Tag: Afghanistan

Afghanistan

Taliban regime in oil deal with Chinese company

AfghanistanAfghanistan's Taliban regime has agreed to sign a contract with a Chinese company to exploit oil in the Amu Darya basin in the country's north. The contract with the Xinjiang Central Asia Petroleum & Gas Co. (CAPEIC) is to be the first major resource extraction deal the regime has signed with a foreign company since taking power in 2021. "The Amu Darya oil contract is an important project between China and Afghanistan," China's ambassador, Wang Yu, told a joint press conference with Taliban officials in Kabul. Beijing has not formally recognized the Taliban government but has significant interests in Afghanistan, a country deemed critical for its Belt & Road Initiative. (Map: Perry-Castañeda Library)

Afghanistan

Afghanistan: aid operations hit by anti-women decree

AfghanistanSeveral international aid organizations have suspended their work in Afghanistan in response to a new Taliban edict barring Afghan women from working with any local or foreign NGO until further notice, while the UN is urging the "Islamic Emirate" to reverse its decision. The International Rescue Committee, Save the Children, the Norwegian Refugee Council, CARE International, and Islamic Relief all announced they would halt their work in Afghanistan until all female staff are able to return to work. Aid groups recognized that suspending work now, at the start of winter and amid growing hunger, was particularly bad timing, but said they felt they had little choice but to send a clear message to the Taliban authorities. (Photo: UNICEF)

Afghanistan

ICC rules Afghanistan investigation may proceed

ICCPre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (ICC) authorized prosecutors to resume their investigation into atrocities committed in Afghanistan since May 1, 2003, following a two-year hiatus. The Chamber found "that Afghanistan is not presently carrying out genuine investigations." The Chamber emphasized that the authorization is limited to crimes falling within the conflict as it existed at the time of the original investigation request in November 2017. The Chamber rejected that request in April 2019. This decision was overturned by the Appeals Chamber in March 2020. However, the investigation was halted following a request from the government of Afghanistan. ICC prosecutor Karim AA Khan sought to review the deferral in September 2021. At that time, Khan said he concluded, "there is no longer the prospect of genuine and effective domestic investigations into Article 5 crimes within Afghanistan." (Photo: ICC)