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Hekmatyar claims political parties already in talks with Taliban
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the leader of Hizb-e-Islami, says that Afghan political parties have already started negotiations with the Taliban, and that initial agreements have been made.
In an interview with Ariana News, Hekmatyar stated that government’s negotiating team is not “comprehensive” and government is consulting with Afghan political parties on issues around the process.
He said that there is no consensus between government and the political parties on the Afghan peace process.
“Government does not have a political consensus, they have not reached an agreement with the leading political parties; therefore, it made the parties start direct talks with the Taliban and the Taliban is also ready to sit with the parties around the negotiating table,” Hekmatyar said.
“An initial agreement has been reached even on the location of the negotiations. The Taliban also knows that the system is not honest and they are wasting time,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hekmatyar believes that government is following a hostile policy, and urged government to change its approach to the Taliban.
The Hizb-e-Islami leader said: “I think reaching peace with the current system is impossible. If anyone wants the system and the security forces to be sustainable, and not to face Dr. Najibullah’s fate: they must enter into peace negotiations honestly.”
Najibullah was the president of Afghanistan from 1987 until his resignation in April 1992, shortly after which the mujahideen took over Kabul. After a failed attempt to flee to India, Najibullah remained in Kabul living in the United Nations headquarters until his death at the hands of the Taliban after their capture of the city.
Hekmatyar also stated that government “should not look for an alternative ally to pursue the Afghan war.”
In addition, Hekmatyar claimed that the Afghan government has no authority to make the decision in terms of the peace process, saying that the “US is a decision-maker in the process.”
The Afghan government has not yet commented on Hekmatyar's remarks.
Opposition grows over Ghani’s decree
Hekmatyar’s statement is another hurdle in the way of intra-Afghan negotiations after a number of prominent figures baulked at President Ashraf Ghani’s decree Sunday appointing more than 40 members of the High Council for National Reconciliation.
First to reject his appointment was former president Hamid Karzai, who was then followed by former foreign minister Salahuddin Rabbani and Hekmatyar.
Abdullah Abdullah, the Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation meanwhile issued a statement Monday opposing Ghani’s decree.
He said the president does not have the authority to appoint people to the body tasked with leading peace talks with the Taliban.
Abdullah said in the statement that “consultations about the formation of the council continue with political and civil society leaders and it will conclude soon.”
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Afghanistan reaches self-sufficiency in producing diesel fuel by 80%
Officials from the Union of Crude Oil Refining Factories say Afghanistan has reached self-sufficiency in producing diesel fuel by 80 percent.
The union officials stated that the private sector has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the country's crude oil refining field, and this complex is developing day by day.
They added that the crude oil currently being refined in domestic factories is equal to international standards.
“We have 80% of the market. At the moment, 80% of diesel is produced in our country and 20% comes from foreign countries,” said Zabihullah Nazari, deputy of the Union of Crude Oil Refining Factories.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum officials said they are trying to increase the production capacity of Amu Darya oil basin so that all the country's oil needs are met from domestic production.
The ministry officials stated along with the Amu Darya oil basin, they are also trying to attract investment in the Herat oil field to start its extraction.
Economic experts, however, said that if there is an increase in investment in the country's oil sector, along with reducing unemployment, the government's income will also increase significantly.
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Tajikistan calls for dialogue among Afghans to form an inclusive government
Imami recalled that the negotiation process on the development of the CSTO Targeted Interstate Program on strengthening sections of the Tajik-Afghan border will be completed in 2024.
Tajikistan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sadiq Imami has called for dialogue between the representatives of all political and ethnic forces in Afghanistan to form an inclusive government.
Speaking at the Tajikistan-Russia interparliamentary forum, Imami expressed concern that the activities of terrorist groups and drug trafficking have increased, TASS news agency reported.
"That is why our countries agree that peaceful dialogue aimed at forming an inclusive government with the participation of representatives of all political and ethnic forces of Afghanistan is an important guarantee for this country's transition to peaceful development," he emphasized.
The diplomat also stressed that this country provides food and electricity to its neighbor and has restored the activity of border markets with Afghanistan.
Imami recalled that the negotiation process on the development of the CSTO Targeted Interstate Program on strengthening sections of the Tajik-Afghan border will be completed in 2024.
"We expect that the implementation of this program, taking into account the technical means and control of equipment and weapons supplied within its framework, will allow to form a new model of border protection management," he concluded.
This comes as the Islamic Emirate claims that the current government in Afghanistan is inclusive.
The Islamic Emirate has also said that there is no terrorist group in Afghanistan and that it is seriously fighting against drugs.
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Afghan women and girls face devastating mental health crisis: US envoy
U.S. Special Envoy for Afghan Women, Girls, and Human Rights, Rina Amiri, said on Friday that Afghans, especially women and girls, are facing a devastating mental health crisis due to the policies of the Islamic Emirate.
“As we commemorate World Mental Health Day, I want to draw attention to the devastating mental health crisis faced by Afghans, especially women & girls, due to the Taliban’s (IEA) alarming & extreme policies.” Amiri said.
“We must all be resolute in supporting them in the struggle for their rights,” she added.
The Islamic Emirate has always emphasized that it is committed to ensuring the rights of women and girls in accordance with Sharia and has called on countries not to interfere in Afghanistan's internal affairs.
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