1) Afghanistan Under Taliban Rule
When the Taliban first seized power of Afghanistan in the 1990s, there was a mass exodus from the country while among those who stayed, many put up a fierce resistance. The Taliban’s return 25 years on (August 2021) has forced millions to flee once more and again instigated widespread backlash from people who remain.
Over a year after the Taliban’s ascent to power in Afghanistan, the plight of Afghans is worsening. The economic situation is dire, malnutrition rates are increasing, women’s rights are being curtailed, there is continuing migration and internal displacement, and the health care system is crumbling – the already high maternal mortality rates are thought to have increased four-fold.
To say where India stands with respect to relations with Afghanistan, our country has, so far, supplied 45 tonne of medical assistance in 13 batches. The supplies included essential life-saving medicines, anti-TB medicines, 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines etc. To ensure food security in Afghanistan, India has also provided food assistance of 40,000 tonne of wheat.
This happened after urgent appeals were made by the United Nations in October to assist the Afghan people.
2) Russia-Ukraine War
On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014. But Ukrainian forces retook large areas around Kyiv in early April after Russia abandoned its push towards the capital.
Multiple air strikes from Russian troops spanning over months have resulted in strong retaliation from Ukraine. In recent development, the city of Kherson has been liberated by Ukrainian troops in a major setback to Russia.
Ukraine's latest advance comes after weeks of attacks on Russian-controlled bridges and other positions around Kherson. Elsewhere in Ukraine, fighting continues in Donetsk as Russian forces attempt to advance towards Bakhmut.
3) Sri Lanka's Economic Crisis
The Sri Lankan economic crisis is an ongoing crisis in the island-state of Sri Lanka that started in 2019. It is the country's worst economic crisis since its independence in 1948.
In June 2022, then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said in parliament that the economy had collapsed, leaving it unable to pay for essentials. The country then saw massive protests where civilians took to the streets, the consequent violence saw an increased death toll, arson and loot.
In September 2022, a United Nations report said that the economic crisis is a result of officials' impunity for human rights and economic crimes.
Cut to today, the number of people in Sri Lanka needing urgent humanitarian help has doubled to 3.4 million, the United Nations has said as it warned of a worsening food crisis. UN agencies working in Sri Lanka in a joint statement on Tuesday said that they had raised $79m to feed those in need, but the increasing number of poor people meant an additional $70m was needed.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to India, Milind Moragoda on Saturday met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and reviewed the bilateral ties between India and south Asian neighbour.
4) Iran Anti-hijab Protests in Iran
Protests against Iran's clerical establishment erupted two months ago after the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who was detained by morality police for allegedly breaking the strict hijab rules. They are reported to have spread to 140 cities and towns and evolved into the most significant challenge to the Islamic Republic in over a decade.
Thousands of women then turned to cutting their hair as an act of defiance in a stance against the rules of the hijab being compulsory. The act has been adopted by others, including women in India.
At least 326 protesters, including 43 children and 25 women, have been killed in a violent crackdown by security forces, according to Iran Human Rights.
The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), which is also based outside the country, has put the death toll at 341 and said another 15,800 protesters have been detained. It has also reported the deaths of 39 security personnel.
Indian activists also started to publicly cut their hair in a show of solidarity with Iranian women at the forefront of the biggest anti-government protests.
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