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Boris Johnson directly approved the evacuation of cats and dogs with Pen Farthings animal charity from Afghanistan, according to a second government whistleblower.

Josie Stewart a senior official at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said it was widespread knowledge that the decision to help the Nowzad charity came from the prime minister.

Mr Johnson has denied direct involvement in the evacuation of animals. But Ms Stewart backed up claims made by whistleblower Raphael Marshall saying emails in her inbox referenced the PMs decision on Nowzad.

Ms Stewart also accused Sir Philip Barton, the Foreign Offices permanent undersecretary, and Nigel Casey, the PMs special representative forAfghanistan, of having intentionally lied to MPs on the foreign affairs select committee.

The whistleblower said she cannot fathom why they would do so but that they must have done so, adding: I have tried to imagine but cannot conceive of any way this could have been an honest mistake.

The Foreign Office immediately rejected the whistleblowers claims. At all times officials have responded to the committees questions in good faith, on the basis of the evidence available to us at the time, said a FCDO spokesperson.

The spokesperson also said the prime minister has made clear he had no role in authorising individual evacuations fromAfghanistanduring Operation Pitting, including Nowzad staff and animals.

But Labours shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said the revelations were further confirmation that the prime minister put the lives of animals ahead of humans on a personal whim and then lied about doing so.

The Labour frontbencher called the PM a serial liar and added: He is unfit to be prime minister.

Ms Stewart, who said she previously leaked information such was her concern about the handling of the Afghan crisis, said she accepted that speaking out would likely mean losing her job.

She said: I feel a strong sense of moral injury for having been part of something so badly managed and so focused on managing reputational risk and political fallout rather than the actual crisis and associated human tragedy.

Ms Stewart said the messages about the animal evacuation decision were coming from the PM on Microsoft Teams, and heard it discussed in the crisis centre including by senior civil servants.

She also said she was copied on numerous emails which clearly suggested this which no-one, including Mr Casey, challenged.

In January MPs on the foreign affairs select committee published an email from a senior official referring to the PMs decision on Nowzad, copied to Mr Casey.

Sir Philip apologised for inadvertently inaccurate answers, stating that Mr Casey had been busy that day and did not remember the email.

The BBC later published further emails showing that Mr Casey wrote an email about asking Number 10 for input on the case.

Ms Stewart told MPs: Nigel Casey explicitly testified that he had searched his emails and found nothing of relevance, yet when I searched my emailsfor PMandNowzad Ifound more than oneemail referencing the PMs decision on Nowzad and with Nigel Casey in copy.

The whistleblower added: I cannot fathom why either Philip Barton or Nigel Casey would have intentionally lied to the Committee, but I believe that they must have done so both in the letter dated 17 January and intheoral testimony given on 25 January.

Ms Stewart said she did not believe there was any deliberate decision to prioritise animals over people but that the decision to approve Nowzads Afghan staff under LOTR (leave outside the rules) was not in line with policy.

The whistleblower said there was no reason to believe these people should be prioritised under the agreed criteria.

She said although letters from Sir Philip and Foreign Office minister Lord Ahmad were factually accurate when they said Nowzad staff were included by officials in the potential cohorts to be considered for evacuation if space became available under LOTR, she said this was misleading.

Afghan interpreter's family 'likely to be killed' as a result of Pen Farthing animal evacuation, Tory MP says

She told the committee: From what I heard and saw, Nowzad staff were included as a late addition only in response to this PM decision. This occurred against the previous judgment of officials.

Ms Stewart added: I do not find it credible that Philip Barton, or those who drafted his letter dated January 17 2022, would not have been aware of this.

In her written evidence, released on Monday, Ms Stewart also dismissed government claims that civil servants often portrayed decisions as coming from the PM if they did not.

Foreign Office minister Lord Goldsmith had claimed in the Lords that: Its not uncommon in Whitehall (...) for decisions to be interpreted or portrayed as coming directly from one department or another or even the prime minister, even when that isnt the case.

She said: I have never in my career seen any such thing. Governance would fall apart entirely if this were the case.

Continued here:
Boris Johnson gave order to evacuate Pen Farthing animals from Afghanistan, says new whistleblower - The Independent

Pakistans Prime Minister Imran Khan said urged for lifting international sanctions to avert the looming humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan adding a stable government to be the only way for stopping terrorism in the country.

Speaking at OICs 48th session in Islamabad on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, Imran Khan insisted that stability in Afghanistan was extremely important after four decades of conflict in the war-ravaged country.

A word of caution, please do not push the proud and independent-minded people of Afghanistan. Let us help them and involve in the international community. The Pakistani premier said.

Further, Imran Khan touched upon the issues of Palestine and Kashmir saying the International Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) failed to make an impact on Palestinians and Kashmiris in spite of the fact that the organization is the massive voice of 1.5 billion people across the world.

He added the International Community had pledged with people in Kashmir to let them decide their fate adding altering the demography of people by turning majority Kashmiri Muslims into minorities was a war crime under Geneva Convention.

On Ukraine, the PM said he would hold a discussion with the Chinese Foreign Minister and OIC on how to step in to mediate towards a ceasefire in Ukraine.

The session that is attended by 57 members of OIC will also continue tomorrow, Wednesday, March 23, 2022.

Originally posted here:
Imran Khan: Stable government only way to stop terrorism in Afghanistan - The Khaama Press News Agency

By PTI

MUMBAI: Star Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan says he is never bothered about conditions, never puts on himself the pressure of performance and just focuses on his own preparations and skill-set while competing.

Khan, one of the most successful cricketers that Afghanistan has produced, will ply his trade for new-entrants Gujarat Titans in this IPL beginning on Saturday, having played for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the previous editions.

The upcoming edition will be played largely in Mumbai, where the conditions would suit spinners, but Khan said he does not think on those lines. "Actually, I have played a lot in Dubai. As spinners, Mumbai will offer you turn and bounce and you need that. I never think about conditions a lot, but the important thing is your preparation and I always focus on that," Khan said in a virtual interaction with media on Tuesday.

"My mindset is never that everything depends on me and I have to win matches for my team. When you start thinking about all these, your game gets affected. I like to keep it simple and I just want to give my 100 per cent effort in every match. The results are not in my control but I can always control the effort and process. I have never taken extra pressure," the leg-spinner added.

A lot changed in his home country after Taliban took over to rule the strife-torn Asian nation and Khan said it posed a different challenge for Afghan people and the cricketers.

"Well, yeah, definitely, different challenges at different stages. It all makes you eventually stronger and it gives you so many things to learn. It is kind of a motivation for me to do good for my country. Lot of things have changed, but I should not change my mind and game," he said.

"The IPL is a big stage so you have to be mentally strong. I will try to share my experiences with players in the team and I will try my best to impart the knowledge I have gained after playing in this tournament for four-five years," he added.

Khan smartly avoided the question when asked which IPL team is his favourite but did admit that playing under legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni is something he dreamt of. "I am currently playing for Gujarat Titans so this is my dream team. I will strive to do my best, it is a huge honour for me to play with Gujarat Titans and playing under Hardik Pandya, will be a different experience. Every player has their dream of playing of under MS Dhoni, but right now I am playing for Gujarat Titans, so it is a huge honour for me," he said.

Khan said it will be not be possible for him to talk about the spinners in his side since he has not started doing practice with them since he was still in quarantine. He also asserted that change of team does not affect his own game.

"Cricket is same, just the team has changed. I don't think about it much. I just try to adjust. I have played with Vijay Shankar, Saha in this team. I will play with same mindset and confidence. I focus on my skills. We (He and captain Hardik Pandya) are good friends. I am looking forward to play with him. It will be interesting. I will start practicing with him to read his mind. I am so excited," he said.

Read more from the original source:
Conditions never bother me, I focus on my skill-set: Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan - The New Indian Express

I was on the hippy trail in 1972, heading from Britain to India, via Afghanistan, in search of enlightenment. It was a season of psychedelia and the Beatles. We were wearing colourful clothes, handing out flowers and talking about inner peace, love, freedom, spirituality and the new age that was about to dawn.

But my life was completely changed in Kabul. I woke up in my lodgings in Afghanistan feeling unwell, and I staggered to the bathroom. Afterwards, I realised Id left my wallet in there. When I returned a few minutes later, the money was gone. It was in the days before Internet banking, so everything I had was in my wallet. I went to the British Embassy, but all they could do was help me with a flight back to London.

I returned to my room. I was alone and penniless in Kabul. But as I lay on the bed, I was engulfed with a strange sensation. I began to think about my life up to that time and all I could see was emptiness. I began to sense a deep hunger for God. I wanted to know him. I had previously been searching for God via New Age spirituality. I had visited temples and gurus. But that day, I began to pray. Tears ran down my face. God, I cried. I long for you, but I cannot find you. I have searched for meaning and purpose in this life. I have looked for answers to my deepest needs. I have sought for you for so long but you cannot be found.

Then, some words came to me quietly. You have searched into many things but you have not sought me. You have not called on my name. I am the answer. I am the truth.

Thats all it was, just a few words, on my bed in Kabul. But I had previously read similar words in the Bible. Jesus said that he was the way and the truth and the life (John 14:6). I knew in that moment, it was the voice of Jesus. Up until then I had never searched after Jesus or considered following him. Jesus, I prayed in a very unreligious way. I dont know what to do next, but if you can reveal yourself to me more fully and show me what to do, I will follow you.

That same day, three German guys that I was sharing the room with returned. They said theyd just met some young Americans living in Kabul, and they invited us to go to their place for dinner. Did I want to come? I said yes. Anything involving a free meal sounded good at that time, without any money!

Wed better warn you, though, said the German guy. Theyre Jesus people and they might try to convert us. He started laughing and I thought it sounded strange Jesus people in Afghanistan. What was going on?

The evening came and we arrived at their house. We were welcomed warmly. There was quite a crowd there, and they fed us and talked to us. They explained the Gospel to us and their words fell into my heart like cool, refreshing water. They said Jesus came to bridge the gap between us and God. I had the feeling that Id been lost for so long but I had found my way home. It was like a million voices of heavenly angels crying out, This is the way, this is the truth, this is the end of your search.

One of the guys asked me if Id like to receive Jesus and commit my life to him. I said, Yes! We bowed our heads and prayed together. Afterwards, I felt divine light flood my whole being. A peace Id never experienced before engulfed my heart.

That was 50 years ago now. It was truly the end of my search, but it was the beginning of a whole new adventure, with Jesus! Before I left the house that day, they gave me a New Testament, and I still have it today. As I look back over the years since that day, I am amazed. God was drawing me to himself in Kabul. He had plans for me that went beyond my wildest dreams. It involved sharing his love with people all over Asia! I am so grateful to him.

Geoffs story is part of Eternitys Faith Stories series, compiled by Naomi Reed. Click here for more Faith Stories.

You can also find more of Geoffs story here.

Go here to see the original:
'There were 'Jesus people' in Afghanistan. What was going on?' - Eternity News

At a 21 March side event of the 66th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW66), UN leaders, policy makers, and civil society activists highlighted the impacts of climate shocks and environmental hazards on women and girls in humanitarian settings.

The event, Climate shocks exacerbating humanitarian crisis, insecurity and gender inequality - Voices from the Sahel and Afghanistan, took place against the backdrop of ongoing violent extremism and displacement, heightening political instability, humanitarian crises, and roll backs of hard-won gains for gender equality in many regions of the world, with particular focus on the Sahel and Afghanistan.

Moderated by Grace Mbaiorga, a youth expert on disaster risk reduction from Nigeria, the discussion focused on the ways in which the climate crisis, conflict and gender inequality are connected to the detriment of the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the gender equality agenda.

The situation is especially acute in settings already experiencing conflict and humanitarian needs, Afghanistan and the Sahel being two of the most prominent examples, said Selwin Hart, Special Advisor to the Secretary-General on Climate Action and Assistant Secretary General for the Climate Action Team, in his opening remarks, noting that disaster-related displacement has quadrupled since the 1970s and more than 800 million persons were undernourished in 2020, a number that has been aggravated due to the combined shocks of COVID-19 and the climate crisis.

Conflict affects women, girls, boys and men differently, and the same is true for the impacts of climate change, yet women and girls and their needs continue to be excluded from policy decisions and the analysis that underpins them, said Mr. Hart.

In the Sahel region, recurrent floods and droughts are aggravating food insecurity, increasing tensions, and fueling humanitarian crises. The situation has further deteriorated due to the COVID-19 pandemic; over 24 million people in the Sahel are currently in need of life-saving assistance and protection including 4.5 million displaced individuals. While the crisis is critical for all concerned communities, women and girls are disproportionately affected and have different and uneven levels of resilience and capacity to cope and recover.

Speaking to the ongoing situation in Northeast Nigeria, UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous said, Female-headed households who depend on farming to provide for their families often suffer the most. With limited permissible areas for farming, women who go to open fields for farming activities expose themselves to the risk of being raped, abducted or killed.

Ms. Bahous added that, coupled with the shrinking of Lake Chad which has directly impacted fish production and degraded pasturelands, pastoralists have been forced to move southwards, deepening the deadly competition for land and water resources among farmers and herders, and increasing insecurity for women.

In Afghanistan, conflict, economic fallout, and gender inequality are further intensified by climate crisis, drought, and famine. Approximately half the countrys population (23 million people) are identified as acutely food insecure, with 8.7 million at risk of starvation, and the situation is expected to worsen as Afghanistans drought enters its second year. Since the fall of Kabul, Afghan women are already disproportionately bearing the brunt of the unfolding economic and human rights crisis.

Negina Yari, a Civil Society Activist and Executive Director of Afghans 4 Tomorrow (A4T) who joined directly from Kabul, highlighted a variety of gender inequality concerns within the countrys current context. In most of the provinces, we are facing a lack of female aid workers, and women beneficiaries do not have equal access to humanitarian assistance, said Ms. Yari, who advocated for the implementation of gender quotas within various aspects of the humanitarian system and womens leadership in government and civil society.

Echoing Ms. Yaris calls for increased participation of Afghan women in the humanitarian, government, and private sectors, Zuhal Atmar, an Afghan entrepreneur and environmentalist who founded the Mursal Charity Foundation and Women Leading Co, stated that, We are respectfully asking the international community that, if there are discussions, if there is humanitarian aid, there should be conditions for compulsory contribution from women.

In response to the vicious cycles of crisis discussed in the context of the Sahel and Afghanistan at this event, the resilience of women and girls affected by conflicts and climate crises must be strengthened and their full participation in addressing these issues ensured.

Read more here:
Civil society activists and international leaders highlight the triple threat of climate crises, conflict, and gender inequality and call for...