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Afghan Sikh Minority Urges Inclusion in Peace Talks

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Last Updated on: October 24, 2022

As the U.S. has been in peace negotiations with the Taliban to reach into a political settlement in Afghanistan, Afghan tiny Hindu and Sikh minority has urged inclusion in the peace process.

Expressing concerns of not being part of the peace talks with the Taliban, the representatives of Afghan Sikh and Hindu community said that they don’t want to face re-imposition of the Taliban’s strict religious rules after a possible agreement with the armed group.

“We want a lasting peace in the country, not a temporary one; during the Taliban regime, there were a lot of strict rules while practicing our religious beliefs,” said Singh Khalsa, President Ghani’s advisor on Hindu and Sikh affairs.

He said religious discrimination against Hindu and Sikh minority in Afghanistan should end.

Referring to the ongoing peace talks, Khalsa said the government has not consulted with them in this regard yet and that as Afghans they have the right to be consulted.

He said they were expecting a meeting with the High Peace Council regarding the peace process.

Habiba Sarabi, Deputy Head High Peace Council (HPC), however, said that the inclusion of ethnic minorities in the peace process has been one of the fundamental issues and that they are trying to pay heed to their demands. 

It comes as U.S. and Taliban representatives are holding peace talks in Qatar aimed at ending the nearly two decades of war in Afghanistan.

The withdrawal of American troops and preventing Afghanistan being used against the United States and its allies are the two main topics as the two sides discussing on before reaching into a final agreement.

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Islamic Emirate’s army now self-sufficient, says chief of army staff

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Mohammad Fasihuddin Fitrat, Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces, says that over the past four years, the army forces of the Islamic Emirate have shown no hesitation in defending and protecting Afghanistan, and that today the country’s army is standing on its own feet.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Defense, Fitrat made these remarks at a meeting with media representatives, political analysts, and a number of government officials aimed at coordination and strengthening cooperation. He added: “Nations that cannot stand on their own feet and rely on others, even if they grow, will not be capable of achieving real progress.”

Fitrat also expressed appreciation for the role of the media in ensuring security and in supporting the country’s defense forces, stating: “We and you, as citizens of this land, must put our hands together and build the country together, take pride in our forces, and strive with all our strength for the country’s development. We have created an army that defends honor, territorial integrity, and the borders of the country, and serves as the guardian of our freedom.”

He emphasized that the Islamic Emirate is working to establish an army equipped with modern weapons so that it can defend the country’s territory under all circumstances.

He stated that the country’s army has proven to the people that anyone who looks at this land with ill intent will face a firm and courageous response, and that it has also been made clear to neighboring countries that any aggression against Afghanistan will be met with a response several times stronger.

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Afghan health minister attends second WHO summit in India

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Noor Jalal Jalali, the Minister of Public Health of the Islamic Emirate, participated in the second World Health Organization meeting on traditional medicine during his official visit to India.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Ministry of Public Health said that the meeting was held in India with the participation of representatives from around 100 countries, health ministers from 23 countries, professional experts from various nations, and officials from different departments of the World Health Organization.

During the meeting, discussions were held on the standardization of traditional medicine, training of individuals active in this field, recognition of traditional medicine as an established reality, and the sharing of countries’ experiences in this area.

The ministry stated that the purpose of participating in the conference was to standardize traditional medicine in Afghanistan, adding that for several decades this sector has been practiced in a non-standard manner and without a defined curriculum or clear principles.

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Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan boost trade and digital finance ties

Minister Sydykov, in turn, pledged the continuation of Kyrgyzstan’s humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and highlighted his country’s interest in working together on e-governance initiatives.

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Afghanistan’s Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs, Abdul Salam Hanafi, has met with a high-level Kyrgyz delegation led by Minister of Economy and Commerce Bakhyt Sydykov to discuss expanding bilateral trade and strengthening cooperation in digital financial services.

During the meeting, Hanafi reaffirmed Afghanistan’s readiness to deepen ties with Kyrgyzstan, stressing the importance of developing electronic administration systems and modern banking channels to facilitate trade and financial transactions between the two countries.

Minister Sydykov, in turn, pledged the continuation of Kyrgyzstan’s humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and highlighted his country’s interest in working together on e-governance initiatives. He also pointed to potential cooperation in areas such as the printing of securities and the development of electronic payment systems.

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