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Pakistan envoy concerned Afghanistan is being ‘forgotten’
Durrani warned that the dire economic situation could force Afghans to leave the country and head to Pakistan.
Another 9/11 could originate from Afghanistan, which has been forgotten by the international community, Pakistan’s special envoy for Afghanistan Asif Durrani said on Monday.
“Afghanistan has almost been forgotten. There is no doubt about it and this was in fact highlighted during the Doha 3 session in June.
“Humanitarian assistance is not up to the mark. Even last year only one-third of the commitments were fulfilled,” said Durrani.
He pointed out that the Ukraine war and the Israel-Palestine conflict has pushed Afghanistan out of the international spotlight, leaving it forgotten by the world.
He said with the limited news on the country in the media around the world, he thinks “it can push back Afghanistan to pre-9/11 conditions and which in fact then give birth to 9/11.”
Durrani warned that the dire economic situation could force Afghans to leave the country and head to Pakistan.
“This is something we should be sensitive about and the international community should know their responsibilities,” he added.
He also warned that reports of the presence of different terrorist groups, including Daesh, was a major challenge for the region and beyond.
“My worry is that ISKP (Daesh) is gaining ground inside Afghanistan and that should be a source of concern for everyone in the region and beyond because of their actions in Iran, their actions in Moscow and also many operations inside Pakistan. If that can happen here it can happen elsewhere.”
“So it should be a concern for everyone.”
However, Durrani also said he thinks the Islamic Emirate is on the path to being recognized internationally.
“We should not forget that they are faced with tremendous challenges. Number 1, they are not recognised by any country, secondly, when they came to power, their coffers were empty, thirdly, they were not expecting a meltdown of Ashraf Ghani government.”
“On the balance, if you look at it during the past 3 years, I think the security situation in Afghanistan has improved, there is less corruption, which is internationally acknowledged,” he added.
But Durrani questioned the Islamic Emirate’s actions in some aspects.
“The Afghan Taliban (Islamic Emirate) have also implemented certain rules and regulations which in fact may suit the Afghan conditions but certainly do not fit into the Islamic tenets which they claim they have implemented,” he said.
He welcomed the improved security situation in Afghanistan but said peace has become a problem for Pakistan as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have increased attacks on Pakistan by 70 percent in the past three years.
The Islamic Emirate has long been accused by Pakistan of allowing TTP to plot and plan attacks from Afghanistan.
On this, Durrani said diplomacy was working and he was confident the issue would be resolved.
Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan said that the entire country is under the control of the forces of the Islamic Emirate and is safe.
The Deputy Spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, Hamdullah Fitrat, said Afghanistan is not a threat to any country and the Islamic Emirate has made it clear that it does not allow the territory of Afghanistan to be used against the security of any other country.
“Rejecting any concerns on this matter, we say once again that the entire geography of Afghanistan is under the control of the forces of the Islamic Emirate and is safe,” said Fitrat.
Shahabuddin Delawar, Head of the Commission for Contact with Afghan Personalities, says Afghanistan has achieved security, unified governance, brotherhood, and progress for the first time in 47 years under the administration of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA).
Speaking at a meeting in Kabul on Saturday, Delawar said Afghanistan had lacked a unified system over the past four decades, but added that with the return of the Islamic Emirate, the issue has now been resolved.
Referring to Ashura commemorations held on Friday, he said the occasion was observed peacefully across the country under full security.
Delawar also urged exiled Afghan politicians to return, saying the commission was established to serve Afghans and address the concerns of returning figures. He added that any legal disputes involving returnees would be handled exclusively through the commission.
He further said the Islamic Emirate has expanded treatment centers and intensified anti-narcotics efforts since regaining power, claiming this has led to a significant decline in drug addiction.
Addressing the issue of international legitimacy, Delawar said he understood why the United States has not recognized the Islamic Emirate, arguing that Washington suffered a defeat in Afghanistan that it cannot easily overlook.
“They have suffered a major defeat that they cannot forget; if they recognize us, they will face questions from their own people,” Delawar said.
The European Union says it is implementing hundreds of millions of euros in projects to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Afghanistan and help expand economic opportunities across the country.
Speaking to Ariana News, EU Chargé d’Affaires in Kabul, Veronika Boskovic Pohar, said the programs are aimed at creating jobs for skilled workers, women, youth, and returnees, while also strengthening the private sector. She added that alongside international support, Afghan authorities also have a role in facilitating economic growth.
According to Pohar, the EU is currently implementing projects worth €156 million focused on livelihoods, durable solutions, job creation, and women’s economic empowerment. She said an additional €40 million program specifically designed to support returnees will be launched in the near future.
She noted that the EU is gradually shifting its focus from emergency humanitarian aid toward long-term sustainable solutions, particularly for internally displaced people and returnees in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the United Nations, marking World Day of Small and Medium Enterprises, said SMEs account for more than 90 percent of businesses worldwide and play a critical role in employment and economic growth.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stressed that stronger investment, innovation, and sustainable industrial development are essential to help businesses withstand economic challenges and build resilient economies.
Afghan private sector representatives and economic analysts say greater support for SMEs could help the country address economic challenges faster, increase employment, and promote sustainable long-term development.
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Afghan women’s situation highlighted at SCO Forum amid ongoing global debate
She urged member states of the SCO to show solidarity with Afghan women and not remain indifferent to their situation.
Afghanistan was at the center of discussions at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Women’s Forum in Bishkek, where former head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Roza Otunbayeva, described the situation of women in the country as a serious human rights concern.
Speaking at the forum, Otunbayeva said restrictions imposed on women and girls in Afghanistan demonstrate how a return to conservative policies can rapidly affect women’s daily lives and opportunities.
Otunbayeva, who previously served as head of UNAMA in Afghanistan, stated: “Today in Afghanistan, girls cannot receive education beyond sixth grade. Women are prohibited from working, visiting parks and gyms, and traveling without a male companion.”
She urged member states of the SCO to show solidarity with Afghan women and not remain indifferent to their situation.
According to her, women in Afghanistan urgently need support in education, employment, and social participation, and these issues should be addressed at both regional and international levels.
Her remarks come at a time when the situation of women in Afghanistan remains a subject of ongoing international debate.
Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has repeatedly stated that women’s rights in the country are ensured better than ever before.
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