04-12-2021 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report KABUL/ ISLAMABAD: The Taliban-led Afghan government on Friday released a decree on women’s rights, stating women should not be considered “property” and must consent to a marriage, but failed to mention female access to education or work outside the home. The Taliban have …

03-12-2021 By SJA Jafri SIALKOT/ ISLAMABAD: A mob in Sialkot on Friday tortured a Sri Lankan man to death over blasphemy allegations before burning his body, while a heavy contingent of police has been sent to the area to bring the situation under control. Speaking to the media hours after …

03-12-2021 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report + Agencies WASHINGTON/ KABUL/ ISLAMABAD: The World Bank’s board has backed transferring $280 million from a frozen trust fund to two aid agencies to help Afghanistan cope with a brewing humanitarian crisis after the US withdrawal, two sources familiar with the matter said …

02-12-2021 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE/ KARACHI: Last month, Pakistan lifted a ban on the hardline Islamist party, Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP), which has been the face of anti-France protests over the reprinting of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The TLP’s jailed leader, as well as hundreds …

29-11-2021 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report KABUL/ ISLAMABAD: The Taliban co-founder and now prime minister of Afghanistan Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund pledged Saturday that his government will “not interfere” in other countries’ internal affairs, and urged international charities to continue offering aid to the war-ravaged country. Hassan’s audio speech …

28-11-2021 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report LONDON/ KARACHI/ ISLAMABAD/ DUBAI: Arif Naqvi, Pakistani citizen, former Abraaj boss and a friend to top Pakistani ruling and business elite across the political divide, faces extradition to the US from London and nearly 300 years in prison on charges levelled by US …

26-11-2021 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report + Agencies DOHA/ KABUL/ ISLAMABAD/ WASHINGTON/ DUBAI: Next week’s talks between the United States and the Taliban in Doha, the second such meeting since the movement seized power will open a “new chapter” in political ties, the group said Wednesday. Washington said Tuesday …

26-11-2021 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report + Agencies SANA’A/ UNITED NATIONS/ KARACHI: A new United Nations report has projected that the death toll from Yemen’s war will reach 377,000 by the end of 2021, including those killed as a result of indirect and direct causes. In a report published …

25-11-2021 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report CANBERRA/ MELBOURNE: Australia has designated Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed, Lebanon-based Shia group, as a “terrorist” organisation. The designation covers the entirety of the group, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported. Hezbollah’s military wing has been on the list since 2003. Humanitarian assistance: US says …

23-11-2021 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report ISLAMABAD/ KABUL: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced more than $28m medical, food and other humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan, while also authorizing the transport of food aid from India through Pakistan to Afghanistan, his office says. Khan met his country’s army chief …