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Taliban now face a test, says Khalilzad after US withdrawal
Following the United States’ full withdrawal from Afghanistan overnight Monday, the US special envoy for Afghanistan reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad said that the Taliban now face a test in terms of leading the country to a safe and prosperous future.
In a series of tweets, Khalilzad said that now is the chance to bring their war to an end.
“This is the chance to bring their war to an end as well. The Taliban now face a test. Can they lead their country to a safe and prosperous future where all their citizens, men and women, have the chance to reach their potential?” Khalilzad tweeted.
“Can Afghanistan present the beauty and power of its diverse cultures, histories, and traditions to the world?” Khalilzad said.
The United States on Monday completed its military withdrawal from Afghanistan after a huge but chaotic airlift that left behind thousands of Afghans and hundreds of Americans, Reuters reported earlier.
Major General Chris Donahue, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, stepped aboard a C-17 transport plane on Monday night, making him the last U.S. service member to leave Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.
Celebratory gunfire echoed across Kabul as Taliban fighters took control of the airport before dawn on Tuesday following the withdrawal of the last U.S. troops, ending 20 years of US military presence in the country.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Higher Education has announced the suspension of seven private universities for one year and the cancellation of the operating licenses of two others over serious violations and administrative shortcomings.
The ministry said the decision followed inspections and evaluations conducted at universities across Afghanistan during the spring semester of the 1405 solar year. Serious problems were identified at nine private universities, despite repeated warnings and recommendations to address the issues.
According to the ministry, a committee appointed by its leadership council conducted a further review before recommending the suspension and cancellation of the universities’ activities. The recommendations were subsequently approved by the council.
The seven universities suspended for one year are Barlas University in Jawzjan, Rah-e Saadat and Turkistan universities in Balkh, Azhar and Barna universities in Badakhshan, Rashad University in Faryab, and Payam University in Kabul.
The operating licenses of Kohanduz University in Kunduz and Khana-e Danesh University in Takhar have also been revoked.
The ministry cited several violations, including the absence of proper academic and administrative leadership, including university presidents, academic deputies, student affairs deputies and faculty heads.
It also reported the presence of “ghost students” who were listed as enrolled and scheduled for classes despite not being present in classrooms.
Other violations included failure to maintain class attendance records during the first 10 weeks of the semester and allowing students who had been barred from continuing their studies because of poor attendance to sit final examinations, receive passing grades and advance to higher semesters.
The ministry also said some universities lacked the laboratories, equipment and materials required for practical training and were not teaching the curriculum approved by the ministry.
In medical faculties, where much of the training is supposed to take place in hospitals, inspectors reportedly found no students present at hospitals during their visits.
The ministry further alleged that the two universities whose licenses were revoked had falsified attendance records, with some students who had been absent from classes throughout the semester recorded as present in altered attendance sheets.
Russia should explore establishing a railway route to the Indian Ocean through Afghanistan to reduce risks associated with the Bosphorus and Strait of Hormuz, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said.
Speaking in an interview with TASS, Khusnullin said alternative rail routes could pass through Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan before reaching India.
“A rail link to the Indian Ocean should also be explored,” Khusnullin said. “Risks related to the Bosphorus and the Strait of Hormuz might require alternative routes: through Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Any options providing access to India are acceptable.”
The proposal comes amid concerns over the security and reliability of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz following the escalation of tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
The Strait of Hormuz is a major global energy route, through which a significant share of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passes.
Officials of Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) say several major companies from neighboring countries, including Russia, are interested in investing in the production of electrical equipment in Afghanistan.
The officials added that Afghanistan has the capacity to attract millions of dollars in investment in the production of electrical equipment.
According to DABS officials, a large portion of the equipment required by Breshna is purchased from neighboring and other countries, and increasing domestic production could reduce the country’s reliance on imports to some extent.
Meanwhile, private-sector representatives said investment in the production of electrical equipment is a serious need. They stressed that investment in the development and production of electrical equipment should be accelerated to reduce imports and increase domestic production.
They said the move would not only reduce reliance on imports but also create employment opportunities for thousands of people.
Economic analysts also said that, alongside electricity generation, investment in the production of equipment used for electricity generation and transmission should be increased. This would allow domestically produced electrical equipment to enter the local market and help reduce imports of foreign products.
Currently, electrical equipment is imported into Afghanistan from various countries, including China, Iran and Turkey.
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