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No guarantees about Afghanistan’s future post-pullout: American NSA

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No one can offer guarantees about Afghanistan’s future after U.S. troops leave, a top White House official said on Sunday, even as he stressed the United States would stay focused on terrorist threats emanating from the country.

This comes after US President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday that United States will withdraw all remaining troops from Afghanistan by September 11.

In an interview with Fox News Sunday, the White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan was asked about the risk of a repeat of what happened in Iraq, where Islamic State (ISIS) militants seized territory after U.S. troops withdrew in 2011.

That led then-President Barack Obama to send troops back into Iraq.

Sullivan said Biden had no intention of sending American forces back to Afghanistan, but he added: “I can’t make any guarantees about what will happen inside the country. No one can.”

“All the United States could do is provide the Afghan security forces, the Afghan government and the Afghan people resources and capabilities, training and equipping their forces, providing assistance to their government. We have done that and now it is time for American troops to come home and the Afghan people to step up to defend their own country.”

But Afghan President Ashraf Ghani rejected what he said were “false analogies” with the war in Vietnam as well as any suggestion his government was at risk of folding under Taliban pressure after U.S. troops leave. Afghan security forces were capable of defending the country, he said.

“The Afghan defense and security forces have been carrying over 90% of the operations in the last two years,” Ghani said in an interview with CNN.

Meanwhile former president Donald Trump said in a statement that leaving Afghanistan was “a wonderful and positive thing to do,” but called for a more rapid departure. Trump had set a May 1 deadline to withdraw.

CIA Director William Burns told the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday that America’s ability to collect intelligence and act against extremist threats in Afghanistan will diminish after the departure of U.S. troops, Reuters reported.

A United Nations report in January said there were as many as 500 al-Qaeda fighters in Afghanistan and that the Taliban maintained a close relationship with the group. The Taliban denies al-Qaeda has a presence in Afghanistan.

Announcing his decision to withdraw troops, Biden said the United States would monitor the threat, reorganize counterterrorism capabilities and keep substantial assets in the region to respond to threats to the United States emerging from Afghanistan.

“He has no intention of taking our eye off the ball,” Sullivan said of the president.

“We have the capacity, from repositioning our capabilities over the horizon, to continue to suppress the terrorist threat in Afghanistan.”

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ATN to broadcast DP World ILT20 live across Afghanistan

Season 3 of the DP World ILT20 will also welcome several exciting fresh additions

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Ariana Television and Radio Network (ATN) kicks off 2025 with another thrilling sporting event; this time the exciting Season 3 of the DP World International League T20 (ILT20).

Once again, ATN has secured the legal rights to broadcast matches live on Ariana Television.

The tournament, which will run from this Saturday, 11 January, to 9 February, is only in its 3rd season but has solidified its position in the global cricketing events as it has already been established as the second-most watched league in the world.

Last year, Season 2, recorded a whopping 220 million viewers tuning in to watch the thrilling event.

Season 3 is however set to be bigger and better with a wider broadcast penetration both in traditional and non-traditional cricket markets around the world.

The DP World ILT20 Season 3 will be launched with a grand opening ceremony which will be held at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday.

The event will begin at 6:30pm local time and will be broadcast live on Ariana Television.

The first match of the season will see defending champions MI Emirates taking on hosts Dubai Capitals in a rematch of last year’s grand finale.

The six DP World ILT20 franchises have retained some of the biggest names in T20 cricket for Season 3.

Andre Russell and Sunil Narine will continue to represent the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, while Alex Hales and Sherfane Rutherford remain with the Desert Vipers.

The Dubai Capitals have retained David Warner and Rovman Powell, with Chris Jordan and Shimron Hetmyer staying on for the Gulf Giants.

MI Emirates will feature Nicholas Pooran and Akeal Hossein once again, and the Sharjah Warriorz have brought back Adil Rashid, a Wildcard pick in Season 2, alongside Johnson Charles.

England’s Jason Roy returns to the league, now with the Sharjah Warriorz, after making two appearances for the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders last season.

Sharjah has further bolstered their squad with the addition of New Zealand’s Tim Southee, who will lead the team in his first season with the league.

Former West Indies captain Jason Holder is set to join the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders after playing for the Dubai Capitals in the previous season.

Season 3 will also welcome several exciting fresh additions. Fakhar Zaman and Lockie Ferguson will feature for the Desert Vipers, Shai Hope joins the Dubai Capitals, and Roston Chase joins the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.

Matthew Wade and Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran will add strength to the Sharjah Warriorz and Gulf Giants, respectively, while Romario Shepherd is set to debut for MI Emirates.

For more news and updates, be sure to follow Ariana Television’s social media platforms.

Schedule below

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WFP warns millions in Afghanistan in urgent need of aid

The WFP estimates that $718 million is needed over the next six months to provide life-saving assistance to vulnerable populations.

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The World Food Program (WFP) has sounded the alarm over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, where millions are in desperate need of assistance.

In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, WFP highlighted the grave choices many Afghans families face, such as deciding between feeding their children or keeping them warm during the harsh winter months.

Expressing concern about the country's economic turmoil, the organization has urgently appealed for international support.

The WFP estimates that $718 million is needed over the next six months to provide life-saving assistance to vulnerable populations.

The UN agency also revealed that over five million Afghans are living in extreme food insecurity, uncertain of when or where their next meal will come from.

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Khalilzad ‘agrees’ mistreatment of Afghan migrants in Pakistan must stop

In a statement on X, Khalilzad said: “I agree, the Pakistan authorities must stop the illegal mistreatment and deportation of Afghan refugees.”

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Washington’s former special representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad has urged Pakistan to stop the mistreatment and forced deportation of Afghan migrants.

In a statement on X, Khalilzad said: "I agree, the Pakistan authorities must stop the illegal mistreatment and deportation of Afghan refugees."

At the same time, the Afghan embassy in Islamabad has expressed concern about the arrest of around 800 Afghan citizens in Islamabad.

The embassy said in a statement that the detained people include holders of valid visas and PoR and ACC cards.

"The lack of clarity regarding the conditions for obtaining NOC has led to alarming cases of arbitrary detention and deportation," the statement said.

"Among the deported people, 137 people include those whose visas have expired but have already applied for its extension."

The Afghan Embassy in Islamabad has also said that SHARP/UNHCR temporary registration card holders are also among the deportees.

"The Embassy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is particularly concerned about the reports of unnecessary arrests, house raids and extortion of Afghan nationals. We request the government of Pakistan to address these serious concerns urgently."

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