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World reacts to Afghanistan’s deadly earthquake
World leaders and governments expressed their shock and grief following the powerful magnitude-6.1 earthquake that rocked south-east Afghanistan, killing over a thousand people in the early hours of Wednesday.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was saddened to learn about the tragic loss of life, noting that Afghans were already reeling from the impact of years of conflict, economic hardship and hunger.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the earthquake in Afghanistan is a great tragedy, adding to an already dire humanitarian situation.
“We grieve for all the lives lost and the hardships Afghans continue to face. The U.S. is working with our humanitarian partners to send medical teams to help those affected,” Blinken said.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said he was deeply grieved to learn about the earthquake. “People in Pakistan share the grief & sorrow of their Afghan brethren. Relevant authorities working to support Afghanistan in this time of need,” he said.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra also expressed condolences on the loss of lives in the earthquake.
“India stands by the people of Afghanistan in their difficult times and is ready to provide all possible disaster relief material at the earliest,” Modi said on Twitter.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said Iran stands by the great patient Afghan people in this difficult time. He added that Afghanistan would soon receive aid from Iran.
European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, and Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic said in a statement EU stands in full solidarity with the Afghan people and will provide assistance to those in need.
The statement said that international assistance will be needed to help those Afghans who have lost their loved ones, their homes and need aid.
More than 1,000 people were killed and over 1,500 others injured when the earthquake hit, while most people were asleep.
The earthquake, with its epicenter in Khost, is the most devastating in the past 20 years.
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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