7 people killed in Afghanistan last week

KABUL (Pajhwok): Last week, offiicals said the third round negotations between Kabul and Islamabad ended without any agreement due to Pakistan’s “irresponsible and uncooperative” attitude.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) also halted trade with Pakistan in the previous week and the National Environmental Protection Authotity (NEPA) decribted Afghanistan’s exclusion from the COP30 conference as contrary to “climate justice and interational cooperation.”

Last week’s key events

• Mujahid: Talks in Turkey ended without results due to Pakistani delegation’s irresponsible attitude
• Afghanistan halts all trade with Pakistan— a move welcomed by Afghans
• MoF: Medicines imported from Pakistan will be tax-exempt after the next three months
• UNICEF, NEPA criticise Afghanistan’s exclusion from COP30 conference
• IEA resumes consular services in Germany’s Bonn; India says it aims to elevate diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan
• UN: Despite limited funding, support to Afghans will continue

Casualties:

Seven people were killed in separate incidents across Afghanistan last week.
At least five children lost their lives in two blasts caused by leftover landmines in Bala Murghab district of western Badghis province, local officials said.

Security officials said a woman and a girl were killed in the capital of central Logar province and two suspects had been arrested in connection with the case.

In the previous week, one person had been killed.

Before the regime change in August 2021, hundreds of civilians, insurgents and security forces would get killed and injured in blasts and gun attacks.

Unsuccessfull IEA, Pakistan talks, suspension of trade

After Pakistan’s airstrikes inside Afghabnistan and IEA’s retaliatory attacks on Pakistnai miligatry posts, peace talks between Kabul and Islamabad were held once in Doha and twice in Istanbul through the mediation of Qatar and Turkey.  The latest round in Istanbul concluded without any income.

IEA chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the “irresponsible and uncooperative” attitude of the Pakistani delegation resulted in no outcome from the third round of negotiations, despite the IEA’s goodwill and the mediators’ efforts.

“Pakistan does not welcome a strong, secure and developing central government in Afghanistan and has repeatedly tried to shift responsibility for its security onto Kabul, despite instability in border areas having roots that predate IEA’s return to power,” he had said.

Turkey, Qatar and Iran emphasised diplomatic efforts and dialogue to resolve tensions between Kabul and Islamabad.

Pakistan has shut all commercial routes with Afghanistan since more than a month.

Last week, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar urged industrialists and traders in Kabul to shift their trade routes from Pakistan to other countries.

He warned that the government would not be responsible for any problems if they continued relying on Pakistan.

He said traders, who have contracts or purchases in Pakistan, were given three months to settle their accounts and wrap up their dealings.

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) also lask week said that, under instruction from the office of the deputy prime minister for economic affairs, medicines imported from Pakistan would be exempt from customs duety after the next three months.

Mullah Baradar said Pakistan has repeatedly used trade routes for political purposes, harming traders and industrialists in both countries, leaving IEA with no choice but to take the above decisions.

On Pajhwok’s Facebook page, Afghans widely welcomed the halt of trade with Pakistan, writing: “This is what a firm stance looks like… a real act of courage… This may be the start of strengthening our economy and national dignity… A historic decision.”

Meanwhile, Balkh governor’s office said a joint agreement had been inked between Afghabnistan and Uzbekistan to export Afghan agricultural products to international markets by air.

Afghanistan not invited to COP30 conference

Last week, NEPA said Afghanistan had not been invited to the COP30 climate conference in Brazil. The authority called this exclusion a violation of “climate justice and international cooperation.”

Afghanistan produces only 0.19 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions but ranks fourth among the countries most affected by climate change. Erratic rainfall and floods have severely damaged the country’s agriculture sector— a field that remains the primary livelihood source for nearly 80 percent of the population.

The United Nationa International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) voiced concern over Afghanistna’s exclusion from COP30, saying Afghanistan has a minimal role in causing the climate crising but was among the most vulnerable.

The organisaton urged world leaders attending the conference to pay serious attention to Afghanitan’s situation.

Salam Al-Janabi, communication specialist at UNICEF, said that while leaders gather in Brazil to discuss climate action, the organisation wants them to remember the children, who have no representative at the conference— children who carry water instead of schoolbooks.

Diplomatic developments: India, Germany

Last week, India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said that after a review, the Indian Embassy in Kabul was functioning normally and New Delhi intended to strengthen and elevate its diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan.

Similarly, the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said Afghanistan had resumed consular services in the Bonn city of Germany.

The announcement added that passport printing services would soon begin at the consulate as well.

Humanitarian aid

Last week, UN Deputy Special Representative Indrika Ratwatte told Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Mohammad Naeem that despite limited financial resources, the United Nations remains committed to supporting Afghans— particularly returnees facing urgent needs.

MoFA said Dr. Naeem urged the UN to take concrete steps, in coordination with the Afghan government, to address the immediate needs of forcibly returned refugees.

kk/ma