[🇦🇫] Afghanistan News & Discussion

[ghazi]

Pakistan reaffirms commitment to Afghan peace​

The conference titled 'Afghanistan’s Regional Cooperation Initiative' was hosted by the Afghan caretaker government

APP
January 31, 2024

Afghanistan’s Regional Cooperation Initiative. PHOTO: X/@ubaidniz


KABUL: As the representatives from 10 regional countries gathered in Kabul for a Regional Countries Conference on Afghanistan, Pakistan reiterated its commitment to peace and prosperity in the war-torn country.
The conference titled “Afghanistan’s Regional Cooperation Initiative” was hosted by the Afghan caretaker government.

The international event was attended by diplomats from Pakistan, Russia, China, Iran, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Turkey and Indonesia.
Ambassador of Pakistan in Kabul Ubaid Nizamani, who represented Pakistan in the moot, wrote on X that he reaffirmed his country’s commitment to a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan.

He emphasized that the region must work together to harness mutually beneficial connectivity potential and address shared concerns.
“Represented Pakistan in Regional Countries conference on Afghanistan in Kabul. Reiterated our commitment to a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan. Region must work together to harness mutually beneficial connectivity potential and address shared concerns,” the ambassador wrote on the social media platform.

 

[ghazi]

UN emphasizes support for women’s businesses in Afghanistan​

The Frontier Post

Tabasum Nasiry

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has stated that, in light of the collapse of Afghanistan’s economic system, it has supported 50 women in the central regions of the country in various aspects, ranging from small and medium-sized businesses to infrastructure and healthcare services for women.

On Monday, 29th January, this organization released a report, affirming that the goal of UNDP’s development programs is to support women entrepreneurs in strengthening and enriching communities.

Friba, a college student at Bamyan University’s Law School, who couldn’t continue her education due to limitations, expressed to this organization that she wanted to support her family after completing her studies. However, due to the constraints, she has established a small dairy business in a residential complex in Bamyan.

 

[ghazi]

Deputy PM prioritizes implementation of infrastructure projects in the Islamic Emirate​

Frontier Post

KABUL (BNA): Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs, Mawlavi Abdul Kabir, has emphasized the importance of addressing people’s problems and implementing infrastructure projects as top priorities for the Islamic Emirate.

In a meeting held in Lakan region, Khost province, Mawlavi Abdul Kabir expressed his commitment to resolving local challenges and initiating developmental projects in the province.

The visit also indicated that the leaders of the Islamic Emirate extend beyond the central region, showing their dedication to understanding the needs of the people.

Recognizing the resilience of the people of Khost in resisting past invasions, Mawlavi Abdul Kabir commended their sacrifices and reiterated the Islamic Emirate’s commitment to prioritize the needs of the population.

He further assured the leaders in Khost province that their suggestions and recommendations would be taken into consideration.

 

[ghazi]

Taliban Defense Minister assures Foreign Diplomats to ensure security for projects​

The Frontier Post

KABUL (Khaama Press): The Taliban Defense Minister has told Iranian, Pakistani, and Chinese diplomats that the Taliban is ready to ensure security and cooperation for the implementation of development projects in these countries in Afghanistan.

Mullah Yaqub Mujahid raised this issue after the “Regional Initiative for Afghanistan” meeting in Kabul. The Taliban’s Defense Ministry stated in a press release on Tuesday that Mr. Mujahid had separately met with representatives from China, Iran, and Pakistan. According to the press release, during these meetings, Mr. Mujahid discussed mutual relations, economic, and security cooperation with the representatives of these countries.

The press release added that before these meetings, representatives from India, Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan had attended a reception hosted by the Defense Minister of the Taliban.

The Taliban’s Defense Minister held this reception and meetings with foreign diplomats one day after the Kabul meeting. Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, no countries have officially recognized their regime.

This lack of recognition is primarily due to their disregard for women’s rights, their ban on girls attending schools and universities, restrictions on employment and free movement, and their failure to honour their international commitments.

The international community has been united in withholding recognition from the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan. Their actions regarding women’s rights, the education of girls, employment, and international obligations have raised significant concerns and have led to a lack of formal recognition by any nation.

 

[ghazi]

IEA team discusses transit facilitations​

The Frontier Post

KABUL (BNA): A technical delegation from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, led by Mohammad Ullah Bakhtyar, the Head of International Transit at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, has embarked on a journey to Iran.

The delegation met with Hassan Kazemi Qomi, the Special Envoy of the Iranian President for Afghanistan, officials from the Chabahar Free Zone, maritime affairs experts, and local authorities in Iran’s Sistan Baluchestan province.

As per a statement from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the meeting revolved around discussions and negotiations concerning facilitations, benefits, and special discounts for high-value transit goods via the Chabahar route in Afghanistan.

Key topics included cost reduction for transportation from Chabahar to shared ports, an increase in ship traffic and refrigerated container numbers on this route, long-term identification and leasing of land for container loading and unloading at the Chabahar port, definitive identification and sale of land for transit goods storage and logistics center, and the identification and sale of land for Afghan traders in the Chabahar Free Trade Zone Industrial Park.

 

[ghazi]

Kabul hopes Afghanistan, Pakistan can address mutual concerns​

The Frontier Post

KABUL (Ariana News): Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has expressed hope that Afghanistan and Pakistan can address their mutual concerns.

Balkhi told Al Jazeera TV channel that both sides should find a “better pathway” that safeguards the “goodwill” that the government and people of Pakistan had shown towards Afghan refugees.

In October last, Pakistan gave illegal refugees a deadline to leave voluntarily or face forced repatriation.

The United Nations says that Pakistan has forced more than 450,000 Afghans out of the country.

Balkhi also dismissed fears that some refugees will be persecuted after return.

“We have maintained a policy of general amnesty. Thanks Allah, we are Muslims. Unlike certain powers that killed and suffocated thousands of prisoners in containers, we declared a general amnesty, and we have shown in our deeds that the general amnesty stands for anyone that collaborated with foreign powers. There are hundreds of thousands that are currently working shoulder-to-shoulder with the government of Afghanistan and government bodies. And there are millions of others who are living peacefully and enjoying their lives,” Balkhi said.

He said that Pakistan started expelling Afghan refugees without coordinating with Kabul and against international practices.

 

[Ghazi52]

[H3]Taliban frees Afghans deported from Germany[/H3]
The Frontier Post

LONDON (Agencies): Dozens of Afghans deported from Germany have been freed by the Taliban government, The Independent reported.

Germany’s first deportation of Afghans since the 2021 Taliban takeover came as Olaf Scholz, Germany’s chancellor, vowed to crack down on foreign criminals.

Up to 28 Afghans were sent back to Afghanistan about a week ago and were subsequently released after providing “written assurances,” the Taliban said.

Suhail Shahin, the chief of the Taliban political bureau in Qatar, said that the deportees pledged to avoid committing crimes in Afghanistan.

Amnesty International and other human rights groups criticized the German government for placing the Afghans at risk in their homeland.

The deportation, which was carried out after months of negotiations, followed a series of high-profile attacks in Germany by Afghan and Syrian suspects.

In May, a 25-year-old Afghan stabbed a German police officer.

A week ago, a Syrian national allegedly carried out a deadly knife attack in Solingen, killing three people and injuring eight others.

Scholz said: “It outrages me when someone who has found protection here commits the most serious crimes.”

However, Germany will avoid normalizing relations with the Taliban despite the deportation deal.

A spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry said: “As long as the general conditions are as they are, and the Taliban behave the way they do, there will be no effort to normalize relations with the Taliban.

“There are contacts on a technical level, especially through our representative office in Doha.”

 

[Ghazi52]

[H2]Muttaqi urges Islamic countries to help release Afghan assets[/H2]

 

[Ghazi52]

 

[Saif]

300 Afghan reporters suffer rights breaches: UN

More than 300 Afghan journalists have suffered rights breaches since the Taliban surged back to power in 2021, a United Nations report said yesterday, documenting dozens of cases of torture and arbitrary arrest.

www.thedailystar.net

300 Afghan reporters suffer rights breaches: UN

More than 300 Afghan journalists have suffered rights breaches since the Taliban surged back to power in 2021, a United Nations report said yesterday, documenting dozens of cases of torture and arbitrary arrest.

Afghanistan's media sector has shrunk under three years of Taliban rule, while monitors criticised Kabul for allegedly trampling reporters' rights.

Research by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and its Geneva-based Human Rights Office said journalists and media outlets "operate under an environment of censorship and tight restrictions".

Between the Taliban's return in August 2021 and this September the UN team "documented instances of human rights violations affecting 336 journalists and media workers", the report said. It recounted 256 instances of "arbitrary arrest and detention", 130 of "torture and ill-treatment" and 75 of "threats or intimidation".

UNAMA chief Roza Otunbayeva said journalists "often face unclear rules on what they can and cannot report, running the risk of intimidation and arbitrary detention for perceived criticism".​

 

[Lulldapull]

Afghanistan is a failed state. It has no future at all. Jahil deobandi religion on its last legs.