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Doha Agreement strengthened IEA and weakened our partners, says White House

Published

2 years ago

February 29, 2024

The White House press secretary says the signing of the Doha Agreement in 2020 strengthened the Islamic Emirate and weakened “our partners in the previous government of Afghanistan”.

Karine Jean-Pierre said in a press conference on Wednesday: “As you know, four years ago, the previous administration signed the Doha Agreement in 2020 with the Taliban [Islamic Emirate] and pledged to withdraw its forces a few months after President Joe Biden’s oath inauguration without any clear path or plan for the next plans.”

The Doha Agreement was signed on February 29, 2020, during the presidency of Donald Trump, between the United States and the Islamic Emirate in Qatar. US special representative at the time Zalmay Khalilzad and Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the current deputy prime minister of the Islamic Emirate, signed the accord.

“This agreement strengthened the Taliban [Islamic Emirate] and weakened our partners in the Afghan government,” said Jean-Pierre.

Although Trump has repeatedly defended the signing of this agreement and has said that endless wars have taken American resources and lives and must end, the former US president and some Republicans have always criticized Joe Biden for how he left Afghanistan.

But the White House said: “President Biden’s choices for how to leave Afghanistan were heavily influenced by the conditions created by him [Donald Trump]. When Biden took office, the Taliban [Islamic Emirate] was in its strongest position since 2001, controlling or challenging nearly half of the country.”

American officials say that the Islamic Emirate had pledged in this agreement that they would discuss with other Afghan parties to form an inclusive government. But Jean-Pierre added: “The Taliban [Islamic Emirate] have not fulfilled their commitments in (the agreement). The [Islamic Emirate] Taliban have not kept their promises to start a meaningful dialogue with Afghans to pave the way for a comprehensive and inclusive political system.”

The White House spokesman said that the United States holds the Islamic Emirate accountable for its commitments and added: “We work tirelessly every day to ensure that these commitments are fulfilled.”

American officials say that according to the Doha agreement, the Islamic Emirate should not allow terrorist groups to reactivate in Afghanistan, use Afghanistan against other countries, and cut ties with terrorist groups.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan [IEA] has always claimed that al-Qaeda does not exist in Afghanistan, Daesh has been suppressed, and does not allow anyone to attack another country from Afghanistan.

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Medvedev: IEA posed less threat to Russia than western-backed groups

He added that such organisations have consistently pursued one objective: “to break apart the multiethnic people of Russia.”

Published

30 minutes ago

December 25, 2025

Ariana News

Russia’s Deputy Chairman of the Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, has said that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) caused less harm to Russia than Western-backed civic organisations that, he claims, sought to undermine the country’s unity.

In an article published in the Russian journal Rodina, Medvedev wrote that while the IEA had long been designated as a terrorist organisation, its actions did not inflict the same level of damage on Russia as what he described as Western-supported institutions operating under the banner of academic or humanitarian work.

“Let us be honest: the Taliban (IEA) movement, long listed as a terrorist organisation, has caused modern Russia far less damage than all those pseudo-scientific institutions whose aim is to dismantle our country under the guise of aiding the oppressed,” Medvedev stated.

He added that such organisations have consistently pursued one objective: “to break apart the multiethnic people of Russia.”

Medvedev’s remarks come amid a shift in Russia’s official stance toward Afghanistan. In April, Russia’s Supreme Court suspended the ban on the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, which had previously been included on the country’s list of terrorist organisations.

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U.S. National Guard shooting suspect faces new charges, possible death penalty

Published

42 minutes ago

December 25, 2025

Ariana News

The Afghan national accused of shooting two U.S. National Guard members in Washington, D.C., is facing new federal charges that could allow prosecutors to seek the death penalty, authorities said.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced that Rahmanullah Lakanwal has been charged with transporting a firearm and a stolen weapon in interstate commerce with intent to commit a serious crime, Fox News reported on Wednesday. One Guard member, 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom, was killed in the November 26 attack, while Andrew Wolfe was seriously injured.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said moving the case from Superior Court to federal court allows for a careful review of whether the death penalty is warranted. She noted the impact on Beckstrom’s family and said Wolfe faces a lengthy recovery.

Lakanwal remains charged under D.C. law with first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill and multiple firearms offenses. An FBI affidavit states the revolver used in the shooting was stolen from a Seattle home in May 2023 and later given to Lakanwal in Washington state, where he also purchased additional ammunition.

Investigators say Lakanwal searched locations in Washington, D.C., including the White House, shortly after buying the ammunition. The shooting occurred near the White House on November 26, according to court records.

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Omari and Iranian ambassador meet to strengthen Afghan migrant labor ties

Published

17 hours ago

December 24, 2025

Ariana News

Abdul Manan Omari, the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, met on Wednesday with Alireza Bikdeli, Iran’s ambassador to Kabul, to discuss the development of bilateral labor cooperation, the legal deployment of Afghan workers to Iran, better regulation of the labor force, expansion of joint cooperation, and in particular a review of the situation of Afghan migrants.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, Omari said during the meeting in Kabul that facilitation should be provided in the process of issuing legal work permits for Afghan migrants; cooperation should take place in expanding technical and vocational training programs in Afghanistan in both quantitative and qualitative terms; joint technical and vocational programs should be implemented with proper coordination; and all rights of Afghan workers in Iran should be guaranteed and ensured.

He added that this includes the fair payment of wages, the provision of a healthy and safe working environment, and the establishment of a joint commission to address labor disputes, so that the problems of Afghan workers both residents and newly arrived can be resolved effectively.

Omari also emphasized that the Islamic Emirate is keen to reach a mutual understanding with Iran regarding the organized, legal, and beneficial transfer of skilled and specialized workers, the protection of their rights in that country, and the enhancement of professional capacities, thereby facilitating labor exchange between the two countries.

During the meeting, Bikdeli stated that Iran is ready to cooperate with Afghanistan through the implementation of joint projects in the areas of organized migrant transfer and social support for them.

“We believe that cooperation with Afghanistan is not only a humanitarian responsibility but also an urgent necessity for regional stability,” he said.

He stated: “We are interested in labor exchange with Afghanistan and prefer to create opportunities for skilled Afghan workers in the Iranian labor market and for skilled Iranian workers in the Afghan labor market.”

He assured the IEA that Iran’s sustainable cooperation with Afghanistan will continue and emphasized the expansion of historical, cultural, and religious ties between the two countries.

Both sides pledged to continue their joint cooperation in creating job opportunities, expanding the labor market, enhancing technical and vocational training, and regulating matters related to migrants.