KABUL (Pajhwok): Last week, several international organisations expressed concern about women’s rights in Afghanistan, but the Islamic Emirate of dismissed the apprehensions as groundless.
The UNAMA head stated it was up to the IEA to decide on engagement with the international community. However, Kabul stressed it had already fulfilled its responsibility in this regard.
Key events from last week
- UNAMA chief: Global engagement up to IEA
- Kabul: We have discharged our responsibility
- Germany: Working on how to establish engagement with IEA
- Global concern about Afghan women’s rights & IEA stance
- Pakistan claim on train attack & Kabul’s response
- Opium price up, says UNODC
- IEA: Our war on drugs vindicated
Casualties
Last week, 10 people were killed and three others wounded in various incidents across the country.
Paktia police reported that armed thieves entered an old currency market, killed one guard and injured another.
In Kunduz province, a man killed his son. Another man killed his young daughter in Nangarhar. In Jawzjan, a man was stabbed to death and the body of a seven-year-old child, who had gone missing, was found in Badakhshan.
In Maidan Wardak, a clash between nomads and residents killed two brothers and wounded their father. In Farah, in a dispute over inheritance, three people, including two women, were killed and a fourth injured.
Note: These casualty figures are based on Pajhwok Afghan News reports. There is a possibility that some incidents may have gone unreported or sources could have provided wrong figures.
During the previous week, four people had been killed and 10 others injured in different incidents nationwide.
Interaction with world
Roza Otunbayeva, head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), briefed the United Nations Security Council on the situation in Afghanistan.
She told the powerful council that it was up to the Islamic Emirate whether it wanted to take steps towards interaction with the international community and was ready for necessary steps in this regard.
Otunbayeva added if the Islamic Emirate respected its international obligations, it would not only be effective for progress in the political field, but would also benefit the entire Afghan nation.
She claimed that the international community’s disappointment with the Islamic Emirate was increasing.
HamdullahFitrat, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, responded Afghanistan had made every effort to forge interaction with the international community, something also important for the country.
He said Afghanistan wanted to enjoy all the rights it had at the international level, including at the United Nations. “But unfortunately, some countries are creating obstacles in this regard.”
He added the United Nations by showing courage should not make decisions under the influence of major countries, but should make independent and impartial decisions. “If this happens, then Afghanistan can find its place in the international community and obtain its seat at the UN.”
Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi reaffirmed his country’s commitment to enhancing political, economic and trade relations with Afghanistan.
He renewed the commitment at a meeting with his Afghan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi in Muscat. Both sides reiterated their determination to opening a new chapter in Kabul-Muscat relations, focusing on economic cooperation and diplomatic engagement.
Bruno Kahl, president of the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND), in an interview said that the agency was working on how to establish engagement with Afghanistan’s caretaker government.
According to Kahl, the BND gathered intelligence from Afghanistan to assist the German federal government in making informed decisions regarding its approach toward the IEA.
At a meeting between representatives of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Turkey, the importance of continued engagement to support the Afghan people was underlined, along with the need for constructive dialogue on various issues with the current authorities.
Afghan Ambassador in Abu Dhabi MaulviBadruddinHaqqani urged Norway to play a constructive role in strengthening Afghanistan’s ties with the international community, particularly European nations.
IEA stance on women’s rights
The United Nations has designated March 8 as International Women’s Day. On this day, several international organisations voiced concerns about women’s rights in Afghanistan and issued various demands.
However, IEA dismissed their claims as unfounded and politically motivated, asserting women’s rights under Islamic law were fully protected.
UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) emphasised the need to uphold Afghan women and girls’ rights and pledged to amplify their voices globally.
According to UNESCO, approximately 1.5 million girls in Afghanistan have been deprived of education, and if the ban continues until 2030, this number could exceed four million.
Amensty International once again said that the IEA had issued 80 “hardline” decrees regarding women’s rights since 2021.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) wrote on X: “We commend Afghan women in agriculture; those women who play a crucial role in food security, economic growth and the fight against hunger.”
However, a spokesmand for the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, Saiful Islam Khayber, said Islam has granted women high status as mothers, sisters, daughters and wives, and has specific rulings to protect their rights, dignity and honor.
He added: “The claim of women’s rights violations in Afghanistan is a false accusation, used solely as a political pressure tool; various factions are exploiting this issue for their own purposes. This claim is limited to mere rhetorical statements. Recent international conferences held under the guise of women’s rights have exposed the hypocrisy of some organizations and certain member countries of the European Union. It has become evident that they are unaware of the facts and repeatedly use the sacred name of Afghan women for their own interests.”
On International Women’s Day, the government’s chief spokesperson wrote on X: “Women are our mothers, sisters, daughters and life partners.”
Zabihullah Mujahid said: “The caretaker government considers itself responsible for safeguarding the rights that Islamic Sharia has defined for women.”
He assured preserving women’s modesty, dignity and Shariah-based rights remained a top priority for the interim government.
According to Mujahid, Afghan women today live in physical and psychological safety, with all forms of violence against them being controlled.
Combating narcotics: IEA’s view
Last week, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported that the price of opium in Afghanistan had risen to $750 per kilogram.
The report also highlighted a fall in the level of drug processing in Afghanistan, and an overall decline in the smuggling of these substances from the country.
Mufti Abdul Matin Qani, a spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, wrote on X: “It is clear to everyone that when production and supply are absent, prices increase several folds. The statements of this organisation reflect the Islamic Emirate’s full commitment and efforts to eliminate narcotics.”
He assured the Ministry of Interior had made significant strides in reducing the processing, production and trafficking of illicit drugs. Police have achieved important milestones in preventing the cultivation, production and smuggling of these substances.
Train attack: Claims of Afghan link, IEA response
Last week, militants linked to Baloch separatists attacked a passenger train in Balochistan and took more than 400 passengers hostage.
In the aftermath of the attack, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed that the attackers had links with Afghanistan during the assault.
In response, the deputy spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated: “We strongly reject the baseless allegations by the Pakistani military regarding the connection of the incident in Balochistan with Afghanistan. We urge the Pakistani authorities to focus on their own security and internal issues instead of making such irresponsible statements.”
Continuation of aid
Last week, Italy allocated 3.5 million euros in aid to support Afghan refugees.
Arafat Jamal, representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Afghanistan, called on the world not to forget Afghanistan.
He warned abandoning the country would lead to challenges such as mass migration and regional instability.
sa/mud
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