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US troops begin packing up gear ahead of withdrawal

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(Last Updated On: April 22, 2021)

The U.S. military has begun shipping equipment and winding down contracts with local service providers ahead of the May 1 start of the final phase of its military pullout from Afghanistan, a U.S. Defense Department official said Thursday, The Associated Press reported.

Currently, 2,500 U.S. soldiers and about 7,000 NATO forces are still in Afghanistan.

In February last year, the U.S. military began closing its smaller bases. In mid-April, the Biden administration announced that the final phase of the withdrawal would begin May 1 and be completed before September 11.

Since then, the military has been shipping equipment and winding down local contracts for services such as trash pickup and maintenance work, the U.S. official told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with briefing regulations.

While preparations are under way, troops likely won’t begin to depart for a few weeks, he said, adding that “we won’t see a coming down of the (troop) numbers” until remaining bases close.

There have been indications that the pullout could be completed well before September 11 – the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attack on the United States.

On Wednesday, Germany’s Defense Ministry said discussions are underway among military planners with the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission in Kabul for a possible withdrawal of international troops from Afghanistan as early as July 4.

AP reported in the short term, America will likely increase its troop presence in Afghanistan. The additional troops would be in Afghanistan over the coming weeks and months to help with the herculean task of wrapping up 20 years of war.

While much of the equipment headed back to the U.S. will be shipped by air, the military will also use land routes through Pakistan and north through Central Asia, the Defense Department official told AP.

The U.S. equipment that is neither shipped back to America nor given to the Afghan National Security forces will be sold to contractors, who will, in turn, sell it in the local markets.

“You’ll most likely start seeing it eventually showing up in bazaars as scrap,” said the official.

The Taliban, meanwhile, were non-committal when asked by AP whether the insurgents would attack departing U.S. and NATO troops. “It’s too early for these issues, nothing can be said about the future,” said Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem.

In a deal the Taliban signed last year with former President Donald Trump, the final U.S. withdrawal deadline was set as May 1. Under the agreement, the Taliban promised not to attack U.S. and NATO troops but they also later promised “consequences” if Washington defied the May 1 deadline.

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Mujahid claims some ‘circles’ are deliberately spreading false intelligence on Afghanistan

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(Last Updated On: September 28, 2023)

The Islamic Emirate’s spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid once again denied the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan and says that some countries are spreading false intelligence information about Afghanistan in order to cast doubt over the progress being made in the country.

Speaking at an event in Kandahar, Mujahid said Afghanistan has experienced the “bitter taste” of war for four decades and that he does not want the country to suffer another civil war.

“Why are there discussions in meetings that Afghanistan is a threat? And that Afghanistan causes problems for countries? There are problems in Afghanistan, why is this fear created?” Mujahid asked.

“I believe that some intelligence circles who do not want progress in Afghanistan, who do not want Afghanistan to be peaceful, are not tolerant of the current situation in Afghanistan; those intelligence circles indirectly create fear among some countries,” he said.

He also responded to widespread criticism of restrictions against women and girls and said that women currently work in several Afghan government institutions, such as the ministry of interior, national statistics and information authority, airports, and the ministry of industry and commerce.

He stated that in other sectors, jobs for women have been suspended but only until suitable environments can be provided.

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Haqqani says intellectual differences can be resolved

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(Last Updated On: September 28, 2023)

Abdul Mateen Qani, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Interior Affairs, on Thursday wrote on social media that Sirajuddin Haqqani, the acting interior minister, said in a meeting with a number of experts and political activists that difficult intellectual differences can be resolved through consultation and unity.

He said this was important as available opportunities should not go to waste. Haqqani also stated that most problems can be solved with mutual tolerance and the spirit of pessimism and hypocrisy can be eliminated.

He also reportedly pointed out that national and Islamic spirit is the foundation of stability of the nation and it requires attention in order to create a positive mindset.

The minister also said that no one can carry weapons without a permit.

Haqqani also stated that the Islamic Emirate has no problem with any country and commitments made in Doha have been fulfilled by them.

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Food and Drug Authority officials leave for G5 meeting in Iran

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(Last Updated On: September 28, 2023)

The head of Afghanistan’s Food and Drug Authority and his accompanying delegation left Kabul on Thursday for Iran where they will attend the G5 meeting.

Dr. Abdul Bari Omar, the head of the authority, is leading the delegation and will attend the Group of Five (G5) meeting that is being convened under the title “Health Diplomacy and Medicine and Medical Equipment System”.

The G5 meeting with delegations from the food and drug administrations of member countries get together with the World Health Organization with the aim of promoting and developing the health sector in their respective countries.

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