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Afghanistan risks “new spiral in violence”, U.N. official says

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(Last Updated On: October 25, 2022)

UNAMA-Nicholas-Haysom[1] (3)

Afghanistan faces the risk of a new spiral in violence following a series of attacks on civilians in the last few months but on the battlefield, security forces have been holding their ground, the top U.N. official in the country said.

The assessment by Nicholas Haysom, the U.N. Secretary General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, painted a mixed picture of the security situation some 18 months after international forces ended their main combat operations.

While the bomb attacks that killed at least 22 people in Kabul and the northern province of Badakhshan on Monday underlined how dangerous Afghanistan remains, fears that the Taliban would overwhelm security forces have not been realised.

However Haysom said he was deeply concerned about violence against civilians, with attacks continuing during Ramadan, Islam’s holy month.

As well as suicide attacks on targets ranging from government officials and members of the judicial system to foreign security contractors, at least 200 people have been abducted on highways since the end of May.

“There is a risk, in my view, that the conflict may enter a new phase, which could see retaliatory acts of vengeance and an escalating spiral of violence,” said Haysom, who is stepping down from his post after four years in Afghanistan.

He also pointed to progress in several areas, including public finances, as well as the launch of potentially vital strategic infrastructure projects and said political stability was vital for the progress to continue.

The Taliban, whose former leader, Mullah Akhtar Mansour, was killed in a U.S. drone strike last month, control more territory than at any time since they were ousted in 2001, including large areas of the strategic southern province of Helmand.

But they have not so far been able to take control of a province or major provincial centre and Afghan security forces, which faced severe pressure and heavy casualties last year, appear to have strengthened their performance.

Haysom, who warned in March that the very survival of President Ashraf Ghani’s government in 2016 would be an achievement, said the battlefield was “in a state of flux, with gains and reversals but neither side effecting clear dominance”. Security forces faced major challenges including leadership, morale and recruitment.

“For now, though, they are holding their ground,” he said in a briefing to the UN Security Council in New York on Tuesday.

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Eight dead in rain across Afghanistan over past four days

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(Last Updated On: April 29, 2024)

Mullah Janan Saiq, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Natural Disasters, says that eight people have died, three people have been injured and 20 hectares of agricultural land have been destroyed as a result of the rains and floods in the past four days.

Saiq also said that as a result of the recent rains in the country, 140 houses were damaged or destroyed and 20 kilometers of roads were also destroyed across the country.
According to him, 30 cows were also lost.

“Fortunately, as a result of the recent rains, the water level in the country has increased, the underground water has been strengthened and the farmers are happy,”
he said.

According to him, the Ministry of Natural Disasters has directed its directorates in the provinces to use all their facilities to help the victims.

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Ghori State Cement in Baghlan increases production

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(Last Updated On: April 28, 2024)

Officials at Ghori State Cement in Baghlan province say the amount of cement produced at this plant has increased compared to the past.

According to company officials, 150,000 tons of cement was produced in 1402 [solar year] and they are trying to increase the amount to 180,000 tons this year.

“Last year, we successfully produced 150,000 tons of cement and sold it to the market. Fortunately, in 1402, we had more than 200 million afghanis in revenue,” said Abdul Wakil Qayumi, financial and administrative deputy of the company.

The plant officials stated that efforts are underway to increase the production capacity, and with the increase of the production capacity, they will produce 1000 bags of cement per day.

“Currently, our four ovens are active, and we produce approximately 1,000 to 1,200 tons of cement in twenty-four hours,” said Mohammad Tahir, packaging manager for the company.

In this company, jobs are created for 750 individuals, and some workers have asked the traders to invest in the country and provide work for young people.

“Some more factories should be built in our country so that less foreign cement is imported into the country and we use our own products,” said one of the company workers.

Ghori Baghlan Cement Company was established about 40 years ago and is considered one of the largest cement production companies in Afghanistan.

The management of this company is carried out by the National Development Corporation (NDC).

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Regional countries should jointly expand stability and development: Deputy PM

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(Last Updated On: April 28, 2024)

Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, Political Deputy Prime Minister, has said in a meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan in Kabul that regional countries should play their role in the implementation of large regional projects.

Kabir also invited Kazakh businessmen to invest in Afghanistan, his office said in a statement.

He added that the Islamic Emirate fully controls Afghanistan’s borders, has eliminated drugs and corruption, and restored national sovereignty.

According to the statement, Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin appreciated the progress made by the Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan and said that his country is ready for long-term trade, transit and investment relations with Afghanistan.

Zhumangarin expressed his country’s readiness to grant scholarships to Afghan youth and added that Afghanistan is currently an example of a peaceful country in the region, and due to this, the world wants to establish relations with the Islamic Emirate in various fields.

He also called for the start of direct flights between Kabul and Almaty and said that his country is ready for bilateral cooperation with the Afghan government in the cultural field.

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