In serious development, intelligence agencies have increased the security in all Indian airports and seaports to prevent the entry of 25 ISIS-linked Indians in Afghanistan.
The alarm was sounded after these individuals were recognised by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) during their probes into multiple IS-inspired modules that are active in the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Delhi, and Karnataka. There is already a red corner notice (RCN) that was previously issued against these concerned Islamic Jihadists.
These people had travelled to Afghanistan and joined ISIS in the Nangarhar province of the country and as of now, strict vigilance has been observed in all 43 airports, seaports, international rail check and land posts with a warning that these 25 individuals might try to sneak into India through a third country.
However, some of the jihadists mentioned in the notice are already dead according to a report from the Economic Times which quoted a senior official.
The NIA has also recognised few suspects who are possibly operating from the porous Afghanistan-Pakistan border and are still active on social media. Already some women who can be called victims of Love Jihad had travelled to Afghanistan to join the ISIS but surrendered themselves to the ousted government of President Ashraf Ghani.But when the Taliban took control of many districts of Afghanistan these women were freed.
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Former United States Ambassador to the United Nations and first female Governor of South Carolina Nikki Haley has claimed that China might move to take over the Bagram air force base in Afghanistan that was once controlled by the US.
In one of her tweets, Haley said, “The situation in Afghanistan is beyond disgusting.”
Haley is touted to be the next big Republican politician who could occupy the Oval Office one day in an interview to Fox News on Wednesday (September 2), Haley said “actors like Russia are going to continue to hack us because we show no signs of willingness to fight back”.
“We need to watch China because I think you are going to see China make a move for Bagram Air Force Base,” Nikki Haley was quoted by news agency PTI as saying. “I think they are also making a move in Afghanistan and trying to use Pakistan to get stronger to go against India,” Nikki Haley said.
She also talked bout new challenges faced by the US after the Taliban took over Afghanistan and said how the US should be prepared for cybercrimes and strengthen its relationships with allies.
Nikki Haley also strongly criticised President Joe Biden over the botched US withdrawal from Afghanistan and said the administration must reach out to its allies like India, Japan, and Australia which makes the QUAD groups of nations.
She also stressed that America must also “assure them [allies] that the US will have their back”, Nikki Haley was quoted as saying by PTI.
“Joe Biden lost the trust of our service members and military families. He lost the trust of our allies. He lost the trust of the American people,” Nikki Haley said.
Joe Biden lost the trust of our service members and military families. He lost the trust of our allies. He lost the trust of the American people. pic.twitter.com/RIESKY5aYl
“Not only are Russia and China enjoying Joe Biden’s retreat in Afghanistan, but they’re also ready to seize the moment. The implications of Joe Biden’s foreign policy could be catastrophic for America,” she said.
Not only are Russia and China enjoying Joe Biden's retreat in Afghanistan, but they're also ready to seize the moment.
The implications of Joe Biden's foreign policy could be catastrophic for America. pic.twitter.com/eer9DD6gP2
Meanwhile, in his address to the nation on Tuesday, Joe Biden in order to pivot the attention of his nation said the US must now confront challenges from powerful adversaries such as Russia and China and strongly argued that ending the Afghanistan war was a crucial step for recalibrating American foreign policy toward growing challenges posed by China and Russia which also includes counterterrorism concerns seen as the greatest threat to the US.
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A letter printed in the name of one Pastor David, the Chairman & Managing Trustee of St. Paul’s College of Arts 7 Science for Women and St. Paul’s Matriculatation Higher Secondary School in Coimbatore, had caused uproar on social media in which he urged Christians to form gangs and carry out rallies opposing idol worship on Vinayaga Chathurthi.
In that letter he states how Christians went in 200 vehicles in 100 wards of Coimbatore Corporation on August 23, 2017 and prayed for abolition of idol worship on Vinayaga Chaturthi in Coimbatore. It also added how on September 1, 2018 many Christians from different denominations went in 1000 vehicles and prayed for the abolition of Vinayaga idol worship and a similar rally was held in 2019.
“The Coimbatore District Collector has imposed various restrictions on Vinayagar Chaturthi due to the prayer rallies we held in Coimbatore for 3 years. Now, idols cannot be placed without his permission thus reducing the number of Vinayagar idols.”, the letter said adding that this year too Christians have to come together to make it an even better even than the previous years.
“We need your support and cooperation to make this even better this year. As Ganesha Chaturthi is coming on 10.9.2021 this year, a similar prayer should be held on 9.9.2021, or 8.9.2021 on any other convenient day.”, the letter stated.
This letter started doing the rounds on social media a few days before. As the letter came to light, Hindu Munnani volunteers besieged the Thudiyalur police station in protest and submitted a complaint. Following this, the pastor was arrested for trying to foment religious hatred.
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After the complete withdrawal of the US forces from Afghanistan, the only resistance against the Taliban is now completely in the hansds of the fighters led by the acting president Amrullah Saleh in the northeastern province Panjshir valley.
Panjshir is the only province, where the the Taliban forces have suffered significant losses even after their blitz across Afghanistan.
However, Northern Alliance claimed that 350 Talibani fighters had been killed. “So far from battle of Khavak last night, taliban has 350 casualties, more than 40 captured & prisoned. NRF got many new American vehicles, weapons & ammunitions as a trophy. Commanded Defense of Khavak,Commander Munib Amiri,” the tweet read.
So far from battle of Khavak last night, taliban has 350 casualties, more than 40 captured & prisoned. NRF got many new American vehicles, weapons & ammunitions as a trophy. Commanded Defense of Khavak,Commander Munib Amiri 👏🏼#AhmadMassoud#Taliban#Panjshir#secondresistancepic.twitter.com/nSlFN47xL2
The Panjshir valley lies in the Hindu Kush mountains, 90 miles north of the capital city of Kabul, which the Taliban took control on August 15 after the collapse of the Afghan government.
In the Panjshir valley now ists Ahmad Massoud, son of famous Afghan commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, and Amrullah Saleh who has said he will not compramise with the Taliban under any condition and he would rather die.
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Members of the national and international human rights community has condemned the harassment meted out to Intersex activist Gopi Shankar Madurai who is the South Representative at the National Council for Transgender Persons.
“We the members of the national and international human rights community deeply condemn the human rights violation and inhumane treatment committed by the Revenue Inspector of Chengalpattu (Mahabalipuram) James, District Collector of Chengalpattu Rahul Nadh IAS, Police Inspector Mahabalipuram D. Natarajan on Gopi Shankar Madurai, South Region representative of the National Council for Transgender Persons (NTCP) and prominent intersex rights activist who has contributed a lot for the betterment of gender and sexual minorities”, the statement said.
“We are stunned by the behaviour of District Collector of Chengalpattu Rahul Nadh IAS who abused his power and acted in violation of principles of natural justice”, the statement further noted.
The joint statement also said that the authorities along with VAO Venkat Rajesh of Mahabalipuram verbally abused and insulted Gopi who was addressing grievances of the concerns of Transgender and gender non-confirming communities noting that Ze is empowered to do so under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights Act), 2019.
It said that due process of law should be followed and people involved should be given an opportunity to provide their account.
“We issue this statement in solidarity with the firm belief that any for of inhumane treatment, hatred, and violence against Gopi and SOGIESC community is an attack on all of us and the rights enshrined in the Supreme Constitution of India. We stand together to call for solidarity and support across our various communities.”, the statement said.
The signatories included:
1) Bangladesh Queer Partnership Platform- EQUAL, Bangladesh
2) Inclusive Bangladesh, Bangladesh
3) Noboprobhaat Social Welfare Society, Bangladesh
4) Prantoz Foundation, Bangladesh
5) Somota Foundation, Canada
7) Pathchola Foundation, Bangladesh
8) Nayyab Ali, Transgender Rights Activist, Pakistan
9) Tanveer Rouf, Queer and Vegan Activist, Bangladesh/Canada
10) Manisha Meem Nipun, Transgender Rights Activist, Bangladesh
11) Md Yasin Ali, Queer Rights Activist, Bangladesh
12) Tushar Kanti Baidya, Human Rights Activist, Bangladesh
Gopi Shankar had posted in his social media that the DMK Government in Tamil Nadu is trying to trap him into false cases by implicating him as a drug peddler.
Some of the other activists and organizations who have expressed solidarity to Gopi include
1. Anjali Gopalan – Founder of the Naz Foundation (India) Trust. New Delhi, India.
2. Henry Koh – Executive Director of ILGA Asia (The International Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans and Intersex Association, Bangkok, Thailand)
3. Iniyan Ellalan – Dalit Rights Activist, MC Rajah Youth Movement. Chennai and Madurai, India.
4. Ashok Row Kavi – Senior LGBTQ+ Rights Activist & Editor of Bombay Dost & Founder of Humsafar Trust.
5. Intersex Asia, Taiwan (through their statement of support from their official Facebook page).
Hurriyat leader and one of the leading separatist leaders in Kashmir Syed Ali Shah Geelani died late Wednesday (September 2) at his residence in Srinagar’s Hyderpora locality.
Geelani 92, was the most polarising figure in Kashmir and led the secessionism for decades funded by Pakistan. In 2008, he founded his own party which he called Tehreek-e-Hurriyat.
I met Syed Ali Shah Geelani twice in life. Most interestingly when India Today invited me to speak at their 2011 Conclave in New Delhi where I exposed his links with masters across the border in Pakistan and how he supported terrorism. The crowd booed when he tried to respond.👇 pic.twitter.com/oVMv91vrhY
An ANI report quoted IGP (Kashmir range), Vijay Kumar, as saying that internet services have been suspended across the Valley as part of a series of precautionary curbs.
Pakistan Prime Minister called Geelani a “Kashmiri freedom fighter”, and announced, “The Pakistan flag will fly at half-mast and we will observe a day of official mourning.”
Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the Islamist who pushed hundreds of Kashmiri Muslims into jihadi terrorism for the sake of Pakistan, is dead. He was responsible for the ethnic cleansing of Hindus in Kashmir. He will go down in history as a loser jihadi, whom Pakistan eventually dumped.
His body will now be taken to his ancestral village in Sopore for burial, family sources said and he would be remembered as the leader who incited the young to take arms against the state while his family enjoyed all the privileges.
Geelani’s death comes at a time when the Centre is contemplating a ban on both factions of the Hurriyat which will be the second most important decision after the abrogation of article 370.
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The Madras High court on Wednesday (September 1) directed the Tamil Nadu government to amend rules to take appropriate action against cops who harass people from the LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual) community or those belonging to NGOs supporting such people.
Justice N. Anand Venkatesh issued the direction after expressing disappointment over complaints of police personnel harassing LGBTQIA+ members as well the NGOs supporting them.
Venkatesh said that despite him issuing comprehensive directions on June 7 to various stakeholders, including the state government, to provide counselling, monetary support, legal assistance and protection to the LGBTQIA+ community members, no changes were effected to help those who face serious discriminations in the society.
He said that sensitisation programme for police personnel on how to deal with LGBTQIA+ people were not followed adding that such sensitisation programme must be conducted by persons belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community or NGO members who are involved in protecting and looking after the welfare of such people.
The judge asked Advocate General R. Shanmugasundaram to direct the authorities concerned to be more proactive on the issue.
He also said that Tamil Nadu has made several progressive reforms, but he could not understand why the police personnel still continue to harass the members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Coming down heavy on the media for ‘insensitive’ reporting about LGBTQIA+ community, Justice Venkatesh said, “The reportage of the most intimate and personal aspects of an individual’s identity by the contemporary vernacular media is deeply problematic.”
“It not only reflects the pre-existing harmful stigmatisation of the society, but also perpetuates it. Stigmatising inaccurate and inherently unscientific terms like ‘A man turned into a woman’ or a ‘Woman turned into a man’ are based on queerphobia and cannot be tolerated or entertained any further. It is high time journalists stick to sensitive and inclusive terms on the gender spectrum,” Justice Anand Venkatesh said.
He said that it reposes confidence in the press and urges it to show more sensitivity while reporting such cases.
Recently, it was reported that Chengalpattu Collector Rahul Nadh IAS allegedly harassed the southern representative of the National Council for Transgender Persons, Gopi Shankar Madurai by initiating action against him and other fellow members of his community while they had gathered at a place to discuss the problems faced by the trans community.
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has sought an ‘action taken report’ from the DGP of Tamil Nadu on the harassment and abuse meted out to trans-activist.
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(This article is based on the dispatches sent by the late Graham Staines and Ms Gladys Staines to an Australian missionary magazine named ‘Tidings’. Part of the dispatches are covered in the Justice D.P. Wadhwa Commission of Inquiry report dated 21st June, 1999 and rest of the despatches were sourced by our team of researchers)
‘Tidings’ is a newsletter published from Australia by Australian Missionary Tidings. It is a monthly publication and contains “Missionary Mail” from various countries from all over the world. Despatches sent by Mr. Graham Staines and his wife Ms. Gladys Staines were also published in each issue of the Tidings.
‘SALE OF BIBLES/ DISTRIBUTION OF BIBLE TRACTS AT HINDU CHARIOT FESTIVAL OF LORD JAGANNATH’:
From two of the despatches of late Mr Graham Staines that his team of Christian evangelists and Missionaries were involved in the above activity. In fact Mr Staines was very happy that record sales of Bibles and Christian books took place. Both in 1997 and in 1998, World famous Jagannath Chariot festivals (popularly known as Rath Yathra) were targeted for Bible tract distribution and sale of Bibles & Christian literature. Such a sale/distribution of Christian literature in an important Hindu festival may not be illegal but certainly not moral. It may not be out of place to mention that the fundamental right to practice and propagate one’s religion as guaranteed by Article 25(1) of the Constitution of India is subject to ‘Public Order, Morality and Health’. This act of late Mr. Graham Staines certainly fails the ‘Morality’ condition of the fundamental right.
Praise God for answered prayer in the recent Jagganath car festival at Baripada.A good team of preachers came from the village churches and four OM workers helped in the second part of the festival. There were record book sales, so a lot of literature has gone into people’s hand. Pray for a man named Surja Singh who bought a Bible. He first heard the gospel in his home village in 1989. He told others to follow Christ, but did not do so himself. For some time he had been wondering where he could get a Bible to read again about the Lord, who he believes is the only one who can deliver him from the fear of evil spirits.”
The scriptures have been put into hands of the people through books sold and tracts distributed at the recent Jagganath Car Festival. Pray for God’s word to bear fruit in the lives of those who have received them. Despite the extreme heat 120 children attended the Raika Vacation Bible School in June. Pray for the staff of the leprosy home. Some come to work very late and do not seem to have as much interest in serving the Lord as they used to.
EVANGELIST ACTIVITIES AND BAPTISMS IN JUNGLE CAMPS:
The despatches of late Graham Staines repeatedly talk about evangelist activities especially in jungle camps. Accurate figures of those attending the camps, activities like Bible preaching and baptisms find repeat mention in most of the despatches. The motivation of the tribals and rural folk to abandon their ancestral faith and convert can be gauged by testimonies of two converts mentioned in the Commission report. Both the witnesses mention ‘magic/miracle cure for health issues’ and ‘getting rid of fear of spirits’ as their prime motives for conversion to Christianity. It is possible that the tribals were told of miracle healing powers of Jesus Christ in the jungle camps. One of the witnesses testified before the Commission that he reverted to Hinduism as his problems were not solved through the miracle cure of Jesus as promised to him earlier. However, the Justice D.P.Wadhwa Commission of Inquiry concluded that monetary incentives were not given for conversion to Christianity.
Issue Date: JUNE, 1997. Date of Despatch: Mayurbhanj, 25 April, 1997:
The first jungle camp in Ramchandrapur was a fruitful time and the Spirit of God worked among the people. About 100 attended and some were baptised at the camp. At present Misayel and some of the church leaders are touring a number of places where people are asking for baptism. Five were baptised at Bigonbadi. Pray for the Etani Trust in which the mission properties are vested. One man managed by underhand means to get parts of the properly in his own name and a number of nominal Christians of the Baripada church are also trying to get some of this valuable property for themselves. The Trust is having to take legal action to rectify this.”
Praise God we now have the Ho New Testament in Oriya script and many copies are now in the hands of the Ho people. Pray that it will be used by God to speak to many as they read his word in their own language. The wife of Surga Singh, the new believer from the Car Festival, is also interested but it is a slow process for an illiterate mother to understand so much that is new. Pray for them as they plan to move soon to Bhubaneswar and are concerned about finding fellowship and teaching there. The Ho believers in Thakurmunda still face persecution. From time to time the village people have beaten them up, broken their bicycles and not allowed them to worship in their own church building. Three people came to Baripada to meet district officials and petition for justice. Pray that action will be taken to allow freedom to worship.
Issue Date: March 1998. Despatch Date: Mayurbhanj, 20th January 1998:
More than 160 ladies stayed at the camp held at Palasboni, and with them who came and went each day, there were up to 205 at the meetings. This is many more than last year. Pray for a continuing work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of these ladies through the word of God which they have heard.
APRIL, 1998 Mayurbhanj, 11 February:
Jungle Camp means four days of Bible teaching, prayer and the fellowship of Christians living together. It enables believers from other churches to meet with local Christians to discuss experiences and encourage one another. Also, speakers from other places broaden the vision of those whose lives have been confined to one small village. The teaching helps the church leaders to further develop material for their own regular ministry.
The camp can also create hunger in the hearts of those who come just to observe. Each camp has a bookstall, which for many is the only chance to buy Christian literature. The three camps held so far this year were well attended and others are to be held in the next few months. There are different needs in each place. Pray for wisdom for the leaders and responsive hearts in the people. One lady commented after reading some of the Ho New Testament – ‘God’s word is just so fresh and new to me as I read it now. It was also encouraging to see so many Ho people following the references in the Ho New Testament during the messages at Sarat Jungle Camp. We sold all the New Testaments we took there.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION TO MINOR CHILDREN:
As can be seen from the various despatches, the large scale organisation of Vacation Bible Schools and Sunday school for kids, exposure to Christianity of girls staying in Mission sponsored hostels are clear pointers that the team of evangelists led by late Graham Staines were imparting Christian religious education to minor children.
VIOLATION OF THE ORISSA FREEDOM OF RELIGION ACT, 1967:
The above act came into force with effect from 11th January, 1968. Rules were framed under the Act in 1989 and were in force during the time period in which late Graham Staines was working in the state of Orissa. From the Justice D.P.Wadhwa Commission of Inquiry it is clear that neither the team of late Graham Staines nor the district administration were aware of Act/ Rules of the above act nor did they make any attempt to follow the provisions of the Act. Thus it is beyond doubt that violations of the Orissa Freedom of Religion Act, 1967 for prolonged periods of time were carried on with impunity by the evangelist teams led by late Graham Staines. In his despatches, late Graham Staines made mention of baptisms multiple times. As per the above Act and rules framed thereunder, every event of baptism shall be informed to the concerned District Magistrate. But there is no mention of any such intimation by the late Graham Staines. Also the individual changing his religion has to declare his intention to do so to a Magistrate 1st Class of the jurisdiction concerned. The dispatches do not speak of any such declaration being filed.
A number of witnesses who testified before the Commission said that ‘Cure from Health Problems’ was the prime reason for conversion to Christianity. Does not the promise of Magic Cure upon conversion amount to ‘Fraud’ under the above Act? In fact some of the witnesses reverted back to Hinduism when the promised Magic Cures did not materialise. Justice D.P.Wadhwa Commission of Inquiry recorded their dismay as follows:
“Both the District Magistrates and the Superintendent of Police also did not have a proper working knowledge of the Orissa Freedom of Religion Act and were not aware of the provisions of the Act and its rules.”
SOCIAL TENSIONS AND DISPUTES WITHIN THE CHRISTIAN GROUP:
The despatches of late Graham Staines and Gladys Staines speak of tensions in the villages, threats from trouble makers as also within the Christian groups on issues of church management and other issues. Land ownership, church administration led to internal squabbles and closing down of churches and the cancellation of Vacation Bible Schools.
Issue Date: JULY, 1998: Despatch Date: Mayurbhanj, 19 May, 1998.
There are many new believers in the Manoharpur church and the work is growing. The devil is now finding an opportunity to hinder the work of God. There is disagreement between the young people and the older men of the church. A problem arose about the land on which the church is built and the planned Vacation Bible School had to be cancelled. Last year more than 100 children attended this programme. The translation of Daily Life into Oriya is complete. Pray for the checking of the text and that the printing will be done well and speedily. We have been told that a militant Hindu group plans to concentrate on Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts to turn Christians back to Hinduism. Pray for wisdom, grace and steadfastness for all God’s children.”
Issue Date: AUGUST, 1998, Date of Despatch: Mayurbhanj, 9 June, 1998.
In many churches here Sunday schools have ceased to function. I have been advocating these and at a recent church leaders meeting I heard that some have re-started this work. It is often difficult to find the right ones to conduct Sunday school and mostly they have to do it without materials as very little is available.
The Vacation Bible School that was to be held in Manoharpur was cancelled because of problems in the church there. Two hundred and eight children registered for the one at Raika, but because of the extreme heat only 120 came. It was an excellent time and some young people who teach in VBS are being trained and encouraged for children’s work and Sunday school.”
Leprosy Mission work of late Mr Graham Staines:
After reading the despatches of late Graham Staines and Gladys Staines, it becomes clear that the despatches talk mostly about evangelist activities and once in a while a passing reference is made to leprosy work. While precise figures about the number of attendees at the jungle camps, Vacation Bible School for children, number of people attending the church, number of baptised people are mentioned in the despatches, no such figures or even a passing reference is found in these despatches.
It may not be out of place to mention that leprosy is a vanishing disease and in India,the number of active cases and new cases diagnosed each year have fallen steeply. The Annual New Case Detection Rate (ANCDR) has fallen steeply in the last 25 years.
Source: National Leprosy Eradication Programme website
Thus it is clear that late Graham Staines spent a considerable part of his time and energy in evangelist activities, church planting, Bible translations, sale of Bibles, distribution of tracts and baptisms rather than leprosy work.
To sum it up, the late Graham Staines was more of an evangelist propagating Christianity amongst tribals and less of a Leprosy Relief worker. His activities violated The Orissa Freedom of Religion Act, 1967 multiple times over prolonged periods of time. Social tensions and communal strife followed his activities.
Further discussion on the Justice D.P. Wadhwa Commission report and other related issues can be found in Mr Arun Shourie’s blog.
(This article was originally published in Nijam Today and has been republished in The Commune with permissions)
A two-page statement congratulating the Taliban was released by the Islamic terror group Al-Qaeda and it said the victory of the Taliban is a cause of celebration for the “Islamic Ummah” i.e. the entire Islamic community in Afghanistan and presumably in all of Asia.
According to the reports, the congratulatory message was released by As-Sahab, al Qaeda’s media arm, in Arabic and English hours after the last American soldiers left Afghanistan.
Earlier United States President Joe Biden had famously claimed that Al Qaedahas been destroyed and in his address to the nation on Tuesday September 1 said, “We delivered justice to bin Laden on May 2nd, 2011, over a decade ago. Al-Qaeda was decimated,” however this boombastic statement seems was only meant for his domstic audiance.
In its statement titled “Congratulations to the Islamic Ummah on the victory granted by Allah in Afghanistan!”, Al-Qaeda’s leadership has praised Allah for the victory, saying it “soothed” their hearts to hear verses from the Quran recited in the Presidential Palace in Kabul after it had been “cleansed from the filth of the Americans”.
Also, in the statement, Al-Qaeda called for the “liberation of Kashmir” and other so-called Islamic lands from the “clutches of the enemies of Islam”.
“We praise the Almighty, the Omnipotent, who humiliated and defeated America, the head of disbelief,” the statement read, adding, “We praise Him for breaking America’s back, tarnishing its global reputation and expelling it, disgraced and humiliated, from the Islamic land of Afghanistan.”
The terror group which carried out the 9/11 attack twenty years ago said that the Taliban as the Islamic Emirate was a “graveyard of empires” and an “impregnable fortress” and praised four Taliban leaders for achieving victory in Afghanistan, the three emirs of the group since its founding, and Jalaluddin Haqqani, a close confidant of Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan.
“On this historic occasion, we would like to offer our congratulations to the leadership of the Islamic Emirate, specifically Haibatullah Akhundzada,” the statement read. “May Allah accept your martyrs – the men, women and children who offered sacrifices in this path!” the statement said.
Al-Qaeda praised Mullah Omar who defied America by refusing to turn over Osama bin Laden in 2001. “With firm trust in Allah’s promise of victory, [Omar] made his famous statement, the echo of which can be heard today, loud and clear, all across Afghanistan, indeed all across the Islamic World,” the letter read.
Al-Qaeda then describes Mullah Omar’s vow in 2001 that read, “Allah has promised us victory, and Bush has promised us defeat; we shall see which of the two promises shall be fulfilled!”.
The statement continues, “May Allah bless the soul of the Emir of the Believers, the defiant, uncompromising leader, Mullah Akhtar Mansour!”.
Al-Qaeda also asks Allah to “have mercy on the mentor of the Mujahideen, the father of martyrs, Sheikh Jalaluddin Haqqani.”
“We call upon the Afghan nation to abide by the decisions and Shariah-based policies of the blessed Islamic Emirate,” the statement read. Al Qaeda also asked the Islamic ummah to extend its total support to the Islamic Emirate in all fields, specifically at this critical juncture in which all forces of disbelief have set their eyes upon this Islamic nation.
In the detailed statement issued by Al-Qaeda it called for liberation of Kashmir, Palestine, the Levant, Somalia, and Yemen.
“0′ Allah! Liberate the Levant, Somalia, Yemen, Kashmir and the rest of the Islamic lands from the clutches of the enemies of Islam. 0’ Allah! Grant freedom to Muslim prisoners across the world”.
Al-Qaeda has said that the victory of the Taliban over the US has proved that the way of Jihad is the only way that can defeat the “American Empire of Evil” and is a “tremendous source of inspiration for the oppressed of the world,”.
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On Tuesday (31 August), 1.3 crore Covid vaccine doses were administered across the country something everyone across the world thought was impossible.
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that by end of August 60 crore (600 Million) people will be inoculated with the Covid vaccine, the world ridiculed India but the fact remains that a country from the global south has achieved this milestone.
August 31, 2021, is the highest single-day inoculation achieved by India since it began the vaccination drive on 16 January, and data from the CoWin portal states over 1.32 crore Covid-19 vaccine doses were administered across the country on Tuesday, nearly 24 lakh more than the previous record of 1.08 crore doses in a single-day.
On 27 August, India had administered over 1 crore (1,08,83,963) vaccine doses for the first time, and as of 8 am on Wednesday (1 September). India’s Covid vaccination coverage has now crossed 65.32 crore (65,32,98,) doses, according to the CoWin data and increasing.
So far, over 50 crore (50,37,33,179) first doses have been administered across the country while 14.95 crore (14,95,65,467) shots have been administered as the second dose.
When it comes to the crucial age group of 18-44, over 31.76 crore vaccine doses have been administered while 19.83 crore jabs have been given to those in the 45-60 age group.
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