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EU Reiterates Its Readiness to Accompany Afghan Peace Talks
The European Union is ready to accompany an Afghan-owned and an Afghan-led peace process, the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini says.
Speaking at a press conference following a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, Federica Mogherini hoped that the United States and Taliban representatives resume their stalled talks as it would be a “step to prepare the launch of a genuine intra-Afghan peace process with direct negotiations between the government and the Taliban”.
Mogherini, who is also the Vice-President of the European Commission, said the EU is ready to support this process from the very beginning to the end.
“We would like to see political forces joining efforts in view of a proper formal peace process to be launched between a legitimate government following the elections and the Taliban with the international community and some regional players accompanying this properly,” Mogherini said.
She added that the EU is seeing a role for itself as it has no hidden agendas.
“We have an interest only in peace, security and stability and rights for the Afghan people. And in this respect, we are ready to support,” the EU High Representative added.
Meanwhile, China says it is ready to provide a platform for dialogue and facilitate the Afghan peace and reconciliation process “on the basis of respecting the will of all Afghan parties”.
China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang, during a regular press briefing on Monday, told reporters that China firmly supports a broad and inclusive Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process.
“We support the constructive dialogue involving all parties in Afghanistan, including the Afghan government and the Afghan Taliban,” Geng Shuang said, “at present, we are in communication with all Afghan parties on convening the intra-Afghan meeting in China.”
Foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) met in the Kazakh capital this week and discussed issues around promoting stabilization in Afghanistan, combating terrorism and drug threats.
According to Kazakh media reports, the participants also discussed preparations for the upcoming SCO Head of State Summit scheduled for July and the Middle East situation.
China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, India and Pakistan are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
The organization recognizes Afghanistan, Mongolia, Belarus, Iraq and Sri Lanka as observers, but the Islamic Emirate has not been invited to the meeting.
SCO members have repeatedly expressed concerns about a terrorism threat from Afghanistan.
But the Islamic Emirate has emphasized repeatedly that it will not allow Afghanistan’s soil to be used against any other country.
Turkish Airlines resumed its flights to Afghanistan with its first flight landing at Kabul International Airport on Tuesday, after almost three years.
Turkish charge d’affaires in Kabul, Cenk Unal, said at a ceremony to mark the occasion that the resumption of Turkish Airlines flights to Afghanistan is a clear example of the expansion of friendly and historical relations between the two countries.
He added that Turkish Airlines flies to numerous countries, and flights to Afghanistan will help expand cultural and commercial relations.
Officials of the Ministry of Transport stated that the resumption of Turkish Airlines flights shows that the people of Turkey stand with the people of Afghanistan in any circumstances.
They called on other international airlines to also resume flights saying that currently Kabul airport is safe and secure.
Turkish Airlines currently has 454 modern aircraft. It connects 348 destinations in six continents and in 130 countries.
The European Union announced Tuesday it has made available 400,000 euros (over 30 million afghani) in response to widespread flooding in the north of Afghanistan in the past few weeks.
This humanitarian aid will provide immediate emergency assistance to beneficiaries in the regions of Baghlan, Badakhshan, and Takhar, the EU said in a statement.
The assistance will be delivered by EU humanitarian partners ACTED and DACAAR. It will include an emergency multi-sectoral response through cash assistance as well as access to clean water, emergency sanitation and hygiene supplies, the statement read.
The EU mentioned that it has been funding humanitarian operations in Afghanistan since 1994, providing close to 1.8 billion euros ($1.9 billion) in funding.
Last year alone, the EU mobilised 159 million euros ($172 million) in humanitarian funding.
In addition, since 2021 the EU has organised a Humanitarian Air Bridge to Afghanistan, with 35 flights so far that have carried over 1,600 tonnes of aid.
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