13 people suffered casualties in Afghanistan last week

KABUL (Pajhwok): Suspension of reopening of girls’ secondary and high schools, reactions in this regard and the arrival of Chinese and Russian envoys to Kabul were important news in Afghanistan last week when security related casualties fell by 50 percent.

• Chinese and Russian envoys arrive in Kabul on the same day.
• An inclusive government in Afghanistan can be formed with participation of all ethnic groups: OIC
• The caretaker government cancels the start of girls’ schools beyond the sixth grade.
• Delay in reopening of girls’ schools draws national and international reactions.
• OIC approves creation of a humanitarian fund for Afghanistan.
• Thirteen people suffer casualties in Afghanistan last week.

Casualties:

At least eight people were killed and five others injured in Afghanistan last week.

This number does not include casualties from natural disasters.

Reports show that a bomb blast in Kandahar city, the capital of southern Kandahar province, injured three children and a separate bomb explosion injured two people in Chaparhar district of eastern Nangarhar province while a person was found dead in Kandahar city.

According to reports two people committed suicide in Lashkargah, the capital of southern Helmand province and Garmsir district of the province while a third person committed suicide in Tiora district of Ghor province.

A man killed his sister and her sister’s husband in Farkhar district of Takhar province and another man was killed by unknown gunmen in Dawlatabad district of Faryab province.

Security officials in Kabul say that a “robber” was killed in a clash with security forces in the country’s capital.

In the previous week, 21 people were killed and seven others were injured in Afghanistan.

Decline in casualties comes as last year before political change in the country, hundreds of people would get killed and injured due to the conflict.

Afghanistan was host for representatives of world’s great powers

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Russian President’s Special Envoy to Afghanistan ZamirKabulov visited Kabul last week.

Chinese foreign minister announced to launch extraction work on Mes Aynak Copper mine and said that China was ready to expand trade relations with Afghanistan.

Russian special envoy to Afghanistan said during a visit to Kabul said that Russia government would soon begin work on projects that could play a key role in Afghanistan’s economic rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, acting Afghan interior minister,SirajuddinHaqqani, during a meeting with Russia’s special envoy to Afghanistan, said that Afghanistan would no longer be a threat to any of its neighbors or other countries.

Russia also pledged to provide 17 tons of medical supplies to the Afghan Ministry of Defense’s Health Headquarters.

Organization of Islamic Cooperation conference in Pakistan

Foreign ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held a two-day meeting in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, last week.

The meeting participants in a statement said that they were committed to Afghanistan’s national sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity, and emphasized on the protection of human rights of all Afghans, including women and children.

OIC said that peace and stability in Afghanistan could be achieved with formation of an inclusive government involving all ethnic groups in the country.

This comes as the current Afghan government officials have repeatedly said that the current administration is inclusive and it is working to better represent all the people.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan once again called on the international community to recognize the caretaker government of Afghanistan so it would help bring stability to the country and eradicate international terrorism.

Suspending girls’ schools draws national and international reactions

All boys and girls schools were expected to open third of Hamal (March 23), but the education ministry said the opening of girls’ schools above the sixth grade would be delayed until further order. The ministry says it is working on a plan for girls’ education and would be completed in the near future.

Suspension of girls’ schools draws reactions.

OIC Special Representative for Afghanistan Tariq Ali Bakhit said that women’s rights and girls’ education had been promised by the caretaker government of Afghanistan.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated that barring girls from education is a violation of girls’ rights.

Deborah Lyons, UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, also expressed concern over suspension of high schools in the country.

Permanent Representatives of the United Arab Emirates and Norway, on behalf of Albania, Brazil, France, Gabon, Ireland, Mexico, UK, US, Norway and UAE in the UNSC in a joint statement urged the caretaker government of Afghanistan to reopen schools for all girls.

The US, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Qatar, Italy, Norway, Albania, Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Estonia, Germany, Iceland, Kosovo, Malawi, Mongolia, New Zealand, Sweden, Tonga and Turkeyforeign ministers also condemned the decision, with some warning that the decision would affect the Afghan caretaker government’s struggle to gain international recognition.

Former President Hamid Karzai and Dr. Abdullah, chairman of the High Council of National Reconciliation (HCNR) under the previous government, also expressed concern on the issue. A number of students and women protested the decision and asked the government to open schools for all girls.

However,the Ministry of Educationsaysthat it is working on a plan so girls can go to schools again based on wearing Islamic hijab.

Humanitarian aid to Afghanistan

The Central Bank says another $32million reached in aid to Afghanistan last week, while France said it would provide support to Covid-19 response centers in the country.

OIC and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) signed an agreement to create a fund to raise humanitarian aid for Afghanistan.

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