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Officials cry foul over ethnicity and tribe categories for ID cards

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The Afghan National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA) has allegedly classified a number of ethnic groups and tribes into categories – in a move met with a strong backlash by Afghans including some government officials.

The categorized list of ethnicities and tribes is included in an online platform for registration for the new electronic national ID cards.

Based on the list, all Pashtuns in Afghanistan are classified into one ethnic group but the rest of the groups such as Tajiks, Hazaras, and Uzbeks are each divided into several tribes.

Some politicians believe that the NSIA’s list “deliberately” fuels disunity among the people of Afghanistan as the organization has categorized ethnic groups based on their “villages, districts and tribes.”

Second Vice President Sarwar Danish said the list lacks “scientific and practical” elements and this in itself could lead to disputes in the country.

“Hasty decisions would question the government and create divisions and mistrust among our people,” Mohammad Hedayat, the head of Danish’s media office said.

Meanwhile, former Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani stated that the NSIA has intentionally planned to divide ethnicities based on districts and villages.

Atta Mohammad Noor, Chief Executive of Jamiat-e-Islami Party, claimed that the NSIA is not “aware of the difference between an ethnicity and place of residency.”

“This government organization is not yet aware of this important fact that there is a huge difference between an ethnicity and the residence of a group, and you can never count the name of the location as the ethnicity of a specific people,” said Ahmad Afzal Hadid, Head of Balkh Provincial Council.

Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, also spoke out against the NSIA’s decision and called the list a “mistake.”

Abdullah called on the organization to rectify the issue.

The NSIA, however, claimed that its decision was made at the request of the people.

“This decision was made as per the request of a number of tribal elders and the interpretation of the third part of Article 4 of the Constitution,” said Roeina Shahabi, the spokesperson for the NSIA.

Shahabi stated: “According to the statement (tribal elders) requested through various official sources the inclusion of their tribes in the electronic ID card, which was not clearly mentioned in the Constitution.”

Article 4 of the Constitution reads: National sovereignty in Afghanistan shall belong to the nation, manifested directly and through its elected representatives. The nation of Afghanistan is composed of all individuals who possess citizenship of Afghanistan.

The nation of Afghanistan shall be comprised of Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, Turkman, Baluch, Pachaie, Nuristani, Aymaq, Arab, Qirghiz, Qizilbash, Gujur, Brahwui, and other tribes.

The word Afghan shall apply to every citizen of Afghanistan. No individual of the nation of Afghanistan shall be deprived of citizenship. Citizenship and asylum-related matters shall be regulated by law.

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Ten pilots graduate from Afghan Air University

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Ten pilots have received their graduation certificates after completing their studies and training at the Afghan Air University.

Of these, six pilots received professional training to fly the Cessna-208 airplanes and four others received training to fly the M-17 helicopter.

The training took about three years to complete.

At the graduation ceremony, the newly graduated pilots were advised to continue their training and strive to become more professional.

“The profession of piloting is a complex profession that requires intelligence. Piloting lessons and studies are endless. You have to work hard day and night and continue your studies,” Naqibullah Muqim, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, said.

“From seniors to juniors, if we deviate from our path even a little, we will harm ourselves,” said Baz Mohammad, deputy minister of defense. “If you do not harm yourself through your words or actions, no one else can harm you.”

The newly graduated pilots said they have received good training and are ready to defend Afghanistan’s territory and serve the people of the country.

“We studied for three years. We completed theoretical courses at the Air University. Later, we went to the Air Force Field. We conducted training flights there,” said Juma Khan Salahuddin, one of the pilots.

Since the Islamic Emirate’s return to power in 2021, the Afghan Air University has held 84 training courses, during which 1,182 people have graduated from various departments.

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Sirajuddin Haqqani returns to Interior Ministry, meets with staff

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Acting Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani on Sunday met with his subordinates at the Interior Ministry’s headquarters in Kabul.

Senior officials from the ministry including deputy ministers and directors were present in the meeting, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

“We, as servants of the people, have been appointed to serve our citizens. The police of the Ministry of Interior and all employees should prioritize the peace and security of the people as their responsibility. They must strive more to engage positively with the people and coordinate with them to fulfill their duties in the best possible way,” Haqqani was quoted as saying in the statement.

Haqqani also praised the role of the security forces in ensuring security during the last Eid holidays and acknowledged their efforts.

 

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Afghanistan-Kazakhstan discussion explores ‘new and promising chapter’ in bilateral ties

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s economic-focused foreign policy has paved the way for enhanced collaboration, particularly in the areas of trade and transit with regional partners.

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Afghanistan’s Center for Strategic Studies recently organized a meeting between Afghanistan and Kazakhstan officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul where discussions focused on boosting bilateral ties. 

The forum also looked at recent developments in the country and the growing potential for cooperation between the two nations.

Waliullah Shaheen, Director of the Center for Strategic Studies, highlighted Kazakhstan’s influential role in regional affairs, describing it as a country that has consistently pursued peaceful solutions in the region. 

He further emphasized that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s economic-focused foreign policy has paved the way for enhanced collaboration, particularly in the areas of trade and transit with regional partners.

Dr. Yerkin Tokumov, Director of the Presidential Institute for Strategic Studies of the Republic of Kazakhstan, also addressed the meeting. 

He described the current state of Afghanistan-Kazakhstan relations as the beginning of a new and promising chapter in bilateral ties. 

Tokumov noted that in the near future, several high-level delegations from Kazakhstan are expected to visit Afghanistan to observe ongoing progress across various sectors.

This comes after an official ceremony was held in Balkh province to mark the handing over of humanitarian aid from Kazakhstan. 
The cargo includes wheat flour, vegetable oil, rice groats, blankets, tents, with a total volume of 2,255 kg.

The ceremony, held on Thursday, was attended by Gaziz Akbassov, Charge d’affaires of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Afghanistan, Burhanuddin Khan, Head of the International Relations Department of the National Emergency Management Agency of Afghanistan, as well as the administration of Balkh province.

 

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