An Espionage War: Afghanistan detains 10 Chinese spies suspected of plotting assassination against Uighur leader, urges China to apologise
The Afghan intelligence department announced the recent bust of a Chinese spy team with 10 Chinese nationals arrested. At least two of them have ties with the Taliban branch "Haqqani", with weapons, ammunition, explosives and Ketamine seized from the mastermind's apartment. The Afghan government said the Chinese spies are suspected of committing espionage crimes, allegedly collecting Uighur intelligence in Afghanistan and cooperating with Pakistani spy agencies to engage in terrorist activities, and demanded an apology from the Chinese authorities.
Disguised as an East Turkistan branch to lure Uighurs into traps
The arrested Chinese spy team leader, Li YangYang, who had been working for Chinese intelligence since around July-August, primarily sought information on Al Qaeda and investigated possible Uighur activity in Afghanistan's eastern provinces. He was arrested in his apartment near Kabul on Dec. 10. Another person arrested was reportedly a woman named Sha Hung, the owner of a restaurant in Kabul, in whose residence investigators found explosives.
Sources said that Sha Hung and Li Yangyang were both associated with Haqqani. They joined other Chinese spies to disguise themselves as an offshoot of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement to recruit Uighurs opposed to the Chinese government, as an attempt to "eliminate" Uighur leaders hiding in Afghanistan with the help of terrorists. Some of the Uighurs who fled China would go to Afghanistan, and the Chinese government would also immediately detain any Uighurs entering China from Afghanistan. Sources said that Beijing had previously held secret meetings with the Taliban about the Uighurs.
Source: Apple Daily #Dec27
#Uighurs #China #Afghanistan #Espionage #Taliban #EastTurkestanIslamicMovement
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201227/KIED4CBZTRAX5GQYCHMQEPFBB4/
The Afghan intelligence department announced the recent bust of a Chinese spy team with 10 Chinese nationals arrested. At least two of them have ties with the Taliban branch "Haqqani", with weapons, ammunition, explosives and Ketamine seized from the mastermind's apartment. The Afghan government said the Chinese spies are suspected of committing espionage crimes, allegedly collecting Uighur intelligence in Afghanistan and cooperating with Pakistani spy agencies to engage in terrorist activities, and demanded an apology from the Chinese authorities.
Disguised as an East Turkistan branch to lure Uighurs into traps
The arrested Chinese spy team leader, Li YangYang, who had been working for Chinese intelligence since around July-August, primarily sought information on Al Qaeda and investigated possible Uighur activity in Afghanistan's eastern provinces. He was arrested in his apartment near Kabul on Dec. 10. Another person arrested was reportedly a woman named Sha Hung, the owner of a restaurant in Kabul, in whose residence investigators found explosives.
Sources said that Sha Hung and Li Yangyang were both associated with Haqqani. They joined other Chinese spies to disguise themselves as an offshoot of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement to recruit Uighurs opposed to the Chinese government, as an attempt to "eliminate" Uighur leaders hiding in Afghanistan with the help of terrorists. Some of the Uighurs who fled China would go to Afghanistan, and the Chinese government would also immediately detain any Uighurs entering China from Afghanistan. Sources said that Beijing had previously held secret meetings with the Taliban about the Uighurs.
Source: Apple Daily #Dec27
#Uighurs #China #Afghanistan #Espionage #Taliban #EastTurkestanIslamicMovement
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201227/KIED4CBZTRAX5GQYCHMQEPFBB4/
CCTV Network’s video released to play down Taliban's ties to terrorism, deleted after criticism.
Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA) reported today (18th August 2021) that China’s China Central Television (CCTV) Network released a video introducing the Taliban on 16th, which downplayed the relationship between the Taliban and terrorism, triggering criticism from Chinese netizens. According to the online backup video, CCTV said the Taliban was born during the civil war in Afghanistan, and its members were mainly students from refugee camps, initially there were only 800 people, because of the support of the Afghan poor, their strength expanded rapidly. The film also said that the Taliban armed forces captured Kabul in 1996 to establish the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan; after 9/11, the Taliban regime was overthrown by the United States, starting a 20-year war.
The video was once ranked fifth on Weibo's top ten search list, and prompted many netizens to question it. Some people criticized the film for not mentioning terrorism, while others asked the Taliban, "Is that the one who blew up the Bamiyan Buddhas?"
A Beijing resident surnamed Guo said in an interview with Radio Free Asia on the 17th that his impression was that the Taliban in Afghanistan had provided a hideout for Osama bin Laden, the fugitive mastermind of 9/11, and not a refugee organization. He said, "In my early image, the Taliban is an international terrorist organization, and there are terrorist activities on the border and within Afghanistan."
Source: RFI #Aug18
https://rfi.my/7fQo.f
#Taliban #Terrorrism #IslamicEmirateofAfghanistan #InternationalTerroristOrganization #AfghanCivilWar #ChineseStateMedia #CCTVNetwork #OsamabinLaden #Afghanistan
Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA) reported today (18th August 2021) that China’s China Central Television (CCTV) Network released a video introducing the Taliban on 16th, which downplayed the relationship between the Taliban and terrorism, triggering criticism from Chinese netizens. According to the online backup video, CCTV said the Taliban was born during the civil war in Afghanistan, and its members were mainly students from refugee camps, initially there were only 800 people, because of the support of the Afghan poor, their strength expanded rapidly. The film also said that the Taliban armed forces captured Kabul in 1996 to establish the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan; after 9/11, the Taliban regime was overthrown by the United States, starting a 20-year war.
The video was once ranked fifth on Weibo's top ten search list, and prompted many netizens to question it. Some people criticized the film for not mentioning terrorism, while others asked the Taliban, "Is that the one who blew up the Bamiyan Buddhas?"
A Beijing resident surnamed Guo said in an interview with Radio Free Asia on the 17th that his impression was that the Taliban in Afghanistan had provided a hideout for Osama bin Laden, the fugitive mastermind of 9/11, and not a refugee organization. He said, "In my early image, the Taliban is an international terrorist organization, and there are terrorist activities on the border and within Afghanistan."
Source: RFI #Aug18
https://rfi.my/7fQo.f
#Taliban #Terrorrism #IslamicEmirateofAfghanistan #InternationalTerroristOrganization #AfghanCivilWar #ChineseStateMedia #CCTVNetwork #OsamabinLaden #Afghanistan
RFI
央視發塔利班影片淡化恐怖主義關係 遭批後刪除
阿富汗民兵組織塔利班奪下政權後，中國官媒央視網16日在微博上傳題為“60秒了解塔利班的前世今生”的影片，內容淡化塔利班與恐怖主義關係，近……
Russian media: Taliban seniors meeting with Chinese ambassador
According to the report, Afghanistan Taliban seniors meeting with Chinese ambassador in Afghanistan, discussed about local situation and safety of Chinese Embassy.
The Paper News quoted from Russian TASS News Agency, spokesperson for the Taliban Political Office in Doha posted and stated, Taliban representatives met Chinese ambassador in Afghanistan Wang Yu in Kabul. They discussed about the situation of Afghanistan, issues of safety of Chinese Embassy and ambassadors, Chinese humanitarian assistance and bilateral relations.
The spokesperson of Afghanistan Taliban indicated earlier, in which they want to keep good relationships with all countries including China and seek a friendly relation and develop economy with China.
Source: Now News #Aug05
https://news.now.com/home/international/player?newsId=447412&refer=Share
#Taliban #Afghanistan #China #Embassy #Russia #Safety #Humanity
According to the report, Afghanistan Taliban seniors meeting with Chinese ambassador in Afghanistan, discussed about local situation and safety of Chinese Embassy.
The Paper News quoted from Russian TASS News Agency, spokesperson for the Taliban Political Office in Doha posted and stated, Taliban representatives met Chinese ambassador in Afghanistan Wang Yu in Kabul. They discussed about the situation of Afghanistan, issues of safety of Chinese Embassy and ambassadors, Chinese humanitarian assistance and bilateral relations.
The spokesperson of Afghanistan Taliban indicated earlier, in which they want to keep good relationships with all countries including China and seek a friendly relation and develop economy with China.
Source: Now News #Aug05
https://news.now.com/home/international/player?newsId=447412&refer=Share
#Taliban #Afghanistan #China #Embassy #Russia #Safety #Humanity
China Offers the Taliban a Warm Welcome While Urging Peace Talks
China offered a high-profile public stage to the Taliban on Wednesday, declaring that the group rapidly retaking large parts of Afghanistan would play “an important role in the process of peaceful reconciliation and reconstruction” of the country.
Chinese officials began two days of talks with a delegation of Taliban leaders in Tianjin, a coastal city in northeastern China, significantly raising the group’s international stature after steady military gains that have taken advantage of the withdrawal of American and NATO combat forces from Afghanistan.
Chinese officials began two days of talks with a delegation of Taliban leaders in Tianjin, a coastal city in northeastern China, significantly raising the group’s international stature after steady military gains that have taken advantage of the withdrawal of American and NATO combat forces from Afghanistan.
Source: NY Times #Aug07
https://nyti.ms/38Rfalb
#China #Taliban #Afghanistan
China offered a high-profile public stage to the Taliban on Wednesday, declaring that the group rapidly retaking large parts of Afghanistan would play “an important role in the process of peaceful reconciliation and reconstruction” of the country.
Chinese officials began two days of talks with a delegation of Taliban leaders in Tianjin, a coastal city in northeastern China, significantly raising the group’s international stature after steady military gains that have taken advantage of the withdrawal of American and NATO combat forces from Afghanistan.
Chinese officials began two days of talks with a delegation of Taliban leaders in Tianjin, a coastal city in northeastern China, significantly raising the group’s international stature after steady military gains that have taken advantage of the withdrawal of American and NATO combat forces from Afghanistan.
Source: NY Times #Aug07
https://nyti.ms/38Rfalb
#China #Taliban #Afghanistan
“We’ll die slowly in history”: Tearful Afghan girl speaks of grim future for women’s rights under Taliban rule
The future of human rights in Afghanistan, especially those of women, is called to question as the Taliban seized Kabul. In a video selfie that has recently gone viral, an Afghan girl speaks out on the humanitarian crisis facing women in the country, saying that they will “die slowly in history”.
In the video, the girl says in tears that “no cares about [them] because [they] are from Afghanistan”. With the lack of attention to the conditions of Afghan women, she says, “[they’ll] die slowly in history”.
Source: Stand News #Aug16
#Afghanistan #Women #HumanRights #Taliban
https://bit.ly/3EAjZht
The future of human rights in Afghanistan, especially those of women, is called to question as the Taliban seized Kabul. In a video selfie that has recently gone viral, an Afghan girl speaks out on the humanitarian crisis facing women in the country, saying that they will “die slowly in history”.
In the video, the girl says in tears that “no cares about [them] because [they] are from Afghanistan”. With the lack of attention to the conditions of Afghan women, she says, “[they’ll] die slowly in history”.
Source: Stand News #Aug16
#Afghanistan #Women #HumanRights #Taliban
https://bit.ly/3EAjZht
The 1st Female Reporter Interviewing Taliban has Fled from Afghanistan, "Fear the Taliban as the people are"
Beheshta Arghand, a female Afghan television anchor at TOLO, had a one-on-one interview opportunity with a core member of Taliban representative, Mawlawi Abdulhaq Hemad. The interview had become global news and was referred to as one of the Taliban propaganda projects to create an enlightened and gentle image. However, Arghand escaped from Afghanistan with several family members last Tuesday.
Arghand revealed to CNN Business on WhatsApp, describing her past two weeks experience in Afghanistan and the fear of her as well as millions of other Afghan people regarding the Taliban.
Arghand said the interview with Hemad was challenging, but she did it for Afghan women. "I told myself, 'One of us must start ... If we stay in our houses or are not in our offices, they will claim the ladies don't want to work,' but I said to myself, 'Start working!'" She expressed to a Taliban member that Afghan women want their rights, want to work, want to and must integrate into society, as "this is our right."
Source: Stand News #Aug31
https://bit.ly/3ktcf8Q
#Taliban #Afghanistan #BeheshtaArghand #TOLO #MawlawiAbdulhaqHemad #CNN
Beheshta Arghand, a female Afghan television anchor at TOLO, had a one-on-one interview opportunity with a core member of Taliban representative, Mawlawi Abdulhaq Hemad. The interview had become global news and was referred to as one of the Taliban propaganda projects to create an enlightened and gentle image. However, Arghand escaped from Afghanistan with several family members last Tuesday.
Arghand revealed to CNN Business on WhatsApp, describing her past two weeks experience in Afghanistan and the fear of her as well as millions of other Afghan people regarding the Taliban.
Arghand said the interview with Hemad was challenging, but she did it for Afghan women. "I told myself, 'One of us must start ... If we stay in our houses or are not in our offices, they will claim the ladies don't want to work,' but I said to myself, 'Start working!'" She expressed to a Taliban member that Afghan women want their rights, want to work, want to and must integrate into society, as "this is our right."
Source: Stand News #Aug31
https://bit.ly/3ktcf8Q
#Taliban #Afghanistan #BeheshtaArghand #TOLO #MawlawiAbdulhaqHemad #CNN
Taliban calls China its “most important partner”, vows support for Belt and Road
The Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid has called China the group’s “most important partner” in an interview with the Italian newspaper la Repubblica. This was the first time a Taliban representative openly declares China to be its most significant ally.
In the interview, Mujahid said China is ready to invest in and rebuild Afghanistan and called it an “extraordinary opportunity”. The spokesperson also said the Taliban is following the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative closely. Noting Afghanistan’s rich copper reserves, he said the country will be modernized, “thanks to China”.
“China is our pass to markets all over the world.”
Mujahid’s comments came before the Taliban announced a new government in Afghanistan. Previously named a contender for the head of the administration, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, chief of the Taliban’s political commission and leader of the group’s recent delegation to Beijing, was appointed the acting first deputy prime minister.
Source: Stand News #Sep03
https://bit.ly/39e5tx9
#Taliban #China #Afghanistan #BeltAndRoad #Diplomacy
The Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid has called China the group’s “most important partner” in an interview with the Italian newspaper la Repubblica. This was the first time a Taliban representative openly declares China to be its most significant ally.
In the interview, Mujahid said China is ready to invest in and rebuild Afghanistan and called it an “extraordinary opportunity”. The spokesperson also said the Taliban is following the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative closely. Noting Afghanistan’s rich copper reserves, he said the country will be modernized, “thanks to China”.
“China is our pass to markets all over the world.”
Mujahid’s comments came before the Taliban announced a new government in Afghanistan. Previously named a contender for the head of the administration, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, chief of the Taliban’s political commission and leader of the group’s recent delegation to Beijing, was appointed the acting first deputy prime minister.
Source: Stand News #Sep03
https://bit.ly/39e5tx9
#Taliban #China #Afghanistan #BeltAndRoad #Diplomacy
The Times: Hongkongers are Passionate to Help Afghanistan Immigrants;
MP in the UK: Hongkongers Understand How a Subverted Life is
According to The Times, new Hong Kong immigrants to the UK shared the happiness and warmth of “first arrived in the UK” with Afghans who fled the Taliban regime. David Alton, a Member of the UK House of Lords, reposted the report on Twitter and stated that Hongkongers were taken everything, which they deeply understood Afghan's life changes and often took the lead in reaching out to those in need.
Recently, the Hillsong Church organises a volunteer plan to help Afghans, who escape to the UK, starting a new life. To get away from Taliban rule as soon as possible, many Afghans only brought some clothes with them when they left. According to the report, the plan gained support from Hongkongers who recently moved to the UK. Ginu Chacko, one of the church members, said he saw a Hong Kong couple brought some games and played with Afghan children.
Source: Stand News #Sep21
https://bit.ly/3FWGFZF
#TheTimes #Hongkongers #UnitedKingdom #Afghanistan #Taliban #Twitter #Afghan #HillsongChurch #DavidAlton #Fled
MP in the UK: Hongkongers Understand How a Subverted Life is
According to The Times, new Hong Kong immigrants to the UK shared the happiness and warmth of “first arrived in the UK” with Afghans who fled the Taliban regime. David Alton, a Member of the UK House of Lords, reposted the report on Twitter and stated that Hongkongers were taken everything, which they deeply understood Afghan's life changes and often took the lead in reaching out to those in need.
Recently, the Hillsong Church organises a volunteer plan to help Afghans, who escape to the UK, starting a new life. To get away from Taliban rule as soon as possible, many Afghans only brought some clothes with them when they left. According to the report, the plan gained support from Hongkongers who recently moved to the UK. Ginu Chacko, one of the church members, said he saw a Hong Kong couple brought some games and played with Afghan children.
Source: Stand News #Sep21
https://bit.ly/3FWGFZF
#TheTimes #Hongkongers #UnitedKingdom #Afghanistan #Taliban #Twitter #Afghan #HillsongChurch #DavidAlton #Fled