Results for: Afghanistan

The arrest of an Afghan national accused of plotting an Election Day terror attack has reignited concerns among lawmakers about the vetting process for Afghan refugees who arrived in the U.S. following the withdrawal from Afghanistan. The suspect, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, allegedly conspired to provide material support to ISIS and received a firearm for a potential crime of terrorism. While the Biden administration insists on a multilayered vetting process, Republicans remain skeptical, citing the lack of accountability and potential for further threats.

A Republican congresswoman, Stephanie Bice, claims the Biden administration has blocked the FBI from providing her with a briefing on the arrest of an Afghan man accused of plotting a terror attack on Election Day. Bice alleges that the Justice Department intervened despite the FBI’s willingness to provide information. This incident raises further concerns about the vetting process of Afghan refugees following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The European Court of Justice is set to rule on whether Afghan women can be granted refugee status solely based on their gender and nationality, highlighting the dire situation facing women in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. The court’s decision will have significant implications for how European nations handle asylum applications from Afghan women.

The House of Representatives passed a resolution rebuking Biden administration officials for their handling of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, with 10 Democrats joining Republicans in the vote. The resolution specifically names 15 current or former Biden administration members, including President Biden himself, and accuses them of prioritizing optics over security, leading to the deaths of 13 U.S. servicemembers in a terror attack at Kabul airport. The bill was spearheaded by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, who is also poised to lead the House in holding Secretary of State Antony Blinken in contempt of Congress over accusations he is stonewalling his probe into the withdrawal.

A new House bill, the ‘No Funding Without Freedom Act’, aims to cut off U.S. aid to Afghanistan until American citizens detained by the Taliban are released. The bill is spearheaded by Rep. Dan Meuser, whose constituent Ryan Corbett has been held captive for over 500 days. The measure has garnered bipartisan support and highlights the ongoing struggle to secure the safe return of Americans unjustly imprisoned in the country.

The 2024 election is in full swing, with key developments on the campaign trail and in Washington D.C. Biden defended his Afghanistan withdrawal in his final UN General Assembly address, Harris calls for ending the filibuster to pass an abortion law, and Trump reveals the first foreign leader he’ll call on day one. Meanwhile, vote-by-mail trends show a shift in favor of Republicans, and the race for the GOP leadership is heating up.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee has advanced a contempt resolution against Secretary of State Antony Blinken, setting the stage for a potential House-wide vote on holding him in contempt. The move comes after Blinken refused to comply with a subpoena from the committee regarding the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan in 2021. Republicans allege Blinken is stonewalling their investigation into the withdrawal, while Blinken argues that his schedule at the United Nations General Assembly prevents him from testifying. The House GOP has previously held other Biden officials in contempt, but those cases were not prosecuted by the Department of Justice.

A group of Republican lawmakers is proposing legislation to cut off all aid to Afghanistan, citing concerns that the Taliban is benefiting from US taxpayer dollars. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Josh Brecheen, aims to prevent further financial support for the Taliban regime and ensure that aid is not diverted to unintended recipients.

The Pakistani Taliban has denied involvement in a bomb attack targeting a convoy of foreign ambassadors in Pakistan’s Swat Valley. The attack, which injured several police officers, raises concerns about security breaches and highlights the ongoing instability in the region. The incident has strained relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, as the Pakistani Taliban has found refuge in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover.

South Africa secured a comfortable seven-wicket victory in the third ODI against Afghanistan, preventing a series sweep. Aiden Markram’s composed 69 led the charge, while disciplined bowling from Lungi Ngidi, Nqabayomzi Peter, and Andile Phehlukwayo restricted Afghanistan to a low total.