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ISLAMABAD: A growing number of Afghan citizens are accusing the Taliban of unfairly distributing humanitarian assistance, alleging that aid is being directed primarily to members of the ruling group&#39;s own ethnic community and close associates while many vulnerable families remain excluded. Residents in several parts of Afghanistan say local Taliban officials and community representatives interfere in the aid process, often collecting identification documents from applicants and using them to divert assistance to relatives and supporters, Hasht-e-Subh Daily reported.&nbsp; According to the report, Umid, a Kabul resident who asked to be identified by a pseudonym for security reasons, said he has been unemployed for years despite completing high school and now earns a meager living driving a rickshaw. &ldquo;I studied up to the twelfth grade, but I have not found work,&rdquo; he said while waiting for passengers on a roadside in the Afghan capital. &ldquo;Sometimes people give me a piece of bread out of pity, but we have not received any other help.&rdquo; Umid said a neighborhood representative gathered residents&rsquo; national identity cards and promised monthly food packages and $100 in cash assistance. He said the aid never reached the intended recipients. &ldquo;They used our ID cards and took the aid for themselves, dividing it among their tribe and relatives,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;For four years, they have benefited from this assistance while we struggle every day in the summer heat and winter cold just to earn enough money for one meal.&rdquo; He called on international aid organizations to strengthen oversight and verify whether assistance is reaching those most in need. Afghanistan remains heavily dependent on humanitarian aid following years of war, economic collapse and the Taliban&rsquo;s return to power in August 2021. Millions of Afghans face food insecurity, unemployment and limited access to basic services. Quoting political analysts, the Afghan media report says several factors hinder the effective delivery of aid, including political interference, weak monitoring systems, insecurity and the complexity of operating in a country where the Taliban exercises strict control over local institutions. Experts warn that without stronger accountability mechanisms, aid diversion could undermine donor confidence and deepen the hardship facing ordinary Afghans.

US Army humanitarian aid - (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Afghanistan

Afghans accuse the interim Taliban government of diverting humanitarian aid to loyalists and relatives, leaving many vulnerable families without assistance.

Afghans complain of unfair humanitarian aid distribution by Taliban government

ISLAMABAD: At least four journalists and media workers are currently being held in Taliban prisons in Afghanistan, a United Nations expert said Sunday, calling for their immediate release. According to Hasht e Subh Daily, Richard Bennett, the UN Human Rights Council&rsquo;s special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, said the detentions highlight ongoing concerns about press freedom under Taliban rule. &ldquo;I call for their release as well as the release of all individuals who have been arbitrarily detained in Afghanistan,&rdquo; Bennett said in a statement. Marking World Press Freedom Day, Bennett said there is no better time to free detained journalists, stressing the importance of an independent media in the country. His remarks come amid growing concerns about the conditions facing Afghan journalists. Earlier, Richard Lindsay the United Kingdom Special Representative for Afghanistan, said reporters in Afghanistan continue to work under increasingly difficult circumstances. Bennett also noted that Afghan media outlets are struggling with financial challenges and declining international support, in addition to operating under strict political and security restrictions. Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have imposed sweeping limitations on the media, drawing widespread criticism from rights groups and international observers.

Richard Bennett, speaks at a special event on human rights at the United Nations.

Richard Bennett urges Taliban to free at least four detained journalists, citing worsening press freedom conditions in Afghanistan. 

Richard Bennett says 4 journalists held by Taliban

ISLAMABAD: The Afghanistan Media Support Organization (AMSO) on Wednesday condemned new restrictions imposed by Taliban authorities on domestic media, saying the measures threaten press freedom and limit access to diverse viewpoints.&nbsp; According to the Hasht-e-Subh daily, AMSO said in a statement on Wednesday that the Taliban&rsquo;s Ministry of Information and Culture Publications Department ordered media outlets to invite only preapproved guests to political programs. Under the directive, individuals must be vetted by the ministry and issued identification cards before they are allowed to appear on such broadcasts, the organization said.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2049490119065735622&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=b36ac2289dde9be70899f6ac4f1d65dcd479ff5e&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 873px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2049490119065735622"></iframe></div></div>AMSO warned that the move undermines the independence of media organizations and restricts freedom of expression. It said broadcasters should be able to choose their topics and guests based on professional standards without outside interference. &ldquo;Any external pressure weakens the professional functioning of the media,&rdquo; the statement said. The group added that limiting the range of voices in political discussions appears aimed at shaping public opinion and silencing dissent. AMSO called on Taliban officials to refrain from interfering in media operations and to uphold the safety and rights of journalists in line with international standards. Taliban authorities have not publicly commented on the directive.

Afghan men inspect the damaged rooftop of the Faculty of Education building at the Sayed Jamaluddin University in Asadabad, Kunar province. (AFP)

Afghanistan Media Support Organization condemns Taliban rules requiring preapproved guests on political programs; warns they restrict press freedom and silence diverse viewpoints.

Taliban restrictions on media guests draw criticism

ISLAMABAD: Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is facing internal backlash for his comments regarding relations with Pakistan, according to Afghan media. The criticism follows Muttaqi&rsquo;s comments in which he stressed that no individual should publicly criticize Pakistan based on personal opinions.&nbsp; He said that, as a Muslim-majority country, any disputes with Pakistan should be addressed through diplomatic engagement rather than public statements, according to the report. Muttaqi also said that leaders and religious scholars should avoid using personal grievances to criticize Pakistan under the Taliban banner.However, his remarks were reportedly not well received within sections of the Afghan Taliban leadership. Several Taliban officials, speaking informally and through affiliated channels, are said to have criticized the foreign minister&rsquo;s stance, as reported by Afghan Times on X.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 725px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2048829876883628333&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=7b5964e8c3b71fab5a9b5c0e21a607ac8b7cb0e9&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>The reported criticism points to differences of opinion within the Taliban administration over how relations with Pakistan should be publicly addressed, particularly at a time of heightened regional sensitivity.

Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi gestures while speaking during an event held in the Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad, Pakistan. (AFP/File)

Reports claim internal divisions within the Afghan Taliban leadership over Amir Khan Muttaqi’s stance regarding relations with Pakistan.

Articles tagged with "Afghanistan’s Taliban"

Afghans complain of unfair humanitarian aid distribution by Taliban government

Richard Bennett says 4 journalists held by Taliban

Taliban restrictions on media guests draw criticism

Afghan FM faces internal backlash over remarks on Pakistan ties: Report