TUESDAY April 13, 2021: 'AFGHANISTAN Exhausted By War' by photographer Azimi of Xinhua: Afghanistan remained the deadliest country for civilians in 2020, as peace talks began between the Afghan government and the Taliban, 'As fighting persisted, while the peace talks struggled to get off the ground, all sides to Afghanistan's conflict continued to cause terrible harm to civilians,' said Patricia Gossman, associate Asia director at Human Rights Watch. US President Biden will remove all US troops from Afghanistan before this year's 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, finally ending America's longest war despite mounting fears of a Taliban victory. Some had hoped the Biden administration would adopt a more 'conditions-based' approach to the peace process. Instead, that has been explicitly ruled out, but a major conference in Istanbul, later this month could see progress. Many observers have stated that the Taliban effectively believes that it has won and can wait out the US withdrawal, but the United States is eager to try to find a lasting peace solution that could bring stability. 'Neither the Afghan or US governments have demonstrated a commitment to justice for the conflict's victims and their families,' Gossman said. 'ICC member states and other governments should press for credible accountability to be part of the peace negotiations.' Welcome to: 'AFGHANISTAN Exhausted By War'
© zReportage.com Story of the Week #782: TUESDAY April 13, 2021: 'AFGHANISTAN Exhausted By War' by photographer Azimi of Xinhua: Afghanistan remained the deadliest country for civilians in 2020, as peace talks began between the Afghan government and the Taliban, 'As fighting persisted, while the peace talks struggled to get off the ground, all sides to Afghanistan's conflict continued to cause terrible harm to civilians,' said Patricia Gossman, associate Asia director at Human Rights Watch. US President Biden will remove all US troops from Afghanistan before this year's 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, finally ending America's longest war despite mounting fears of a Taliban victory. Some had hoped the Biden administration would adopt a more 'conditions-based' approach to the peace process. Instead, that has been explicitly ruled out, but a major conference in Istanbul, later this month could see progress. Many observers have stated that the Taliban effectively believes that it has won and can wait out the US withdrawal, but the United States is eager to try to find a lasting peace solution that could bring stability. 'Neither the Afghan or US governments have demonstrated a commitment to justice for the conflict's victims and their families,' Gossman said. 'ICC member states and other governments should press for credible accountability to be part of the peace negotiations.' Welcome to: 'AFGHANISTAN Exhausted By War'
An Afghan security force member during a military operation against Taliban militants in Zhari district of Kandahar province. At least 10 Taliban militants, including four foreign fighters, were killed when Afghan army conducted an operation, according to the Afghan Defense Ministry.
© Sanaullah Seiam/Xinhua via ZUMA Press
An Afghan female soldier attends an event to mark the National Armed Forces Day in Herat, as the Afghanistan government security forces continue fighting a Taliban-led insurgency.
© Elaha Sahel/Xinhua via ZUMA Press
Afghan children wait to receive the polio vaccine during an anti-polio vaccination campaign in Panjwai district of Kandahar province. The Afghan Public Health Ministry launched a nationwide campaign to give polio vaccination doses to 9.6 million children under the age of five.
© Sanaullah Seiam/Xinhua via ZUMA Press
Spectators watch from a hillside as horse riders play a Buzkashi game during a celebration for the annual Nowruz festival in Bamiyan province. Nowruz marks the start of the year 1400 in the Persian calendar and a public holiday in Afghanistan.
© Azimi/Xinhua via ZUMA Press
A horse rider takes part in a Buzkashi game during a celebration for the annual Nowruz festival in Bamiyan province. Buzkashi is a sport in which horse-mounted players attempt to place a goat or calf carcass in a goal.
© Azimi/Xinhua via ZUMA Press
People empty plastic bottles from a truck at a recycling plant in Herat.
© Karimi/Xinhua via ZUMA Press
Girls take part in a chess competition organized by Zahra Ebrahimi who champions women rights in northern Balkh province. The COVID-19 related quarantines have not restricted the life of Zahra Ebrahimi as she encouraged girls to learn chess in the relatively peaceful city.
© Kawa Basharat/Xinhua via ZUMA Press
A man works at a glass wool factory in western Herat province. Established with a capital of 1.5 million USD five years ago in the relatively peaceful Herat province, the plant recycling used items is the first of its kind that produces glass wool, which is largely used in making blankets, pillows and mattress.
© Karimi/Xinhua via ZUMA Press
A young girl pushes up against a car window while selling red roses to passing motorists on Valentine's Day in Kabul.
© Rahmatullah Alizadah/Xinhua via ZUMA Press
A local skier takes part in the 11th Afghan Ski Challenge in Bamiyan province. Around 70 local and international skiers attended the competition.
© Azimi/Xinhua via ZUMA Press
A health worker gives a polio vaccine to a child during an anti-polio vaccination campaign in Jawzjan province. The Afghan Public Health Ministry launched a nationwide campaign to give polio vaccination dose to 9.9 million children under the age of five.
© Mohammad Jan Aria/Xinhua via ZUMA Press
An Afghan prisoner receives a dose of COVID-19 vaccine during a vaccination campaign in Herat. Afghanistan reported 62 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases after health authorities conducted 2,035 tests within a day, bringing the number of total cases to 56,779, according to the country's Ministry of Public Health.
© Elaha Sahel/Xinhua via ZUMA Press
The site of a bomb attack in Kabul, where three civilians were killed and 11 others wounded after a bus was hit by a roadside bomb.
© Rahmatullah Alizadah/Xinhua via ZUMA Press
A child cries as he receives medical treatment at a hospital after being injured by a car bomb in Herat. The government has blamed some attacks on the Taliban, while the Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan has claimed responsibility for others.
© Arif Karimi/Xinhua via ZUMA Press
Lights fall on the empty location where Buddha states once stood, marking the 20th anniversary of the Buddha destruction in Bamyan province. Two giant 6th century Buddha statues carved into the cliff were bombed and smashed to the ground by the Taliban in 2001.
© Azimi/Xinhua via ZUMA Press
Family members carry the coffin of a security guard who was killed in a shooting in Jalalabad. At least five people, including a police officer, were killed and four others wounded after militant gunmen fired in two separate locations.
© Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua via ZUMA Press
Heavily armed Afghan security force members escort suspected militants in Jalalabad. Afghanistan's national intelligence agency recently captured 19 militants in the country's eastern Nangarhar province.
© Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua via ZUMA Press
A militant fighter (R) hands over the weapon to a local official during a surrender ceremony in Kunar province. A total of 25 Taliban militants agreed to give up fighting and join the government-run peace process in the eastern Kunar, according to provincial governor Lqbal Sayed.
© Emran Waak/Xinhua via ZUMA Press
