Latest News
Afghan leaders approved progress around peace talks: Sources
Sources among Afghan negotiators in Doha told Ariana News that Masoom Stanikzai, head of the republic’s negotiating team, and President Ashraf Ghani’s special envoy for peace affairs Abdul Salam Rahimi discussed the latest developments around peace talks with leaders of the Afghan government and got their approval to move forward.
According to the sources Stanikzai has returned to Doha and will announce details of the agreement once the Taliban are ready to do so.
Peace talks were on Tuesday a central point of discussion at the Geneva pledging conference with all donor countries emphasizing the urgency for a peace agreement and ceasefire.
“Peace negotiations are hard work; very time consuming and often very tedious. Eventually the negotiations will need to cover sensitive and complex issues.
“About the country’s political configurations, about a role of Islam in society and a justice system; about human rights including women’s rights and rights of religious and ethnic minorities,” said Deborah Lyons, Special Representative to the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
The latest development around peace talks comes a day after sources close to the negotiations told Ariana News that there had been a breakthrough after both teams agreed to a procedural plan going forward.
The Taliban also confirmed that progress had been made but said that they will soon finalize the details from their side.
“After that the main issue will be discussed based on the agenda. We hope that the problems will be solved soon,” said Mohammad Naeem Wardak, spokesman for Taliban’s political office in Doha.
On other hand, some sources told Ariana News that four members of the republic’s team have left Kabul to return to Doha.
“People will be optimistic despite the concerns. If they (Taliban) act honestly people will be hopeful for peace,” said Abdul Rauf Inhame, a member of Wolesi Jirga, or lower house of parliament.
The progress in intra-Afghan talks was welcomed by many people in Afghanistan and around the world.
Abdullah Abdullah, head of the High Council for National Reconciliation, said at a meeting with former president Hamid Karzai, that he welcomes the progress and called for a reduction in violence and a ceasefire.
Based on the procedural plan of the peace talks, both sides are expected to discuss issues that could include the reduction in violence, and a ceasefire.
A deminer died in a landmine explosion in Afghanistan’s southern Uruzgan province on Tuesday, police said.
The incident happened around 10:00 a.m. in Khurma area of provincial capital Trink Kot, said Hazrat Bilal Uruzgani, the provincial police spokesman.
Another deminer was injured in the incident, he said
Uruzgani said that the incident happened during an operation to clear the area from mines.
Afghanistan’s acting minister of public health Dr Qalandar Ebad, along with other officials, visited a number of flood-hit villages in Baghlan province on Tuesday.
The officials assessed damage in the villages of Sai Hazara and Gharo in the Guzargah district.
According to a statement issued by the ministry, Ebad inspected “vulnerable areas affected by recent floods and, expressing sympathy with the local people, promised that the leadership of the Ministry of Public Health will spare no effort to provide health services to those in need.”
Ebad also expressed gratitude for the efforts of healthcare workers and their commitment to helping people in need.
He directed officials to make every effort “to improve the health status of patients affected by recent floods in the villages of Sai Hazara and Gharo, Baghlan province”.
Based on official figures, more than 300 people have died as a result of floods in Baghlan province and over 1,600 others have been injured.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Monday that continued interventions by the US into the internal affairs of Afghanistan will complicate the country’s situation.
In a meeting in Tehran with the head of the UN in Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, Amir-Abdollahian said Iran closely follows the developments in Afghanistan and supports stability, security, and sustainable development in the neighboring country.
He also said Iran supports the role of the United Nations in helping the people of Afghanistan.
According to Iran’s Mehr News, Amir-Abdollahian raised the issue of Afghan nationals in Iran and urged the UN to address the situation.
He also reportedly criticized the US for its “destructive role in Afghanistan during its presence in the country”, noting that the continuation of targeted interventions by the US in the internal affairs of Afghanistan will complicate the situation further.
Amir-Abdollahian emphasized the need for diverse and multi-layered solutions to Afghanistan’s complex problems, Mehr News reported.
Otunbayeva in turn explained the latest developments and issues in Afghanistan and the upcoming Doha meeting in Qatar.
She also stressed the need to coordinate the diverse positions of regional players to help with the development and stability of the country.
Deminer killed in landmine explosion in Uruzgan
Acting commerce minister heads to Russia to attend Kazan Forum
Six KPL cricket teams snap up 15 players each in this year’s draft
Acting health minister visits flood-stricken villages in Baghlan
Iranian FM warns US interventions in Afghanistan ‘complicating situation’
Commerce ministry inks 10 MoUs to boost development of small and medium-sized businesses
Rashid Khan threatens BBL pullout after Australia postpones Afghanistan T20I series
Afghanistan announce T20 World Cup 2024 squad
Rashid Khan named AWCC’s brand ambassador
Balkh health officials report sharp increase in number of cancer patients
Tahawol: Uzbek delegation’s visit to Kabul discussed
Saar: UNAMA head’s meeting with Iranian officials discussed
Tahawol: Efforts to address families affected by floods
Floods & people’s behavior on this natural phenomenon discussed
Tahawol: Devastating floods in Baghlan & Takhar discussed
-
Science & Technology4 days agoTikTok to label AI-generated content from OpenAI and elsewhere
-
World4 days agoIsrael strikes eastern Rafah as ceasefire talks end with no deal
-
Regional4 days agoTurkey says it killed 17 Kurdish militants in northern Iraq, Syria
-
Latest News4 days agoIran says work underway to block eastern border with Afghanistan
-
Latest News4 days agoPakistan rejects IEA’s allegations of Daesh using its territory against Afghanistan
-
Latest News4 days agoFloods leave 50 dead in Baghlan
-
World4 days agoIreland and Spain could recognise Palestinian state on May 21, RTE News reports
-
Latest News3 days agoHundreds killed and injured in floods in four Afghan provinces