03-07-2022 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report KABUL/ ISLAMABAD: A Taliban-run gathering of thousands of male religious and ethnic leaders ended on Saturday by asking foreign governments to formally recognize their administration, but made no signals of changes on international demands such as the opening of girls’ high schools. The …

29-06-2022 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report GAYAN/ KABUL/ ISLAMABAD: When a magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan last week, Naqib lost his home and nearly his whole family. His parents and four siblings now lie buried on a hilltop overlooking the remote district of Gayan in hard-hit Paktika province. …

27-06-2022 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report KABUL/ ISLAMABAD: Vital medical supplies reached hospitals on Saturday in the remote area of Afghanistan hit by an earthquake that killed more than 1,000 people this week, as the country’s Taliban government appealed for more international aid. Authorities have called off the search …

22-06-2022 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report + Agencies KABUL/ ISLAMABAD/ VATICAN CITY: A strong earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan early Wednesday, killing almost 1,000 people, according to the country’s ruling Taliban regime. Mawlawi Sharafudin Muslim, the Taliban government’s Deputy Minister for Disaster Management, told journalists at a news conference in …

19-06-2022 Warning: This story contains descriptions of suicide and references to sexual assault which some readers may find disturbing. If you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal thoughts, help and support are available. Visit Befrienders International for more information about support services. By SJA Jafri MITHI/ THARPARKAR: Early in …

18-06-2022 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report KABUL/ ISLAMABAD: An attack on a Sikh temple in the Afghan capital of Kabul killed at least two people and injured seven on Saturday, following a blast in a car loaded with explosives, officials said, but there was no immediate claim of responsibility. …

13-06-2022 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report + Agencies NEW DELHI/ ISLAMABAD: In an attempt to silence Muslim voices against extremism, authorities in India’s Uttar Pradesh state demolished the homes of numerous Muslims accused of involvement in rioting last week sparked by insulting remarks made by governing party politicians about …

11-06-2022 By SJA Jafri + Agencies KUALA LUMPUR/ LONDON/ KARACHI: Malaysia’s government said Saturday it has agreed to abolish the mandatory death penalty, with campaigners welcoming the move but cautioning the country had failed to deliver on previous vows to improve rights. The death penalty remains mandatory for several offences …

30-05-2022 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report + Agencies NASIRIYAH/ BAGHDAD/ KARACHI: Spraying a cow with pesticides, health workers target blood-sucking ticks at the heart of Iraq’s worst detected outbreak of a fever that causes people to bleed to death. The sight of the health workers, dressed in the full …

29-05-2022 By SJA Jafri + Agencies + Bureau Report UNITED NATIONS/ BEIJING/ KARACHI: The UN human rights chief has defended her China trip as she was accused of failing to hold Beijing accountable for its alleged human rights abuses, saying she raised concerns with officials about the treatment of Uighur …