KABUL (Pajhwok): Last week, Kabul and Islamabad agreed over the formation of a new mechanism for bilateral relationship and participants of the Herat security conference stressed over the formation of inclusive government in Afghanistan and the protection of women’s rights.
Last week’s major events
- Herat security meeting stressed over the formation of inllusive government and respect to women’s rights
- The Ministry of Information and Culltual Affairs banned VoA and Azadi Radio in Afghanistan
- Media outlets should refrain from publishin fake news: Khirkhwa
- Islamabad: TTP using Afghanistna’s soil against us
- Kabul reject Islamabad allegations and said Afghanistan soil was not used against anyone
- Various cirucles again demanded the reopening of girls schools in Afghanistan
- 66 people were killed and wounded in Afghanistan last week
Casualties
Last week, 33 people were killed and as many others injured in different incidents of violence in the country.
Nineteen people were killed and 25 others injured in a mosque attack in northern Samangan province last week, according to local sources.
Three people, including two attackers, were killed in armed attack on Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan (HIA) office in Kabul. One Pakistani security personnel was injured in attack on Pakistani embassy in Kabul too.
In Balkh, a notorious robber and kidnapper was killed during firefight with security forces, in Parwan a 12-year-old opened firing on a robber and killed him.
Five people were wounded in a landmine blast in Kunar province.
Local official said that unidentified people gunned down one person each in Balkh, Badghis and Faryab provinces. One body each recovered in Helmand and Bamyan province and a man killed his wife in Faryab province.
According to reports, a man was killed in Kandahar province as a result of personal enmity. Two children were killed and as many injured in Badakhshan province during wedding ceremony, perpetrators of the incident were also arrested.
These casualty figures are based on reports reaching Pajhwok. Some incidents might have gone unreported or sources could have provided incorrect numbers.
Twenty-three people were killed and 14 others injured in Afghanistan the previous week.
Before the regime change last year, hundreds of civilians and people associated with the warring parties would get killed and injured every week.
Khar’s visit to Kabul
Last week, Pakistan’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar visited Kabul and met high ranking offiicals.
Afghan foreign ministry said that Kabul and Islamabad agreed over the formation of new mechanism on biletral relationship.
During the meeting issues related to visa, release of Afghan prisoners, Pakistani police behavior with Afghan refugees, expanding trade relationship and investment in Afghannistan were discussed.
Khar said that Pakistan respected the territorial integrity of Afghanistan stressing that maximum benefit should be taken out of the available opportunities.
Herat Securrity Conference
The 10th Herat Security Conference was hel in Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe in which around 120 personalities, including representatives from US, EU and regional countries participated. It was the first time that the Herat Securrity Meeting is held out of Afghanistan.
The participants of the meeting stressed over the formation of inclusive government, respect to women rights and halt to drug trafficking.
Islamic Emirate Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that women rights fully repsected and protected in Afghanistan.
He said: “The Islamic Emirate is attentive to the rights of all its citizens special women righs, there is need for the definition of rights and all Islamic rights of women are protected in Afghanistan.”
US Chargé d’Affaires Karen Decker said that the absence of US footprints in Afghanistan did not mean that US was no more involve there. She said efforts were on to explore new ways ans equipment to support the people of Afghanistan.
Freedom of expression
Last week, the ‘Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’ (IEA) banned the transmission of VoA and Radio Azadi in 13 major cities of the country due to the violation of journalistic principles and partial reporting.
This comes that earlier, Acting Information Minister Mullah Khairullah Khairkhwa said that media programmes should ensure the intrest of people and incumbent system. He demanded media outlets to stop publishing wrong information.
Girls Education
Last week, a protest rally was held in the support of Afghan girls and women in London, Malala Yousufzai, participant of the rally asked worl governments and leaders not to ignore Afghan women.
In Farah, some students have demanded the reopening of girls school and said that besides religious studies modern studies were also important for girls.
US Special Envoy for Afghanistan’s Women Rights Rina Amiri said: “As a part of my ongoing outreach to Muslim-majority countries, this week I engaged the Perm Reps of Uzbekistan, the UAE, ambassadors of Tunisia, Indonesia, @OIC_OCI, & a senior official of Pakistan. They all agree that girl’s education in Afghanistan at all levels is a must.”
Former President Hamid Karzai during a meeting with Japanese ambassador termed the reopening of girls schools vital for the country’s peace and stability.
This comes that as part of capacity building programmes girls appeared in 12th class examiniation in Nangarhar province.
Aid continuation
Last week, Pakistan announced medicine aid worth 200 millioni rupees and its first shipment arrived in Kabul on Thursday. As part of humanitarian aid a package of $40 million also arrived in Kabul.
World Health Organisation (WHO) head during a meeting with Afghan official pledged his organisation’s cooperation to the public helth sector.
According to reports, EU did not consider current assistance with Afghanistan adequate and wanted to increase its assistance with Afghanistan. EU also stressed the assistance process should not be politicized.
Pakistan’s Offcials claims
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah claimed that Tahrik Taliban Pakistan (TTP) used Afghanistan’s soil for their attacks in Pakistan.
Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry rejected Pakistani minister claims and said Afghanistan’s soil will not be used against any country.
Defence Ministry’s Spokesperson Enayatullah Khawarazmi said: “We often assured regional countreis that Afghanistan’s soil will not be used against anyone and no threat was posed to the world from Afghanistan.”
Trips ad meeting on Afghanistan Last week, UNAMA’s deputy head Markus Potzel conducted a series of meetings with government officials in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, seeking regional support for the Afghan people.
“UNAMA will continue its work with all regional actors to assist efforts for a meaningful peace in Afghanistan,” the mission tweeted.
US Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West travelled to Japan, India and United Arab Emirates (UAE), Department of State said.
West, who embarks on the eight-day today, will consult with partners and Afghans on the humanitarian and economic crises in Afghanistan.
A statement from the State Department said the diplomat would discuss with his interlocutors the protection of Afghans’ rights and shared security concerns.
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