At least three people were killed and another 12 were wounded after Taliban gunmen opened fire during protests against the group in Afghanistan's Jalalabad city on Wednesday. The incident reportedly occurred when protesting locals removed a Taliban flag and instead hoisted Afghanistan's national flag in Jalalabad. The gunmen also reportedly beat up some journalists who were covering the protests.
UK Home Secretary Priti Patel has said the country would accept 20,000 Afghan refugees fleeing from the country over a 'long term' period under the new Afghan Citizens' Resettlement Scheme. It'll offer shelter primarily to women and girls who're "facing a chilling future" under Taliban's rule. The scheme includes providing refuge to 5,000 stranded Afghans in the first year alone.
Days after coming into power in Afghanistan, the Taliban have allegedly damaged the statue of Hazara leader Abdul Ali Mazari in Bamiyan. He was killed by the Taliban in 1995. Pictures of the now desecrated statue in Bamiyan were widely shared on social media. Bamiyan is the same place where the Taliban had blown up the Buddha statues in 2001.
Federation of Indian Export Organisation's (FIEO) Director General (DG) Dr Ajay Sahai said the Taliban has stopped imports and exports with India. "Imports from there come through the transit route of Pakistan...the Taliban has stopped...movement of cargo to Pakistan, so virtually imports have stopped," he added. "Our exports to Afghanistan are worth around $835 million for 2021," he said.
While talking to a Pakistan news channel, Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen said that India can complete its infrastructure projects in Afghanistan. "India can complete its projects in Afghanistan because all those works are for the people here," he said. Shaheen also said that no country will be allowed to use Afghan soil against any other country.
Taliban militants handed out hijabs and headscarves to girls at the door of a school in Afghanistan's third-largest city Herat, Associated Press reported. The militants asked the girls to put them on. Enamullah Samangani, a member of the Taliban's cultural commission, had said the group was ready to "provide women with environment to work and study".