Language

Don't you have an account with Pajhwok Afghan News?

Click here to subscribe.

Govt organizes conference amid focus on economic rehabilitation

Govt organizes conference amid focus on economic rehabilitation

author avatar
22 Jan 2022 - 18:23
Govt organizes conference amid focus on economic rehabilitation
author avatar
22 Jan 2022 - 18:23

KABUL (Pajhwok): Forty-six people were killed and wounded last week in separate incidents violence in nine provinces, as international humanitarian assistance with Afghanistan continued and the government organized an Economic Conference in Kabul attended by foreign diplomats.

Last week’s major events

  • Taliban claim fulfilling all requirements for recognition
  • Discussing lifting of sanctions on Afghanistan: UN
  • European Union re-establishes diplomatic presence in Kabul
  • Will pay teacher’s salaries if all girls schools, universities re-opened in Afghanistan: US
  • Will not allow any movement against Afghan government: Turkey
  • International community last week announces millions of dollars humanitarian aid to Afghanistan
  • Will not return aircraft taken out of Afghanistan to Afghanistan: US
  • Kabul rally participants stress protection of religious and national values
  • Forty-six people killed and injured in different violent incidents last week

Casualties

Last week, 26 people were killed and 20 others injured in separate incidents of violence in Badakhshan, Baghlan, Balkh, Faryab, Kabul, Khost, Kunar, Laghman, Paktia provinces.

One child was killed in Faizabad, the capital of Badakhshan province, by security forces when they were conducting a search operation against a criminal.

Two people were killed and as many injured in Pul-i-Khumri, the capital of Baghlan province, when an unexploded ordnance went off. One person was killed in unidentified gunmen firing in Pul-i-Khumri.

Ten resistance front armed personnel were killed in the Kushinda district of Balkh province, according to Al Fatha Military Corps.

Unknown gunmen killed a tribal elder in the Lolash district of Faryab and three brothers were gunned down in the Paghman district of Kabul. One of the slain brothers had served in security forces.

According to reports, a child was killed in a blast in Kabul’s Budkhakh area. One person was killed and two injured during firing at a protest rally in Khost province.

One man was killed by unknown men in the Sawkai district of Kunar province. Four people were killed and 10 others injured in firing in the Dak area of Narang district. According to local government officials, the incident was triggered by personal enmity and some common people also fell victim to the firing.

A woman and a child were injured in security personnel firing at Passport Office in Laghman. The body of a young man was recovered from a bag in Gardez, the capital of Paktia province.

According to reports, the previous week 22 people were killed and 16 others injured in Kabul, Herat, Faryab, Laghman and Nangarhar provinces.

Economic Conference

After the inception of the new government, an Economic Conference was organized last week for the first time. Top Afghan government officials and representatives from 20 countries and eight international organizations participated in the huddle.

Afghan officials said an opportunity for investment in the country has been provided and the international community should recognize the new Afghan government, provide support because it has fulfilled all requirements for recognition.

Acting Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan said if international community removed hurdles in the way of Afghanistan self-reliance, then this country has natural resources and believed that investment in natural resources will eradicate poverty.

Addressing Afghanistan’s Economic Conference, UN Secretary-General Special Representative for Afghanistan Deborah Lyons said attention should be paid to girls’ education in Afghanistan, investors should be assured full security and professional individuals from every ethnic community should be allowed in the government machinery to serve.

She stressed Afghanistan’s economic positive trajectory was vital and ways should be explored to improve the country’s economy.

She said through UN transfer mechanism $8 billion will be injected into Afghanistan’s economy to improve the country’s economic situation.

She said after nationwide peace and security an opportunity for trust-building and fair policy making was available.

International community behavior with Acting Government

Last week, representatives of around 20 countries and some international organizations participated in Afghanistan’s Economic Conference. The EU re-established its diplomatic presence in Kabul and US Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West said US will pay teachers salaries if all girls schools are reopened in Afghanistan by March.

During an exclusive interview with BBC, West said Washington has no plan to recognize new Afghan government. He, however, said US wanted to see steps taken by the Taliban for normalizing ties.

Turkish Ambassador to Afghanistan Cihad Erginary during a meeting with Acting Interior Minister Serajuddin Haqqani pledged that Ankara will not allow anti-Taliban movement on its soil, according to a statement from the Ministry of Interior (MoI).

In a separate MoI statement Chinese ambassador to Afghanistan blamed US for the past 20 years of problems and stressed over the formation of government in Afghanistan which shall be acceptable to all Afghans.

Humanitarian assistance

Last week, Da Afghanistan Bank announced the arrival of $32 million cash assistance in Kabul and said the amount had been transferred to the Afghanistan International Bank (AIB).

The EU announced 268m Euro aid besides its earlier announcement of 220m euro humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. The EU also announced $300 million aid for education, health sector and Internally Displaced Persons.

The UK announced one million pound assistance with Afghan refugees in Iran through World Food Program.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinkin has discussed Afghanistan with Peter Maurer, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross and key UN official and said US will support the people of Afghanistan.

This comes as earlier UN Secretary-General Antony Gurtress warned of acute poverty the people of Afghanistan will face and stressed on coordinated efforts to support the people of Afghanistan.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan discussed Afghanistan during a telephonic conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin and stressed over unfreezing Afghanistan’s assets. Russian president also discussed Afghanistan with Iranian President Ibrahim Raeesi. They termed the formation of inclusive government the only way for reaching durable peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Fate of aircrafts

The Afghan aircraft parked in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are unlikely to be returned to the war-battered country, the Pentagon says.

Asked about the fate of the aircraft, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said: “it is safe to assume” that the aircraft would not be sent back to Afghanistan.

This comes as earlier Afghan Acting Defense Minister Mullah Yaqoub demanded the return of aircrafts parked in the neighboring countries.

According to reports, during the regime change over 40 Afghanistan’s aircrafts were taken to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

Public sentiments

On Friday, hundreds of people during a rally demanded protection of Islamic and national values, including respect to Hijab, and asked the government to take steps in this regard.

In a separate protest rally, participants slammed Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan’s views of sending professional individuals to Afghanistan and said Afghans did not need professional individuals from other countries.

Pakistan Prime Minister Office in a series of tweets on Sunday said: “Pakistan is committed to providing all-out support to Afghan people to avert humanitarian crisis,”

“The Prime Minister directed the authorities concerned to explore bilateral cooperation with friendly countries as well to stave off humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan by exporting qualified and trained manpower especially in medical, IT, Finance and accounting.”

In Laghman, some disabled persons and some women in Kabul during their protest rallies asked the international community to unfreeze Afghanistan’s assets.

In Kabul some women protesters termed unemployment and inflation as major challenges the people of Afghanistan are faced with and asked the international community to support the people of Afghanistan.

nh/ma

Visits: 245

GET IN TOUCH

SUGGEST A STORY

Pajhwok is interested in your story suggestions. Please tell us your thoughts by clicking here.

PAJHWOK MOBILE APP

Download our mobile application to get the latest updates on your mobile phone. Read more