7 people killed, 3 injured in Afghanistan last week

KABUL (Pajhwok): Last week, the United Nations General Assembly called on Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities to reverse their policies and practices restricting the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Afghan women and girls.

Also last week, various sources condemned the maltreatment of Afghan refugees by Pakistani police and Afghanistan was pledged 70 million dollars assistance.

Major events last week

• UN: Kabul must reverse policies restricting human rights of girls and women
• Moscow format meeting on Nov 16 without Kabul representatives
• Various sources condemn mistreatment of Afghan refugees in Pakistan
• EU, Norway, Aga Khan Foundation and WHO pledge $70m assistance
• Last week, another $80m international humanitarian aid arrives in Kabul
• China offers zero-tariff on 98 percent of Afghanistan’s export goods
• Last week, seven people killed, three injured in various incidents

Casualties

Unidentified gunmen killed two people in northern Sari Pul province. A man shot dead one civilian and injured three others in eastern Kunar province after police tried to arrest him for illegally carrying a pistol. He opened fire in order to escape.

Local officials say two Daesh affiliates were killed in Kunar province and security forces killed a ‘thief’ who wanted to escape in Balkh province.

A person killed his cousin who was a local police commander in northeastern Badakhshan province.

These casualty figures are based on reports reaching Pajhwok. Some incidents might have gone unreported or sources provided incorrect number.

In the previous week, 13 people were killed and 16 others were injured in various incidents of violence across the country.

Before the regime change last year, hundreds of civilians and people associated with the warring parties would get killed and injured every week.

United Nations General Assembly meeting on Afghanistan

The UN General Assembly adopted a wide-ranging resolution in a vote of 116 in favor, no countries against and 10 abstentions (which included Russia, China and Pakistan). While the resolution is not legally binding, it does carry the moral weight of the international community.

“The resolution is a clear call to respect, protect and fulfill human rights, develop inclusive governance and fight terrorism,” Germany’s UN Ambassador Antje Leendertse said in introducing the text.

“It contains a clear message that there cannot be business as usual and no pathway towards recognition without these steps being made.”

In addition to calling on the Taliban to respect the rights of women, girls and minorities, the resolution expressed “serious concern” about the security situation in the country.

1. Ravindra, India’s representative to the United Nations, said his country was closely monitoring the security situation in Afghanistan and emphasized on the formation of an inclusive government.

 He said a government that protects the rights of all, including minorities, and fights against terrorism and drugs should be established in Afghanistan.

European Union Ambassador to the United Nations Olof Skog said the European Union was committed to permanent peace and stability in Afghanistan.

The caretaker government of Afghanistan is yet to respond to the UN resolution, but has categorically stated that it is committed to all rights, including women’s, within the framework of Sharia.

Moscow format meeting

This meeting is scheduled to be held in Moscow on November 16 and representatives from Russia, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan will participate in the meeting.

Russia’s special representative for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov has said no one from the caretaker government of Afghanistan has been invited to the consultative meeting in Moscow.

However, Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry termed the meeting about Afghanistan in Russia incomplete in absence of representatives from the Islamic Emirate.

The ministry said now Afghanistan has ‘an independent, responsible and legitimate government’, which has been able to effectively ensure security across the country.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs continued that Afghanistan’s borders with its neighbors were secure and the country has positive interaction with its neighbors, regional countries and the international community and non-participation of the Afghan government in such meetings could negatively impact the interaction.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said the Afghanistan’s caretaker government was not invited to the Moscow meeting because it did not fulfill its promises with the international community regarding the formation of an inclusive government.

A delegation headed by Abdul Salam Hanafi, Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan, participated in a similar meeting held in Moscow on October 20.

Mistreatment of Afghan refugees in Pakistan

Recently, according to reports, Afghan refugees in Pakistan, especially in Sindh province, are being mistreated and imprisoned by the Pakistani police.

The Pakistani authorities arrested around 1,222 Afghan refugees, including women and children, for lacking legal stay documents.

The mistreatment of Afghan refugees by Pakistani police was condemned by the Foreign Ministry of Afghanistan and asked Islamabad to prevent such incidents from occurring again.

Former president Hamid Karzai and Hezb-i-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar also condemned the ill-treatment of Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

Amnesty International also said Afghan refugees should be given their basic rights and they should be freed.

Continuation of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan

Norway donated eight million krone (750,000 US dollars) to the needy people in Afghanistan and the European Union pledged 50 million dollars to Afghanistan through World Food Programme.

The World Health Organization says it has mobilized more than 10 million US dollars to provide life-saving health services in Afghanistan this winter.

Last week, two packages of international humanitarian aid amounting to $80 million arrived in Kabul. Reports show Afghanistan received about one and a half billion US dollars in aid during the past one year.

China will grant zero-tariff treatment on 98 percent of currently taxable export products of Afghanistan from December 1 .

Pine nuts exports from Afghanistan to China have increased lately and 10,000 tons of pine nuts will be exported to China and other countries this year.

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