Author Archives: Ahmad Shuja 
Syria’s Afghan Refugees Trapped in a Double Crisis
There are 2,000 Afghan refugees in Syria. They are caught in a deadly trap.
Pakistanis Unite In Protests Against Sectarian Attacks on Hazaras
Thousands of people are protesting across Pakistan in solidarity with families of the 86 victims of two ethno-sectarian attacks in Quetta city who are grieving in sub-zero temperatures and staging a sit-in, refusing to bury the dead unless the government decisively cracks down on terrorists.
How Sanctions on Iran Hurt Ordinary Afghans
The US and EU sanctions on the Iranian economy, which have taken a hard toll on common Iranians, have also adversely affected Afghans – both in the refugee community in Iran and families in Afghanistan dependent on income from their breadwinners working in the Islamic republic next door.
Flawed Logic, Bad Policy Underpin Washington Pundits’ Call to “Pick” the Next Afghan President
Voices form Washington should quit calling for the US to “pick the winner” in the next Afghan presidential election.
Scenes from a Taliban Attack in Afghanistan
Haider, a 50-year-old Afghan who fought against the Soviet invasion but now guards a cell phone tower against insurgents, helped journalists covering a Taliban attack on a hotel in Kabul.
Iran bans Afghan and Iraqi Refugees from Moving to Regions for Employment
Iran’s National Organization for Educational Testing has banned Afghans, Iraqis and, in some instances, other foreign nationals from residing in certain provinces and enrolling in certain courses of study. The new ban affects Afghan refugees most severely and seems to apply uniformly to immigrants with and without documentation.
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The SC; HRC; DPRK; South Sudan
The SC: The Security Council today held its last consultations under the Council Presidency of ROK. Tomorrow, Russia will take over the rotating Presidency of the Security Council for March under Ambassador Vitaly Churkin.
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The SG; Mali; Middle East; Palestine
The SG: At the Fifth Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations in Vienna, Austria today, the SG emphasized the role of youth in ensuring a “prosperous, equitable and peaceful future.”
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The SG; DRC; HRC; Palestinian Prisoner
The SG: In Ethiopia over the weekend, the SG is now in the United Arab Emirates. Today he met with Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, where the two discussed developments in the region, including Syria, Iran, Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan, and in the Middle East Peace Process.
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