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Contact group on Afghanistan hits roadblock over Pakistan’s gripe with India
The proposal to establish a regional contact group on Afghanistan has hit a roadblock due to Pakistan’s objection to India’s participation, the Express Tribune reported on Saturday.
The initiative for a regional contact group stemmed from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s proposal in February, following a two-day conference in Doha aimed at charting a roadmap for Afghanistan’s future.
This group was envisioned to include Afghanistan’s immediate neighbors and other relevant stakeholders. However, Pakistan’s objection to India’s participation in the proposed regional group has led to a deadlock, the Express Tribune reported citing diplomatic sources.
Historically, Pakistan and India have viewed each other’s roles in Afghanistan with suspicion. Islamabad’s resistance to New Delhi’s inclusion in the regional contact group stems from its longstanding concerns that India undermines stability in Afghanistan.
While Pakistan’s relations with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) remain strained, India has intensified its engagement with Kabul in recent months, according to the newspaper.
The proposal to establish a regional group was part of broader UN efforts to enhance coordination in dealing with the IEA-led government. A UN delegation is scheduled to visit Kabul soon as a follow-up to the Doha conference, aiming to urge the IEA government to fulfill its international commitments.
The upcoming UN delegation’s visit seeks to convey to the IEA government the adverse consequences of its hardline stance, the Express Tribune reported.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has announced that it will continue providing its essential health services to the people of Afghanistan.
In a post on X, the organization, referring to Afghanistan’s health needs, said that over the past year it has been active in various health sectors across the country, ranging from maternal and child care to emergency response, as well as the treatment of patients suffering from tuberculosis and severe injuries.
According to MSF, its teams over the past year have been present at a range of health facilities, including neonatal intensive care units, operating theatres, surgical centers, and specialized tuberculosis treatment wards, where they have delivered life-saving services to patients.
The organization stressed that it will continue ensuring the provision of health services, particularly for needy families and vulnerable communities in remote areas of Afghanistan.
The Embassy of Afghanistan in Japan, currently run by diplomats of the previous government, has announced that it will suspend its operations in Tokyo after the end of January 2026.
In a statement issued on Friday, the embassy said the decision was made after consultations with Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in close coordination with Japanese authorities, and in accordance with the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
The embassy added that after January 31, all of its political, economic, cultural, and consular activities will be halted until further notice.
Currently, Shaida Abdali is serving as Afghanistan’s ambassador to Japan.
Sadin Ayyıldız, Chargé d’Affaires of the Turkish Embassy in Kabul, held a courtesy meeting with Zakir Jalali, the Second Political Deputy of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the occasion of the start of his mission.
The Turkish Embassy in Kabul said in a post that the meeting included mutual exchanges of views on bilateral relations.
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