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Taliban warns of dire ‘consequences’ if US delays troops beyond next week
The Taliban warned on Monday there would be “consequences” if the United States and its allies extend the presence of troops in Afghanistan beyond next week, as chaos continued to overwhelm Kabul airport.
The rapid fall of the country to the hardliners last weekend shocked Western nations, coming just two weeks before an August 31 deadline for all troops to fully withdraw from the country.
Instead, thousands of soldiers have poured back in to manage the frantic airlifting of foreigners and Afghans — many who fear reprisals for working with Western nations — out of Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
“If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations — the answer is no. Or there would be consequences,” Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen told Sky News on Monday.
Staying beyond the agreed deadline would be “extending occupation”, he added.
The rush to leave Kabul has sparked harrowing scenes and killed at least eight people, some crushed to death while at least one person died after falling from a moving plane.
One Afghan was killed and three others were injured in a dawn firefight on Monday that according to the German military erupted between Afghan guards and unknown assailants.
German and American troops “participated in further exchange of fire”, the German army said in a statement.
The Taliban, infamous for an ultra-strict interpretation of sharia law during their initial 1996-2001 rule, have repeatedly vowed a softer version this time.
– Impossible to meet deadline –
The Taliban’s victory ended two decades of war, as they took advantage of US President Joe Biden’s decision to exit the country and end America’s longest war.
Biden has insisted he wants to end the US military presence and the airlifts by August 31.
But with the European Union and Britain saying it would be impossible to get everyone out by then, Biden is under pressure to extend the deadline.
Speaking at the White House on Sunday, Biden said talks were under way to explore the possibility of extending the deadline.
He also acknowledged the tragic scenes at the airport, which have also included babies and children being passed to soldiers over razor-wire fences and men clinging to the outside of departing planes.
But he said they were part of the cost of departure.
“There is no way to evacuate this many people without pain and loss and heartbreaking images you see,” he said.
– ‘Peace and calm’ –
Biden spoke after the Taliban, who have been holding talks with elders and politicians to set up a government, slammed the evacuation.
“America, with all its power and facilities… has failed to bring order to the airport,” Taliban official Amir Khan Mutaqi said.
“There is peace and calm all over the country, but there is chaos only at Kabul airport.”
In the streets of the capital, the Taliban have indeed enforced a calm of a kind, with their armed forces patrolling the streets and manning checkpoints.
Visually, they have also been looking to stamp their authority, ensuring the tri-coloured national flag is replaced with their white banner.
At a roadside in Kabul at the weekend, young men sold Taliban flags, which bear in black text the Muslim proclamation of faith and the regime’s formal name: “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan”.
“Our goal is to spread the flag of the Islamic Emirate throughout Afghanistan,” said seller Ahmad Shakib, who studies economics at university.
– Resistance –
Outside of Kabul, there have been flickers of resistance against the Taliban.
Some ex-government troops have gathered in the Panjshir Valley, north of the capital — long known as an anti-Taliban bastion.
The Taliban said Monday their fighters had surrounded resistance forces holed up in the valley, but were looking to negotiate rather than take the fight to them.
Taliban fighters “are stationed near Panjshir”, spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid tweeted, saying they had the area surrounded on three sides.
“The Islamic Emirate is trying to resolve this issue peacefully,” he added.
The announcement follows scattered reports of clashes overnight, with pro-Taliban social media accounts claiming gunmen were massing, and Afghanistan’s former vice president Amrullah Saleh saying resistance forces were holding strong.
One of the leaders of the movement in Panjshir, named the National Resistance Front, is the son of famed anti-Taliban commander Ahmad Shah Massoud.
The NRF is prepared for a “long-term conflict” but is also still seeking to negotiate with the Taliban about an inclusive government, its spokesman Ali Maisam Nazary told AFP in an interview on the weekend.
“The conditions for a peace deal with the Taliban are decentralisation, a system that ensures social justice, equality, rights, and freedom for all,” he said.
Ido Local Government chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Oyo State has congratulated the lawmaker representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency, Engr. Aderemi Oseni, on his conferment as a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE).
In a statement signed by the APC Ido LG Secretary, Engr. Ebenezer Olatiilu, the party described the recognition as a pivotal milestone in the lawmaker’s professional journey, acknowledging his contributions to engineering excellence and community development.
“This noble recognition is a testament to your unwavering dedication to the advancement of engineering practices, your exemplary leadership, and your commitment to the moral, spiritual, and political upliftment of our communities,” the statement read.
The party also highlighted Oseni’s influence in politics, noting his strategic insight and deep understanding of governance, which have earned him widespread admiration within Oyo State and beyond.
It further commended his role as Chairman of the House Committee on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), stating that his leadership continues to shape progressive governance in Ido LG, his federal constituency, and Oyo State.
The party described the FNSE conferment as a blessing to the local government and Oyo State’s political landscape, praying for wisdom, good health, and strength for Oseni to continue his service with excellence.
“May this new chapter bring greater achievements and divine favour,” the statement concluded.
The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has conferred its prestigious fellowship on Engr. Aderemi Oseni and 177 other members, urging them to promote Nigerian content and uphold the highest standards of the profession.
The conferment ceremony, held on Thursday in Abuja, brought together engineers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to celebrate excellence in the field.
Oseni, who represents Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in Oyo State and serves as the Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), has been a Member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (MNSE) for over a decade. He is also a registered engineer with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and a member of several international professional bodies, including the London Institute of Engineers and Technicians and the Nigeria Association of Technological Engineers.
Speaking shortly after receiving the fellowship, the lawmaker dedicated the award to God and the entire engineering community, expressing his commitment to upholding the principles of the profession.
“It is another great day. I feel very excited, and it was an opportunity for me to reconnect with some of my old colleagues, people I had lost contact with for quite a while,” he said. “Having been conferred as a fellow, it is an opportunity for us to continue to do the good work that we have been doing as professionals.”
At a dinner organised in honour of the new fellows, NSE President Margaret Oguntala lauded the awardees for their dedication to innovation and nation-building. She noted that Nigerian engineers had been instrumental in advancing critical sectors, including infrastructure, energy, healthcare, and information technology. She emphasised that the recognition was not just an honour but a responsibility to uphold the integrity and standards of the profession.
Oguntala further charged the new fellows to be ambassadors of engineering excellence and to conduct themselves with dignity befitting their status. “It behoves you to carry the banner of our society high anywhere you go,” she said. “We also expect you to carry yourselves always with the dignity and comportment that this fellowship bestows on you.”
She stressed the need for engineers to play a greater role in national development, advocating for collaborations across sectors to address pressing challenges such as infrastructure deficits, poverty alleviation, and job creation. “The collective strength of engineers alongside other professionals will undoubtedly unlock the potential that will bring about the much-needed development in our country,” she said. She urged them to be torchbearers of progress, quality, and sustainability in their respective fields.
The Chairman of the NSE Board of Fellows, Maliki Kamila, highlighted the rigorous selection process for the fellowship, describing it as the highest honour any practising engineer in Nigeria can attain. “These eminent professionals are commended for having scaled through the procedures for screening and assessment, as the process has remained very thorough but fair,” he said. Despite NSE’s membership strength of about 82,000, he noted that only a select percentage had been elevated to the fellowship grade.
Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the event, commended the NSE for its contributions to national development. Represented by Malam Bala Ibrahim, Secretary to the State Government, he urged engineers to remain committed to nation-building and to uphold the ethics of the profession in all their endeavours.
Operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have intercepted undeclared foreign currency amounting to $1,154,900 and SR135,900 at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) in Kano State.
The NCS Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, confirmed the seizure in a statement on Thursday, noting that the money was confiscated during a routine baggage check.
According to Maiwada, the foreign currency was found in the luggage of an inbound passenger, Hauwa Ibrahim Abdullahi, who had arrived on Saudi Airline Flight No. SV401 from Saudi Arabia.
“During the physical examination of the passenger’s luggage conducted by NCS officers, the undeclared currency was discovered concealed within palm-date fruit packs, locally referred to as Dabino,” he stated.
Seizure in Line with Financial Regulations
The NCS reiterated that the interception aligns with its mandate to enforce financial regulations and prevent illicit financial flows across Nigeria’s borders.
“In line with established procedures, the suspect and the seized foreign currency have been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and necessary legal action,” the statement read.
Following the investigation, a court convicted the suspect and ordered the forfeiture of the undeclared money to the Federal Government, in accordance with the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022.
Customs Warns Against Non-Compliance
Maiwada emphasised that all travellers must adhere to Nigeria’s financial regulations, particularly regarding the declaration of cash or negotiable instruments exceeding the approved threshold when entering or leaving the country.
“The Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022 and the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1995, provide clear guidelines on currency declaration. Non-compliance constitutes a violation of Nigerian law and attracts severe penalties,” he warned.
The Service further urged the public to comply strictly with these regulations to avoid legal repercussions.
Commitment to Economic Protection
Under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the NCS remains resolute in its efforts to combat smuggling, illicit financial transactions, and other trans-border crimes.
“This latest seizure highlights the Service’s unwavering dedication to protecting the nation’s economic interests and ensuring compliance with financial regulations,” Maiwada stated.
He reaffirmed the NCS’s commitment to working with relevant government agencies and stakeholders to enhance border security, strengthen financial compliance, and safeguard Nigeria’s economy.
“Travellers and stakeholders in the financial sector are advised to remain vigilant and always adhere to lawful financial practices,” he added.
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