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IEA marks 1st anniversary of America’s withdrawal
The first anniversary of the withdrawal of the United States and its allies in Afghanistan was celebrated Wednesday at a special ceremony at Bagram Air Base outside Kabul with senior officials of the Islamic Emirate in attendance.
Among those present was the IEA’s Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund.
At the ceremony, Akhund called on the world, especially the United States, to not repeat the “bitter experiences of the past twenty years” and to interact with the new government of Afghanistan.
“The world should come to negotiations to resolve problems instead of making excuses for creating more (problems); the Islamic Emirate is ready to talk to them,” said Akhund.
Akhund said the problems in Afghanistan have been caused by the “destructive actions of America and its allies in the past two decades.”
The ceremony also included a military drill, with soldiers marching in a parade and different military vehicles and equipment left behind by foreign forces and the previous government showcased.
In a statement on the occasion of the one-year anniversary of the IEA’s takeover, the Islamic Emirate stated that policies, pressure and threats against the Afghan people over twenty years by the US military failed and led to the escalating crisis.
According to the statement, the Islamic Emirate urged the international community to adopt a reasonable policy towards Afghanistan and to respect the independent Islamic system and the will of the people so that Afghanistan, as an independent nation, may have normal relations and positive interaction with the world.
Last year on this day, August 31, foreign forces led by the US and NATO were defeated and expelled from Afghanistan after twenty years of military presence.
At Wednesday’s ceremony, the Islamic Emirate emphasized that it will no longer allow any country to have a military presence in Afghanistan and will establish relations with countries based on national interests only through diplomatic means.
Matiul Haq Khalis, Director General of Afghanistan’s National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA), left for Baku on Friday at the head of an official delegation to participate in the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13), a major international gathering focused on sustainable urban development and environmental challenges.
The forum, organized by UN-Habitat, is scheduled to take place from May 17 to 22 in the Azerbaijani capital under the theme “Housing for All: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities.”
According to Afghan officials, the delegation will participate in a series of technical meetings and discussions on climate change, environmental protection in urban areas, sustainable development, waste management, green cities, air pollution control and strengthening urban resilience.
The World Urban Forum is regarded as one of the world’s leading platforms on urbanization and environmental policy, bringing together government officials, mayors, international organizations, climate experts and development institutions from across the globe.
On the sidelines of the event, Khalis and accompanying officials are also expected to meet with representatives of international organizations, donor agencies and foreign governments to discuss environmental cooperation, technical support and future joint initiatives.
Afghanistan’s environmental authority described participation in the forum as an important opportunity to expand international engagement, exchange experiences and seek practical solutions to the country’s growing environmental and urban challenges.
The visit comes as Afghanistan faces increasing concerns over climate-related risks, rapid urbanization, air pollution and environmental degradation, issues that officials say require broader regional and international cooperation.
Brad Cooper, the head of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), told a U.S. Senate committee on Thursday that Afghanistan remains a major focus for Washington in terms of terrorist activity and regional security threats.
Speaking during a hearing before lawmakers, Cooper said Afghanistan continues to be “on the forefront” of U.S. monitoring efforts regarding militant groups.
“Afghanistan remains on the forefront of what we are watching in terms of terrorist activity,” he told the committee.
The CENTCOM commander added that the United States is working closely with regional partners to contain and suppress potential threats emerging from Afghanistan.
The remarks come as U.S. officials continue to express concerns over the presence of militant groups in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of American forces from the country in 2021.
The Islamic Emirate, however, has denied presence of militant groups in Afghanistan, emphasizing that it will not allow Afghan soil to be used against any other country.
Amir Khan Muttaqi, foreign minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), met on Thursday with Johannes Bruwer, the newly appointed head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and received a copy of his credentials.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that during the meeting, Muttaqi described relations between Afghanistan and the ICRC as historic, congratulated Bruwer on the start of his mission in Afghanistan, wished him success, and assured him of full cooperation in advancing humanitarian efforts.
Muttaqi also praised the services of Katharina Ritz, the outgoing head of the organization, and commended the activities carried out during her mission in Afghanistan. He also wished her success in her future responsibilities.
For his part, Bruwer expressed pleasure over the beginning of his mission in Afghanistan and pledged to continue providing humanitarian services in close coordination with the relevant institutions of the Islamic Emirate during his tenure.
Meanwhile, Ritz thanked the institutions of the Islamic Emirate for their cooperation and support throughout her mission and described her tenure as full of achievements and positive memories.
At the end of the meeting, both sides emphasized the expansion of bilateral cooperation in humanitarian affairs and the strengthening of mutual engagement.
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