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Afghanistan losing its wildlife to war, poaching and climate change
At least 149 species of animal are in danger of disappearing from Afghanistan, Afghan officials said Saturday.
According to the officials, war, climate change, animal-trafficking, and illegal hunting are the main cause of loss of wildlife in the country.
Marking International Day for Biological Diversity, May 22, Ezatullah Sediqi Deputy Head for the National Environmental Protection Agency of Afghanistan, stated: “Different species of animals are living in Afghanistan. Climate change, smuggling, hunting, and war have endangered the wildlife and plants in Afghanistan.”
The officials, however, did not provide details on exactly what species this relates to in Afghanistan.
An estimated 1.9 million hectares of forest covers Afghanistan which is a natural shelter for various species of animals. But Afghan officials noted that ongoing conflicts in the country remained the main challenge for animals that are at risk of extinction domestically.
Experts, meanwhile, criticize the National Environmental Protection Agency for the lack of information about the exact number of animals at risk and the lack of a clear policy for the protection of wildlife in the country.
Qasim Haidari, a Deputy Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) official stated: “Every bullet fired and explosions that occurred have made most of the birds migrate to other countries.”
In addition to the war, Afghan officials stated that deforestation in the country has remained another issue ahead of wildlife protection.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan, has announced the release of another American citizen in the country.
Khalilzad said in a post on his X account that, according to information from the Islamic Emirate’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Faye Dai Hall, an American citizen who has been in custody in Afghanistan, will be released soon.
Earlier, George Glezmann, an American citizen whom the Islamic Emirate had held for over two years, was also released.
US Vice President JD Vance said on Friday that Joe Biden administration left about $80 billion worth of military equipment in Afghanistan, which was a “catastrophic error.”
Vance made the remarks during a visit to a military base in Greenland.
He also said the Biden administration’s “catastrophic error” led to the deaths of 13 US soldiers in an attack during the evacuation at Kabul airport in August 2021.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump also criticized the abandonment of military equipment in Afghanistan and called for its return.
The Islamic Emirate, however, has said that the weapons left by the US in Afghanistan belong to the Afghans and will not be returned.
The Supreme Court announced on Saturday that based on the ruling of the supreme leader of the Islamic Emirate, 2,463 prisoners have been pardoned and released on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr.
The court said in a statement that the prison terms of another 3,152 prisoners have been reduced.
Eid in Afghanistan will be celebrated on Sunday or Monday, depending on the moon sighting.
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