KABUL (Pajhwok): UNAMA officials last week said Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) representatives will be invited to an upcoming UN-organized meeting similar to May meeting in Doha before the end of 2023.
Also last week, US president Joe Biden said Al-Qaeda was no longer operating in Afghanistan, but another top official said Biden’s remarks were completely divorced from reality.
Last week’s major events
SCO supports Afghanistan free from terrorism, war and drugs
Iran renews call for inclusive government in Afghanistan
Mujahid: Governance system internal matter
UNAMA: IEA reps to be invited to upcoming meeting
Biden says Al-Qaeda no longer operates in Afghanistan
IEA: Biden’s statement proof of commitment to promises
Michael McCaul: Biden’s remarks an attempt to recognize IEA
Last week, nearly $12m pledged in aid to Afghanistan
Casualties
Last week, 16 people were killed and 10 others were injured in various incidents of violence across the country.
Security forces killed four armed robbers in Balkh and Badakhshan provinces. Five Afghan youths, who wanted to cross into Iran from Nimroz province, were shot dead by Iranian border guards. A sixth youth was wounded.
Unidentified gunmen killed a religious scholar in Kapisa, a military officer in Balkh and a woman in the same province.
Three children were killed and as many injured when an old rocket shell exploded in Faryab province. Six people were injured after two families clashed in Kapisa and a man killed his brother in Parwan.
Note: These figures are based on reports reaching Pajhwok Afghan News. Some incidents may have gone unreported or sources provided incorrect figures.
In the previous week, seven people were killed and three others were injured in various incidents across the country.
Before the regime change in August 2021, hundreds of civilians, insurgents and security forces would get killed and wounded every week.
Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting
India hosted the 23rd summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in virtual format on Tuesday. The participants called for establishment of an inclusive government in Afghanistan and continued humanitarian assistance to Afghans.
They advocated building Afghanistan as an independent, neutral, united, democratic and peaceful state free from terrorism, war and drugs.
Iran Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told participants of the Coordinating Bureau meeting of Non-Aligned Movement in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, on Wednesday that an inclusive government, including all ethnic groups, could solve Afghanistan’s current crisis.
However, Islamic Emirate spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, responding to Abdollahian’s comments, said that the caretaker government of Afghanistan represented all tribes.
He said it was the work of Afghans to form their government and system and other countries had nothing to do with it.
Interaction with Kabul
Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi during a meeting with British Chargé d’Affaires for Afghanistan, Robert Chatterton Dickson, asked the United Kingdom to interact confidently with Kabul.
Acting Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani had said refusal to accept the ‘orders’ of the international community was the main reason behind non-recognition of the Islamic Emirate government.
UN to convene meeting similar to Doha huddle
UNAMA’s political office in Kabul, headed by Scott Smith, has announced plans to hold a significant meeting similar to the Doha gathering, organized by the United Nations, before the end of 2023. The announcement was made during a meeting between Smith and Mawlawi Zakir, head of the political deputy prime minister’s office.
During the meeting, UNAMA officials stated that the UN chief would invite Islamic Emirate officials to participate at the upcoming meeting, which will be hosted by UN chief Antonio Guterres in a format similar to the special envoys meeting held in Doha in May.
Smith affirmed the continuation of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, highlighting that security has improved in the country.
During the previous meeting held in Doha in May, special envoys from various countries expressed their concerns regarding the human rights situation in Afghanistan.
Biden’s Al Qaeda comments
US President Joe Biden said: “Do you remember what I said about Afghanistan? I said Al Qaeda would not be there. I said it wouldn’t be there. I said we’d get help from the Taliban. What’s happening now? What’s going on? Read your press. I was right.”
Some opponents of the caretaker government said Biden’s comments revealed the US and the Islamic Emirate had good relations since past.
But Zabihullah Mujahid said Biden’s remarks proved the Islamic Emirate was committed to its promises and that Afghanistan was independent in all decisions.
However, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul in a statement reacted to US President Biden’s remarks, saying that “it is completely divorced from reality for President Biden to claim that al Qaeda is no longer operating in Afghanistan.”
McCaul said that Biden’s words could only be interpreted as an attempt to whitewash the Islamic Emirate and al Qaeda’s longstanding ties, and “may even be an attempt to get Washington on the path of recognizing the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan.”
Girls’ education and world’s interaction with Afghanistan
UN deputy special representative for Afghanistan Markus Potzel had said women had the right to work in society and the world’s interaction with Afghanistan would increase if the girls’ education problem was resolved.
Amnesty International once again said banning women and girls from work and education was violating their social and economic rights and the Islamic Emirate should be held accountable for such actions.
However, Zabihullah Mujahid said it was a domestic issue and the Afghans should resolve it.
UK charge d’affaires Robert Shatterton Dickson and Japanese ambassador Takashi Okada had discussed the importance of girls’ education and women’s work in separate meetings with Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
Humanitarian aid
India donated 10,000 tons of wheat to Afghanistan last week while Switzerland announced 1.5 million francs to Afghanistan in aid and Japan announced 10 million dollars for education of more than 70,000 children in Afghanistan.
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