AFGHANISTAN

Afghanistan's buzkashi horses prepare for battle

MAZAR-I-SHARIF - Muslimchronicle

The rugged men of northern Afghanistan raise their buzkashi horses to be warrior princes, ready for the savagery of polo with a headless carcass. Mounts, like their riders, must be brave, strong and fast to compete in the traditional sport of buzkashi , which means “dragging the goat” in Persian. The game involves ripping a 50-kilogramme carcass from the frayRead more

Earthquake jolts northeast Afghanistan, no casualties reported

KABUL - Muslimchronicle

A slight quake jolted Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan, Takhar and the northern Kunduz and Baghlan provinces on Sunday, but no casualty has been reported. The tremor, according to locals and officials, occurred at around 01:40 p.m. local time in the said areas. "The tremor struck Badakhshan province but fortunately it was not strong and we have not received any report aboutRead more

US revamps travel warning system, ranks countries

Washington - Muslimchronicle

The United States unveiled a way to warn its citizens about the dangers of foreign travel Wednesday, with a four-point safety ranking system for countries and an interactive world map. Ten war zones and failed states are ranked Level Four, "Do Not Travel": Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen. North Korea is also LevelRead more

IS cells operate in Kabul under noses of Afghan and US forces

Kabul - Muslimchronicle

Middle-class Afghans turned jihadists have assisted the Islamic State group's expansion from its stronghold in Afghanistan's restive east to Kabul, analysts say, helping to make the capital one of the deadliest places in the country. IS has claimed nearly 20 attacks across Kabul in 18 months, with cells including students, professors and shopkeepers evading Afghan and US security forces to bring carnageRead more

As US freezes aid, Pakistan dismisses economic fears

ISLAMABAD - Muslimchronicle

Pakistan has dismissed as “incomprehensible” and of “no importance” a tweet by President Trump saying that it had accepted billions of dollars in aid from the United States while failing to act against terrorist networks. Mr. Trump, in a tweet on Monday, accused Pakistan of deceit and lies and said that Pakistan gives “safe haven to terrorists we hunt inRead more

The mysterious, ancient Nine Domes Mosque

Balkh - Muslimchronicle

In the white dusty plains of northern Afghanistan, archaeologists are seeking to unravel the secrets of one of the oldest mosques in the world, whose structure is still standing after a thousand years of solitude. The Nine Domes Mosque, named for the cupolas that once crowned its intricately decorated columns, glimmers with remnants of the blue lapis lazuli stones that encrusted it.Read more

US could freeze almost $2bn

Washington - Muslimchronicle

US President Donald Trump's decision to freeze aid to Pakistan could affect almost two billion dollars' worth of assistance, a senior administration official said on Friday -- substantially more than first thought. After an announcement designed to force Pakistan's military and intelligence apparatus to cut support for the Taliban and other Islamist groups, the official said that both US military assistanceRead more

Joshua Boyle, ex-Taliban hostage, faces 15 criminal charges in Canada

Ottawa - Muslimchronicle

A Canadian man freed in 2017 nearly five years after being abducted in Afghanistan has been arrested in Ottawa and faces several charges, including assault and forcible confinement, his lawyer said on Tuesday. Joshua Boyle, his wife Caitlin Coleman and three children arrived back in Canada last October. At the time he said one of his children had been murderedRead more

Trump threatens to cut Pakistan aid

Washington - Muslimchronicle

US President Donald Trump lashed out at Pakistan on Monday in his first tweet of 2018, threatening to cut off aid over what he said were its "lies and deceit" in offering "safe haven to terrorists." "The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing butRead more