Kabul [Afghanistan], December 31 (ANI): Taliban officials are taking new actions to restrict women’s freedoms and dismantle democratic institutions as they appeal to the world to release frozen humanitarian aid funds and bank accounts.

The top two international concerns that have kept most foreign aid at bay as a cold winter looms for millions of destitute Afghans, according to the Washington Post.

Over the past week, the powerful ministry for Islamic guidance has issued rules requiring women to fully cover their heads if they ride in a public taxi and to be accompanied by a male relative if they travel more than 45 miles.

The above instructions also require cab drivers to refuse to carry female passengers who do not comply and to stop playing music while driving because it is “un-Islamic.”

Further action includes the armed occupation and shutdown of the national independent bar association. Rights groups and analysts see the moves as signals that the new, deeply conservative Islamist rulers are both tightening and widening their grip across Afghan society — despite initial promises of leniency after they took power in mid-August, according to Washington Post.

“The Taliban are reverting to their repressive policies of the past, shattering the myth of a kinder and more moderate Taliban 2.0,” said Michael Kugelman, deputy director of the Asia Program at the Wilson Center in Washington.

Kugelman and others said Taliban authorities do not appear to be overly concerned about Afghanistan looming humanitarian crisis that international aid agencies predict could engulf the poor, drought-plagued nation of 39 million this winter.

Further, Taliban demands for the release of foreign funds are more a contest of wills — a game of chicken with the West than a sign of real urgency over the collapsing economy and worsening levels of hunger and cold, Washington Post. (ANI)

Poverty under Taliban rule compels Afghan children to leave school

Kabul [Afghanistan], December 31 (ANI): Poverty under Taliban rule has compelled Afghan children to leave school and get employed in hazardous jobs to find food for their families.
The number of Afghan children who do not attend school but are employed in hazardous jobs has increased across the country, according to Tolo News.

In the meantime, Taliban said the government has plans to improve children’s conditions. “In the economy and education sectors, the Islamic Emirate has many plans to provide good education opportunities for a new generation, specifically for children,” said Bilal Karimi, deputy spokesman of Taliban.

Mohammad is one of the children who says he has lost hope for his future. He searches in trash cans on the street to find firewood or cans to resell.

“I collect cans of cola and energy drinks and firewood. In this cold weather, we have nothing at home, God bless you, if you can help me,” said Mohammad, Tolo News reported. The extreme poverty of Afghan families drives many children into various hazardous jobs to find food for their families. The poverty induces many children to leave school.

“I sit at the side of this street to polish the shoes of people. I feel so cold, not many people come,” said Basko, a girl sitting at the side of the road.

The condition of Afghan children has not improved despite the flow of billions of dollars from many agencies in Afghanistan.

“The problems of children increase every day and it is a source of concern. It is expected that the Taliban works on plans to avert a humaniterian and economic crisis at such a critical time,” said Maryam Maarouf, Women and Children Activist.

The condition of Afghan children has not improved despite the flow of billions of dollars from many agencies in Afghanistan, according to Tolo News.

Also, Afghanistan is considered the worst place to be a child, as 4 million children are out of school and 2 million are working as child laborers, according to estimates by international organizations. (ANI)

Chinese envoy meets Mullah Baradar, assures assistance to Afghanistan

Kabul [Afghanistan], December 31 (ANI): Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan, Wang Yu, on Thursday, met with Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the acting deputy Prime Minister of Taliban-led government, and expressed his willingness to continue assistance to the country and help it realize its economic reconstruction.

Yu said that China has never interfered in Afghanistan’s internal affairs to seek selfish gains. He said that China pursues a friendly policy for all Afghan people and supports Afghanistan’s efforts for stability and reconstruction, the Chinese tabloid newspaper Global Times reported.

Baradar said Afghanistan is committed to promoting friendly bilateral relations with China in various fields.

Earlier in October, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had met with Baradar in Doha, Qatar, and said that China supports the Afghan people to independently decide their country’s destiny and choose their own development path.

Wang had expressed hope that the Taliban will further demonstrate openness and tolerance, unite all ethnic groups and factions in the country to work together for peaceful reconstruction. During the meeting, the Chinese FM had urged the US and the West to lift sanctions on the country.

Since the Taliban took over Kabul in August, it has sought wider international recognition. China is among the very few countries which seem to have started engaging with the outfit. (ANI)

Pakistan sends first consignment of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan

Islamabad [Pakistan], December 31 (ANI): The first consignment of 1,800 metric tons of wheat as humanitarian assistance from Pakistan has crossed over to Afghanistan, announced the Pakistani foreign affairs ministry.
The consignment is a part of a humanitarian package worth Pakistani Rs 5 billion announced by the country’s Prime Minister Imran Khan, Geo News reported.

The package includes 50,000 metric tons of wheat, winter shelters, and emergency medical supplies. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Shehzad Arbab handed the first consignment to the Afghan side.
Afghanistan is witnessing the worst humanitarian crisis. The crisis has deepened since the Taliban took control of the country.

To avoid giving the Taliban access to Afghanistan‘s reserves, Washington froze an estimated $10 billion held by the central bank abroad in August.

A combination of a suspension of foreign aid, the freezing of Afghan government assets, and international sanctions on the Taliban, have plunged a country already suffering from high poverty levels into a full-blown economic crisis, Amnesty International said in a statement.

Around 22.8 million people are facing acute food insecurity and hunger, while the World Food Programme estimates that at least a million children are already suffering from acute malnutrition. According to the UN, more than USD 200 million of humanitarian aid a month is needed to avert disaster. (ANI)