Latest News
Top UK lawmaker says Britain should reopen embassy in Kabul and work with IEA
Britain should reopen its embassy in Kabul and start negotiating with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), a senior member of the UK’s parliament has said.
Tobias Ellwood, who is the chairman of the defence select committee in the UK parliament, said he is “no Taliban-appeaser” but it is time to start working with the Afghan government in order to prevent the country entering another cycle of “instability, terrorism and mass migration,” Telegraph reported.
Ellwood, who has served in the British army, said a more pragmatic strategy is needed by the West if things are to improve in Afghanistan.
It is almost two years since NATO withdrew from Afghanistan and the IEA took over the country, but no country has recognized the government.
Ellwood, who has just returned from a visit Afghanistan, said he has witnessed real progress and believes it is now time to start negotiating with the IEA, no matter how unpalatable that might seem.
He said Afghanistan is currently more peaceful than it has been since the 1970s and despite the ban, women are being allowed to return to work because the economy demanded it.
“I recognise their (IEA’s) policies will never align with our ideals. But I witnessed unreported compromises the war-exhausted nation is currently willing to accept,” Ellwood said.
The MP stressed that Afghanistan remains extremely fragile with widespread food shortages and half of the country’s nine million children not having access to school.
But he said engagement is the only way to have a hand in helping to shape the future.
“If the West continues to sulk we could be making another blunder which pushes the nation to a fiscal cliff, potentially igniting another cycle of instability, terrorism and mass migration,” he said.
“A more pragmatic strategy is necessary. The Taliban’s (IEA) restrictions on women’s rights may well serve as a negotiation tool for shared understanding.
“But such a possibility will remain unknown until we wake up. The first step is reopening our embassy. The second is to get real,” Ellwood said.
The Japanese ambassador in Kabul, Takayoshi Kuromiya, met Saturday with Sader Azam Osmani, the Deputy of the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock, the meeting discussed Japan’s cooperation in these areas.
The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations (MoRR) held Saturday an emergency meeting in Kabul attended by the humanitarian aid coordinator of the International Organization for Migration to instantly address the needs of recent flood victims in Baghlan province.
The ministry quoted Abdul Rahman Rahmani, head of the assistance coordination of the ministry, as saying that the goal of the meeting was to provide emergency assistance to flood victims and how to consider first aid.
According to reports, intense floods in Baghlan’s many districts have left hundreds of dead and injured.
The ministry stated that hundreds of houses have been destroyed and people are living in open space in the mountains.
Meanwhile, the ministry added that the figures are not yet final and the process of rescue operations is still ongoing with the cooperation of health teams.
At the meeting, Mohammad Omar Hashemi, the humanitarian aid coordinator of the International Organization for Migration, also assured that the organization is ready to provide urgent aid to the victims.
The World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday it can only support one in every three malnourished children across Afghanistan, highlighting the shortage of funding.
WFP said on X that there are three million malnourished children in Afghanistan.
“But we can only support 1 in every 3 malnourished children across Afghanistan,” WFP said. “Children bear the brunt of the assistance cuts. Sustained funding is vital.”
The World Food Program in Afghanistan had previously warned that the number of malnourished children visiting hospitals has increased this year following the reduction of foreign aid.
More than 23 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan this year, according to the United Nations. Over half of them are children.
In February, WFP announced a dire need for $760 million in food assistance for Afghanistan over the next six months.
Tahawol: Devastating floods in Baghlan & Takhar discussed
Saar: Intense floods in Afghanistan’s northern provinces discussed
Japanese ambassador meets deputy agriculture minister
Emergency meeting held in Kabul to address flood victims in Baghlan
Pakistan: Consultations underway on preferential trade agreement with Afghanistan
Indian foreign ministry advises against travel to Iran, Israel
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
Tahawol: Devastating floods in Baghlan & Takhar discussed
Saar: Intense floods in Afghanistan’s northern provinces discussed
Tahawol: Efforts to improve diplomatic ties with world discussed
Saar: US’s criticism over Israel’s attack on Rafah city discussed
Tahawol: Pakistan Army claim refusal discussed
-
Business5 days agoTurkmenistan’s industrialists keen to buy Herat-made construction material
-
Sport5 days agoAttack Energy thrash Jawanan Wahedi 7-0; Aino Mina 3-1 Khadim
-
World4 days agoUS believes Hamas, Israel can break Gaza ceasefire impasse; Israeli forces cut Rafah aid route
-
Latest News4 days agoKazakhstan Trade House opens in Afghanistan’s Herat province
-
Latest News5 days agoSouthern Afghanistan records one of wettest Aprils in 40 years
-
World5 days agoGaza ceasefire uncertain, Israel vows to continue Rafah operation
-
Sport4 days agoDelhi down Rajasthan to stay in IPL play-off race
-
Latest News3 days agoIED explosion in Badakhshan leaves 8 dead and wounded