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Samarkand: International terrorist groups have become more active on the territory of Afghanistan and about 400 terrorists of the Islamic State have been dispatched to the northern provinces of the country with the purpose of committing terrorist acts, Colonel General Anatoly Sidorov, Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff, said at a briefing on Thursday.

IS recently targeted the Russian Embassy in Kabul. ET has learnt that Russia has been upset with Pakistans role in creating instability and encouraging terror groups in Afghanistan.

"Fighters of some international terrorist organizations, including those from the CIS countries, have become active on the territory of the republic. We have noted the transfer of about 400 fighters of the Islamic State to the northern provinces of Afghanistan, namely Badghis, Jawzjan, Kunduz, Takhar and Badakhshan, with the purpose of committing terrorist acts and attacks on civilian and military targets," Sidorov said.

"The main targets of the attacks were senior officials of the Taliban (a movement outlawed in Russia)," the Joint Staff Chief concluded. IS is outlawed in Russia.

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IS gets active in Northern Afghanistan; Moscow upset over Pakistan's role in promoting terror on Afghan so - Economic Times

An explosion was reported to have happened in the provincial capital of Takhar, Taloqan, in northeastern Afghanistan, leaving one person dead and three people injured.

The explosion, according to local sources, took place onSaturday, the 17th of September, at around8:00 am in the Sarraafi Sabeqamarket of Taloqan city.

The bomberis reported to have died and three other people were wounded in this incident, however, according to local media, one other person also died and two more individuals were injured.

Photos taken at the explosion site show the victims blood on the ground and smashed storefront windows due to the explosion in the market.

The local security officials of the Taliban government have also confirmed the explosion in Takhar province.

Earlier, residents in Takhar provinces Khwaja Bahauddin district were reported to have forced the usurping nomadic families.

According to accounts, armed nomads seized homes and land from villagers for days.

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Northeast Afghanistan Explosion Leaves One Dead and Three Wounded - The Khaama Press News Agency

Members of the Taliban-led government and Afghan men mark the first anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal in Kabul, Afghanistan on Aug. 31, 2022. (Anadolu Agency/Getty/Kyodo)

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Around 40 percent of the 169 people who fled to Japan from Afghanistan following the Taliban's return to power in August last year have left their new home due to what they say was pressure and a lack of support from the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

Although Japan has granted refugee status to 98 people, 58 returned to Afghanistan despite the risk of persecution by the Taliban, while seven left for the United States and Britain, according to the evacuees.

The 98 were newly recognized as refugees in August by the Japanese government, in a rare move for a country known for its strict refugee screening policy and poor record of accepting asylum seekers.

They comprised staff members who were working at the Japanese Embassy in Kabul and their family members.

The Taliban returned to power last year after toppling President Ashraf Ghani's government, following the U.S. decision to withdraw troops from the country after 20 years of war.

With the Taliban targeting those cooperating with the foreign nations that had ties with the former government, the Japanese government stepped in to help Japanese Embassy staff members and workers of the Japan International Cooperation Agency as well as their families.

Between October and December of last year, the ministry provided the embassy staff and their families with lodgings in Tokyo, meals and salaries.

But several of the staff told Kyodo News that they were pressured to leave Japan, having been told that their work contracts would end in late August.

They said ministry staff visited their homes and told them that living in Japan would be difficult and that a decision on whether to stay or leave the country would have to be discussed with their families.

They also said the ministry told them that should they return to Afghanistan, their travel expenses would be shouldered and they would receive a 20 percent salary raise.

Most of the local embassy staff who fled Afghanistan speak English rather than Japanese, making it extremely difficult for them to find work. The public job placement office "Hello Work" said they had only a 1 percent chance of securing work in Japan, according to an evacuee.

Other factors compounded their struggles. Their children were unable to attend school until spring, when Japan's school year starts, and only spouses and children could be brought to Japan, not other immediate family members such as parents and siblings.

The ministry's Second Middle East Division has denied encouraging their return to Afghanistan.

"We have supported them for a year, but we cannot continue forever to pay people who are not involved in embassy work," a division official said.

The ministry also said the return of the Afghans was due to personal reasons.

But one of the evacuees countered that they continued to be pressured by the ministry and that they really did not want to go home.

Six others have remained in Japan but have not applied for refugee status, while the 98 Afghan refugees who remained in Japan have moved outside of Tokyo and were slated to take Japanese classes for six months starting in October, with the support of the Foundation for the Welfare and Education of the Asian People.

The latest revelation comes at a time when Japan has drawn attention for its acceptance of more than 1,800 evacuees from Ukraine, one of the conflict areas.

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40% of evacuees from Afghanistan have left Japan over poor support - The Mainichi - The Mainichi

Five brothers, a knack for footy and deep love for their home country: this is the story of the Slaimankhel family who created a championship-aspiring national team from nothing. From Afghanistan, then Pakistan before migrating to Auckland in New Zealand, the Slaimankhel boys were determined to create their own mould in a new country. After recognising rugby union as the backbone of New Zealand, it didn't take long for the Afghan brothers to become known as the foreigners who were making a mark in the country's unofficial national sport.

"Growing up in Auckland, New Zealand, in their culture they love rugby, it's just in their blood ... we were in schools that gave us the privilege to play this sport," Zakir, the youngest brother, said.

It wasn't just about the sport and playing rugby, it was about the whole country and how much they've been suffering over the years.

"Sport gets everyone together."

Rugby sevens silver medallists but sponsorless

The team's captain, Omar, is a recognisable face, too, as one of the entertaining contestants with his friend, Osman, on Nine's The Block series this year.

One of the older brothers, Sabir Slaimankhel, had a dream to bring his brothers together to play the sport they love. Source: Supplied / Zakir Slaimankhel

"We had no numbers. We were stuck in Auckland. We were training by ourselves just before the tournament ... it's quite remarkable making it all the way," Sabir said.

Omar (left) and Zakir Slaimankhel (right) are two of the five brothers in the Afghanistan team at the Asia Rugby Sevens Championship in Jakarta in August 2022. Source: Supplied / Zakir Slaimankhel

"We were teary and emotional when we heard that national anthem in the final," Zakir added.

Afghanistan fought all the odds and claimed silver at the Asia Rugby Sevens championship. Source: Supplied / Zakir Slaimankhel

"Quite a lot of people now know Afghanistan has a pretty decent rugby team," Sabir said with a smile.

With most of the team hailing from New Zealand, the boys became national heroes for the Afghan diaspora back home and around the world.

Backing from the All Blacks

According to Curry, their drive for the game they inherited during their childhood in New Zealand was "inspiring".

Sabir (left), Sayear (centre) and Zakir (right) are vying for gold at next year's tournament. Source: Supplied / Zakir Slaimankhel

Honouring their uncle's legacy

Beyond working as an orthopaedic surgeon for decades, he dedicated his spare time to working in refugee charity work.

Dr Hashem Slaimankhel was a prominent New Zealand community leader who spent much of his time helping refugees. In 2018, he lost his life during a bomb attack in Kabul. Source: Facebook

"He just tried to put a smile on other people's lives. And that really implemented something on us, trying to make us better people in life as well."

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How five brothers helped Afghanistan win silver at the Asia Rugby Sevens championship | SBS News - SBS News

Afghanistan failed to make it to the final of the recently-concluded Asia Cup but the performance of the Mohammad Nabi-led side impressed one and all. They started off with wins against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the group stage, but defeats against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and India in the Super 4 stage led to their ouster. In an interview with NDTV, former Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan spoke about how more game time against the top teams will help the side in easing out their nerves in pressure situations.

He also spoke about the rivalry that has developed between Pakistan and Afghanistan, how Mujeeb Ur Rahman has managed to cement his place in the side and how Afghanistan needs to learn to take the game deep against big teams.

"No doubt, the performance of Afghanistan in the Asia Cup was very good. The only problem is that we do not play against big teams that often, Afghanistan Cricket Board needs to organise home and away series against big teams. Till the time, we do not play against big teams, we will not gain that experience. After the World Cup last year, we played in the Asia Cup. A long time passed before we played a big tournament. Till the time we do not play more matches, our cricket won't move forward," said Afghan, who is currently in India to participate in the upcoming Legends League Cricket.

"Afghanistan would have gained a lot of experience from playing in the Asia Cup. The performance was good, but because of inexperience, we were not able to get over the line. Till the time, we do not play against big teams, we would not have experience in finishing off games. The match against Pakistan was a close one, whenever you play against a big side, you need to take the game deep. Talking about Afghanistan, we want to finish off games in quick succession, but taking the game deep is the need of the hour. We need to play against big teams consistently, if we play 3-5 match series against big teams, there will be a great improvement," he added.

In the Asia Cup, Mujeeb Ur Rahman returned with seven wickets while seasoned spinner Rashid Khan took six wickets. Afghan, was all praise for Mujeeb, saying the spinner bowls upfront to usually the best batters of opposition and that is a completely different skill set.

"Mujeeb comes onto bowl in the difficult periods. He is usually bowling to the openers or the No.3 batter, and these three are generally the best players of a team. More fielders are inside the circle, so the pressure is more on Mujeeb. There are few spinners who can bowl this well in the powerplay. Mujeeb has always performed, and when Rashid Khan comes onto bowl, there are more fielders outside the 30-yard circle and the ball has gotten old. I have to say that Mujeeb has always performed under tough situations," said the 35-year-old.

The match between Afghanistan and Pakistan was a thrilling encounter, and in the end, Babar Azam's side prevailed by one wicket as Naseem Shah hit back-to-back sixes in the final over to seal the contest. However, the match was marred by some unsavoury scenes as Afghanistan fans broke the chairs inside the Sharjah Stadium and even assaulted Pakistan fans. The match also saw Pakistan's Asif Ali clashing with Afghanistan pacer Fareed Malik.

"Our players have played with Pakistan players. When there used to be refugee, our players used to play in Peshawar. When you know the players, there is a sense of competitiveness, and aggression is bound to be there. The fans of both Pakistan and Afghanistan wait for this contest. The players are also aggressive and they give their best to win. The aggression is there on the ground, sometimes it can be a bit too much, but in the end, it is just a sport. These types of incidents can happen," said the former Afghanistan captain.

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"But at the end of the day, cricket was the winner. One team has to win, one team has to lose. Even the fans were angry after Afghanistan lost against Pakistan in the Asia Cup. There was a scuffle, this was not right. Sports should be looked at as sports only, these types of incidents should not take the glory away from the sport," he added.

Lastly, talking about playing in the Legends League Cricket, Afghan said: "I want to Legends League for creating a platform for the retired players to come and play, it is an incredible platform. We will enjoy it and we are excited to play. There are some big players involved. I am waiting to play at the Eden Gardens, the stadium has been lucky for me too. It is one of the best grounds in India, we are just waiting to go out there and play."

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'Afghanistan Won't Gain Experience Till They Play Against Big Teams Consistently': Asghar Afghan To .. - NDTV Sports