MADRID, 05 September 2021, (TON):  Spanish rescuers pulled 208 migrants from small boats that were headed Saturday to either the Iberian Peninsula’s southern coast or Spain’s Canary Islands.

Vessels operated by Spain's maritime rescue service intercepted the boats in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, adding to the country's rise in arrivals of people who risked a perilous seaborne journey to reach Europe.

The rescue service said “a total of 106 migrants, including 44 women and 20 minors, were found in boats heading for the Canary Islands of Gran Canaria and Lanzarote.”

Another four boats carried 102 migrants who were crossing the Mediterranean to mainland Spain. All but one of the people in the boats were male.

Spain has seen a 49% rise in unauthorised migration this year compared to January-August of 2020, according to the Interior Ministry. A total of 20,491 people have arrived on Spanish soil, mostly by sea.

KABUL, 05 September 2021, (TON): A spokesman told media “the Taliban intends to "raise its voice for Muslims" in Indian-administered Kashmir.”

Suhail Shaheen said "as Muslims, we also have a right to raise our voice for Muslims in Kashmir, India or any other country."

India and Pakistan control different parts of the Muslim-majority territory, but both claim it as wholly theirs.

There has been violence on the Indian-run side for 30 years, because of a separatist insurgency.

The Taliban have declared victory in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of US troops in August. The Islamists are now in control and expected to announce a new government.

This is the first time the group has commented on Indian-administered Kashmir.

WASHINGTON, 05 September 2021, (TON): A US general said “the United States has moved most of the 57,000 people it evacuated from Afghanistan to Qatar out of the Gulf state, with fewer than 1,400 still at the US military base there.”

The US evacuated roughly 124,000 people from Kabul last month as part of a huge US-led airlift of its citizens, Afghans and other nationals as the Taliban took control of the country.

Brig. Gen. Gerald Donohue told reporters some of those who had been flown out of Qatar were now in the United States, while others were in Europe, where they are being processed.

He said “many of the 1,400 still at Al Udeid base in Qatar are scheduled to be flown out on Saturday, while a small group needing medical care would stay until able to travel.”

The general said “Afghan and non-Afghan nationals had been flown to Al Udeid and at the peak there were over 17,500 evacuees on the base at a single point in time.”

He added “nine babies were born at the base during the evacuation mission.”

Following the scramble to evacuate vulnerable Afghans, thousands of people, some with no documentation or pending US visa applications, others in families with mixed immigration statuses, are now waiting in “transit hubs” in third countries.

KABUL, 05 September 2021, (TON): Taliban have claimed that they have captured four of the seven districts of Panjshir Valley, the last Afghan province holding out against the group.

Taliban spokesperson Bilal Karimi said “the districts of Khinj and Unabah had been taken, giving Taliban forces control of four of the province's seven districts. "The Mujahideen (Taliban fighters) are advancing towards the centre of the province.”

The Taliban, which took power in the rest of the country three weeks ago, were never able to control the valley when they last ruled Afghanistan, from 1996 to 2001.

But the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, grouping forces loyal to local leader Ahmad Massoud, said it surrounded.

Front spokesman Fahim Dashti added "heavy clashes" were going on.

Earlier, a Taliban source said the group's advance was slowed by landmines placed on the road to the provincial capital, Bazarak.

ISLAMABAD, 05 September 2021, (TON): During a telephonic conversation with Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres on Saturday, Prime Minister Imran Khan stressed that the opportunity to finally put an end to the 40 years of conflict in Afghanistan must be seized by enabling the Afghans to achieve lasting peace, security and prosperity.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) “the two leaders discussed the developments in Afghanistan, with a particular focus on the humanitarian situation.”

The premier highlighted the importance of peace, stability and an inclusive political settlement in the war-ravaged country. He underscored the need for the international community to become more engaged with Afghanistan according to urgent priority to addressing the humanitarian needs and ensuring economic stability.

He noted "such steps would not only reinforce security but also preclude any mass exodus of Afghans from their country, thus preventing a refugee crisis in Afghanistan."

Assuring Secretary-General Guterres of Pakistan’s continued cooperation with the UN in the fulfilment of its mandate, PM Imran reaffirmed Pakistan’s full support for the smooth operation of the United Nations’ humanitarian mission for Afghanistan.

ADDIS ABABA, 05 September 2021, (TON): The Ethiopian military claims it has killed more than 5,600 members of the Tigray rebel forces it is fighting in the north of the country.

A bloody conflict has been raging since November, but the statement from senior general Bacha Debele gave no timescale for the casualties. Correspondents say they may be from recent battles.

The general said “a further 2,300 rebels had been injured, and 2,000 captured.”

The UN says “millions of civilians face starvation due the conflict.”

Lt Gen Debele accused the rebel Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) of trying to break up Ethiopia, as the group made incursions into the neighbouring Amhara and Afar regions.

One TPLF division had tried to gain control of Humera on the border between Tigray and Amhara, he said, but had been "completely decimated".

There has been no response to the claims from the TPLF.

The war began last year after months of feuding between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government and leaders of the TPLF, the main political party in the Tigray region.

DUBAI, 05 September 2021, (TON): Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited Emirates Humanitarian City on Friday to meet Afghan families airlifted to the UAE capital as part of the mass evacuation after Kabul fell to the Taliban.

State news agency reported that the evacuees are being held at the facility temporarily before they are taken to third countries, including the United States.

During a tour of the facilities, Sheikh Nahyan was briefed on the services provided to Afghan families under the supervision of US officials, who also briefed the crown prince.

He also ordered that all forms of assistance be provided to the Afghan nationals to ensure a comfortable and dignified stay in the city.

ISLAMABAD, 05 September 2021, (TON): According to sources “Director-General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt General Faiz Hameed reached Kabul on Saturday for a one-day visit to meet with the Taliban leadership and discuss the overall security situation in Afghanistan.”

The sources added “the country's top spy will discuss ways to ensure that spoilers and terrorist organisations do not take advantage of the volatile circumstances.”

A day earlier, the Taliban heaped praise on Pakistan for its longstanding contributions towards the people of Afghanistan. The group's spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, hoped that Pakistan would continue its assistance.

The ISI DG will also meet Pakistan's envoy in Kabul to discuss the matter of repatriation and transit through Pakistan of foreign nationals and Afghans fleeing Taliban rule.

Sources further said that Gen Hameed will meet the Taliban leadership to review multiple issues that concern both countries and will discuss the situation along the Pak-Afghan border among other issues.

The matter of border management will also be discussed, especially of Afghans who cross over on a daily basis as routine and then return.

The issue of pending requests from countries and international organisations for the repatriation/transit through Pakistan and the need to determine the mechanism through which Pakistan could allow these, in coordination with the ground authorities in Afghanistan will be discussed during the meeting with the Taliban officials.

COLOMBO, 05 September 2021, (TON): The Sri Lanka Defence Ministry has alerted the Immigration and Emigration Department that there would be possibilities that certain foreigners especially from Afghanistan may attempt to enter Sri Lanka using Visit Visas and seek political asylum in Europe through the UNHCR Office in Sri Lanka.

A senior defence official told media that when a large number of Afghan nationals sought political asylum in several Western countries, they might use Sri Lanka to fulfill their requirement similar to the previous occasions.

The official said “there had been several instances in the past where such foreigners had used Sri Lanka to seek asylum in foreign countries.”

CAIRO, 05 September 2021, (TON): Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi inaugurated the High Governmental Committee for Bilateral Cooperation between Egypt and Cyprus, at a reception at the Heliopolis Palace in Cairo with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades.

Presidential spokesman Bassam Rady said “the two presidents held a session of bilateral talks prior to the first meeting of the committee, attended by various Egyptian ministers and a Cypriot delegation.”

Anastasiades thanked El-Sisi for his warm reception, expressing his happiness at the visit and his pride at the strong historical ties between their respective nations.

The Cypriot president also stressed that the committee would strengthen the partnership between Nicosia and Cairo, maximizing the benefits and opportunities offered by bilateral cooperation.

Rady said the committee reviewed various areas, including the energy sector with its existing frameworks on issues such as electrical interconnection projects, and possible areas of expansion into fields such as renewable energy projects.