The dismissal of former deputy attorney general Fazil Ahmad Faqiryar generated international headlines this week. According to Faqiryar, he was dismissed because he refused to block corruption investigations involving high-ranking government officials. In response, a presidential spokesman claimed that Mr. Faqiryar retired.

Faqiryar said the investigations of more than two dozen senior Afghan officials - including cabinet ministers, ambassadors and provincial governors - were being held up or blocked by officials.

Meanwhile, Amiruddin Wafa, the administrative director of the Attorney General's Anti-Corruption Department was also dismissed. He was fired because of an interview he gave to Tolo TV, according to some reports.

In that interview Mr. Wafa accused Mohammad Zia Salehi, the National Security Office chief of administration, of corruption, adding that there is a ream of documentation to back up the claim.

The accusations of administrative corruption come amid denials from the presidential palace and claims that anti-corruption efforts are underway. The international community has consistently called for more to be done.

By SHARIFULLAH SHAHAK

The New York Times

When I heard about the pregnant woman who was executed by the Taliban, I felt deep sorrow for her - sorrow because she was just a widow who was without a man in her life for four years, and because the man had reportedly told her he would marry her. Where is the crime in that? 

I felt anger that the authorities weren't able to protect her. The Taliban have no right to judge her. The government should protect her, but cannot in such areas. 

And I felt confused, as all Afghans do, at how many different laws our people have to live under - the laws of their tribe, or of the Taliban, or of the government. The laws should protect her, but we have so many different laws.