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U.S. to Provide $29m for Afghan Presidential Elections

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Last Updated on: October 24, 2022

The United States Embassy in Kabul has welcomed the finalization of a budget for the presidential election on Wednesday.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the U.S. Ambassador to Kabul, John R. Bass said, “We are pleased the election budget has finally been finalized. That enables the United States to provide up to $29 million to support operations.

Bass said that Conduct of the elections will also be funding independently Afghan domestic observers’ efforts so people have confidence in the way the election is conducted and in the results.

At the same time, although the budget is an important step, there are many more steps the commission and the relevant ministries need to take to ensure elections occur when scheduled, the statement said.

“We need to see the additional staff hired and trained by the commission. We need to see the voters lists published,” said Bass adding, “We all need to see finalization of procurement and training on the biometric verification devices. All of that will be essential to conduct the election.”

At the same time, we have strong expectations as do all Afghans, I think, to see all of the candidates respecting Afghan law that prohibits government officials or people with access to government officials from using government resources to benefit their campaign, the U.S. Ambassador added.

“We expect all the candidates, whether they are currently in government positions or not, to refrain from trying to use government resources, whether that’s money, whether that’s the power to appoint people, whether that’s simply going about their business in ways that is intended to benefit their campaign,” Bass noted.

“We expect to see everyone respect Afghan law, and we expect that because the Afghan people expect that. And as a last point, I’d note that it’s quite important that the electoral commission be communicating with the public about its activities,” He added.

The Afghan public understand the preparations that are underway and that progress is being made to prepare for these important elections, the statement concluded.

It comes as, on Monday, the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan (IEC) confirmed that a budget of $149 million has been approved for the upcoming presidential elections.

The presidential election is expected to be held on September 28, 2019.

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India condemns Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan

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The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has condemned recent airstrikes by Pakistan on Afghanistan’s territory.

In a statement, Ministry spokesperson Shri Randhir Jaiswal said the attacks resulted in the deaths of several civilians and the destruction of civilian infrastructure.

He described the strikes as yet another act of aggression by Pakistan, which continues to oppose the idea of an independent Afghanistan.

India reiterated that Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be fully respected.

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14 Pakistani soldiers killed after military post falls along Durand line: MoD

The statement added that Afghan forces destroyed one armored tank and a military vehicle belonging to Pakistani troops during the fighting.

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Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense announced Saturday that Afghan defensive forces captured a Pakistani military post along the Durand Line in eastern Afghanistan following clashes between the two sides.

In a statement, the ministry said the operation was launched in response to what it described as “crimes of the Pakistani military regime” in border areas of Kunar and Nangarhar provinces.

According to the ministry, 14 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 11 others wounded during the operation.

The statement added that Afghan forces destroyed one armored tank and a military vehicle belonging to Pakistani troops during the fighting.

Defense officials emphasized that Afghanistan’s forces remain prepared to respond to any threats along the Durand Line.

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UN Security Council to vote on extension of UNAMA mission in Afghanistan

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has previously criticized UNAMA’s activities, claiming that the mission’s reports misrepresent the situation in Afghanistan.

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The United Nations Security Council is set to vote on Monday regarding the extension of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), with a draft resolution proposing a three-month extension until June 17.

The debate over the mission’s extension has divided key members of the Council. China initially called for a one-year extension, while the United States has advocated for a shorter duration. The U.S. position is based on the belief that a three-month extension would allow the Council to conduct a comprehensive review of UNAMA’s mandate before committing to a longer-term renewal.

A statement from the Security Council explained that Washington views this as an opportunity to reassess the mission’s appropriateness and effectiveness. “This mission is one of the most costly political special missions of the United Nations and operates in a highly complex environment. Therefore, the Council needs to assess whether the mission remains appropriate and effective,” the statement read.

The draft resolution also emphasizes growing concerns about human rights in Afghanistan, particularly the ongoing restrictions placed on women and girls. It calls on the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to lift these limitations and stresses the need for continued support in areas such as development, counterterrorism, and mine clearance. UNAMA’s field presence is also considered vital for providing critical humanitarian support and monitoring developments on the ground.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has previously criticized UNAMA’s activities, claiming that the mission’s reports misrepresent the situation in Afghanistan, painting a negative and misleading image to the international community. As the vote approaches, the future of the mission—and its ability to effectively address Afghanistan’s ongoing challenges—hangs in the balance.

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