Afghans crack open opportunity from China-bound pine nut trade

STORY: Afghans crack open opportunity from China-bound pine nut trade SHOOTING TIME: June 20, 2024 DATELINE: June 26, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:56 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of pine trees in eastern Afghanistan 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): CHIN MOHAMMAD, Farmer 3. various of pine trees in eastern Afghanistan 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Pashto): MINA GUL, Farmer 5. various of pine nuts STORYLINE: Once primarily used as a source of fuel for heating homes, pine trees in eastern Afghanistan have become a cash cow for local villagers. Afghanistan's annual export of 5,000 tonnes of pine nuts is mostly destined for neighboring China. Since November 2018, a China-Afghanistan air corridor has offered a lucrative source of income for farmers in Afghanistan's remote mountains. The first air shipment contained 20 tonnes of pine nuts and flew from Kabul to Shanghai. Afghani farmer Chin Mohammad said six years ago that most pine nut buyers in his village were from neighboring countries. They would purchase

19 pct children engaged in child labor in Afghanistan: OCHA

STORY: 19 pct children engaged in child labor in Afghanistan: OCHA SHOOTING DATE: June 12, 2024 DATELINE: June 13, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:11 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of children working in a brick factory 2. SOUNDBITE (Pashto): FOLAD, Afghan child 3. various of children working in a brick factory STORYLINE: Nineteen percent of children are engaged in child labor in Afghanistan, the Afghanistan office of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Wednesday. "The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs is trying to prevent child labor and support their families. The ministry has activated training centers for orphaned children and has provided vocational training along with other assistance to the children," local media outlet TOLOnews quoted the ministry's spokesperson Samiullah Rahimi as saying on Wednesday. Folad is an Afghan child working at a brick factory in Dehsabz district of Afghanistan's capital of Kabul. SOUNDBITE (Pashto): F

Afghanistan floods affect over 30,000 since year-start: UN

STORY: Afghanistan floods affect over 30,000 since year-start: UN SHOOTING TIME: May 19/20/21, 2024 DATELINE: May 21, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:46 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the flood-hit areas in Maimana, the capital of north Afghanistan's Faryab province 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): MULLAH JANAN SAEQ, Spokesman for Afghanistan's national disaster authority 3. various of the flood-hit areas in Maimana, the capital of north Afghanistan's Faryab province 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Dari): MUHAMMAD DADULLAH, Resident in Afghanistan's Faryab province 5. various of the flood-hit areas in Firoz Koh, the capital of west Afghanistan's Ghor province STORYLINE: More than 30,000 people have been affected by floods across Afghanistan since this year, the United Nations (UN) has said. The UN refugees agency said on social media platform X on Monday that flood-affected people "urgently need emergency shelter, medical supplies, food, cash, safe drinking water and hygiene kits." The World Health Organization al

China-donated tents offer swift shelter for flood-hit Afghans

STORY: China-donated tents offer swift shelter for flood-hit Afghans SHOOTING TIME: May 4, 2024 DATELINE: May 8, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:26 LOCATION: HERAT, Afghanistan CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the flood-affected area in Aderskan District, west Afghanistan's Herat Province 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): SAYED AHMAD, Tent recipient 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Pashto): MAWLAWI ENAYATULLAH SABIR, Deputy director for Herat's disaster management authority 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Dari): IMAMUDIN AHMADI, Tent recipient STORYLINE: In a continuation of humanitarian support reminiscent of last year's earthquake response, China-donated tents were distributed to families affected by flooding in west Afghanistan's Herat Province a couple of days ago, to offer a temporary refuge to those grappling with the aftermath of natural disasters. "Heavy rains and flash floods have destroyed our homes and rendered us homeless. Luckily the timely distribution of China-donated tents as shelter has been very helpful for us," a tent recipient Saye

20 tonnes of drugs destroyed in Afghanistan

STORY: 20 tonnes of drugs destroyed in Afghanistan SHOOTING TIME: April 23, 2024 DATELINE: April 25, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:44 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: OTHERS SHOTLIST: 1. various of Afghan security force members in preparation for burning illicit drugs and the objects used in manufacturing drugs, in Kabul 2. SOUNDBITE (Pashto): MUFTI AHMADULLAH AHMADI, Head of counter-narcotics police 3. various of the ceremony of setting on fire illicit drugs and the objects used in manufacturing drugs STORYLINE: The Afghan caretaker government held a ceremony on Tuesday to set on fire a huge quantity of illicit drugs and the objects used in manufacturing drugs on the outskirts of the capital city of Kabul. More than 20 tonnes of illicit drugs including 635 kg of heroin were set on fire publicly. SOUNDBITE (Pashto): MUFTI AHMADULLAH AHMADI, Head of counter-narcotics police "The counter-narcotics police have conducted more than 22,000 operations and arrested more than 9,000 individuals on the charge of involvement in drug

Afghan farmers grow legal crops to replace poppy cultivation

STORY: Afghan farmers grow legal crops to replace poppy cultivation SHOOTING TIME: March 9, 2024 (Jawzjan Province) / March 22, 2024 (Kandahar Province) DATELINE: April 1, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:31 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of farmland in Jawzjan Province 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): MAWLAWI SAIFUDIN MOTASIM, Director of information and culture of Jawzjan province 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Dari): GHULAM MOHIDIN, Farmer 4. various farmland in Kandahar Province 5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Pashto): HAJJI ABDUL GHAFOOR, Farmer 6. SOUNDBITE 4 (Dari): BISMILLAH JAN, Farmer 7. various of farmland in Kandahar Province STORYLINE: Once one of the world's biggest opium producers, war-torn Afghanistan has been gradually getting out of the mire of such illicit drugs, as farmers have been encouraged to replace poppies with legal crops. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): MAWLAWI SAIFUDIN MOTASIM, Director of information and culture of Jawzjan Province "The government's support for the farmers by providing improved seeds and pestic

Death toll soars to 39 due to spell cold in Afghanistan

STORY: Death toll soars to 39 due to spell cold in Afghanistan SHOOTING TIME: March 2, 2024 DATELINE: March 4, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:49 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of rural area in the chilly winter in Jawzjan province, Afghanistan 2. SOUNDBITE (Pashto): MULLAH JANAN SAEQ, Spokesman for Afghanistan's National Disaster Authority 3. various of rural area in the chilly winter in Jawzjan province, Afghanistan STORYLINE: The death toll from freezing weather and snowfall in the chilly winter has reached 39 in Afghanistan as spell cold continues in parts of the country, spokesman for national disaster authority Mullah Janan Saeq said Sunday. SOUNDBITE (Pashto): MULLAH JANAN SAEQ, Spokesman for Afghanistan's National Disaster Authority "About 39 persons of our countrymen have been martyred and 30 others injured due to rain, snowfall and cold weather. Also, 637 houses have been destroyed and 13,889 cattle have died due to the freezing climate." The official noted that the administration wo

China's aid eases misery of quake-affected Afghans in chilly winter

STORY: China's aid eases misery of quake-affected Afghans in chilly winter SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 11, 2024 DATELINE: Feb. 22, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:53 LOCATION: HERAT, Afghanistan CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the quake-affected areas 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): GHULAM REZA, Gazara resident 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Dari): MOHAMMAD, Quake victim 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Pashto): MOHAMMAD MUSA ASHARI, Herat's provincial director for natural disaster management authority STORYLINE: Surviving the devastating earthquake last October, Ghulam Reza, a resident of Gazara locality in west Afghanistan's Herat province, thanked China for sending assistance to the quake-affected families ahead of the chilly winter. SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): GHULAM REZA, Gazara resident "I am thankful to China for sending assistance to our area which has covered about 50 to 60 families. There could be a catastrophe in the absence of humanitarian assistance." Around 800 families live in Gazara, and 90 percent of the villagers are living in poverty. A

Afghanistan wants positive relations with world community: acting FM

STORY: Afghanistan wants positive relations with world community: acting FM SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 29, 2024 DATELINE: Jan. 31, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:07 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the conference 2. SOUNDBITE (Pashto): MAWLAWI AMIR KHAN MUTTAQI, Afghan caretaker government's Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs STORYLINE: Afghan caretaker government's Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi has emphasized Afghanistan's positive engagement and good relations with different nations. Muttaqi told reporters at a press conference after the conclusion of a regional conference on Afghanistan on Monday evening. SOUNDBITE (Pashto): MAWLAWI AMIR KHAN MUTTAQI, Afghan caretaker government's Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs "We are calling upon the world community, upon all countries, far-flanged countries to have positive relations with Afghanistan, like the countries of the region." The conference titled "Afghanistan's Regional Cooperation Initiative" was hosted by t

Drought-affected Kabul residents queue for hours to fetch water

STORY: Drought-affected Kabul residents queue for hours to fetch water SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 11, 2024 DATELINE: Jan. 20, 2024 LENGTH: 00:03:43 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of drought-affected Kabul, Afghanistan 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): RAJAB REZAI, Resident of Kabul 3. various of drought-affected Kabul residents queuing to fetch water 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Dari): KARBALAI, Resident of Kabul 5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Pashto): QARI MATIHULLAH ABID, Spokesman for the Ministry of Energy and Water 6. SOUNDBITE 4 (Pashto): QARI MATIHULLAH ABID, Spokesman for the Ministry of Energy and Water STORYLINE: Due to a severe drought, residents in Afghanistan's capital city Kabul have to queue for hours to fetch water. Rajab Rezai complained with anger after having waited for hours in front of a well of a local mosque on the western edge of Kabul. SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): RAJAB REZAI, Resident of Kabul "There are 10 people in my family and I have to fill eight tins with water for use in drinking, cooking a

Pine nut exports to China spur job opportunities for Afghans

STORY: Pine nut exports to China spur job opportunities for Afghans SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 21, 2023 DATELINE: Nov. 28, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:52 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of a pine nut processing factory in Kabul 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): KHALA FATIMA, Local worker 3. various of a pine nut processing factory in Kabul 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Pashto): SHIR ALI ZADRAN, Afghan businessman STORYLINE: As one of the daily wagers involved in cleaning pine nuts on the outskirts of Kabul, the national capital of Afghanistan, Khala Fatima was delighted to witness more such nuts exported to China. The increase in pine nut exports to China has created job opportunities in Afghanistan as hundreds of thousands of Afghans work to clean and process the precious dry fruit to make it ready for export. SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): KHALA FATIMA, Local worker "I have been working here for the past six years, and the pine nut exports to China make us happy because we work here and earn our livelihood. Exporting pine nuts to

Chinese-built road paves way to better life for Afghans

STORY: Chinese-built road paves way to better life for Afghans SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 20, 2023 DATELINE: Nov. 24, 2023 LENGTH: 0:01:06 LOCATION: JALALABAD, Afghanistan CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the China-built road and street scenes in Nangarhar Province, east Afghanistan 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): ZAHIDULLAH, Taxi driver 3. various of the China-built road and street scenes in Nangarhar Province, east Afghanistan 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Pashto): QURISHI BADLON, Public relations officer of Nangarhar province 5. various of the China-built road and street scenes in Nangarhar Province, east Afghanistan 6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Dari): LAL MOHAMMAD, Shopkeeper 7. various of the China-built road and street scenes in Nangarhar Province, east Afghanistan STORYLINE: A Chinese-constructed road in Afghanistan has greatly improved local people's lives and facilitated transportation and business activities. The newly completed 45-km-long road runs from Jalalabad, the capital of east Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, to south

Afghans struggle to keep houses warm in winter amid poverty, sanctions

STORY: Afghans struggle to keep houses warm in winter amid poverty, sanctions SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 14, 2023 DATELINE: Nov. 19, 2023 LENGTH: 00:03:01 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: ECONOMY/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of a firewood shop in Kabul, Afghanistan 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): ABDULLAH, Resident in Kabul 3. various of a firewood shop in Kabul, Afghanistan 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Pashto): HAJJI JUMA GUL, Wood seller in Kabul 5. various of a firewood shop in Kabul, Afghanistan 6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Dari): KHALIL, Three-wheel vehicle driver 7. various of a firewood shop in Kabul, Afghanistan STORYLINE: As the chilly winter is approaching in war-ravaged and mountainous Afghanistan, Abdullah, a resident in the national capital Kabul, is bargaining with a wood seller to buy firewood at a low price in order to keep his home warm in the harsh winter. Although the weather in Kabul and many other parts of Afghanistan is already cold, and some mountains have been covered with snow, the winter season usually begins in mid-December in

U.S. sanctions cast pall over post-quake reconstruction in Afghanistan

STORY: U.S. sanctions cast pall over post-quake reconstruction in Afghanistan DATELINE: Oct. 22, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:07 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: POLITICS/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Afghanistan's Herat province 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): MOHAMMAD, Villager in Afghanistan's Herat province 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Dari): DAWOOD, Villager in Afghanistan's Herat province 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Pashto): NISAR AHMAD ELIAS, Herat provincial government spokesman STORYLINE: Mohammad, a resident displaced by devastating earthquakes in Afghanistan's Herat province, is now living with six family members under the blankets in open ground. He said he believed that the U.S. freezing of Afghanistan's assets has undermined the local post-quake rehabilitation and reconstruction. SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): MOHAMMAD, Villager in Afghanistan's Herat province "Even though the earthquake was over, we nearly lost the hope of life. We don't know whether we can continue our life or not. The United States which has oppressed the people of Afghanistan fo

Afghanistan's Herat province in need of medical supplies following deadly quakes: minister

STORY: Afghanistan's Herat province in need of medical supplies following deadly quakes: minister DATELINE: Oct. 11, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:14 LOCATION: HERAT, Afghanistan CATEGORY: ECONOMY/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the views in the hospitals 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): QALANDAR IBAD, Acting Minister of Public Health of Afghanistan 3. various of the aftermath of earthquakes 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Pashto): QALANDAR IBAD, Acting Minister of Public Health of Afghanistan STORYLINE: Afghan caretaker government's Acting Minister of Public Health Qalandar Ibad told Xinhua on Monday after visiting hospitals in quake-hit Herat province that there will be a need for medical supplies for people in the region. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): QALANDAR IBAD, Acting Minister of Public Health of Afghanistan "If we look at the issue in the long term such as one month, two months, three months, or six months, we need medical equipment and medicines." Two powerful earthquakes, each with a magnitude of 6.2, jolted west Afghanistan on Saturda

Hospitals in Herat, Afghanistan crowded with injured people following deadly earthquakes

STORY: Hospitals in Herat, Afghanistan crowded with injured people following deadly earthquakes DATELINE: Oct. 10, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:53 LOCATION: HERAT, Afghanistan CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the aftermath of earthquakes 2. STANDUP (English): MOHAMMAD JAN ARIA, Xinhua reporter 3. various of the views in the hospitals 4. SOUNDBITE (Pashto): QALANDAR EBAD, Acting Minister of Public Health of Afghanistan STORYLINE: STANDUP (English): MOHAMMAD JAN ARIA, Xinhua reporter "I'm now at a hospital in Herat City (in west Afghanistan). After the deadly quakes shook the city, crowds of injured people were sent to hospitals in the city. Follow our camera to see the situation." Two earthquakes, each with a magnitude of 6.2, jolted west Afghanistan on Saturday, followed by several aftershocks. The epicenters were in the Zindajan district of Herat province and so far, 2,445 deaths have been confirmed. As the number of casualties continued to rise, hospitals in Herat were under great pressure. Thousands

China-donated humanitarian aid distributed in W. Afghanistan

STORY: China-donated humanitarian aid distributed in W. Afghanistan DATELINE: Sept. 18, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:58 LOCATION: FARAH, Afghanistan CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of China-donated humanitarian aid in Farah province, Afghanistan 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): MOHAMMAD ISRAEL SAYAR, Provincial director for Natural Disaster Management Authority 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Pashto): ABDUL RAHIM, Aid beneficiary 4. various of China-donated humanitarian aid in Farah province, Afghanistan STORYLINE: The distribution of China-donated humanitarian assistance has started in west Afghanistan's Farah province as 29 needy families received aid packages, an official said on Saturday last week. Each family was given two bags of rice, each weighing 50 kg, and 329 more destitute families will be receiving their share from the aid in the coming days, according to provincial director for Natural Disaster Management Authority Mohammad Israel Sayar. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): MOHAMMAD ISRAEL SAYAR, Provincial director for Nat

Nightmare unawakened, former Afghan Guantanamo prisoner calls for compensation

STORY: Nightmare unawakened, former Afghan Guantanamo prisoner calls for compensation DATELINE: Aug. 31, 2023 LENGTH: 00:03:04 LOCATION: CHAPARHAR, Afghanistan CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of Mohammad Nasim working in the farmland 2. various of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp (file) 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): MOHAMMAD NASIM, Former Guantanamo prisoner 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Pashto): MOHAMMAD NASIM, Former Guantanamo prisoner 5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Pashto): MOHAMMAD NASIM, Former Guantanamo prisoner 6. SOUNDBITE 4 (Pashto): MOHAMMAD NASIM, Former Guantanamo prisoner STORYLINE: Living in a slum house in Chaparhar district in east Afghanistan's Nangarhar Province, Mohammad Nasim, a former Guantanamo prisoner, said that he has not lived a good life since his release from the notorious prison. Nasim said he has been suffering from psychological diseases since he was arrested by U.S. troops and then apprehended in the infamous Guantanamo Bay detention camp for five years. Terming the U.S. claim for defending hum

U.S.-left unexploded ordnance still claiming lives of Afghans

STORY: U.S.-left unexploded ordnance still claiming lives of Afghans DATELINE: Aug. 27, 2023 LENGTH: 00:03:14 LOCATION: FARAH ROD, Afghanistan CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the views in Farah Rod 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): KHUDAI RAHIM, Father of the victims 3. various of the views in Farah Rod 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Dari): KHUDAI RAHIM, Father of the victims 5. various of the views in Farah Rod 6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Pashto): SAMIULLAH, Brother of victim 7. various of the views in Farah Rod 8. SOUNDBITE 4 (Pashto): MOHAMMAD IBRAHIM, Victim of UXO STORYLINE: Khudai Rahim, 54, is a resident of Rigretion village in Farah Rod district, Farah Province of Afghanistan. He lost two sons in blasts of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in 2021, and his third son was severely injured in a mine blast in 2022 just around their village. SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): KHUDAI RAHIM, Father of the victims "He (the third son) found a mine. It might be a mortar mine, and he played with it. He was a child and didn't know what that was, but the o

Afghan official urges int'l community to help orphans, disabled people

STORY: Afghan official urges int'l community to help orphans, disabled people DATELINE: July 27, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:05 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of people with disabilities in Kabul, Afghanistan 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): MAWLAWI SHAH MOHAMMAD DOST, Chief of office of the Acting Minister for the Ministry of Martyrs and Disabled Affairs of Afghanistan 3. various of people with disabilities in Kabul, Afghanistan 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Pashto): MAWLAWI SHAH MOHAMMAD DOST, Chief of office of the Acting Minister for the Ministry of Martyrs and Disabled Affairs of Afghanistan 5. various of people with disabilities in Kabul, Afghanistan 6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Pashto): MAWLAWI SHAH MOHAMMAD DOST, Chief of office of the Acting Minister for the Ministry of Martyrs and Disabled Affairs of Afghanistan 7. various of people with disabilities in Kabul, Afghanistan STORYLINE: The international community is expected to help the orphans and people with disabilities in war-torn Afghanistan to recover and stand o

Afghan youth volunteers promote education among poor children

STORY: Afghan youth volunteers promote education among poor children DATELINE: July 8, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:42 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: EDUCATION SHOTLIST: 1. various of students studying at the Today Child Mobile School 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): WAZIR KHAN, Volunteer teacher 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Pashto): SAFA, Student STORYLINE: Over 1,000 students have benefited from a volunteer-run educational center that teaches basic literacy skills to village children from poor families on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan's capital. The center, called "Today Child Mobile School," was founded by 23-year-old Wazir Khan a year ago in Khak, a destitute village near Kabul. He offers free education to the children of needy families. Each class is composed of 100 to 200 children, mostly from extremely unprivileged families. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): WAZIR KHAN, Volunteer teacher "Today Child Mobile School is virtually a mobile school and has been providing education to children over the past year. The children didn't have access

Afghanistan's Torkham port gears up trade with China

STORY: Afghanistan's Torkham port gears up trade with China DATELINE: June 30, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:32 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Torkham port in eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar province 2. STANDUP (English): ZOU XUEMIAN, Xinhua correspondent 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): OSTAN, Truck driver 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Pashto): MUFTI ESMATULLAH, Commissioner of the border town of Torkham 5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Pashto): QURISHI BADLON, Public relations officer of Nangarhar province STORYLINE: STANDUP (English): ZOU XUEMIAN, Xinhua correspondent "I'm now in eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar province. What's behind me is the Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is the busiest port of entry between the two countries, serving as a major transporting, shipping, and receiving site. Many huge trucks passed behind me loaded with all kinds of goods, including goods from China. A large number of Chinese goods enter the Afghan market through here via Pakistan. The border crossing behind

Afghan authorities distribute China-donated aid to 213 families in Farah province

STORY: Afghan authorities distribute China-donated aid to 213 families in Farah province DATELINE: June 25, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:49 LOCATION: FARAH, Afghanistan CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of foodstuff donated by China 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): SAMIHULLAH TAWAKALI, Financial and administrative head of Farah province 3. various of foodstuff donated by China 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Pashto): AKHTAR MOHAMMAD, Resident of Farah province 5. various of foodstuff donated by China STORYLINE: Afghan authorities distributed China-donated assistance to 213 needy families in the western Farah province on Thursday, financial and administrative head of the province Samihullah Tawakali said Friday. SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): SAMIHULLAH TAWAKALI, Financial and administrative head of Farah province "After conducting survey and identifying needy families, we distributed the aid to 213 families and each family received 25 kg of rice, a packet of beans, 10 packets of macaroni and jam." The provincial government received 3,400 b

Over 500 Afghans join national police

STORY: Over 500 Afghans join national police DATELINE: June 25, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:14 LOCATION: KANDAHAR, Afghanistan CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of newly graduated policemen in Kandahar province, Afghanistan 2. SOUNDBITE (Pashto): MULLAH ABDUL GHANI BARADAR, First Deputy Prime Minister 3. various of newly graduated policemen in Kandahar province, Afghanistan STORYLINE: A total of 530 Afghans have completed a two-month training course in the National Police Academy of the southwestern region of Afghanistan and joined the national police. At the graduation ceremony held in the southern city of Kandahar on Thursday, the newly graduated policemen vowed to serve the people in the war-ravaged country. SOUNDBITE (Pashto): MULLAH ABDUL GHANI BARADAR, First Deputy Prime Minister "Our advice to you is to serve the war-weary people honestly and be friendly to the people." The newly graduated policemen would be deployed in Kandahar, Zabul and Uruzgan provinces, according to police officers.

Chinese company distributes food to Afghan families

STORY: Chinese company distributes food to Afghan families DATELINE: June 22, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:07 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the company distributing food 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): MAWLAWI ATIQULLAH AZIZI, Deputy Minister of Information and Culture 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Pashto): HABIBULLAH, Elder of the area STORYLINE: Chinese mining firm MCC-JCL Aynak Minerals Company Ltd. (MJAM) distributed foodstuff worth 20,000 U.S. dollars to 300 families in Afghanistan's eastern Logar province on Wednesday. The items including rice, flour, cooking oil, tea and sugar, were distributed to families in Mohammad Agha district of the province. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): MAWLAWI ATIQULLAH AZIZI, Deputy Minister of Information and Culture "Today's program of aid distribution is an example of China's concern about the people of Afghanistan and those living around Mosi Aynak area and we are thankful for the support." SOUNDBITE 2 (Pashto): HABIBULLAH, Afghan citizen "I am very thankful for the supp

Afghan police destroy 80 acres of poppy farms in Jawzjan province

STORY: Afghan police destroy 80 acres of poppy farms in Jawzjan province DATELINE: June 20, 2023 LENGTH: 0:01:24 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Afghan police destroying poppy farms in Jawzjan province, Afghanistan 2. SOUNDBITE (Pashto): YUNUS AKHUNDZADA, Provincial director of counter-narcotics STORYLINE: Afghan police have destroyed around 80 acres of poppy farms and hashish in Afghanistan's northern Jawzjan province over the past two months, an official said on Tuesday. SOUNDBITE (Pashto): YUNUS AKHUNDZADA, Provincial director of counter-narcotics "Over the past two months, during a series of operations, we have destroyed 80 acres of poppy farms and hashish in seven districts of Jawzjan province, including six acres of hashish farms today." In similar operations against illicit crops, police destroyed around 600 acres of poppy farms in three provinces several weeks ago. Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the supreme leader of Afghan caretaker administration, issued a decree

Impoverished Afghan children further suffering due to U.S. sanctions

STORY: Impoverished Afghan children further suffering due to U.S. sanctions DATELINE: June 3, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:47 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Kabul and a makeshift camp in Kabul 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): NAWID, Local child 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Dari): LAILA, Nawid's mother 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Pashto): ASSADULLAH, Local child 5. SOUNDBITE 4 (Pashto): TAWS KHAN, Head of a makeshift camp STORYLINE: In war-torn Afghanistan, countless children have been working on the streets from dusk until dawn to support their impoverished families. SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): NAWID, Afghan child "I go to sell shopping bags every day. If I earn some money, I will bring home some food." SOUNDBITE 2 (Dari): LAILA, Nawid's mother "The prices of basic goods were low in the past. The price of 1 kg of cooking oil was 50 Afghani but now it costs 150 Afghani (about 1.7 U.S. dollars), and the prices of flour and rice have also gone up. We always go to the bazaar and return home empty-handed." Thousands of Afghans had be

Afghanistan builds walls to protect riverside areas against erosion

STORY: Afghanistan builds walls to protect riverside areas against erosion DATELINE: May 29, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:14 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of riverside areas of Amu River in Jawzjan province, Afghanistan 2. SOUNDBITE (Pashto): ABDUL HAKIM HAJJI HEKMAT, Director of the rivers management authorities in the northern region STORYLINE: Construction of protective walls along Afghanistan's Amu River has been completed, director of the rivers management authorities in the northern region Abdul Hakim Hajji Hekmat said on Saturday. The walls are built to protect riverside areas in Khamab and Qarqin districts of Jawzjan province, according to the official. SOUNDBITE (Pashto): ABDUL HAKIM HAJJI HEKMAT, Director of the rivers management authorities in the northern region "From now on, we are paying attention to vital and fundamental projects like fortifying riverside areas and will continue to work on important projects." Fortifying the riverside areas serves to protect hundreds of

Afghanistan begins construction of major water dam in western province

STORY: Afghanistan begins construction of major water dam in western province DATELINE: May 23, 2023 LENGTH: 00:03:11 LOCATION: FARAH, Afghanistan CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the construction site of the Bakhsh Abad Dam 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): MULLAH ABDUL GANI BARADAR, Deputy Prime Minister on Economic Affairs 3. various of the construction site of the Bakhsh Abad Dam 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Pashto): ABDUL LATIF MANSOUR, Acting Minister for Energy and Water 5. various of the construction site of the Bakhsh Abad Dam STORYLINE: Construction of a major water reservoir dam, the Bakhsh Abad Dam, has begun in Afghanistan's western Farah province. To be completed in five phases, the dam can irrigate more than 100,000 hectares of land, besides producing electricity for the people of Farah province, officials said at a ceremony to start the work on Saturday. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): MULLAH ABDUL GANI BARADAR, Deputy Prime Minister on Economic Affairs "From the beginning, I was interested in the constru

U.S. crippling sanctions result in Afghanistan's trade difficulties: acting FM

STORY: U.S. crippling sanctions result in Afghanistan's trade difficulties: acting FM DATELINE: May 11, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:04 LOCATION: Islamabad CATEGORY: POLITICS/ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Afghanistan 2. SOUNDBITE (Pashto): AMIR KHAN MUTTAQI, Acting Foreign Minister of Afghan interim government 3. various of Afghan central bank STORYLINE: Acting Foreign Minister of the Afghan interim government Amir Khan Muttaqi said earlier this week that the trade between Afghanistan and the region faces difficulties because of the U.S.-led sanctions. The senior official made the remarks at a seminar held by a think tank in Islamabad on Monday. SOUNDBITE (Pashto): AMIR KHAN MUTTAQI, Acting Foreign Minister of Afghan interim government "The government's treasury had been looted and emptied. We face crippling sanctions that result in the complete secession of banking transactions by many countries with the Afghan banks and force many countries to shut their doors to Afghans. Because of the sanctions, our trade wi

Afghanistan to forge foreign policy of cooperative dialogue, joint interactions: acting FM

STORY: Afghanistan to forge foreign policy of cooperative dialogue, joint interactions: acting FM DATELINE: May 9, 2023 LENGTH: 00:03:12 LOCATION: Islamabad CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. STANDUP (English): ALI JASWAL, Xinhua reporter 2. SOUNDBITE (Pashto): AMIR KHAN MUTTAQI, Acting Foreign Minister of Afghan interim government 3. various of the seminar 4. various of Kabul street views STORYLINE: Afghanistan is conveying to the region and beyond that it desires to forge a new foreign policy based on cooperative dialogue and joint interactions, Acting Foreign Minister of the Afghan interim government Amir Khan Muttaqi said on Monday. STANDUP (English): ALI JASWAL, Xinhua reporter "Acting Foreign Minister of the Afghan interim government Amir Khan Muttaqi said that Afghanistan's foreign policy revolves around cooperation and dialogue. Addressing a seminar here at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), Muttaqi said that Afghanistan wants to have good relations with all the countries and se

Afghan authorities distribute China-donated aid to families in western province

STORY: Afghan authorities distribute China-donated aid to families in western province DATELINE: May 9, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:57 LOCATION: ZARANJ, Afghanistan CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the street views of Zaranj, capital city of west Afghanistan's Nimroz province 2. various of the China-donated aid in Zaranj, capital city of west Afghanistan's Nimroz province 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): MOHAMMAD QASIM MAHAMMAD, Provincial director for natural disaster management and humanitarian affairs 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Dari): FATIMA, Recipient of aid STORYLINE: A local official said Monday that the Afghan authorities have begun distribution of China-donated humanitarian aid to 400 destitute and disabled families in Zaranj city, the capital of the western Nimroz province. According to the provincial director for natural disaster management and humanitarian affairs Mohammad Qasim Mahammad, the distribution started last week and would continue for the upcoming weeks in the province. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): MOHAM

Afghan forces launch campaign against poppy fields in Herat province

STORY: Afghan forces launch campaign against poppy fields in Herat province DATELINE: April 6, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:55 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the poppy fields in Herat province 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): MAWLAWI HAYATULLAH ROHANI, Provincial head of Counter-Narcotics 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Dari): SHAHRAM KASHAWARZ, Local farmer STORYLINE: Afghan security forces kicked off an anti-poppy farm campaign in the western Herat province, provincial head of Counter-Narcotics Mawlawi Hayatullah Rohani said Wednesday. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): MAWLAWI HAYATULLAH ROHANI, Provincial head of Counter-Narcotics "We have launched a fight against illicit drugs and poppy fields and have destroyed 241 acres of poppy farms over the past 25 days, and just on Tuesday we smashed three acres of poppy fields in Enjil district." The campaign to eradicate poppy farms would cover all districts in Herat province, the official said. SOUNDBITE 2 (Dari): SHAHRAM KASHAWARZ, Local farmer "Poppy cultivation is forbidde

U.S. sanctions add to Afghans' pain, poverty during freezing winter

STORY: U.S. sanctions add to Afghans' pain, poverty during freezing winter DATELINE: Feb. 23, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:34 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of central Afghanistan's Bamyan Province in winter 2. various of cave-turned shelter 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): ZARIF, Local resident 4. various of cave-turned shelter 5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Dari): ZARIF, Local resident 6. various of cave-turned shelter 7. SOUNDBITE 3 (Dari): NADIR HUSSAIN, Local resident 8. various of central Afghanistan 9. SOUNDBITE 4 (Pashto): MAWLAWI SHAKIR TAHIR, Director of Bamyan provincial Natural Disaster Management and Humanitarian Affairs STORYLINE: STANDUP (English): ZOU XUEMIAN, Xinhua correspondent "I am now in central Afghanistan's Bamyan province. The temperature here has reached minus 25 degrees centigrade now. According to Afghan Ministry of Disaster Management and Humanitarian Affairs, the chilly weather has already claimed hundreds of lives in this war-torn country. Since the first week of January, the temperatu

China's aid eases misery of Afghan returnees in chilly winter

STORY: China's aid eases misery of Afghan returnees in chilly winter DATELINE: Feb. 22, 2023 LENGTH: 00:03:40 LOCATION: BAMYAN, Afghanistan CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various shots of central Afghanistan's Bamyan Province in winter and locals 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): Abdul Azim, Local resident 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Dari): Abdul Azim, Local resident 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Pashto): MAWLAWI SHAKIR TAHIR, Provincial director for natural disaster management and humanitarian affairs STORYLINE: Abdul Azim, together with his 10 family members, huddled in a mud hut of about 50 square meters in Dara-e-Foladi, a far-flung village in the mountainous area of central Afghanistan's Bamyan province, where the temperature drops to minus 30 degrees Celsius in winter. During the 20 years of conflicts in Afghanistan after the United States invaded the country in October 2001, more than 30,000 civilians lost their lives, and some 11 million people were made refugees. To escape the war, Azim was once one of the refugees who fled from Ba

China-donated aid distributed among 500 families in Afghanistan's Herat province

STORY: China-donated aid distributed among 500 families in Afghanistan's Herat province DATELINE: Feb. 18, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:52 LOCATION: HERAT, Afghanistan CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of China-donated humanitarian aid in the western Herat province, Afghanistan 2. SOUNDBITE (Pashto): ABDUL MOMIN, aid recipient STORYLINE: Afghan authorities began distribution of China-donated humanitarian aid to 500 needy families in the western Herat province on Thursday, provincial director for Natural Disaster Management and Humanitarian Affairs Mawlawi Enayatullah Saber said. "The aid package including foodstuff would be distributed to needy families and disabled people," Saber told Xinhua. The distribution of assistance started from Herat city, the provincial capital, the official said. SOUNDBITE (Pashto): ABDUL MOMIN, Aid recipient "Receiving China's assistance at this stage would solve a major part of our problems." Afghan authorities earlier distributed China's humanitarian assistance to

More Chinese humanitarian aid distributed in Afghanistan's Nimroz province

STORY: More Chinese humanitarian aid distributed in Afghanistan's Nimroz province DATELINE: Dec. 23, 2022 LENGTH: 0:00:48 LOCATION: ZARANJ, Afghanistan CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1 various of distribution of Chinese humanitarian aid 2 SOUNDBITE (Pashto): MAWLAWI MOHAMMAD QASIM MOHAMMAD, Head of Nimroz provincial Natural Disaster Management and Humanitarian Affairs 3 various of distribution of Chinese humanitarian aid STORYLINE: Afghanistan distributed another batch of China-donated aid to 450 needy families in the western Nimroz province on Wednesday. SOUNDBITE (Pashto): MAWLAWI MOHAMMAD QASIM MOHAMMAD, Head of Nimroz provincial Natural Disaster Management and Humanitarian Affairs "We thank China for sending humanitarian assistance to our people, and today we distribute the assistance which includes rice and wheat to 450 needy families including orphans and people with disabilities here." This is the second time in a week that the China-donated assistance has been distributed among needy families in Nim

China-donated aid distributed among 6,400 families in Afghanistan

STORY: China-donated aid distributed among 6,400 families in Afghanistan DATELINE: Dec. 22, 2022 LENGTH: 0:01:10 LOCATION: HERAT, Afghanistan CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of distributing aid 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): MOHAMMAD HASHIM KHALID, Director for Natural Disaster Management and Humanitarian Affairs in Herat province 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Dari): OMAR TIMURI, Resident of Herat city STORYLINE: Afghan authorities have distributed China-donated humanitarian aid to 6,000 needy families in the western Herat province and 400 families in Herat's neighboring Nimroz province. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): MOHAMMAD HASHIM KHALID, Director for Natural Disaster Management and Humanitarian Affairs in Herat province "In the provincial capital Herat city, we started distribution of China-donated aid to 6,000 destitute families on Monday. The aid package includes two bags of rice, each 50 kg, totaling 100 kg rice." Khalid added that, in addition to China-donated aid, the needy families also received wheat, biscuits, noo

Poverty weakens Afghans' ability to pull through chilly winter

STORY: Poverty weakens Afghans' ability to pull through chilly winter DATELINE: Dec. 19, 2022 LENGTH: 00:03:17 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: ECONOMY/POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of locals burning garbage to keep warm in Kabul, Afghanistan 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): WAHIDULLAH, Kabul resident 3. various of a wood shop in Kabul, Afghanistan 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Pashto): RAHIM ASHNA, Wood seller 5. various of a wood shop in Kabul, Afghanistan 6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Dari): MOHAMMAD NASIR, Kabul resident 7. various of locals burning garbage to keep warm in Kabul, Afghanistan STORYLINE: SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): WAHIDULLAH, Kabul resident "The prices are skyrocketing, the rate of poverty is high and I am the only bread earner of my family, having a taxi and roaming on streets from dawn to dusk to support my family. The price of a ton of coal was 6,000 afghani (1 U.S. dollar equals 88 afghani) to 6,500 afghani last year, but this year it costs 16,000 afghani, which is beyond the reach of ordinary person." Having a 22-member family and l

Pertussis affects 300, kills 2 children in Afghanistan's Zabul province

STORY: Pertussis affects 300, kills 2 children in Afghanistan's Zabul province DATELINE: Nov. 30, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:42 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: OTHERS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the patients in hospital 2. SOUNDBITE (Pashto): ABBUL HAKIM HAKIMI, Provincial public health director 3. various of hospital STORYLINE: According to Zabul's provincial public health director, a total of 300 people mostly children have been affected by pertussis, or whooping cough, in Afghanistan's southern Zabul province, and two children have died of the disease. SOUNDBITE (Pashto): ABBUL HAKIM HAKIMI, Provincial public health director "The disease which has erupted in Suri district of the province has been affecting at least 300 people, mostly children, and has claimed the lives of two children over the past week." He said an emergency team of health officials had been sent to the district to treat those infected with the disease. The public health office of the province has asked the people not to leave their places for a few

Nearly 1,000 Afghan youth commissioned to national police

STORY: Nearly 1,000 Afghan youth commissioned to national police DATELINE: Nov. 24, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:27 LOCATION: HERAT, Afghanistan CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the commencement of young Afghan police in Herat province, Afghanistan 2. SOUNDBITE (Pashto): MOHAMMAD ISMAEL HIDAYAT, Provincial commander of the Police Training Center STORYLINE: A total of 991 young Afghans joined the National Police on Wednesday after receiving training in Afghanistan's western Herat and northern Balkh province, officials said. SOUNDBITE (Pashto): MOHAMMAD ISMAEL HIDAYAT, Provincial commander of the Police Training Center "A total of 511 cadets receiving a six-week necessary training in the Police Training Center of Herat province are commissioned to the national police today." Similarly, 450 Afghans joined the national police force in the northern Balkh province on the same day, provincial police spokesman Mohammad Asif Waziri told reporters. The newly-graduated policemen, according to the officials

1,000 Afghan destitute families receive food aid in Kabul

STORY: 1,000 Afghan destitute families receive food aid in Kabul DATELINE: Oct. 10, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:10 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of food supplies 2. various of refugees 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): MUJUB RAHMAN MAHMOUDI, Charity official 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Dari): BAHRAM KHAN, Resident of Kabul STORYLINE: 1,000 Afghan destitute families, mostly the orphaned and disabled, received food aid donated by a local charity, Bunyad-e-Qaria, in Kabul on Sunday. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): MUJUB RAHMAN MAHMOUDI, Charity official "Today's aid package includes a 50-kg bag of flour, sugar, peas, rice, cooking oil, dates and salt. We will distribute them to each family here." More than 22 million Afghans are reportedly facing acute food shortages and a humanitarian crisis. SOUNDBITE 2 (Dari): BAHRAM KHAN, Resident of Kabul "I'm an internally displaced person and have no shelter to live in. I came here to receive assistance." War-torn Afghanistan has been experiencing its worst economic crisis, as th

440 families receive Chinese humanitarian aid in north Afghanistan

STORY: 440 families receive Chinese humanitarian aid in north Afghanistan DATELINE: Oct. 6, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:35 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: POLITICS/OTHERS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the China-donated humanitarian assistance distributed in Jawzjan province 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): MAWLAWI SARAJUDIN SARAJI, Provincial head for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Affairs 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Dari): ABDUL BASHIR, Resident of Jawzjan province 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Dari): SHAFA KHAN, Resident of Jawzjan province STORYLINE: A total of 440 families received China-donated humanitarian assistance in Shiberghan city, the capital of northern Afghanistan's Jawzjan province on Wednesday. Before the distribution, Mawlawi Sarajudin Saraji, provincial head for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Affairs, thanked China for its assistance and said that the package to each family included 25 kilograms of rice. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): MAWLAWI SARAJUDIN SARAJI, Provincial head for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Affairs "Today (Wedne

China-built hospitals benefit war-torn Afghanistan

STORY: China-built hospitals benefit war-torn Afghanistan DATELINE: Sept. 25, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:08 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: SOCIETY/HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. STANDUP (English): ZOU XUEMIAN, Xinhua correspondent 2. various of the Mirwais Regional Hospital in south Afghanistan's Kandahar Province 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): AREFULLAH, Patient's son 4. various of the Mirwais Regional Hospital in south Afghanistan's Kandahar Province 5. various of the Mirwais Regional Hospital in south Afghanistan's Kandahar Province 6. SOUNDBITE 2 (Dari): SAADAT KHAN ZAZAI, Medical practitioner 7. various of the Jamhoriat Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan 8. SOUNDBITE 3 (Dari): FARIDOON, Patient 9. various of the Jamhoriat Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan STORYLINE: STANDUP (English): ZOU XUEMIAN, Xinhua correspondent "I am now in south Afghanistan's Kandahar province. What's behind me is the Mirwais Regional Hospital. It was built by China more than four decades ago as a gift for the Afghan people. At present, it is still the largest a

Afghan law enforcement agencies seize weapons, detaining 4 in Nangarhar province

STORY: Afghan law enforcement agencies seize weapons, detaining 4 in Nangarhar province DATELINE: Sept. 22, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:02 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: POLITICS/LAW SHOTLIST: 1. various of the seized weapons 2. SOUNDBITE (Pashto): MAWLAWI MOHAMMAD ALLAH EDRIS, Provincial head of General Directorate for Intelligence, Nangarhar province 3. various of the weapons STORYLINE: The Afghan law enforcement agencies have seized 18 pieces of weapons including assault rifles, and arrested four people for keeping the arms illegally in eastern Nangarhar province, provincial head of the General Directorate for Intelligence (GDI) Mawlawi Mohammad Allah Edris said Thursday. The weapons were found in provincial capital Jalalabad, and in the districts of Khogiani and Surkhrod. The four people had been taken into custody for investigations, the official added. SOUNDBITE (Pashto): MAWLAWI MOHAMMAD ALLAH EDRIS, Provincial head of General Directorate for Intelligence, Nangarhar province "The personnel of the special units

Afghans take to streets protesting against U.S. decision on Afghanistan's assets

STORY: Afghans take to streets protesting against U.S. decision on Afghanistan's assets DATELINE: Sept. 18, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:18 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of Afghans taking to the streets protesting against the U.S. decision on Afghanistan's assets 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): LALA AGHA, Organizer of protest 3. various of protesters on the streets in Kabul 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Pashto): RAFEUALLAH, Protester 5. various of protesters on the streets in Kabul STORYLINE: Hundreds of Afghans gathered in front of the former Afghanistan Human Rights Commission office in the capital city Kabul Saturday to protest against the U.S. recent announcement regarding transferring a part of Afghanistan's national reserves to a trust in Switzerland, calling for the full release of the assets. Holding placards and banners, the protesters chanted anti-U.S. slogans, blaming the United States for the ongoing humanitarian and economic crisis in Afghanistan. The protesters demanded the immediate, full release

Fighting terrorism a tool for U.S. to implement hegemony: Afghan expert

STORY: Fighting terrorism a tool for U.S. to implement hegemony: Afghan expert DATELINE: Sept. 12, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:29 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of Kabul 2. various of the U.S. 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): NAJIBULLAH JAMI, Professor, Kabul University 4. various of Kabul 5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Pashto): NAJIBULLAH JAMI, Professor, Kabul University STORYLINE: In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, Najibullah Jami, an Afghan political expert and Kabul University professor, said that fighting terrorism has been a tool used by the United States to strengthen its hegemony. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): NAJIBULLAH JAMI, Professor, Kabul University "Terrorism in general is a phenomenon that U.S. has different definitions due to their political interests and goals. U.S. has been using terrorism as a tool to invade and defeat free nations to ensure its interests." Following the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington D.C., the United States accused Afghanistan of harboring Osama Bin Laden, the leader o

U.S. has left nothing good to us: Afghan people

STORY: U.S. has left nothing good to us: Afghan people DATELINE: Aug. 31, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:34 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of street views 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): ALYAS, Ice cream seller 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Pashto): MAWLADAD, Local villager of Panjwai district 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Pashto): DAD MOHAMMAD, Local villager of Panjwai district 5. SOUNDBITE 4 (Dari): NAJIBULLAH JAMI, Professor, Kabul University STORYLINE: One year has passed since the last batch of U.S. troops left Afghanistan at midnight on Aug. 30, 2021. The 20-year war has left the unsettled country with a horrific legacy. Following the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington D.C., the United States accused Afghanistan of harboring Osama Bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaida, and invaded the country in October 2001. Since then, Afghan people's lives have been totally changed. Some 3 million Afghan children have dropped out of school to earn money to support their families. SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): ALYAS, Ice cream seller "I'd rath

Afghan women get sewing machines from charity organization

STORY: Afghan women get sewing machines from charity organization DATELINE: Aug. 29, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:42 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Afghan women learning to tailor in Nangarhar province 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): ABDUL HADI MOHTAJ, Official of Gulbahar Khairia Foundation 3. various of Afghan women learning to tailor in Nangarhar province 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Pashto): SALMA, Trainee 5. various of Afghan women working in a factory in Nangarhar province STORYLINE: A local charity organization distributed 150 sewing machines to 150 needy women in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province on Saturday. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): ABDUL HADI MOHTAJ, Official of Gulbahar Khairia Foundation "We distributed 150 sewing machines to 150 needy women including widows to work and support their families." Abdul Hadi Mohtaj, an official of the Gulbahar Khairia Foundation, said that the charity organization would also provide one-month tailoring training courses for over 30 women to learn to tailor an

One year on, trauma never leaves Afghan people since U.S. hasty withdrawal

STORY: One year on, trauma never leaves Afghan people since U.S. hasty withdrawal DATELINE: Aug. 28, 2022 LENGTH: 00:03:30 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: SOCIETY/POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. STANDUP (English) ZOU XUEMIAN, Xinhua correspondent 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): MAWLADAD, Local villager of Panjwai district 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Pashto): DAD MOHAMMAD, Local villager of Panjwai district 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Dari): NISAR AHMAD, Kabul resident 5. SOUNDBITE 4 (Pashto): AGAL KHAN, Kabul resident 6. SOUNDBITE 5 (Dari): MUZAMILL AMIRI, Eyewitness STORYLINE: STANDUP (English): ZOU XUEMIAN, Xinhua correspondent "I am now in Panjawai district of south Afghanistan's Kandahar Province. What behind me is a village which had been attacked for several times in U.S. air strikes. According to locals, numbers of Afghan civilians nearby were killed in U.S. military operations. The U.S.-led coalition forces may have run from Afghanistan last year, but the indiscriminate killing of innocent people by the United States in the name of 'anti-terrori