Civilian Casualties

According to the news reports, dozens of civilians have been killed by coalition air strikes recently in the south-eastern and western parts of the country, and it has deepened the concerns of the Afghan people and human rights organizations.

Last week during heavy clashes between US-led coalition forces and insurgents in both western Farah and eastern Kunar provinces, coalition forces in both provinces called for air supports which killed a large number of civilians. According to the provincial officials, 108 civilians were killed in the Balabluk district of Farah province and 60 people were killed in eastern Kunar province. The first air strike killed 35 civilians in Kunar on Thursday including 9 family members of a man called Mohammed and 25 more civilians were killed on Friday while they were burying the bodies of those who were killed in Thursday's air raids. More here at afghanWarrior

Family Supporter

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Every day her mother makes her some Bolani (Afghan fast food) and sells each one for 5 afg, almost ten cents.
She is 9 years old and wishes to go to school one day. She wishes that one day they’ll have food at home and a schoolbag for her brother. She wishes for the day when he will have shoes on his feet. She is tired.

I asked her if she likes to go to school.
“If I go to school who is going to take care of my little brother and sister? Who is going to feed my mother? We don’t have a home, we don’t have food, and we don’t have money. That is why I am coming to the street to sell Bolani and earn a little money, to buy food for my family”, she answered.
Read more here at Afghan LORD

Forget about life in Kabul, Let’s go to the Military Base

I was pleased to learn that Newsweek, one of the most widely read magazines in North America and globally, is putting the lighter side of Afghanistan back in the limelight through the installation of a new section - Afghan Diary.

But, it was rather disappointing to see the journalist leap after covering a single story about life in Kabul to life in the Bagram Air Base. This comes as no surprise though given Western media’s preoccupation with soldiers, military bases, and incessant violence. Read more at SunLeaf

Grand plans that dissolved into an update

I had grand plans for my next post. One is about the hijab and another is about color & race.

Y'all will just have to make do with this update-y post until about the end of the month. If I finish everything early (this would require magic), then I'll post.

I'm tired. I haven't prepared for the exam as well as I should have (I have a whole host of reasons, stuff I would've have chosen to do despite the slight panic I'm facing now). I have a paper to finish, family stuff to take care of, prepare for travel back to the watan (soon Inshallah!) and oh yeah, and I no longer have health insurance. Read more here

Afghan Association Blogwriters demands immediate release of Kamran Merhazar

Statement of Afghan association blogwriters demands immediate release of Kamran Mehrazar the editor of Kabul Press website

Afghan PenLog is express its concern about the detention of independent journalist Kamran Merhazar by Afghan special police agency NDS.

Kamran Merhazar was picked up on Wednesday, at 11:00 am by four plain clothed police who pretending to be Afghan police agency NDS. They pointed that Merhazar was picked up for questioning but within 24 hours he has been in custody with no phone and no legal representation. As far as we know no criminal charges have yet been made against him.

The NDS has not issued any kind of statement about why they have detain Merhazar other than they wanted to question him.

Speculation about why Merhazar was been detained varies from accusations he was “critical of government” in some stories he published, to being accused of “being a spy”. some media resources believe he has been detained because he published a story revealing salaries and conditions of senior government officials and ministers. The document he sourced securing this information is claimed to be confidential government information. Another theory is because he was connected to an article published in Kabul Press about an advisor to the government that the article suggested “may have links” to ISI, Pakistan’s secret intelligence agency.

Afghan PenLog is deeply concrerned that Merhazara has been illegally detained as no criminal charges have been laid against him. Afghan PenLog ugre NDS and government of Afghanistan to release Kamran Merhazar and follow legitimate legal process when investigating issues around freedom of information and the reputation of government and it’s officials.

the Association of Afghan Blogwriters
Afghan Penlog

Peace Jirga

Pakistan and Afghanistan reiterate their commitment to put up a joint front against the terrorists in the region during the Estranged South Asian Neighbors conference in Kabul. Afghan president Hamid Karzai and Pakistani prime minister Shaukat on Tuesday urged working together against the insurgents and terrorists along their common border. Addressing a joint news conference, both leaders expressed confidence towards the Peace Jirga slated to meet in the last week of June or early August in Kabul. Last week the Peace Jirga delegation from the Afghan side met President Musharaf in Islamabad and voiced maximum interest in a stable and prosperous Afghanistan. Both the Afghan and Pakistani delegation have agreed that the joint Afghan/Pakistani Jirga should be held after two months in Kabul and they are now busy with working on the Jirga agenda. Read more here

Six Million Children at Risk

Recently I heard shocking news from Noor Mohammad Wasil, the deputy minister of social work. Lately he visited an orphanage in Mazar-e-Sharif, northern Afghanistan. According to Noor Mohammad, 6 million children are at risk of sexual abuse, violence and harsh child labor. According to the deputy of minister of social work, 50% of these children are under 19. Since 6 million out of 12 million got the opportunity to go to school, the rest of the children are under exposure of different threats and abuse.
According to his estimation, children are exposed to addiction of narcotics, child abuse, marriage under the legal age and smuggling.
The government and international community must pay attention, since these are serious threats for the future of the children.
Read more at Afghan LORD

Adventures with the Attorney General

We've been having SO MUCH fun with the Attorney General in Afghanistan. There doesn't seem to be very much outcry in the U.S. but I think his case is an example of inept meddling and its repercussions...continued here