Afghanistan: repress a women’s march | Kabul airport is operational again for domestic flights

The Taliban repressed with tear gas and gunfire nail women’s march in kabul, the fourth mobilization led by Afghans demanding their inclusion in the next Afghan government. The insurgents have not yet announced the composition of the cabinet, although in the week one of the leaders assured that “I may not have women” at the head of the ministries. This Saturday, a plane from Qatar landed with a technical team that will be responsible for commissioning the Hamid Karzai aerodrome, where domestic flights are already operating. Clashes between Afghan rebels and Taliban fighters continue in the Panshjir valley.

Tear gas and shots in the air

A group of women has been suppressed by Taliban fighters. Protesters demand their basic rights to work and study, as well as their participation in government. The mobilization that began at the Foreign Ministry was heading towards the presidential house in Kabul, however, the insurgents used tear gas to stop the advance of the militants. “They prevented us from continuing the march and said it was not allowed to go to the gate of the presidential palaceSaid one of the protest organizers, who requested anonymity. “They used gunshots and tear gas to disperse us, even though five women gather in one place to protest, they disperse them.”added.

Another participant, Razia Barakzaï, 26 years oldtold Qatari network Al Jazeera that the combatants arrived armed and surrounded them to prevent them from continuing their march. “We were calm and peaceful all the time, but they just wanted to stop us at all costs,” he said. Barakzai also said the insurgents ordered them “Come home, each of you, one by one” even if they continued to surround them.“It was strange, they didn’t want us to stay, but they didn’t let us out either”he added.

This is the second mobilization of women in the Afghan capital. “Today’s protest was in line with yesterday’s protest calling on the Taliban to give women meaningful participation in all aspects of life, including decision-making and politics.”, explained Samira Khairkhwa, another of the organizers of the protests who insisted that they continue “Until the Taliban accept our demands, we will not remain silent or lock ourselves in homes..

A protester who was also taking part in the march was severely beaten by the fighters, according to Sharif Hassan, a correspondent for the American newspaper. The New York Times who shared images of the bloodied-faced activist on social media.

While in the southwest of the country, a group of women took to the streets of Zaranj, the provincial capital of Nimruz, to demand that the Taliban regime guarantee their fundamental rights, according to Ezzatullah Mehrdad, correspondent of the North American morning newspaper, on his Twitter account. Washington Post.

The UN Women Executive Director, Pramila Patten, explained this week that the incorporation of women into the future administration will be a “litmus test” verify the real commitment of the Taliban in favor of rights and freedoms.

The last anti-Taliban stronghold

The insurgents have again postponed the announcement of their cabinet as they attempt to defeat the last anti-Taliban stronghold in the Panshjir Valley, where Friday, the Taliban declared their victory. However, the former vice-president of the deposed Afghan government, Amrullah Saleh, who after the capture of Kabul proclaimed himself president, said that the resistance “continues and will continue”. Ahmud Masud, son of Commander Ahmed Masud, assassinated in 2001 by Al Qaeda, ruled out the possibility of a dialogue with the insurgents. According to Masud, the Taliban have “chosen the path of war”.

Airport reopening

While two people were killed and twenty injured by Taliban gunfire in the air to celebrate the withdrawal of the United States after 20 years of invasion. Insurgent spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid called on fighters to stop “shooting in the air” and “instead thank God”.

While the Persian Gulf monarchy in Qatar, seat of dialogues between the Taliban, the US government and the ousted government of Ahshraf Ghani over the past three years, announced the partial reopening of the Kabul international airport to resume humanitarian aid flights to Afghanistan .

The Qatari Ambassador to Afghanistan Saïd Mubarak al Jayarin, assured that a technical team from his country will continue to work so that “They may soon be operating international commercial flights” that also it would allow the departure of foreign and Afghan nationals who could not be evacuated before August 31.

A spokesperson for the Taliban, Bilal Karimi, he assured that domestic flights have also resumed, paralyzed after the capture of Kabul, which since August 15 had only operated evacuation flights. “The first two domestic flights took off today from Kabul airport”said Karimi, who also pointed out that a lot of technical work is required for the airport to operate domestic and international flights.

“We hope that all technical work will be completed soon, that the problems will be resolved soon and that the airport is ready for all domestic and international flights.”, he concluded. An employee of the Afghan airline Kam Air, who asked to reserve his name, assured that Hamid Karzai airfield is ready for domestic flights. “We are preparing to organize the other flights,” he confirmed, noting that the airline’s offices are not open but that they hope for a return to normal soon.

The insurgents also reopened the country’s largest stock exchange, closed since the Taliban came to power. “The Shahzada market was opened today for forex trading and businessmen,” official Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in a statement today.