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Afghanistan is ruptured from the international community: UN envoy
Otunbayeva said that the end of armed conflict in Afghanistan has delivered a period of stability and created opportunity for a positive peace.
Afghanistan is ruptured from the international community, Roza Otunbayeva, the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, said at the UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday.
Otunbayeva said that the end of armed conflict in Afghanistan has delivered a period of stability and created opportunity for a positive peace.
“A number of positive steps have been taken in the fields of economy, infrastructure, and foreign relations to seize this opportunity and begin to address the many negative legacies of war,” she said. “I have growing concerns, however, that this opportunity is being missed. The Afghan population faces a serious humanitarian and development crisis as international funding drops.”
The envoy, however, noted that the adoption of the moral oversight law shortly after the Doha meeting has undermined this process.
“We are at the same time trying to address the political legacy of Afghanistan’s long conflict. In the current situation, Afghanistan is ruptured from the international community. Individual Taliban (IEA), many of whom are de facto ministers, are under sanctions and cannot travel without permission from this Council. Afghanistan’s Central Bank assets are frozen, limiting the development potential of the private sector,” she said.
At the meeting, US and UK representatives also called on the IEA to reverse restrictions on women and girls.
“The Taliban (IEA) cannot expect the international community to move forward on the UN process without first meeting their international obligations on the fundamental freedoms of women and girls, political inclusion, and counter terrorism.” said Jess Jambert-Gray, Deputy Political Coordinator of UK at UN.
Chinese and Russian envoys expressed over security risks from Afghanistan.
“Terrorist forces such as Da’esh, Al-Qaida, and ETIM are still active in Afghanistan, posing a threat to Afghanistan and international and regional security. We call on the interim government of Afghanistan to take vigorous actions to resolutely combat the various terrorist forces in its territory, and to prevent Afghanistan from once again becoming an enclave for terrorist organizations.” Said Fu Cong, Chinese envoy to UN.
Russian envoy Vassily Nebenzia said: “The Russian Federation has consistently advocated for a realistic and comprehensive approach to Afghanistan, which should be based on objective analysis and a balanced assessment of the situation. It is imperative to have constructive cooperation within the international community on the Afghan issue. First and foremost, it means paying due regard for the needs of the Afghans themselves and rejecting one’s own narrow interests, as well as maintaining patient dialogue with the de facto Afghan authorities on a wide range of pressing problems, without blackmail or pressure.”
Pakistan’s envoy Munir Akram termed the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as the largest terrorist organization in Afghanistan.
He said that TTP is conducting almost daily terrorist attacks against Pakistan with full support and protection of the Islamic Emirate and sponsorship of Pakistan’s major adversary.
The Islamic Emirate, however, denies all these allegations and human rights violations and says that if anyone has evidence about the presence of terrorists, they can provide them.
“We have six neighbors, No neighboring country has complained. There is only one country that sometimes makes allegations. Unfortunately, instead of getting information and stating the facts, the Secretary General of the United Nations made an accusation that did not suit him,” said Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
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Afghanistan and Iran agree to expand trade cooperation and upgrade border infrastructure
Araghchi praised Afghanistan’s efforts to combat narcotics and commended the Islamic Emirate’s role in promoting economic stability in the country.
Afghanistan and Iran have agreed to strengthen economic cooperation, expand border infrastructure and improve customs operations during a meeting between their senior officials in Tehran.
According to a statement by Afghanistan’s Ministry of Finance, Minister of Finance Mohammad Nasir Akhund and his accompanying delegation met with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi at the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs during an official visit to Iran.
The discussions focused on organizing the next meeting of the two countries’ Joint Economic Cooperation Commission, expanding border infrastructure at the Abu Nasr Farahi customs crossing and accelerating its reconstruction process.
Both sides also discussed operating customs facilities around the clock and speeding up efforts to increase the capacity of the Dogharoon, Mahirud and Milak border crossings.
According to the ministry, Araghchi praised Afghanistan’s efforts to combat narcotics and commended the Islamic Emirate’s role in promoting economic stability in the country.
The Iranian foreign minister also assured Afghanistan of Tehran’s full cooperation in economic and political affairs.
The meeting comes as Afghanistan and Iran seek to strengthen cross-border trade, improve transit facilities and expand bilateral economic relations.
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Afghanistan’s absence from ECO foreign ministers’ meeting raises questions
Afghanistan’s absence comes despite its ECO membership and its strategic geographical position as a major transit corridor linking Central Asia with South Asia and the Middle East.
The two-day meeting of foreign ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) began in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Sunday, without the participation of a delegation from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
Representatives from the organization’s 10 member states are discussing ways to expand economic cooperation, boost regional trade and strengthen connectivity. Pakistan, which currently holds the organization’s rotating chairmanship, has identified stronger trade and transit relations among member states as a key priority.
Afghanistan’s absence comes despite its ECO membership and its strategic geographical position as a major transit corridor linking Central Asia with South Asia and the Middle East.
Central Asian countries can use Afghanistan’s territory to access Pakistani and Iranian ports, as well as wider regional markets, making the country an important part of regional trade and connectivity initiatives.
Economic analysts say political differences should not prevent member states from pursuing economic cooperation. They warn that excluding or sidelining Afghanistan from such regional meetings could undermine ECO’s economic and transit objectives.
ECO was established in 1985 by Iran, Türkiye and Pakistan. In 1992, the organization expanded with the admission of Afghanistan and six other countries, bringing its membership to 10 states.
The combined gross domestic product of ECO member countries is estimated at around $3 trillion.
Experts say that without Afghanistan’s active participation, regional connectivity projects may struggle to achieve their full economic and transit potential.
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Turkey detains 35 Afghan migrants attempting to reach Greece
Turkish police have detained 35 Afghan migrants attempting to cross into Greece by sea in the northwestern province of Balikesir, while four suspects accused of migrant smuggling were also apprehended.
Police seized 12 life jackets, lifebuoys and three pumps during the operation.
Following police procedures, three of the four suspects were remanded in custody by a court, while the fourth was released under judicial supervision.
The 35 Afghan migrants were transferred to an Irregular Migrant Pre-Reception and Referral Center.
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