The 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Afghanistan and China was marked in Kabul on Monday.

Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, political deputy foreign minister, said at a ceremony that China-Afghanistan relations have expanded since the Islamic Emirate came to power three years ago and the Islamic Emirate is committed to further developing these relations.

Referring to nationwide security in Afghanistan, he urged Chinese businessmen to invest in the country with full confidence.

"We assure our Chinese friends that our Chinese friends and China will never be threatened from Afghanistan soil," Stanikzai said. “We will provide a safe environment for Chinese representatives and citizens in Afghanistan.”

He also called on neighboring countries not to allow their territory to be used against Afghanistan's security and they should not interfere in the country's internal affairs.

Meanwhile, the Chinese ambassador to Kabul, Zhao Xeng, said at the ceremony that his country supports Afghanistan's independent and self-reliant development with concrete measures, taking into account "the policy of friendship, mutual interest and inclusiveness."

Zhao added that there is great potential for practical cooperation between the two countries in various fields.

"I hope the friendship between China and Afghanistan will remain as stable as the deep color of lapis lazuli," he said. “I hope the people of the two countries remain united like pomegranate seeds. I hope the future of our countries will be as colorful as the saffron blossoms.”

Afghanistan and China established diplomatic relations in 1955.

China was the first country to officially appoint an ambassador to Afghanistan after the Islamic Emirate came to power in 2021.

In addition, China was the first country to accept the credentials of the ambassador of the Islamic Emirate.

Pakistan on Sunday said it will continue to support all efforts aimed at addressing the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, and the issue of lasting peace and stability in the country.

In a statement issued by Pakistan’s Foreign Office, spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan thanked Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), for drawing attention to the humanitarian predicament of Afghanistan.

Egeland earlier warned that the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is being overlooked by the international community, with 22 million people in need of aid.

Speaking during a visit to Afghanistan, Egeland highlighted the dire situation faced by Afghan families, particularly women.

“Here in Herat, I met women who had been deported without their husbands back to deep poverty and hopelessness,” he said.

“Thank you @NRC_Egeland for drawing attention to the humanitarian predicament of Afghanistan. It would have been more appropriate had the world not abandoned the Afghan people after the war and if conducive socioeconomic conditions had been created inside the country for the Afghan people to prosper,” said FO spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan.

He said: “Pakistan has generously hosted over four million Afghan refugees. Those sent back were residing illegally without any documentation or proof of residence. Progress on the cases of thousands of Afghan nationals who were promised resettlement in western countries remains painfully slow.

UN Humanitarian aid to Afghanistan remains critically underfunded with only 37.5% of the required funds secured last year.”

He said Pakistan and Afghanistan were tied together by historical, religious and cultural links that transcend time.

“Pakistan has been and will continue to support all efforts aimed at addressing the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan as well as for lasting peace and stability in the country,” he added.

Egeland highlights dire situation of return refugees

Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), on Monday highlighted the dire situation faced by Afghan refugees.

His warning came after his visit to the Islam Qala border crossing between Afghanistan and Iran.

Egeland revealed that significant numbers of Afghans are being expelled daily. “Iran wants to deport 2 million, and Pakistan has already sent back 800,000,” he stated.

These mass deportations come at a time when Afghanistan is grappling with severe humanitarian challenges, exacerbated by reduced international support.

According to Egeland, western donors have failed to uphold their commitments to Afghan girls and the broader population, slashing critical aid programs that were once lifelines for millions.

The Secretary General criticized the international community for neglecting its promises and leaving vulnerable Afghans to face worsening conditions.

The return of such large numbers of people is straining Afghanistan’s fragile infrastructure and economy, which remains in crisis following the IEA's takeover in 2021.

NRC and other humanitarian organizations are calling for renewed international focus and resources to address the escalating needs of displaced Afghans and the communities struggling to absorb them.

As deportations continue and aid dwindles, the situation underscores a growing humanitarian crisis at Afghanistan’s borders, with countless families left to face an uncertain future.

Rina Amiri, the special representative of the United States for the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan, has resigned from her position.

US President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take over. Amiri had worked to protect the rights of Afghan women after the collapse of the US-backed republic government in August 2021.

In a post on X on Monday, Amiri said Monday “will mark my last day as the US Special Envoy for Afghan Women, Girls & Human Rights. It has been a great honor to advocate for the courageous Afghan women and men at the frontlines of fighting for a rights-based & inclusive Afghanistan.”

In a “farewell letter” she stated: “Above all, we must continue to work to convince the Taliban (Islamic Emirate) to reverse the destructive decrees that have stripped women and girls of their agency, mobility, education, livelihood, voice, and access to life-saving medical institutes.

“We must also continue to demand that the Taliban (Islamic Emirate) respect the rights of members of ethnic and religious minorities. They have created a culture of fear and intimidation, keeping Afghanistan locked in a cycle of dependency and poverty,” she said.

Rina Amiri is an Afghan-born American diplomat and activist who has served as special envoy since January 6, 2022.