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Second Touristic Winter Festival – Bamiyan
Bamiyan succeeded to host the Touristic Winter Festival for the second time in a row. The festival will welcome domestic and international tourists for one month.
The festival is comprised of various programs such as women handicrafts exhibition, musical programs, ski tournaments, Bamiyan ancient food exhibition, theater, and cultural & historical tours.
Launching this festival, the Ministry of Information and Culture tries to attract more foreign tourists.
Tahir Zohair, the governor of Bamiyan, said, “Since 2015, we have had 15 to 16 festivals in summer, and fortunately, this is the 2nd time we hold the winter festival too. Festivals have a direct and strong effect on attracting tourists. Cultural programs held in Bamiyan are unique.”
Bamiyan is one of the most secure places in Afghanistan, and with the exceptionally beautiful sites, it stuns the international and domestic tourists.
The winter festival in Bamiyan starts with the sound of Damboura, Hazaragi songs, and Bamiyan’s youth poetry.
The Salsal Music Band, having Bamiyani girls as the singers, gave the festival a wonderful start. These are girls and boys, who have played music and sung for at least five years, especially for tourists. The band says that they receive tourist visitors.
Bamiyan, having some of the most ancient and natural touristic sites, has attracted over 250,000 tourists this year; however, the insecure image of Afghanistan to the world has reduced the number of tourists.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special representative for Afghanistan, has questioned Pakistan’s commitment to the welfare of the Afghan people, citing Islamabad’s policies over the past three decades.
Khalilzad said in a post on X that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif advocated for the rights of Afghan women during his speech at the UN General Assembly on Friday.
Sharif said: “Fundamental rights of the Afghan people — especially women and girls — must be respected.”
Responding to the remarks, Khalilzad said Pakistan’s policies over the past 30 years raise questions about Sharif’s commitment to Afghan welfare.
He cited Pakistan’s support for militant groups against US forces and what he described as the poor treatment of Afghan refugees as examples.
Khalilzad also said Afghanistan and Pakistan need and should have much better relations, adding that “a reset is necessary.”
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Rabab Fatima, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X that Misri underscored the need to keep addressing the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people as a priority.
Misri also appreciated the role of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and reaffirmed India’s continued cooperation with the United Nations on Afghanistan.
The meeting comes as Afghanistan continues to face humanitarian and economic challenges, with international agencies warning of significant needs among the Afghan population.
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi has called for pragmatic and coordinated international engagement with Afghanistan, saying the country’s long-term stability is closely linked to the security and sustainable development of Central Asia.
Speaking during the general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday, Tileuberdi said humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan remains essential but alone cannot break the cycle of poverty, displacement and dependency.
He said Kazakhstan supports a “pragmatic, coordinated and step-by-step” approach to international engagement with Afghanistan, with the United Nations playing a central role.
Tileuberdi also said Kazakhstan is working with the UN to operationalize the United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty.
He said the success of the centre should be measured by the results and assistance it delivers to the region.
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