Two Dead in Kabul Blast; Hundreds of Protesters Against Qadri Hanging Remain in Islamabad; Indian High Court: Rawat Government Should Prove its Majority

Afghanistan

Bonus Read: “Sorting Out a New Life Back Home,” by Greg Jaffe (Post)

Two dead in Kabul blast

On Tuesday, two civilians were killed in an explosion in Khair Khana, Kabul (TOLO News, Pajhwok). The incident occurred near the residence of Gul Afghan, a former Afghan Senator. No group has claimed the attack.

Minister of mines resigns

On Monday, Afghanistan’s Minister of Mines and Petroleum, Daud Shah Sabah, resigned (TOLO News). A ministry spokesman confirmed the resignation, but did not provide further details. The presidential palace has not yet confirmed the resignation officially.

Chief Justice’s father rescued

On Tuesday, Afghan officials announced that the father of Afghan Supreme Court Chief Justice Syed Yousuf Halim, had been rescued after having been kidnapped (Pajwhok). Governor Salim Khan Kunduzi stated that the father had been kidnapped last week and freed as a result of an operation informed by local tribal elders. The kidnappers remain unidentified.

Pakistan

Hundreds of protesters against Qadri hanging remain

On Tuesday, hundreds of Islamist protesters remained in Islamabad protesting the hanging of Mumtaz Qadri, who killed Gov. Salman Taseer in 2011 (AP). 10,000 protesters had gathered on Sunday, and according to local police official Mohammad Kashif, 700 remain.

Law minister: Punjab crackdown a national operation

On Tuesday, Rana Sanaullah, the law minister for Punjab, stated that the military crackdown in Punjab following a bombing that killed 72 people on Easter would be a “national operation” (Dawn). Sanaullah commented that some areas “have been identified where operations will be launched by police, elite force and the counter-terrorism department, and if need be Rangers and Army will be called in.” The statement came a day after the military confirmed the launch of a crackdown in Punjab.

— David Sterman

India

High Court: Rawat government should prove its majority

The Nainital High Court in Uttarkhand ruled on Tuesday that the Congress led Rawat government be given an opportunity to prove its majority in the state legislature on March 31 (HT, Hindu). Chief Minister Harish Rawat’s government was dismissed on Sunday and President’s Rule imposed in the state after political turmoil when the speaker of the house declared a budget rejected by the house as passed, and disqualified nine Congress members even after the house was in suspended animation. The High Court also ruled that the disqualified members be allowed to participate in the upcoming vote of confidence for the Rawat government.

Haryana approves job quotas for Jats

The state assembly in the Indian state of Haryana on Tuesday approved a bill providing allocating quotas in government jobs and educational institutions for the Jat community (BBC). The bill is yet to be signed by the governor. Last month, over a week of protests in Haryana by the Jat community left 19 people killed and 170 injured. Members of the Jat community demanded inclusion in caste quotas for jobs and education opportunities that are available to lower castes. In March 2014 the Congress-led national government said it would re-categorise Jats as Other Backward Castes (OBC), but India’s Supreme Court ruled in 2015 that the Jats were not a backward community.

India extends wheat import tax for three months

According to a government order issued on Tuesday, the duration for a 25 percent import tax on wheat has been extended by three months to June 30 (Reuters). The tax was put in place last October, as a measure to protect domestic farmers from cheap imports. India is the world’s second largest producer of wheat, behind China.

— Shuja Malik

Edited by Peter Bergen

AFP / WAKIL KOHSAR