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Afghan dialogue in Islamabad postponed
The meeting of Afghan political figures and activists scheduled in Pakistani capital Islamabad early next week has been postponed, organisers said late Friday.
The two-day event, titled “Towards Unity and Trust”, has now been rescheduled for the final week of September. The South Asia Strategic Stability Institute (SASSI), the organizer of the event, issued a statement on Friday, announcing that the change in schedule would provide more time for in-depth and comprehensive discussions during the event.
According to the statement, the meeting will bring together representatives from political groups, civil society, women’s rights activists, and journalists’ associations from both sides, with the goal of fostering mutual understanding, strengthen coordination, and define shared principles for stability, rule of law, and representative government.
Earlier, Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. special representative for Afghan reconciliation, criticized the dialogue, claiming that its organizers are connected to Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI.
However, Shafqat Ali Khan, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated on Friday that the government had no involvement in organizing the event.
“It’s a think tank which has invited these people. More important thing is that it is in the open and not a clandestine activity. Since it is a think tank activity, it should not be equated with the State position,” he told reporters at his weekly briefing.
Without naming Khalilzad, he said the issue had been “sensationalized” by some figures on social media.
SASSI Chairperson Maria Sultan earlier stressed that the purpose of the dialogue was to promote peace and stability, adding that the Islamic Emirate and other political parties were not invited in the first round of what she called “Islamabad Process.”
The cabinet of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has approved a report on the spending of the national development budget, following deliberations at its 14th meeting chaired by Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund.
According to a statement issued by the Arg on Tuesday, the cabinet endorsed the development budget expenditure report and instructed relevant ministries and departments to ensure that allocated funds are spent on planned projects in a timely manner and in line with approved development plans.
The meeting also reviewed a range of key economic, social and cultural issues. Cabinet members emphasized the need for proper implementation of development activities and adherence to established timelines.
In addition, discussions were held on challenges facing refugees, with relevant authorities directed to identify and implement appropriate solutions to address their concerns.
Sadin Ayyıldız, the new head of Turkey’s diplomatic mission in Kabul, met in an introductory visit with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Emirate, to discuss the development of bilateral relations between the two countries.
During the meeting, Ayyıldız described relations between Afghanistan and Turkey as positive and emphasized the expansion of cooperation in economic and health fields, the Afghan Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
Muttaqi also wished Ayyildiz success, described Turkey as a close friend of Afghanistan, and assessed bilateral relations as being on a path of progress.
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Afghan, Indonesian sports officials discuss expanding cooperation
Indonesian officials said the deputy minister plans to visit Afghanistan in the future to further advance cooperation.
Ahmadullah Wasiq, head of Afghanistan’s National Olympic and Physical Education Committee, met Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Taufiq Hidayat, during an official visit to Indonesia held alongside the Asian Cup competitions.
The talks focused on strengthening sports cooperation, including improving access for Afghan athletes living in Indonesia to local leagues and training camps.
Hidayat described the meeting as a positive step toward closer sporting ties and stressed the need for continued engagement.
Afghanistan’s ambassador to Indonesia, Saadullah Baloch, also attended the meeting, highlighting the role of sports diplomacy in bilateral relations. Indonesian officials said the deputy minister plans to visit Afghanistan in the future to further advance cooperation.
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