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Khalilzad criticizes move to relocate Mes Aynak artifacts amid copper mining plans

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Former US special envoy for Afghanistan peace, Zalmay Khalilzad, has voiced deep concern regarding the Afghan government’s relocation of 1,430 ancient artifacts from the historic Mes Aynak site to Kabul.

Mes Aynak, located in Logar province, is an ancient Buddhist city of immense archaeological significance. Khalilzad has emphasized that there are alternative approaches that could preserve the site while still allowing mining activities to proceed.

Khalilzad voiced concern that the Chinese show little regard for Afghanistan’s cultural heritage. He also expressed doubts about whether the Islamic Emirate is aware of alternative mining methods that could protect the site.

“The alternative options may cost more in the short term, but in the long term, Afghanistan will lose a huge potential for tourism on the scale of Pompeii. An avoidable tragedy!,” Khalilzad wrote on X.

Officials from the Ministry of Information and Culture earlier stated that the purpose of moving the artifacts from the Mes Aynak site’s depot to the central office of archaeology is for cleaning, restoration, preservation, identification, and documentation purposes. After this process, the items will be handed over to the National Museum of Afghanistan for permanent display and protection.

 

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Pakistan says cross-Durand Line communities seek peace and stability

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Pakistan says communities living along the Afghanistan-Pakistan Durand Line want peace and stability, despite ongoing security concerns in the region.

Speaking during a weekly media briefing, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said there are no major issues between the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan, adding that residents on both sides of the Durand Line want peaceful relations and greater regional stability.

However, Andrabi claimed that terrorism originating from Afghan territory continues to undermine peace efforts.

He said Islamabad believes militant activity crossing from Afghanistan remains a significant obstacle to improving regional security and bilateral ties.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has repeatedly rejected such allegations, maintaining that no militant group is allowed to use Afghan soil to threaten neighboring countries.

Andrabi also said Pakistan remains diplomatically engaged on regional matters involving Afghanistan, Iran, India, and Somalia, stressing that dialogue and diplomacy remain Islamabad’s preferred means of resolving disputes.

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Afghanistan-Gambia ties discussed during Doha meeting

Both sides also exchanged views on strengthening diplomatic engagement and exploring future economic cooperation.

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Suhail Shaheen, head of the Islamic Emirate’s embassy in Doha, has met with Omar Jah, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of The Gambia to Qatar, to discuss bilateral relations and areas of mutual interest.

According to a statement from the Afghan embassy in Doha, Jah also oversees Gambian diplomatic affairs related to Afghanistan.

The meeting focused on Afghanistan-Gambia relations, the current security situation in Afghanistan, and potential investment opportunities in the country.

Both sides also exchanged views on strengthening diplomatic engagement and exploring future economic cooperation.

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Pakistan’s Achakzai calls for freer movement across disputed Durand Line

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Mahmood Khan Achakzai, a member of Pakistan’s National Assembly and head of the Pakhtunkhwa Awami National Party, has said that if capable statesmen had been in power, people living on both sides of the Durand Line could have moved freely across the line.

Speaking during a podcast interview, Achakzai said that countries with histories of major conflict, including Russia, Germany and the United Kingdom, now maintain far more open borders despite past wars. He said that in many such regions, only a “paper line” remains, with limited border restrictions.

Drawing comparisons with the disputed Durand Line boundary between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Achakzai argued that a similar arrangement could have been possible in South Asia.

“What is the problem here? A Punjabi could dance in Kandahar and a Pashtun could come here. Even if we are not formally one country, we could have effectively functioned like one,” he said.

The Pakistani politician also referred to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the later U.S.-led intervention, saying Afghanistan has the right to seek war reparations from those countries to support reconstruction efforts.

Achakzai further criticised the treatment of Pashtuns in Pakistan, alleging that individuals in cities including Lahore and Karachi have faced detention and deportation.

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