logo
Taliban has suppressed Afghan women's rights, says US SIGAR report

Taliban has suppressed Afghan women's rights, says US SIGAR report

The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) released its 68th and final report, as per Tolo News.
The report addresses issues such as US aid to Afghanistan, the situation of women and girls, security, the economy, counter-narcotics efforts, recent developments, SIGAR's monitoring process, the conclusion of its mission, and the role of other US government agencies in overseeing Afghanistan's affairs.
SIGAR claims in the report that the Taliban in Afghanistan has broadly stripped Afghan women and girls of their rights over the past nearly four years.
Abdul Sadeq Hamidzoy, a political affairs analyst, said: "International institutions have so far highlighted public concerns in their reports, but have taken no concrete action to resolve them."
According to the report, the US allocated only around $342 million in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan in fiscal year 2025, a sharp drop from over $968 million in 2023, Tolo News reported.
This steep reduction in aid, at a time when Afghanistan's internal needs are growing, has had significant effects on people's livelihoods.
The Ministry of Economy said that US aid to Afghanistan should not be politicised and rejects the claim that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan interferes in US assistance.
Abdul Latif Nazari, Deputy Minister of Economy, stated, "The recent SIGAR report has both positive and negative aspects, but I want to emphasise two points: First, the US has politicised humanitarian aid, which contradicts humanitarian principles and international law. Second, it is alleged that the Islamic Emirate interferes in international aid, and we strongly and categorically reject this claim."
SIGAR presented its first quarterly report to the US Congress in October 2008. Now that the body has concluded its operations, the question remains: how effective and beneficial was its oversight?
Idris Mohammadi Zazai, a political affairs analyst, told Tolo News, "Since 2008, despite SIGAR's reports on administrative corruption, it was neither prevented nor eradicated."
It's worth noting that SIGAR previously stated the US has provided over $3.83 billion in aid to Afghanistan since 2021.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

‘Injustice or conspiracy'—Deepender Hooda questions NCERT map showing Haryana as part of Maratha empire
‘Injustice or conspiracy'—Deepender Hooda questions NCERT map showing Haryana as part of Maratha empire

The Print

time2 hours ago

  • The Print

‘Injustice or conspiracy'—Deepender Hooda questions NCERT map showing Haryana as part of Maratha empire

Congress MP from Rohtak Deepender Singh Hooda also raised the issue in a scathing post on X, terming the map 'utterly false' and an insult to Maharaja Surajmal, whom he called a 'symbol of India's self-respect'. The map has led to accusations of 'historical manipulation' and 'gross injustice' to the history of Bharatpur and the people of Haryana. Some historians and community leaders called for a correction in the map, reigniting the debate on the alleged politicisation of Indian history in schoolbooks. Gurugram: A row has erupted in Haryana over a map in the NCERT's 2025 Class 8 social science textbook, which shows the Bharatpur Jat state—once a powerful force under Maharaja Surajmal—and the entire modern-day Haryana as being part of the Maratha Empire in 1759. Hooda claimed that Bharatpur, which was an independent state ruled by Jat warrior-king Surajmal between 1755 and 1763, was never under the control of the Marathas. महाराजा सूरजमल सिर्फ भरतपुर के नहीं, पूरे भारत के स्वाभिमान थे। सरकार (NCERT) द्वारा प्रकाशित स्कूली बच्चों की इतिहास की किताब (2025 संस्करण) में सन 1759 के इस नक्शे में भरतपुर रियासत का नामोनिशान मिटा दिया गया है और भरतपुर समेत आज के पूरे हरियाणा को मराठा साम्राज्य के अंतर्गत… — Deepender Singh Hooda (@DeependerSHooda) August 9, 2025 'The removal of Bharatpur's identity from NCERT's map is either a serious injustice to history or a conscious conspiracy to misinterpret it,' he wrote, tagging Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and requesting immediate action. Hooda also elaborated on Maharaja Surajmal's contribution in the Third Battle of Panipat (1761), for which he joined hands with the Marathas against Afghan intruder Ahmad Shah Abdali, Hooda said. He added that following the defeat of the Marathas, Maharaja Surajmal provided shelter to injured soldiers and women and ensured their safe return. He claimed that Maratha leader Sadashivrao Bhau also took refuge in Haryana's Sanghi village, where his tomb, 'Bhau ka Maqbara,' exists now. Talking to The Print on Monday, Hooda said, 'This map is an insult to Maharaja Surajmal and the people of Haryana who provided unprecedented assistance to the Marathas after the Panipat (defeat).' 'Surajmal established camps to treat wounded soldiers and dispatched his horsemen to escort Maratha women home safely. That is why you have Haryanvi colonies around Pune even today,' he said. He emphasised Bharatpur's sovereignty up to 1948, when at the behest of his grandfather Chaudhary Ranbir Singh Hooda and then home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Maharaja Brijendra Singh merged the state with India, determining its placement in Rajasthan, not Uttar Pradesh. Balwant Singh Phogat, a two-time president of the Phogat Khap, condemned what he called the NCERT's efforts to 'distort' history. He demanded an immediate correction of the map. 'We have been living in Haryana since our birth and got our education in the state. Never ever we heard that Marathas ruled Haryana. Ever since the BJP has come to power, new and unheard of revelations are being made about our history which is condemnable,' he told ThePrint. Interestingly, the same map also enraged Rajasthan's erstwhile royal clans such as those in Jaisalmer, Mewar, Bundi, and Alwar. They claimed that their independent states have been equally misrepresented as Maratha countries. Historians are not unanimous on the question about the complex power equation of 18th-century India. 'Haryana never belonged to the Maratha Empire, and Bharatpur was an independent Jat state,' Dr Dharambir Sirohi, Associate Professor of Modern Indian History and Department Chairman at Kurukshetra University, told The Print. If the map by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) indicates otherwise it's absolutely wrong and needs to be corrected, he said, insisting Bharatpur remained an independent state even after India's independence, being merged only in 1948. But Dr Suraj Bhan Bhardwaj, a medieval history specialist and retired principal of Delhi University's Motilal Nehru College, has a different take. 'While Bharatpur and Haryana were never under direct Maratha rule, parts of Haryana, including Sikh states like Jind, paid 'chauth'—a quarter of their revenue—as tribute under the Maratha 'Sardeshmukhi' system.' Bhardwaj said Marathas stationed tax collectors, or aadils, in regions like present-day Gurugram and Mewat, with figures like Samru Begam overseeing collections in Gurugram and Jhajjar. 'True, the Marathas never ruled these regions, but their power through taxation was immense,' he added, concurring that Maharaja Surajmal helped Maratha troops from Gwalior following the battle of Panipat. While the NCERT announced a review committee headed by its curriculum head Professor Ranjana Arora, ThePrint's attempt to reach its director Professor Dinesh Prasad Saklani through calls and email for a comment did not yield a result. This report will be updated if and when a response is received. (Edited by Ajeet Tiwari) Also Read: 'What about Rajput valour?' Battle of identity in Rajasthan BJP over NCERT's 'glorification' of Marathas

Pakistan suspends train services after railway bombing in insurgency-hit Balochistan
Pakistan suspends train services after railway bombing in insurgency-hit Balochistan

The Hindu

time3 hours ago

  • The Hindu

Pakistan suspends train services after railway bombing in insurgency-hit Balochistan

Pakistan's railways on Monday (August 11, 2025) suspended all train services to and from an insurgency-hit southwestern province for four days after separatists blew up a railway track, derailing six cars of a passenger train, officials said. No one was harmed in the attack Sunday (August 11, 2025) in Mastung, a district in Balochistan, said railways spokesman Ikram Ullah. 'Engineers were repairing the damaged track,' he said. 'The Jaffer Express was traveling from Quetta, the provincial capital, to the northern city of Peshawar when assailants targeted it with a bomb,' Mr. Ullah said. The banned Baloch Liberation Army, in a statement, claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes months after BLA fighters hijacked a train in the same district, killing 21 hostages before security forces were able to kill 33 assailants. The attack came as Pakistan prepares to mark its 78th Independence Day on August 14. Balochistan has long been the scene of insurgency by separatists seeking independence from the central government. The province is also home to militants linked to the Pakistani Taliban. Local administrator Shahid Khan said the government-imposed curfews in some areas of the district of Bajaur along the Afghan border in the troubled northwest and advised residents to stay indoors, prompting many to flee to safer places in preparation for a possible security operation against the Pakistani Taliban. Bajaur was once a stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, who are known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, and the group has resurfaced there. TTP is a separate group but closely allied to the Afghan Taliban.

Pakistan Suspends Rail Services In Balochistan After Militants Derail Train In IED Blast
Pakistan Suspends Rail Services In Balochistan After Militants Derail Train In IED Blast

News18

time9 hours ago

  • News18

Pakistan Suspends Rail Services In Balochistan After Militants Derail Train In IED Blast

Last Updated: Sunday's bombing comes just months after BLA fighters hijacked a train in the same district, killing 21 hostages before security forces intervened Pakistan on Monday suspended all train services to and from the southwestern province of Balochistan for four days after separatist militants blew up a section of railway track, causing a passenger train to derail. The incident took place on Sunday near Spezand Railway Station, around 25 kilometres from Quetta, the provincial capital. According to railway authorities, the Jaffer Express was travelling from Quetta to Peshawar when a bomb exploded under the track, derailing six of its carriages. The train had around 350 passengers on board. No one was injured in the attack. Railways spokesperson Ikram Ullah said engineers are currently working to repair the damaged section of the track. Ullah confirmed that the suspension of services is a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of passengers and staff. The banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the bombing. In a statement, the group said it had deliberately targeted the train. The BLA has been involved in numerous attacks in the region and has long demanded independence for Balochistan, accusing the central government of exploiting the province's natural resources. Sunday's bombing comes just months after BLA fighters hijacked a train in the same district, killing 21 hostages before security forces intervened, killing 33 militants. The latest attack has raised fresh concerns over security in the lead-up to Pakistan's 78th Independence Day on 14 August. Meanwhile, in a separate development, authorities imposed curfews in parts of Bajaur district in the country's northwest, near the Afghan border. Local official Shahid Khan said the measure was taken to prepare for a possible security operation against the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The TTP, although separate, maintains close ties with the Afghan Taliban and has recently become active in the region again. Balochistan and Bajaur remain two of the most troubled areas in Pakistan, frequently targeted by insurgents and militants. (With inputs from AP) view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store