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EU special envoy visits Afghanistan in ‘preparation’ for upcoming Doha meeting

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Wrapping up a four-day visit to Kabul, the European Union’s special representative for Afghanistan, Tomas Niklasson, said on Thursday he met with a range of Afghans, including Islamic Emirate officials and diplomats, in order to prepare for the upcoming Doha meeting.

He said it was important to be well-prepared for the meeting but noted that the focus will not be on international recognition of the IEA government.

Niklasson said he met with UN representatives, Afghan government officials, civil society members, including women, former president Hamid Karzai, and NGO colleagues.

“The main focus of my visit this time was to compare notes with the de facto authorities (IEA), other Afghans and representatives of the diplomatic community to help us set realistic expectations and prepare better for a constructive Doha meeting,” he said.

“My visit to Kabul follows extensive outreach to countries invited to the Doha meeting on Feb. 18-19, convened by the UN and hosted by Qatar.”

“I engaged with Afghan authorities and diplomats to set realistic goals for the forthcoming Doha meeting,” he added.

According to him he underscored the Doha meeting’s significance for meaningful dialogue, emphasizing readiness for a UN-led process.

In line with preparations for the Doha meeting, he said he participated in a G7+ meeting in London two weeks ago, and had talks with various officials from a number of countries including Türkiye, Japan and US. In addition he “held bilateral conversations with several others, including Indonesia, Pakistan and the OIC.

Niklasson said he will meet with officials from the five Central Asian countries at the EU-Central Asia meeting on Afghanistan hosted by Kyrgyzstan.

He pointed out that unlike last year’s Doha meeting, IEA representatives have been invited to attend this gathering.

According to him, discussions have been held on the UN’s independent assessment and its recommendations, on the aspirations of the IEA, who want good relations with the international community.

“I shared my assessment that the Doha meeting is a significant opportunity to meet to hold meaningful discussions about Afghanistan, and to show, on all sides, readiness to engage on a way forward, based on the [UN assessment] report,” which he said appeared to have been well received among all interlocutors.

He noted that the Islamic Emirate’s acting ministers shared with him their positive outlook on the Doha meeting “and their participation and informed me that the composition of the delegation was currently being discussed and would be decided, taking into account also some expected clarifications regarding meeting formats and proceedings in Doha.”

Earlier this week the IEA confirmed they had been invited to attend the Doha meeting but stated they would make a decision on whether to attend once they had more information on the proceedings.

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Balkhi: 1,119 Afghan civilians killed or injured in Pakistani attacks since 2022

He also referred to a Pakistani military strike on the Omid Addiction Treatment Centre in Kabul, claiming that hundreds of people were killed in the attack.

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Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, says 1,119 Afghan civilians have been killed or injured in Pakistani military attacks on Afghanistan since the beginning of 2022.

In an interview with CNN, Balkhi said women and children accounted for most of the casualties.

He also referred to a Pakistani military strike on the Omid Addiction Treatment Centre in Kabul, claiming that hundreds of people were killed in the attack.

“Rather than making unsubstantiated allegations, Pakistan should address its security challenges through responsible engagement with its own people and genuine diplomacy with Afghanistan,” Balkhi told CNN.

His remarks come amid continued tensions between Kabul and Islamabad over security concerns.

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Haqqani calls for national unity, public cooperation and better conduct by security forces

He also alleged that certain individuals were attempting to create concern and anxiety among the public despite the current security situation.

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Afghanistan’s Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani has called for stronger national unity, improved relations between citizens and security personnel, and greater public awareness to help end longstanding rivalries and hostilities.

Speaking in Khost province, Haqqani said maintaining security was a shared responsibility and should not be considered solely the duty of police personnel.

He urged religious scholars, preachers and tribal elders to raise public awareness, encourage reconciliation and use the current opportunity to strengthen peace and solidarity among communities.

Haqqani also called on security officials to serve the public in accordance with the directives of the Islamic Emirate’s leadership, emphasizing respectful conduct, brotherhood and good manners in their interactions with citizens.

Addressing the country’s broader situation, the interior minister expressed optimism about Afghanistan’s progress toward self-sufficiency and reconstruction, describing the development as a blessing from God following years of hardship and difficulties.

He said security had improved, divisions and hostilities had declined, and unity among Afghans had strengthened. Haqqani further claimed that security incidents across the country had fallen to nearly zero.

He also alleged that certain individuals were attempting to create concern and anxiety among the public despite the current security situation.

Haqqani’s remarks focused on shared responsibility for security, public service, reconciliation and the role of community leaders in promoting social cohesion.

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Switzerland cooperated with IEA to deport Afghan refugees: Report

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Swissinfo has reported that documents obtained under transparency laws show Swiss officials cooperated with representatives of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in 2025 to identify and deport a number of Afghan nationals. The move has raised concerns over the safety of deportees and the possibility of legitimizing the Islamic Emirate.

According to Swissinfo, four representatives of the Islamic Emirate visited Geneva from August 19 to 21, 2025, to verify the identities of 13 Afghan nationals whom the Swiss government intended to deport.

Citing documents obtained by the WAV investigative group, the report says that, contrary to previous statements by the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), the delegation from the Islamic Emirate spent two nights at the Mövenpick Hotel in Geneva. The trip reportedly cost the Swiss government 13,490 Swiss francs, equivalent to approximately $16,250.

According to the published documents, Swiss officials provided the Islamic Emirate with information about the individuals scheduled for deportation before the interviews took place.

Each of the four delegation members also received 150 Swiss francs per day as an allowance. Swiss officials said the payments were intended to cover expenses related to meetings and local transportation.

The report says that representatives of the Islamic Emirate identified eight of the 13 individuals as Afghan nationals. Following further checks, the identity of one additional person was confirmed. However, the delegation issued documents for six individuals.

The Swiss State Secretariat for Migration has confirmed that three Afghan men have been deported to Afghanistan following the process, adding that preparations for further deportations are ongoing.

According to Swissinfo, several asylum law experts and human rights organizations have expressed concern over the disclosure of asylum seekers’ personal information to officials of the Islamic Emirate.

Swiss officials, meanwhile, have said they have received no adverse reports concerning individuals who voluntarily returned to their home countries. They have also emphasized that the deportations in question were carried out on the basis of judicial rulings issued in Switzerland.

According to Swissinfo, some politicians and legal experts fear that such cooperation could contribute to normalizing relations with the Islamic Emirate and granting it legitimacy.

Jean Tschopp, a member of the Swiss parliament from the Social Democratic Party, said that if the published details are confirmed, the actions would go beyond providing consular services to facilitate the return of Afghan nationals.

In response, SEM stressed that issuing visas to members of the Islamic Emirate’s delegation did not amount to recognizing the Islamic Emirate as the government of Afghanistan.

Switzerland resumed deportations of Afghan men whose asylum applications had been rejected in April 2025. The decision has also faced opposition from several human rights organizations.

Swissinfo concludes that the documents raise serious questions about how Swiss officials cooperate with the Islamic Emirate, how asylum seekers’ personal information is protected, and what measures are in place to ensure the safety of people returned to Afghanistan.

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