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Russian envoy says UN-brokered meeting on Afghanistan expected in second half of January
The next UN-mediated international meeting of special envoys on Afghanistan may take place in the second half of January, Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s special envoy to Afghanistan, told TASS news agency.
The first such conference on Afghanistan was held at UN chief Antonio Guterres’ initiative in Doha on May 1 and 2, 2023.
Kabulov also said that the United States must return frozen Afghan assets not just in full, but with interest.
Speaking about the results of his visit to Afghanistan in December, Kabulov noted that he discussed further strengthening relations with part of the Afghan leadership, adding that the visit turned out to be constructive.
He said that Russia indicated readiness to cooperate with Afghanistan.
This comes as Stephanie Tremblay, Associate Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, said on Thursday that the Secretary-General intends to organize a second meeting of special envoys for Afghanistan at an appropriate time.
“I don’t have a time to announce today, and this is to cement international consensus on the way forward and to discuss the recommendations of the independent assessments,” she said.
According to her, the work of UN Special Coordinator for Afghanistan, Feridun Sinirlioğlu has been extended until the end of February to support the preparations for the envoys meeting as well as relevant consultations.
Two people have been killed amid protests against a poppy eradication campaign in northeastern Badakhshan province, local officials said.
Authorities said counter-narcotics forces were deployed on Friday to Atan Jalo area of Argo district to destroy poppy fields. Clashes erupted after a number of farmers and residents reportedly attempted to block the operation.
Officials said a child was killed during Friday’s unrest, while another person died on Saturday as protests and tensions continued in the area.
According to local authorities, demonstrators also temporarily blocked the Kishm–Faizabad highway, disrupting traffic for several hours before it was reopened following coordinated efforts by security officials, religious scholars, and community elders.
Officials blamed “drug traffickers and criminal groups” for inciting the unrest and said security forces have since regained control of the area.
A high-ranking Uzbek delegation comprising government officials and private sector representatives from the Republic of Karakalpakstan arrived in Kabul on Saturday to discuss the expansion of trade and economic cooperation with Afghanistan.
The delegation is headed by Amanbay Orinbayev, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Karakalpakstan.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the delegation is expected to hold talks with Nooruddin Azizi, the Minister of Industry and Commerce, focusing on strengthening bilateral trade and economic relations.
The ministry said the visiting delegation will also participate in trade connectivity meetings and business-to-business sessions aimed at enhancing commercial cooperation between the two sides.
As part of the visit, the Uzbek delegation is also scheduled to travel to Balkh province, where members will attend additional trade meetings and inaugurate an exhibition showcasing Uzbekistan’s domestic products.
Hamid Karzai, former president of Afghanistan, has expressed concern over recent developments along the Durand Line, saying Pakistan has increased military and economic pressure on villages and residents living near the line.
In a statement, Karzai said the apparent purpose of these pressures is to push residents of Durand Line areas to seek help from Pakistani institutions for resolving security and other local issues.
He added that, amid this situation, some tribal elders from both sides of the Durand Line recently signed documents described as “peace agreements,” which were later officially welcomed by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to Karzai, these developments amount to an effort by Pakistan to legitimize the Durand Line and represent an action against Afghanistan’s national sovereignty.
The former Afghan president also urged the relevant Afghan authorities to provide the public with a clear explanation regarding the recent agreements and developments along the Durand Line.
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