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US ‘discussing consequences of recent IEA decisions’ with allies
The United States said on Tuesday Washington is discussing “very specific consequences” of the recent decisions of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) both internally and with its allies and partners.
This comes in response to the IEA’s recent moves to stop women from attending university and barring them from working for non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
“We have said repeatedly that there will be a response from the United States. We’re going to continue to coordinate closely. We’ll share additional details on that when we have,” Ned Price, the spokesman for the US State Department told reporters.
Referring to the ban on women working for NGOs, Price said that the decision puts at risk millions of Afghans who depend on humanitarian assistance for their very survival. He called on the IEA to urgently reverse their decision.
“We know that women are central to humanitarian operations around the world. In Afghanistan in particular, only women have been able until now, at least, to reach some of the most vulnerable people inside Afghanistan. Women must work at NGOs. They must be in a position to do so, so that millions of Afghans can receive food, medicine, winterization materials, again for their very survival. They’re essential to the delivery of this assistance and to ensuring that other women, children, and other members of vulnerable groups receive this assistance,” Price said.
He said that the US will do what it can to prevent humanitarian situation in Afghanistan from deteriorating further.
“We are assessing the impact on this edict. We’re discussing options that will allow us to maintain a strong, principled position as the single largest donor of humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan while also doing what we can to prevent the humanitarian situation from deteriorating even further as a result of the difficult operating environment the Taliban (IEA) have themselves created,” Price said.
The IEA asks the US not to interfere in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.
Earlier, IEA’s Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani said that efforts are underway for a reasonable and permanent solution to problems which would be compatible with Sharia rules and Afghan culture.
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Deputy PM’s office says modernization of land ports a priority for IEA
The Deputy Prime Minister of Economic Affairs’ office says the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has prioritized the growth of trade, the modernization of commercial land ports and the development of infrastructure.
The Deputy PM’s office said that in today's world, trade plays an important role in the economic development of countries, the social well-being of society, and the development of trade requires the creation of a single trade system and the removal of existing barriers and the
reduction of customs tariffs.
“Our ports with a number of neighboring countries are active 24 hours a day. We are trying to make our ports with all neighboring countries active 24 hours a day because we want our business to expand both in the export and import sectors. Therefore, we also have plans to
standardize ports so that our ports can export and import according to standards with all countries,” said Abdul Salam Jawad Akhundzadah, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
Deputy PM’s office stated the IEA has intensified its efforts in this field, an example of which is the increase in the country's export level.
It added that the level of trade deficit is still high, but detailed plans have been drawn up to eliminate the existing deficit in the trade sector.
Meanwhile, the installation of electronic scanners at 12 customs points at border crossings of the country is one example of work being done to modernize the land ports.
Torghundi, Islam Qala, Zaranj, Spin Boldak, Ghulam Khan, Torkham, Aqina, Hairatan and Shir Khan are important land ports through which thousands of tons of goods are moved through daily.
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EU envoy meets acting economy minister, discusses continued aid to Afghanistan
Acting Economy Minister Deen Mohammad Hanif met on Thursday with the EU envoy for Afghanistan, Veronika Boskovic Pohar, for discussions on the continuation of humanitarian and development aid to the country, the ministry said in a statement.
Hanif expressed his appreciation for the humanitarian assistance of the EU to the people of Afghanistan and requested the continuation of the assistance in various sectors.
Boskovic Pohar also expressed her satisfaction with the achievements and economic programs of the Islamic Emirate and assured Hanif of holding a conference soon on the support of small enterprises.
Boskovic Pohar also promised to cooperate by allocating $100 million in support of humanitarian aid and development projects in the agriculture sector.
She also assured him that they will share the objectives, ideas and proposals of the Ministry of Economy with the members of the EU and the international community.
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US expert says Trump may be more willing than Biden to engage with IEA
Michael Kugelman, a US-based foreign policy expert and the Director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center, said on Thursday that president-elect Donald Trump may be more willing than incumbent President Joe Biden to engage with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA).
Kugelman said in a post on X that Trump will praise the IEA for its operations against Daesh and it will be something that will have his attention, given that he liked to claim credit for curbing Daesh.
Kugelman has in the past said that Trump, as president, would be less likely to focus on the state of women’s education and human rights in Afghanistan.
The IEA has expressed hope that under Trump, significant progress can be made in relations between Kabul and Washington.
In a post on X on Wednesday, the IEA’s foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi said the government hopes the future Trump administration "will take realistic steps toward concrete progress in relations between the two countries and both nations will be able to open a new chapter of relations".
He underscored that during former president Trump's first term in power he presided over a peace deal with the Islamic Emirate that paved the way for the US withdrawal in 2021 "after which the 20 year occupation ended".
The Doha agreement was signed on February 29, 2020, in Qatar between the IEA and the United States under Trump, but excluded Afghanistan's then-ruling government.
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