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EU special envoy visits Afghanistan in ‘preparation’ for upcoming Doha meeting
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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High-level Uzbek delegation arrives in Kabul to boost bilateral trade
A high-level government–private sector delegation from Uzbekistan, led by Shukhrat Abdullazakov, Governor of Namangan province, arrived in Kabul to enhance trade between the two countries and promote investment in Afghanistan.
According to a press release from the Ministry of Industry, the delegation, which includes deputy governors and more than 30 of Uzbekistan’s top businesspeople and investors, will meet with officials of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and participate in conferences and trade meetings.
The delegation will also travel to Balkh, meet with local officials, and hold business meetings with members of the private sector.
Additionally, the delegation will inaugurate an exhibition of Uzbek products and goods in Mazar-i-Sharif.
This visit follows the trip of Erkinjon Turdimov, Governor of Uzbekistan’s Syrdarya Province, and his accompanying delegation, and is based on meetings between Nuruddin Azizi, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Islamic Emirate, and senior Uzbek officials.
Other governors from Uzbekistan are also expected to visit Afghanistan to further expand bilateral trade and economic relations.
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Herat Chamber of Commerce donates 15 million AFN to the people of Iran
The Herat Chamber of Commerce and Investment announced on Saturday that national traders, jointly through the chamber, have provided approximately 15 million AFN in aid to the people of Iran.
The chamber stated that this aid package was delivered to the Iranian Consulate in Herat. It added that the assistance was intended to express solidarity with families affected by the war.
Mohammad Younes Qazizadeh, head of the Herat Chamber of Commerce and Investment, said: “Today we have presented 15 million AFN to the dear people of Iran through the Herat provincial authorities and the Iranian Consulate, and this aid will continue.”
Meanwhile, officials at the Iranian Consulate in Herat emphasized that Afghanistan and Iran always stand together and fully understand each other’s difficulties.
The Herat Chamber of Commerce and Investment also highlighted that the people of Iran have consistently supported the people of Afghanistan during various crises, and their cooperation in different sectors has reached families affected in the country.
Officials of the Herat Chamber of Commerce and Investment stressed that the process of private-sector humanitarian aid to the affected people of Iran will continue.
Following attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran, many people in the country have been affected and harmed.
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Severe floods in Badghis leave five dead
Local officials in Badghis have reported that heavy rainfall from midnight until Saturday morning claimed the lives of five people in the province.
According to officials, three people died in Qadis district, while two others, including a three-year-old child, lost their lives in Dara-e-Bum district.
The Badghis Department for Disaster Management stated that the floods not only caused fatalities but also inflicted significant financial losses on local residents and destroyed agricultural land.
However, complete information on the extent of damage and casualties is not yet available. Staff from various government departments have been dispatched to affected areas to conduct preliminary surveys.
Meanwhile, heavy rains and floods in western Afghanistan temporarily blocked the Herat–Kandahar Highway.
According to Mohammad Israil Sayar, head of the Disaster Management Department in Farah province, recent rainfall has caused the Farah River to swell significantly. He added that the situation has now returned to normal, and traffic along the highway has resumed.
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