Latest News
Nothing will happen after foreign troop’s withdraw: Ghani
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday said during his visit to Kandahar province that it’s important to maintain a strong republic system and that Afghanistan must allow the foreign troops to withdraw with honor “because they have helped us.
“I came to Kandahar to be reassured that nothing will happen [conflict-wise] once the foreigners leave.” Ghani said.
“We have always held on to our soil and will continue to do so,” he added.
During his visit to Kandahar he assessed the security situation and inaugurated a private hospital.
Speaking at a gathering Ghani said that despite the decision to withdraw foreign troops, Afghanistan will still have the support of the international community.
“The international community’s commitment has not changed, we still have the international community’s support for another three years,” Ghani said.
This comes after the US on Wednesday announced $300 million in aid to Afghanistan.
Ghani also called on the Taliban to accept Jirga discussions, saying “political issues must be resolved in a political way.”
“There is no law in the world other than our constitution that has an Islamic form. Let’s face it, Islam brings us closer together, (and does) not separate us.” Ghani said.
Meanwhile, Amrullah Saleh, first vice president who was accompanying Ghani, said that they are ready to sacrifice their remaining term of office for peace.
“We are ready to sacrifice our three-and-a-half years of term for peace, but only if the Taliban accepts an election.” Saleh said.
Speaking at the event Saleh said that they will not hand over power to a small group but instead are ready to defend the people and country.
Saleh also called on Taliban to not be afraid of elections and to join the democratic process.
“The Taliban don’t need to worry about rigged elections because electronic IDs will be used which will eliminate voter fraud,” Saleh said.
Saleh once again criticized Pakistan for its link to Taliban.
“Taliban mines are made by Pakistan and given to the Taliban because there is not much raw material in Afghanistan and all the production is done by Pakistan,” Saleh said.
At the end of meeting President Ashraf Ghani told Kandahar’s private sector “let’s come together every week to resolve the issues”. He said this also applied to all involved in the private sector in the country.
Afghanistan’s Minister of Finance, Mohammad Nasir Akhund, has travelled to Iran at the head of a delegation following an official invitation from Iran’s Minister of Agriculture, the Ministry of Finance said.
During the visit, Akhund is expected to meet with various Iranian officials to discuss bilateral economic, trade, customs and other related issues.
The visit will also include discussions on key topics for an upcoming meeting of the joint economic commission between Afghanistan and Iran.
Afghanistan’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, on Saturday inaugurated the rehabilitated 110-kilovolt (kV) power transmission line connecting Maimana and Andkhoy in Faryab province.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office for Economic Affairs, the completion of the project will provide around 60,000 consumers with a more stable and reliable electricity supply.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Baradar said the project would help meet local electricity needs, expand industrial activities and contribute to the region’s economic and social development.
He said the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) had implemented several electricity generation and transmission projects in a relatively short period, reducing reliance on imported electricity and power outages while creating new opportunities for industrial growth.
Baradar also said several major electricity infrastructure projects would be implemented over the next year to ensure a sustainable power supply, adding that the country’s existing electricity capacity would increase several times.
Addressing Afghanistan’s security situation, Baradar said the country was currently experiencing a level of security that he claimed was unmatched in most countries. He added that foreign tourists and visitors had continued to travel to Afghanistan since the IEA returned to power, including to remote areas of the country.
He rejected security-related concerns raised by some countries over travel to Afghanistan, describing them as unfounded and politically motivated. He called on the international community to strengthen meaningful engagement with Afghanistan based on realities on the ground.
Baradar also invited domestic and foreign investors to invest in Afghanistan, saying a secure and suitable environment had been created for large- and medium-scale investments.
The UN refugee agency’s representative in Afghanistan has called on the international community to maintain their support for Afghanistan, warning that the return of more than 6.5 million Afghans over the past three years has placed significant pressure on the country.
Arafat Jamal, UNHCR Representative in Afghanistan, made the remarks during the eighth International Conference on Action with Women and Peace in Seoul, South Korea, where he highlighted the challenges facing returnees amid poverty, drought and climate-related disasters.
He said the returning population accounts for around 15 percent of Afghanistan’s total population, describing the influx as one of the world’s largest movements of people. He added that Afghanistan was struggling to absorb the large-scale returns due to its existing economic and humanitarian challenges.
Jamal also highlighted difficulties facing Afghan women, saying that the absence of war does not necessarily mean all citizens enjoy safety.
In a separate interview with The Korea Times during his visit to Seoul, Jamal said supporting refugees and vulnerable countries was not simply an act of charity but an investment in a safer and more stable international environment.
He stressed that Afghanistan’s strategic location, bordering seven countries including China, Pakistan and Iran, makes its stability a matter of wider international concern. Although the country is relatively calm at present, he cautioned that this situation should not be taken for granted without continued international support.
Saar: Forced deportation of Afghan refugees from Iran and Pakistan discussed
Afghanistan trail Zimbabwe by 180 runs at stumps on day two of second Test
Afghanistan’s finance minister travels to Iran for official visit
Newly rehabilitated power line to benefit 60,000 consumers in Faryab
US to resume flights after air traffic network failure sparks chaos
Afghanistan finish runners-up after 6-0 defeat to Brazil in futsal final
Trump says US may strike Iran’s ‘Pickaxe Mountain’ nuclear facility
Rubio heads to Central Asia while other US officials hit foreign policy hot spots
Violent protests spread across Europe as Albanian PM blames ‘foreign hand’
Governments take websites offline as critical cyber flaws trigger global alert
Saar: Forced deportation of Afghan refugees from Iran and Pakistan discussed
Tahawol: Russia’s special attention to situation in Afghanistan discussed
Saar: Discussion on US’s humiliating defeat in Afghanistan
Tahawol: High-level Russian delegation’s visit to Kabul discussed
Saar: Afghanistan’s situation in focus at CSTO discussed
-
Sport4 days agoOmar Zawak thrash Istiqlal Kabul 5-1 in ACL
-
World4 days agoTrump says further US attacks on Iran ‘highly unlikely’ as peace talks gain momentum
-
Latest News3 days agoAfghan embassy in Kuwait discusses situation of Afghan prisoners with Kuwaiti officials
-
Health4 days agoGerman medical team launches free surgical mission at Bamiyan provincial hospital
-
Business4 days agoIraqi intelligence report alleges oil smuggling network supplying Afghanistan and Turkey through Iran
-
Business4 days ago$30 million pharmaceutical investment launched in Herat as new production line opens
-
Latest News4 days agoIEA rejects US travel warning, says no threat to foreign nationals in Afghanistan
-
Latest News4 days agoAfghanistan and Russia discuss expanding economic ties and boosting bilateral trade