giving the group a ‘massive concession’,” Saleh told BBC.
Saleh says the American mission, which began 20 years ago, is not yet accomplished and a total withdrawal risks more violence in the unstable country.
Negotiators Meet US Envoy as They Push to Finalize Talks Agenda
Negotiators from both sides of the peace negotiations held meetings with the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad in Doha over the past few days as they try to finalize the agenda of the talks, sources familiar with the process said on Friday.
The negotiators are expected to expedite efforts to finalize the agenda within the next few days, the sources said.
“Mawlavi Abdul Hakim and a member of the Taliban are in Doha and the talks are moving forward smoothly,” said Sayed Akbar Agha, a former Taliban commander.
Afghan Mother Opens Library after Her Slain Son s Name
An Afghan mother Waheeda Shirzad on Friday distributed winter clothes to vulnerable families in Kabul to honor the dreams of her son Mohammad Rahid Amin who was killed in Kabul University attack on November 2, 2020.
She has also opened a charity foundation and a library after her son Mohammad Rahid Amin s name.
The attack on the university killed 22 people including Rahid Amin. Over 40 others were wounded in the gun rampage by two armed attackers.
Rahid was a student the Faculty of Public Administration and Policy at Kabul University.
Rahid’s mother said the campaign is to honor the legacy of her slain son.
share
Print
Peace talks between Afghan government representatives and the Taliban have been painstakingly slow, bogged down for months by disagreements over minor issues.
The warring sides have agreed on the rules and procedures for the negotiations. But they have yet to settle on an agenda for the talks. Negotiations over the substantial issues including a permanent cease-fire and a power-sharing formula are far off.
Progress has been hampered by deep mistrust and animosity. A huge gulf remains on key issues between the sides, which have conflicting priorities in the negotiations.
Those divisions have been exacerbated by soaring violence. Both sides have intensified military operations, particularly the Taliban, which sees violence as its main source of leverage against the government.