A group of US senators has sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging the designation of the Taliban as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation.
The letter, dated Wednesday, was written by four Republican senators, including Rick Scott, Dan Sullivan, Tommy Tuberville and Joni Ernst, a veteran.
In the letter, the senators argue that the Taliban “present a significant threat to the United States".
The senators rejected the premise that the Taliban have moderated their behaviour since they were overthrown in 2001.
“Since re-establishing control of Afghanistan [in August], the Taliban resumed the same murderous and oppressive habits that characterised their leadership tenure prior to the arrival of US forces in 2001,” the senators wrote.
They accused the group of public attacks, beatings of women and girls, and persecuting dissidents.
“Among those beaten and chased by Taliban forces were American citizens and their families still living in Afghanistan,” they said.
The letter makes also reference to the August 26 suicide attacks that killed 13 US servicemembers in Kabul. ISIS-K claimed responsibility for the attack, though the letter appears to imply that the Taliban were also involved.
“There is no evidence thus far from our commanders in the field that there has been collusion between Taliban and ISIS,” US President Joe Biden said after the attack.
The new Taliban government, formed two weeks after the attack, contains Cabinet members who have been designated as terrorists by the US. Sirajuddin Haqqani, the new interior minister and the leader of the Haqqani network, for example, has a $10 million bounty on his head for his role in the killing of Americans in Afghanistan.
“We believe the Taliban easily meets all three criteria [foreign organisation, engages in terrorist activity, threatens the US] and urge you to consider designating the Taliban as a foreign terrorist organisation and treating them as such to the maximum extent of the law,” the senators wrote.
Separately, Marco Rubio and five other Senate Republicans introduced legislation this week that would direct Mr Blinken to designate the “illegitimate Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan as a state sponsor of terrorism and the Taliban as a terrorist organisation”.
If passed, the Preventing Recognition of Terrorist States Act would bring sanctions against foreign actors who knowingly provide assistance to the Taliban.
But it is unlikely that the State Department will label the Taliban as a terrorist organisation or impose sanctions on its outside funders at this point, one expert says.
Colin Clarke, director of policy and research at the Soufan Centre and an expert on counter-terrorism, described the Republican push to designate the Taliban as “political theatre".
“It's all political theatre, all for show. It's an attempt to make things more difficult for the Biden administration,” Mr Clarke told The National.
He said that the silence of Republican senators when former president Donald Trump was negotiating with the Taliban makes their push seem deeply partisan.
“Where were these objections when President Trump, a Republican, was talking about inviting the Taliban to Camp David in Sept 2019?” he asked.
As for the merit of such a designation, Mr Clarke argued that it would complicate an already problematic situation for the administration.
“The situation is already complex because several current members of the Taliban's government [such as Siraj Haqqani and Khalil Haqqani] are wanted terrorists by the US.”
Being designated a terrorist organisation would prohibit any US government contact with the Taliban. Mr Biden has continued the engagement that Mr Trump started with the Taliban, and US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad remains in Doha where he regularly convenes with the group’s leaders.
“The nature of [US] engagement and the nature of any relationship depends entirely on the actions and conduct of the Taliban,” Mr Blinken said last month.
“I don't think there is any way that the Biden administration could designate the Taliban as [a foreign terrorist organisation] because it would close the door to working together in any capacity in the future,” Mr Clarke said.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Produced by: Reliance Entertainment with Chalk and Cheese Films
Director: Tushar Hiranandani
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar, Prakash Jha, Vineet Singh
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
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Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
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- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
If you go:
Getting there:
Flying to Guyana requires first reaching New York with either Emirates or Etihad, then connecting with JetBlue or Caribbean Air at JFK airport. Prices start from around Dh7,000.
Getting around:
Wildlife Worldwide offers a range of Guyana itineraries, such as its small group tour, the 15-day ‘Ultimate Guyana Nature Experience’ which features Georgetown, the Iwokrama Rainforest (one of the world’s four remaining pristine tropical rainforests left in the world), the Amerindian village of Surama and the Rupununi Savannah, known for its giant anteaters and river otters; wildlifeworldwide.com
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Al Ain 2 Al Duhail 4
Second leg:
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Power: 727hp
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
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On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
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Australia men's Test cricket fixtures 2021/22
One-off Test v Afghanistan:
Nov 27-Dec 1: Blundstone Arena, Hobart
The Ashes v England:
Dec 8-12: 1st Test, Gabba, Brisbane
Dec 16-20: 2nd Test, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (day/night)
Dec 26-30: 3rd Test, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Jan 5-9, 2022: 4th Test, Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
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Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
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1799 - First small pox vaccine administered
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1861 - Louis Pasteur published his germ theory which proved that bacteria caused diseases
1895 - Discovery of x-rays
1923 - Heart valve surgery performed successfully for first time
1928 - Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
1953 - Structure of DNA discovered
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1979 - MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, scanned used to diagnose illness and injury.
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5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
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6pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,400m
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7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
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Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
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Sector: Technology and home services
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Ronaldo's record at Man Utd
Seasons 2003/04 - 2008/09
Appearances 230
Goals 115
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Super Rugby play-offs
Quarter-finals
- Hurricanes 35, ACT 16
- Crusaders 17, Highlanders 0
- Lions 23, Sharks 21
- Chiefs 17, Stormers 11
Semi-finals
Saturday, July 29
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
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Southampton 0
Manchester City 1 (Sterling 16')
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Profile of Tamatem
Date started: March 2013
Founder: Hussam Hammo
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Employees: 55
Funding: $6m
Funders: Wamda Capital, Modern Electronics (part of Al Falaisah Group) and North Base Media
