DRULAP

Islamabad — Taliban leaders in Afghanistan have defended their Islamist rule amid intensified accusations of “gender-based” discrimination against women and girls at this week’s U.N. General Assembly.

“The situation is not as it is portrayed and propagated abroad,” Maulavi Abdul Kabir, the Taliban deputy prime minister for political affairs, asserted in an interview with an Afghan television channel aired Friday.

Kabir’s comments came a day after nearly two dozen countries jointly supported Germany, Canada, the Netherlands and Australia in their initiative to hold the Taliban accountable for their alleged campaign to systematically exclude women from public life since the Taliban regained power in 2021.

The de facto Afghan rulers have imposed a strict interpretation of Islamic law, known as Sharia. The enforcement includes banning girls’ secondary school education, prohibiting Afghan women from most workplaces, and requiring them not to speak aloud and to cover their faces and bodies in public.

Kabir, while speaking to the local Ariana News station on Friday, asserted that Western allegations of the Taliban driving women out of public spaces were misplaced, insisting that the human rights of all Afghans are protected under Islamic principles.

“Education for girls beyond the sixth grade and at universities is currently suspended,” he responded when asked when secondary schools would reopen for girls. “The Islamic Emirate has not decided to keep them closed indefinitely, nor has the cabinet approved any such policy,” Kabir reiterated, using the official title of their government in Kabul.

However, the Taliban deputy prime minister said that women are allowed to pursue education in religious seminaries, known as madrassas, across Afghanistan, including in the capital.

“There are female teachers. It is a single-sex Islamic educational system that requires hijab under the prevailing societal norms. It also permits women to pursue medical education,” Kabir stated.

He said that the Taliban government employs 85,000 women in health, immigration, education, passport and other departments. “There are hospitals in Kabul being run by female directors,” Kabir said.

Nations urge Taliban to address concerns

Countries such as Spain, Sweden, Belgium, Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, Finland, Honduras, Ireland, Iceland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malawi, Morocco, Moldova and Romania are supporting the four-nation push to start proceedings against the Taliban at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

The United States in not a member of the ICJ.

In their joint statement issued in New York on Thursday, these countries urged the Taliban to respect international treaties on eliminating discrimination against women, to which Afghanistan is a party.

They hailed the initiative spearheaded by Germany, Australia, Canada and the Netherlands to push proceedings against the Taliban, urging the de facto Taliban authorities to address international concerns or face the legal challenge.

“This action is without prejudice to our firm position that we do not politically recognize the Taliban de facto authorities as the legitimate representation of the Afghan population,” the statement stressed. “Afghanistan’s failure to fulfill its human rights treaty obligations is a key obstacle to normalization of relations.”

The Taliban government is not formally recognized by any country, nor is it allowed to represent Afghanistan at the United Nations, mainly over human rights concerns.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on the sidelines of this week’s General Assembly that the Taliban’s treatment of women can be compared to “some of the most egregious systems of oppression in recent history.”

“We will continue to amplify the voices of Afghan women and call for them to play a full role in the country’s life, both inside its borders and on the global stage,” he said.

Kabir criticized the U.N. for not granting the Afghanistan seat at the world body to the Taliban.

“We have met our obligations,” he said. “The Islamic Emirate controls the entire geographical territory of the country. People are satisfied with us, and we are governing with the help of the people.”
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washington — Myanmar’s military has called on ethnic armed groups and anti-junta resistance forces to end their armed struggle and participate in proposed national elections. While this call to cease fighting was quickly rejected by opposition forces, it marked a significant development in Myanmar’s three-year civil war.

Ye Myo Hein, a senior expert on Myanmar at the United States Institute of Peace, said the military’s call to cease fighting, made public in a statement Thursday, was aimed to appease China.

“The SAC [State Administration Council] is making overtures to Beijing,” he posted on social media, pointing out recent statements in which the military referred to China as Myanmar’s closest ally.

The statement posted by the SAC, Myanmar’s military regime, proposed that ethnic groups, including the People’s Defense Forces (PDF) — the armed wing of the anti-junta movement — resolve political issues through peaceful means and electoral participation.

Though the SAC did not mention the National Unity Government (NUG), the PDF is largely aligned with the shadow government formed by former lawmakers and junta opponents. The SAC argued that the ongoing conflict has caused significant losses to the country.

“Considering the losses of the state due to armed struggle and terrorism, ethnic armed organizations and PDF terrorists are invited to contact the state to resolve political issues through party politics,” the SAC stated.

Opposition response

Opposition leaders swiftly dismissed the military’s appeal to cease fighting.

Sui Khar, foreign minister of the Chinland government, which controls much of Chin state in western Myanmar, and vice chairman of the NUG-affiliated Chin National Front, told VOA the military’s statement was not a genuine invitation, as it was limited to political parties and elections.

“It sounded like they were forcing others to join their own agenda,” Sui Khar said.

The NUG also rejected the junta’s invitation, calling it a ploy to create disunity among resistance forces, and vowed to continue the Spring Revolution — the resistance movement against military rule — and to work toward establishing a federal democratic union.

Soe Thuya Zaw, a commander of the Mandalay PDF, described the offer as deceptive. “It’s like hanging a goat’s head but selling dog meat,” he wrote on Facebook, using a Myanmar proverb to highlight the military’s history of broken promises.

Escalation in Lashio

The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), an ethnic armed group with close ties to China, has frustrated the military by capturing key territories along the Myanmar-China border. Despite the junta’s attempts to negotiate, ongoing airstrikes cast doubt on the prospects for peace.

On Friday, fighter jets bombed Lashio, a major city in northern Shan state and a critical trade route to China, currently under MNDAA control. According to the MNDAA, the strikes targeted civilian areas, killing two people and injuring six.

“They talk about resolving political problems through dialogue, yet continue bombing. So, the offer is impossible,” said Tu Maung Nyo, a writer and political analyst based on the Thailand-Myanmar border. “The military is calling for negotiations because they can’t win on the battlefield. It’s just a way out of a crisis.”

China’s role in path forward

Analysts say Beijing has been pressuring both Myanmar’s SAC and ethnic armed groups to stabilize the situation, primarily to protect its interests along the shared border and safeguard investments. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Myanmar earlier this year signaled Beijing’s desire for a stable Myanmar under military control without prolonged conflict.

“China wants stability,” said Hla Kyaw Zaw, a China-Myanmar relations expert based in China. “Their top priorities are ensuring bombs don’t fall near their territory, preventing refugees from crossing into China, and protecting Chinese investments in Myanmar. China also wants to ensure the safety of its people in Myanmar.”

But the situation remains complicated. While China provides political and economic backing to the junta, analysts argue that it also covertly supports some ethnic armed groups along its border. The MNDAA, for example, is widely believed to receive Chinese support. The military’s recent warmth toward China is seen by many as a survival tactic.

Tu Maung Nyo said the stakes are high for China. Beijing seeks stability but recognizes that as long as the SAC remains in power, peace may be elusive.

Although China continues to support the military, it is likely applying pressure behind the scenes for a resolution, especially as regional powers, including the Quad nations — Australia, India, Japan and the United States — express concern over Myanmar’s future.

“China may even use its leverage by withholding weapons sales or cutting off the military’s jet fuel supply,” Hla Kyaw Zaw said, noting that such actions would align with recent calls from the Quad members.

Tu Maung Nyo said outside influences have always played a role in Myanmar, which occupies a strategic position on the Indian Ocean.

“The events in Myanmar, from the start of the civil war to today, have always seen the participation of major powers. While some may call it interference, I see it as inevitable participation,” he said. “But now, the military seems to have a big problem deciding which side to rely on.”
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taipei, taiwan — Drone companies from Taiwan and the U.S. are exploring ways to work together in a market dominated by China, bringing together Taiwanese enterprises and more than two dozen American companies and officials this week in Taipei.

Attacks by swarms of drones have become an almost daily occurrence in Russia’s war in Ukraine, with both Kyiv and Moscow using unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, to carry out strikes and defend themselves from attacks.

As the threat China poses to Taiwan grows, many see drones playing a crucial role in a potential conflict there as well. China’s leader, Xi Jinping, has tasked his troops to be prepared for an invasion of Taiwan by 2027.

And with Chinese companies dominating the market and critical resources used in making drones, analysts say it is important for Taiwan and the U.S. to find ways to create a China-free supply chain.

At a drone expo at National Taiwan University in Taipei this week, hundreds of Taiwanese producers met with several officials from the U.S. Department of Defense and Raymond Greene, director of the American Institute in Taiwan, which serves as the de facto U.S. embassy on the island.  

Patrick Mason, the deputy assistant secretary of the Army for defense exports and cooperation, and Andrew Hong, deputy director of the cyber portfolio of the Defense Department’s Defense Innovation Unit, or DIU, spoke at the expo. Mason spoke about “The Pathway to U.S.-Taiwan Defense Industrial Cooperation” and Hong’s remarks centered on “Defense Innovation with Taiwan.”   

For U.S. drone companies, the forum offered the potential to expand business ventures with Taiwan and grow the bilateral trade partnership, according to a statement from the American Institute in Taiwan on Wednesday.

Demand for drone technology in Taiwan is large, especially given China’s drone production prowess. Chinese drone company DJI held 76% of the consumer market for household drones in 2021. These drones have also been deployed on the battlefield in places like Ukraine and Myanmar, a practice that the Chinese government and DJI have condemned.

Hsu Chih-hsiang, an assistant researcher at the Institute of National Defense and Security Research in Taipei, described drones as “combat force-multipliers,” and explained that, even in peacetime, China has already begun sending large drones into Taiwanese territory and even uses small civilian drones to hover in Taiwanese airspace in the Kinmen Islands.

In 2022, former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen made the drone industry a development priority in Taiwan. Since then, Taiwan has established the “Drone National Team” program, subsidizing domestic production of these systems.  

Taiwanese Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo revealed in mid-September that Taiwan would procure 3,422 units of six types of domestically produced military drones, including mini-drones, before 2028, and that Taiwan would also separately acquire two types of missile-type attack drones, totaling 976 units, before 2026, to enhance precision strikes and anti-armor capabilities. 

Wang Shiow-wen, who is also an assistant researcher at the Institute of National Defense and Security Research, said American support of Taiwanese drone modernization presents an opportunity for Taiwan to break through barriers in production capacity and ensure the security of the supply chain for drones.

Taiwan’s government has set a goal for domestic manufacturers to produce 15,000 drones per month by 2028. That is three times current production levels, according to Taiwan’s government-funded Central News Agency.

Ja Ian Chong, a political scientist at the National University of Singapore, said the three most important considerations for the U.S. and Taiwan in the future of drone production without Chinese components are cost, mass production capacity, and the impact that this might have on American and Taiwanese budgets, technology transfer and scientific development.  

China strongly opposes collaboration and engagement between Taiwan and the United States, and it was watching the gathering in Taipei closely.  

Chinese state media criticized the visit to Taiwan by the delegation of American companies and defense officials, as well as efforts to create a “China-free” drone supply chain.  

Liu Heping, a Chinese commentator, said that by attempting to make Taiwan the “democratic drone supply chain center,” the United States and Taiwan were preparing for a “vigorous arms race” with China.

Katherine Michaelson contributed to this report.
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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — Ethnic Chin refugees from Myanmar in Malaysia are accusing the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR of abuse and of not providing necessary protection, potentially putting lives at risk. 

Hundreds of members of the Alliance of Chin Refugees held a demonstration Thursday outside the UNHCR office in Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur.  

Chins, most of whom are Christians, are an ethnic and religious minority in Buddhist-majority Myanmar who face repression that has led to violent conflicts there. In recent decades, waves of ethnic Chins have fled the country, many to Malaysia. 

U.N. figures from last month show there are about 27,250 ethnic Chin refugees and asylum-seekers in Malaysia registered with UNHCR. But James Bawl Thang Bik, chairman of the Alliance of Chin Refugees, told VOA on Thursday there are tens of thousands more who are not registered.  

He also said the UNHCR takes too long to make decisions for asylum-seekers who have applied for refugee status. “The process can take years,” he said.  

VOA asked UNHCR Malaysia how long it typically takes for an applicant to get a decision on their case but did not receive an immediate answer. 

Further complicating matters, Malaysia has not signed the United Nations refugee convention and does not officially recognize refugees, viewing them as illegal immigrants. 

UNHCR registration provides some protection that typically prevents arrest, but the refugees are still not allowed to attend government schools or work legally — although many take off-the-books jobs, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation by employers, according to migrant rights groups. 

James Bawl Thang Bik said that after Myanmar’s 2021 coup approximately 50 ethnic Chin Myanmar soldiers and police officers fled to Malaysia because they refused to fight for Myanmar’s military. He said some of them have been arrested and are in detention in Malaysia because they lack UNHCR documentation.  

“If these former soldiers and policemen get sent back to Myanmar their lives could be in danger,” he said. 

“UNHCR needs to prioritize these types of cases and register them quickly.” 

UNHCR documentation also gives refugees access to medical care at public hospitals for lower prices than what foreigners typically pay but the Alliance of Chin Refugees said asylum-seekers without UNHCR documentation frequently need medical treatment but cannot get it.  

“The UNHCR needs to meet with these people immediately and give them the necessary status and documentation,” Bik said, mentioning cases of people with broken bones and serious infections. 

Responding to media inquiries after Thursday’s demonstration, the United Nations refugee agency released a written statement that said: “UNHCR wishes to emphasize that we recognize the frustration felt by many refugee communities living in the complex protection environment in Malaysia where they lack legal status, are unable to access legal work or formal education. … UNHCR is doing its utmost to protect and assist refugees. This includes prioritizing protection and assistance interventions for highly vulnerable refugees.” 

Additionally, Bik said he has received reports about security guards outside the UNHCR office punching and kicking ethnic Chins trying to get in without appointments.  

UNHCR responded in its written statement saying it has “zero tolerance” for this type of treatment but also said: “At this time, we have not received any reports of abuse by security personnel from any individual refugee from the Chin Community.”  

The alliance chairman dismissed the UNHCR’s response as false. “We have told them about mistreatment many times,” he said. 
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TOKYO — Shigeru Ishiba, a veteran politician with a reputation for irking his conservative colleagues, is set to become Japan’s next prime minister after winning the leadership race for the Liberal Democratic Party Friday.

Ishiba, a 67-year-old former defense minister, defeated socially conservative foreign policy hawk Sanae Takaichi in the second round of an internal party vote. The LDP’s parliamentary majority means he will become prime minister, likely next week.

The runoff between Ishiba and Takaichi followed a first-round vote featuring a record nine candidates, reflecting a broad struggle over the direction of the LDP, which has ruled Japan for all but four of the past 65 years.

The conservative LDP has sought to relax Japan’s self-imposed, post-World War II military restraints, though the Japanese public remains largely wary of abandoning its pacifist traditions.

The choice between Ishiba and Takaichi was especially significant. While neither was expected to drastically reverse Japan’s bolder security stance, they represented different visions about how it should be pursued.

Takaichi claimed to be the ideological successor to the late prime minister, Shinzo Abe, who pushed for a more assertive Japan, often to the dismay of its neighbors.

Ishiba, however, was a prominent Abe critic who “urges humility in Japan’s approach to its history,” said Tobias Harris, a Japanese politics specialist and founder of Japan Foresight, a political risk advisory company.

Ishiba’s win represents “a rejection of a quarter century of dominance by Abe and his national greatness conservatives, the triumph of a style of politics that has been pushed to the margins of the LDP for most of Ishiba’s career,” Harris wrote in a profile of Ishiba this week.

Takaichi, considered the most conservative candidate in the race, had pledged to visit the controversial Yasukuni Shrine as prime minister. The shrine honors Japan’s war dead, including convicted war criminals. The last prime minister to visit was Abe in 2013, a move that sparked criticism from China, South Korea, and the United States.

That approach was apparently viewed as too risky for many LDP members, who worried that Japan’s international standing could become tainted, according to Mieko Nakabayashi, a former Japanese lawmaker and professor at Tokyo’s Waseda University.

“In terms of international security and international relations, the choice of Takaichi was not actually on the table if you were a decent member of the LDP,” Nakabayashi said. “LDP members thought that was too much.”

However, many analysts were skeptical about the chances of Ishiba, who on four prior occasions had tried and failed to secure the LDP’s top spot. Though popular with the public, Ishiba was disliked by many of his colleagues, in large part because of his prior decision to leave the party and criticize successive LDP-led administrations, most notably Abe’s.

The result means Abe allies are now “in the backseat” of the party, said Tetsuo Kotani, a senior fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs.

The Abe faction had widely been blamed for a scandal involving the misuse of millions of dollars in unreported political donations. In an attempt to restore public trust following that scandal, the party dismantled most of the powerful factions that traditionally controlled the leadership votes.

The scandals helped topple outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, whose administration had also struggled to address Japan’s long-standing economic stagnation and rising inflation.

Ishiba was a vocal critic of “Abenomics,” which relied on low interest rates and government spending to stimulate growth. Instead, Ishiba has called for raising corporate taxes to promote greater wealth redistribution.

Ishiba also wants Japan to take a bigger role in his country’s alliance with the United States. He has repeatedly called for the revision of the Status of Forces Agreement governing U.S. forces in Japan.

He also has proposed the creation of an “Asian NATO,” which he says could facilitate a nuclear sharing arrangement or the return of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons to the region.

While Ishiba supports the U.S.-Japan alliance, he wants to put the relationship on a more equal playing field, said Rintaro Nishimura, an associate in the Japan practice of the Asia Group.

“His fundamental principle … is making sure that Japan is able to work with regional partners in a way that it doesn’t completely rely on the United States to be engaged in a conflict with China. To be able to independently, in a sense, prepare for the worst scenario,” Nishimura said.

Ishiba may revisit some of his campaign policies that unsettled his foreign policy advisers, said Kotani, the foreign affairs specialist, who expects Ishiba to govern pragmatically.

“Ishiba is predictable,” he said. “And he will be surrounded by reasonable people.”
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PATNA, India — Dozens of children drowned while bathing in rivers and ponds in rituals that were part of a three-day Hindu festival in eastern India’s Bihar state, officials said.

Heavy monsoon rains recently had raised the levels of waterways across the state. 

At least 46 people, including 37 children, drowned in separate incidents across the state’s 15 districts, a statement from Bihar’s disaster management department said. Authorities have recovered 43 bodies so far, and the three missing people are presumed to be dead.

During the annual festival, mothers fast for 24 hours for the well-being of their children. The women are sometimes accompanied by their children when they visit rivers and ponds for cleansing rituals. The festival concluded Thursday.

The state government has announced a compensation of 400,000 rupees ($4,784) for the families of each of the dead.

Deadly accidents like drownings and stampedes during religious festivals are common in India.

In July, at least 121 people were killed after severe overcrowding and a lack of exits contributed to a stampede at a religious festival in northern India.
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