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Afghan NSC Rejects Reported Contacts with Taliban
National Security Council Office denied it made contacts with the Taliban in Doha, Qatar, following a report in which said two Afghan top security officials have conversations with militant leaders nearly every day and month.
“The peace process is being advanced by the High Peace Council and the contacts in this regard are made through HPC,” National Security Council Office said in a statement Wednesday.
“National Security Council Office supports peace efforts of HPC,” it added.
The statement comes after Associated Press reported that Afghan Intelligence Chief, Masoom Stanikzai talks by telephone with Taliban militant leaders nearly every day about the country’s constitution and political future.
In addition, the country’s National Security Adviser, Hanif Atmar, speaks with the militants every other month, the report said citing unnamed officials and documents.
The news agency cited the unnamed Afghan security official as saying, the Taliban wanted certain amendments to the constitution — although not immediately. They also envisioned an Islamic system of governance in Afghanistan.
The Taliban’s other demands cited as follows, according to the official:
— They accepted education for boys and girls at all levels, but wanted segregation by gender.
— Women could be employed in all fields, including defense and the judiciary, and they could serve as judges at all levels except the Supreme Court. However, the Taliban wanted constitutional guarantees that a woman could not be president.
— Special courts should be established to oversee thousands of cases that allege land was taken illegally by the rich and powerful in the post-Taliban era. Many of the land owners are former warlords who are now in the government. The Taliban wants the land returned to those from whom it was taken.
— Elections could be held after an interim government is established, with no one affiliated with past governments allowed to serve in the interim administration. The Taliban said all sides could keep areas currently under their control until voting is held.
In reaction, the First Deputy Speaker of Afghan Parliament, Mohammad Alam Ezadiyar said: “The outcomes of any conversation should be shared with the people, because experience shows secret conversations are not in favor of the country.”
Some Afghan political analysts, however, say the Constitution should be considered as red line in talks with the Taliban.
“The Constitution should not be victimized” in [peace process],” Political Analyst, Moeen Mrastiyal said.
The ban on opium cultivation precipitated a staggering $1.3 billion loss in farmers’ incomes, equivalent to approximately 8 percent of the country’s GDP, the World Bank said in a new report.
The bank said that over the past two fiscal years, the real GDP of Afghanistan contracted by 26 percent, and the country’s economic outlook remains uncertain, with the threat of stagnation looming large until at least 2025.
According to the report, structural deficiencies in the private sector and waning international support for essential services are anticipated to impede any semblance of economic progress.
Half of Afghanistan’s population lives in poverty and 15 million people face food insecurity, it noted.
“Afghanistan’s long-term growth prospects depend on a significant shift from its previous reliance on consumption-driven growth and international aid to a more resilient, private sector-led economy that capitalizes on the country’s strengths,” said Melinda Good, World Bank Country Director for Afghanistan.
“For a sustainable future, Afghanistan needs to address harmful gender policies, invest in health and education, and focus on the comparative advantages it has in the agricultural and extractive sectors.”
The World Bank pointed out that the increase in Afghanistan’s trade deficit is another challenge for the country’s economy. According to the bank’s report, in 2023, Afghanistan’s imports increased by 23% and reached $7.8 billion.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) announced Sunday that its delegation is attending the 15th summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in the Gambian capital Banjul.
The two-day summit of the heads of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation started on Saturday. World leaders from the 57 member countries of the OIC and beyond are expected to attend, said the OIC in a statement ahead of the summit.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement said that its spokesman and head of the department of international organizations of the ministry are representing the IEA at the OIC summit.
The statement said that in addition to participating in the general session, the delegation will meet with high-ranking officials of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and representatives of its member countries to discuss various issues.
Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has welcomed Turkey’s move to suspend trade with Israel over its war on Gaza.
Muttaqi expressed his appreciation during a meeting with Turkish Charge d’Affaires Cenk Unal in Kabul, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement released Sunday.
The meeting also focused on bilateral relations, recent positive developments in Afghanistan, the visits of political and economic delegations to Afghanistan from several countries.
FM Muttaqi underlined the commencing of trade with Turkey through the Lapis Lazuli route and opening of joint exhibitions in Turkey and Afghanistan.
According to the statement, the Turkish envoy said that they are happy with the recent developments in Afghanistan, and joined efforts need to be made for the further expansion of Turkey-Afghanistan relations.
He added that in the next few days, Turkish Airlines will commence its flights to Kabul.
The two sides reiterated promoting synergy to meet the expectations of the people of the two countries, given the historical backdrops and good bilateral relations, the statement said.
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