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Is the Government-Taliban talk deadlocked again?
The Taliban spokesman has said the group has no contact with the Afghan government after the disputes over the prisoner releases. But a member of the government's focal point said that efforts were underway to resume talks with the Taliban to start the Intra-Afghan talks.
Aminuddin Mozaffari, a member of the government's focal point, said: "It has not been seriously hung up. Efforts are being made to resume these contacts resolving some differences."
After disagreements between the government and the Taliban over the releases of the prisoners, sources now report that the contact between the Taliban and the government has been cut off, the contacts which were mediated by the United States and Qatar.
Reportedly the Afghan government has released 71 more prisoners of the Taliban, however, bringing the total number of the released prisoners to 432 to date. The Taliban has also released 61 prisoners of the government.
On the other hand, more than 20 security forces have been killed in very recent Taliban attacks in Logar, Sar-e-Pul, and other parts of the country.
This comes as, in the course of efforts for war and peace, some media outlets have developed a supportive plan to maintain and back the freedom of expression at all levels of the peace bringing process.
“The plan has three stages, all emphasizing the protection of the freedom of expression in the whole process of the peace talks," said Najib Sharifi, CEO of the Committee to Protect Journalists.
The main dispute arose when the Taliban demanded the release of 15 senior members of the group followed by the government’s refusal noting that the at least five of the wanted had been involved in serious crimes and deadly attacks, including the ones in Shah Shahid, Zanbaq Roundabout, Intercontinental Hotel, to name a few.
Hamid Karzai, the former president of Afghanistan, says the demand of Afghan girls for the reopening of schools and universities is their fundamental right and adds that Afghanistan cannot have a bright future without ensuring access to education for girls.
In a statement on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Karzai said: "The demand and voice of our country’s girls for education and knowledge is a rightful one and crucial for a prosperous Afghanistan."
He further emphasized, "Empowering the youth—both girls and boys—is the only way to achieve self-reliance, break the cycle of poverty, and drive the development and prosperity of society."
Karzai underscored that education is vital for Afghanistan’s growth and development, expressing hope that the doors of schools and universities for girls will be reopened as soon as possible.
Mawlawi Hebatullah Akhundzada, the supreme leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), has issued a decree to establish special courts to address pensions, Bakhtar news agency reported on Saturday.
According to the decree, the courts must confirm and process pensions in accordance with Sharia and law.
Pensioners have repeatedly voiced concern over delay in payment, saying that their financial challenges are growing.
Earlier this year, IEA's supreme leader banned money being deducted from salaries of government employees for pensions.
He also requested information on the tenure of employees and the total amount deducted from salaries for pensions.
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Blinken urges immediate lifting of restrictions on women’s education and work in Afghanistan
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday called on the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) to immediately lift restrictions on women's education and work.
Marking two years of the ban on women's education in universities and women's work in NGOs, Blinken said on X that women and girls are the lynchpin to a more stable and prosperous Afghanistan.
“It’s been two years since Taliban (IEA) banned women and girls from universities and Afghan women from working in NGOs. Afghan women and girls are the lynchpin to a more stable, peaceful, and prosperous Afghanistan. We call on the Taliban (IEA) to immediately reverse these edicts,” he said.
The Ministry of Higher Education announced in December 2022 that women and girls could not attend public and private universities "until further notice".
Previously, girls' education above the sixth grade was also suspended.
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