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US not providing direct support to IEA: White House
The United States is not providing direct support to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) diplomatically, economically, or in any other way, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Thursday.
Kirby said this in reply to a question by reporters about a US senator introducing a bill asking the US to hold off contribution to the UN for aid to Afghanistan over allegations that it goes to IEA.
“I won’t get ahead, again, of a bill that’s still in its early stages. I would just tell you that, you know, we haven’t recognized the Taliban (IEA) as the government in Afghanistan. If they want such recognition, if they want legitimacy, they got to meet their commitments, particularly to women and girls and to human rights in Afghanistan,” Kirby said.
“And we are not providing direct support to them diplomatically, economically, or in any other way.”
On the issue of Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for Afghans, Kirby urged the Congress to it by 20,000 visas.
He said that all 7,000 remaining Afghan SIV numbers are going to be exhausted by August of this year.
“Even though our war in Afghanistan ended, our commitment to Afghans and our commitment to those who helped us in that war has not ended. And we absolutely feel fully committed, and morally so, to do everything we can to get those folks a pathway out of Afghanistan,” Kirby added.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special representative for Afghanistan, has questioned Pakistan’s commitment to the welfare of the Afghan people, citing Islamabad’s policies over the past three decades.
Khalilzad said in a post on X that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif advocated for the rights of Afghan women during his speech at the UN General Assembly on Friday.
Sharif said: “Fundamental rights of the Afghan people — especially women and girls — must be respected.”
Responding to the remarks, Khalilzad said Pakistan’s policies over the past 30 years raise questions about Sharif’s commitment to Afghan welfare.
He cited Pakistan’s support for militant groups against US forces and what he described as the poor treatment of Afghan refugees as examples.
Khalilzad also said Afghanistan and Pakistan need and should have much better relations, adding that “a reset is necessary.”
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Rabab Fatima, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X that Misri underscored the need to keep addressing the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people as a priority.
Misri also appreciated the role of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and reaffirmed India’s continued cooperation with the United Nations on Afghanistan.
The meeting comes as Afghanistan continues to face humanitarian and economic challenges, with international agencies warning of significant needs among the Afghan population.
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi has called for pragmatic and coordinated international engagement with Afghanistan, saying the country’s long-term stability is closely linked to the security and sustainable development of Central Asia.
Speaking during the general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday, Tileuberdi said humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan remains essential but alone cannot break the cycle of poverty, displacement and dependency.
He said Kazakhstan supports a “pragmatic, coordinated and step-by-step” approach to international engagement with Afghanistan, with the United Nations playing a central role.
Tileuberdi also said Kazakhstan is working with the UN to operationalize the United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty.
He said the success of the centre should be measured by the results and assistance it delivers to the region.
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