Afghanistan: NGOs withdrawing medical care
18 Mar 2012A Christian in the country writes, ‘ Over the past several years, a number of hospitals and medical clinics have been put into operation in the Land on our Hearts and many doctors, nurses and midwives have been trained. These efforts have significantly improved the availability and quality of medical care for the people of the Land, although it is still far behind that of more developed countries. However, as foreign involvement and the associated foreign aid begin to decrease, there is concern that these advances may be lost. The people in rural areas could again be left with no available medical care. Please pray that foreign governments and organizations will find sustainable ways to maintain the improvements that have been gained. Please pray for the foreign doctors and nurses who are working in the Land to treat the people and to train local doctors and nurses. Please pray that many of the local people will find the One who is both their spiritual and physical healer.
Pray the Christians working in Afghanistan will know God's provision, and that the many needing medical care will continue to receive it. (Pr. 10:29)
Afghanistan: Negotiations with insurgents
08 Aug 2013Hamid Karzai said he would guarantee the security of Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar if he decided to enter into talks. Omar (of the Hotak tribe) ruled the country until 2001. The US has offered a multimillion dollar reward for his capture. The tribe of President Karzai is the Popalzai and while he is the most famous Popalzai in Afghanistan Abdul Ghani Baradar is considered key to Afghanistan’s future. Baradar was Minister of Defence in the Taliban government prior to 2001. The relationship between the two Popalzai men goes back a long way. Popalzais are more loyal to their own tribe than to the regime in Kabul or the Taliban - tribal contacts are more important than ideology. Prior to his detention in Pakistan Mullah Baradar attempted to establish peace negotiations between Kabul’s administration and Taliban’s inner circle of leaders. Mullah Baradar is currently on a list of Taliban prisoners that the Pakistani government is talking about releasing for some influence in return.
Pray: that God’s will would be done in the midst of all that is happening and that it will result in peace for the region. (Mat.6:10)
More: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/nov/17/afghanistan-taliban
A member of Afghanistan's Parliament has suggested that all those who have converted from Islam to Christianity should be executed, according to Islamic Sharia Law, in order to stop the rapid growth of Christianity among Afghans within and outside the country, reports Mohabbat News. An Afghani news service, Ava, has published a report stating that the number of Christians is increasing in the country. The Afghan news service quoted Nazir Ahmad Hanafi, Afghani Parliament Member, as saying, ‘Afghani citizens continue to convert to Christianity in India. Numerous Afghanis have become Christians in India. This is an offence to Islamic Laws and according to the Quran they need to be executed’. Earlier, another member of Afghanistan's Parliament had acknowledged that an Afghani church had been built in India. He said, ‘A church has been built in India called Afghani's Church. Any Afghanis', citizen who travels to India would be officially invited to the church’.
Pray: for the protection of those who choose to follow Jesus. (Ps.5:11)
More: http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue20961.html
Afghanistan: Midwives
08 Dec 2012In March NGOs started withdrawing medical care in Afghanistan and we were asked to pray that medical advances would not be lost to people in rural areas that those delivering medical care would know God's provision. Today we hear that in some provinces the number of women dying during childbirth is dropping significantly because more local women are being trained as midwives and then returning to their villages to provide care before, during and after delivery. However there is still concern for some women with difficult cases requiring long journeys to hospital over very poor roads who are not surviving the trip. Please pray for more opportunities for similar organizations and trainers to develop in the country, and that existing programmes are implemented in more provinces; pray also that the midwives and the women they care for would be introduced to the One who is the Father of all Life.
Pray: that throughout Afghanistan all women and children would receive the care they need to live healthy, productive lives (Ps.95:7)
More: http://www.afghanrelief.org/aro-projects/midwife-project
Afghanistan: Many election votes invalid
23 Oct 2010
Election officials will throw out 1.3 million ballots from last month's parliamentary election due to fraud; and investigators still need to rule on over 2,000 serious complaints affecting results before they can be finalized at the end of October, at the earliest. The Afghan election commission has also told investigators to look into allegations that 220 candidates have cheated or been responsible for misconduct on election day. Throwing out so many votes could inflame tensions in provinces where different ethnic groups already have an uneasy relationship. The insecure Pashtun areas had a very low turnout. The credibility of the latest vote in the Afghan parliament may colour President Barack Obama's review of Washington's Afghanistan war strategy in December. Pray: for God’s mercy to fall on Afghanistan, for a united people under Christ’s banner, for leaders who minister justice. (Is.59:1)
Afghanistan: Looking ahead
03 Jan 2013The Church is growing as local believers are added one by one and in small groups. Some are secret and pray alone, others gather for worship, to pray and receive teaching in small groups. All local believers are at risk of exposure and harm from family members, friends and neighbours. Many are asking, or are uncertain about what will happen in 2014 when officially all foreign troops pull out of Afghanistan - and a mission agency is asking Christians to prayerfully consider interceding throughout 2013 leading up to the 2014 deadline and in particularl to pray for one of the largest un-reached tribal group in the world - the Pushtun people. They have an important regional significance being well-known for their involvement in militancy over the last years and for their hospitality to other affiliated groups. There has been little penetration with the Good News despite many years of work and much sacrifice on the part of workers.
Pray: that believers become salt and light across Afghanistan as they find others they can trust to share in worship, prayer and teaching. Ask God to protect and provide for local believers during 2013. (1Sa.25:6)
More: http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php?peo3=14327
Afghanistan: Koran burning
27 Feb 2012The remains of burnt Korans were found by local labourers at a US airbase, enraging locals and by Wednesday four people had been killed and 20 injured as protests spread, in spite of US apologies. Taliban prisoners were using the books to pass messages to each other. Protesters shouted, ‘Death to America!’ and threw stones at Camp Phoenix. Riot police used water cannon to disperse protesters blocking the main trade routes into the capital. Witnesses said security guards were firing into the air. There were also reports of people chanting pro-Taliban slogans. One protester said, ’When the Americans insult us we will join the insurgents.’ The US Embassy in Kabul is on lockdown with all travel suspended. In Afghanistan anti-foreign sentiment is on the rise and locals claim foreign troops are not respectful of their culture or Islamic religion.
Pray: that leaders in the area would have wisdom and discernment as they work to subdue and diffuse the situation. (Pr.24:3)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17123464
Afghan President Hamid Karzai expressed ‘deep concerns’ to his Pakistani counterpart about deadly rocket attacks launched across the Taliban-troubled border. Also, 200 Afghans protested in the capital on Saturday against these attacks which have fanned tensions between the neighbours. Speaking at a press conference in Kabul alongside British Prime Minister David Cameron, the Afghan leader said he had raised the sensitive issue with Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari at a recent meeting. Karzai said, ‘He had ‘deep concerns' and asked for an immediate stop to the shelling from Pakistani territory. The Pakistan army admits only that security forces may have fired a few accidental rounds into Afghanistan while pursuing militants across the border. Mr Cameron told reporters, ‘Now is the time for Pakistan and Afghanistan to sit and meet and talk on how we are to ensure what we need to do.’
Pray: for International ambassadors to advise, support and establish improvements in Afghanistan-Pakistan relations. (Pr.24:5-6)
More: http://www.dawn.com/2011/07/05/karzai-raises-concerns-with-pakistan-over-attacks.html