KABUL (Pajhwok): Last week, UN envoy discussed future engagement strategy with acting foreign minister, Central Asian and European leaders stressed over the protection of women rights while government said that efforts were underway to ensure women rights and reopen girls’ schools and universities.
Last week’s major developments:
- Acting Foreign Minister Maulvi Amir Khan Muttaqi and UN envoy discuss future engagement strategy
- Central Asian States and European Union leaders stressed over the formation of inclusive government in Afghanistan and protection of women rights
- Current government is inclusive, internal issues should be left on Afghans and efforts were underway regarding women rights and girls education: Mujahid
- Pakistan always engaged positively with the world on Afghanistan: Nizamani
- Talks with Kabul on water dispute ongoing and there is hope for positive conclusion: Iran
- Kabul stresses bilateral talks to resolve water row with Iran
- Positive changes happened in the economic condition of Afghanistan: WB
- Aid package agreement for Afghanistan worth $8.1 million inked: IDB
- Will continue support for IDPs and repatriated Afghans: UNHCR
Casualties:
Fifteen people were killed and 11 others injured in different incidents of violence in the country last week.
According to officials security forces killed Daesh commander and his friend in Nangarhar province while one robber was killed during clash between security forces and robbers.
Reports showed that unknown gunmen have shot dead a businessman in Kandahar province, two people were killed and one injured in Badghis province last week.
Three people were killed and one injured in a mortar blast in Maidan Wardak province, one person was killed in a Explosive Ramnant of War (ERW) blast in Logar provine, three children were killed in ERW blast in Nuristan province.
Reports showed that last week one person was killed due to land dispute, one elderly person was killed in Nangarhar, four people got injured as a result dispute between two families while a man killed his brother and nephew and injured his mother and another brother in Nangarhar.
One security personnel from Afghanistan and one from Iran were killed during a lash in the border area, the Ministry of Interior said.
Note: These figures are based on reports reaching Pajhwok Afghan News. Some incidents may have gone unreported or officials provided incorrect figures.
In the previous week, according to sources, ten people were killed and one person was injured in various incidents across the country.
However, before the regime change in August 2021, hundreds of civilians, government forces and insurgents would get killed and wounded every week.
Demand for inclusive government:
Participants of the second regional high level meeting in Kyrgyzstan have asked the Afghan rulers to form an inclusive government and protect women’s rights.
In a joint communiqué, the participants articulated common concern over the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan and re-affirmed their commitment to see Afghanistan develop into a secure, peaceful, stable, prosperous country.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the Islamic Emirate spokesperson, said that all ethnic groups are included in the acting government. “Afghanistan’s internal matters should be left to the people of Afghanistan. He said efforts were underway to address concerns regarding women rights and their education.”
Officials Meetings:
Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has held a meeting with UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Roza Otunbayeva and discussed relationship between Afghanistan and the world, regional situation and future engagement strategy.
Pakistan’s Chargé d’affaires to Afghanistan Obaidurrahman Nizamani during a meeting with PM’s Political Aide Mawlavi Abdul Kabir said that best opportunity for promoting trade relationship between the two countries was available and pledged Islamabad’s continued support in this regard.
He said that Pakistani officials always stressed over establishing positive contact with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), release of Afghanistan’s assets and increasing humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.
This comes that Reuters recently claimed that Qatar’s prime minister travelled to Kandahar province 20 days ago and held a meeting with the IEA supreme leader but the acting government so far have not spoken in this regard.
It added that during the meeting with Mullah Haibatullah both sides discussed matters related to women work, girls education and taking Afghanistan out of the international isolation.
But IEA Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid then said that Qatar’s prime minister met acting PM Mullah Hassan and discussed cooperation in the areas of education, health and economy.
Afghanistan, Iran water dispute:
Iran’s President Ibrahim Raeesi lately threatened Afghanistan over water shortage in the neighboring country and demanded its due right in the Helmand River water.
But the IEA Spokepesperson Zabihullah Mujahid in response said: “Iranian officials should get complete information regarding Helmand water from legal channels and then express their views in fair words. When realties are not properly checked upon and unfair statements are issued this could deteriorate political environment between the two brotherly Muslim nations and this will be in the interest of no one.”
Afghanistan has reaffirmed its commitment to resolve water dispute with Iran through talks and bilateral engagement, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Afghan government said that the implementation of 1972 water treaty between the two countries was the best solution of water dispute and asked Tehran to first completed its investigation through legal channel and then raise its demand in a proper tone.
Afghan acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi during a meeting with Iran’s Ambassador to Afghanistan Hassan Kazami Qummi stressed over the negotiated settlement of disputes between the two countries.
Iran’s Sipah Pasdaran Air Force Commander Amir Ali Hajizada last week said: “”Enemies strived to push recent clashes between the two countries to a war which will never happen and such issues should not be promoted to bigger problems
Iran’s Foreign Minister Amir Abdul Lahyan said talks with Afghan acting government on water dispute ongoing and hoped for the success.
This comes that some Afghans backed the IEA stance in the water dispute against Iran. Some asked Iran to provided oil against water while some believed that Afghanistan water should first irrigate the country’s lands.
Afghanistan economic condition:
IEA welcomed the World Bank’s report on Afghanistan’s economic landscape and urged the bank to complete its unfinished projects in the country.
A statement issued from the deputy prime minister for economic affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar’s office said if all international organizations like the World Bank presented factual image of Afghanistan to the world, it would lead to the world’s positive interaction with the Islamic Emirate.
On Tuesday, the World Bank in its report “Afghanistan Economic Monitor” said that inflation in the landlocked country was 18.3% in July 2022 and since then, has been on a “downward trend.”
According to official statistics, the year-on-year (YoY) headline inflation “eased further in March 2023 to 1.94% (compared to 3.5% in February 2023),” said the report.
The report further said that government employees also received timely salaries while banks have been reported as the most prevalent mode for salary withdrawals.
Continuation of Aid:
An aid package for Afghanistan worth $1.8 has been inked with the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) while the World Food Program has distributed over 30,000 metric tonnes of food items so far this year in the country.
UNHCR also pledged continued support to the IDPs and repatriated Afghans. An aid package for Afghanistan worth $1.8 has been inked with the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) while the World Food Program has distributed over 30,000 metric tonnes of food items so far this year in the country.
UNHCR also pledged continued support to the IDPs and repatriated Afghans.
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