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War report one-sided, ignores data on insurgent attacks: US Forces

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US Forces-Afghanistan spokesman Colonel Sonny Leggett said on Tuesday afternoon the US military disagrees with Brown University’s “Costs of War” report and said it is one-sided and ignores casualties caused by Taliban and ISIS, including ongoing car bombs, IEDs, rockets and targeted killings.

The report, published early Tuesday, stated that outgoing President Donald Trump’s decision in 2017 to loosen military rules of engagement in Afghanistan that were meant to protect civilians was followed by a sharp increase in civilian deaths.

The report stated they found a 330 percent increase in the number of Afghan civilians killed by US-led airstrikes from 2016, the final year of the Barack Obama administration, to 2019.

However, US Forces-Afghanistan said the report had relied on “disputed data and ignores civilian casualties caused by Taliban and ISIS attacks. This includes ongoing Taliban use of car bombs, IEDs, rockets and targeted killings to intimidate, harass and instill fear across Afghanistan.”

Leggett said: “As cited by UNAMA in their most recent quarterly report, civilian casualties caused by US airstrikes ‘all but ceased’ since Feb. 29. That same report attributed more than 3,400 civilian casualties to ‘anti-government elements,’ including ISIS and the Taliban.”

He also said US Forces-Afghanistan takes their duty to train Afghan counterparts on civilian casualty prevention measures seriously “and we have observed an extraordinary amount of effort and care in their operations.

“As we have said many times, violence by all sides must reduce substantially to allow the peace process to take hold,” he said.

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Afghanistan expresses condolences over deadly gas facility blast in Qatar

At least ​thirteen ‌people were killed ​and ​66 people ⁠injured ​after an ​explosion at Qatar’s ​core ​LNG processing site ‌of ⁠Ras Laffan on ​Sunday, ​Energy ⁠Minister Saad ​al-Kaab ​said ⁠on Monday.

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Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday expressed its deep sorrow and condolences following an explosion at Qatar’s ​core ​LNG processing site ‌of ⁠Ras Laffan, which resulted in a number of deaths and injuries.

In a statement, the ministry conveyed its sympathy to the government and people of Qatar, as well as to the families of the victims affected by the tragedy.

The ministry also wished the injured a swift and full recovery, prayed for mercy and forgiveness for those who lost their lives, and extended its heartfelt condolences to their families, asking for patience and strength for them during this difficult time.

At least ​thirteen ‌people were killed ​and ​66 people ⁠injured ​after an ​explosion at Qatar’s ​core ​LNG processing site ‌of ⁠Ras Laffan on ​Sunday, ​Energy ⁠Minister Saad ​al-Kaab ​said ⁠on Monday.

 
 
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Qatar embassy holds roundtable on Afghanistan’s relations with international community

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The Embassy of the State of Qatar in Kabul held a roundtable discussion on Afghanistan’s relations with the international community, bringing together representatives from the United Nations and Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The meeting was attended by Georgette Gagnon, Acting Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Political Affairs, as well as Scott Smith, Head of UNAMA’s Political Affairs Division.

The Afghan side was represented by Zakir Jalaly, Head of the Second Political Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Abdul Hai Qanit, Director of the Strategic Studies Center at the ministry.

According to a statement issued by the Qatari Embassy, discussions focused on the future of Afghanistan’s relations with the international community and explored ways to support and strengthen those ties.

The roundtable reflects ongoing diplomatic efforts to encourage dialogue and engagement on Afghanistan’s international relations amid evolving regional and global dynamics.

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Belgium issues visas to IEA delegation for EU meeting

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Belgium said on Monday it had issued five visas to an Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) delegation to attend an EU meeting on migration in ​Brussels, in what would be the first time the EU has hosted the IEA since it returned to power ‌in Afghanistan five years ago.

The visas are restricted in both geographical scope and duration, allowing travel only to Belgium and for a single day, a Belgian foreign ministry spokesperson said, adding that the date of the visit would not be disclosed for security reasons.

Two European officials said the delegation had ​been granted one-day visas valid only on Tuesday, June 23, Reuters reported.

The Commission last month invited IEA officials to Brussels to ​discuss deportations of Afghan migrants.

The Commission said the meeting is technical and does not constitute recognition of IEA rule.

“Member ​States are looking into ways to return persons who have committed serious crimes and who are possibly a security threat. So ​this is the initiative that the Commission is now following up on,” Commission spokesman Markus Lammert told the EU’s daily press briefing on Monday.

According to a letter seen by Reuters and addressed to Abdul Qaher Balkhi, an Afghan foreign ministry spokesman, it will focus on “the return and readmission of Afghan ​nationals without a right to stay in the European Union”.

 

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