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Taliban ‘Agrees’ to Talk with Afghan Political Parties
The Taliban have asked the Afghan political parties to come up with a team of negotiators amid escalated peace efforts to reach into a political settlement in Afghanistan, sources told Ariana News Tuesday.
Though, the Taliban repeatedly refuse to engage in direct talks with the Afghan government - including in their recent six days of talks with U.S. officials in Qatar - sources told Ariana News that the armed group has asked the Afghan political parties to introduce a negotiating team to begin face-to-face talks with their representatives.
"We respect the Taliban's call. There should be a comprehensive intra-Afghan dialogue. No sides should be sidelined including the government," said Hamayoun Jareer, a senior member of Hezb-e-Islami party led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.
The Taliban did not comment in this regard yet.
Many Afghan politicians believe that without initiating intra-Afghan dialogue, lasting peace cannot be ensured in the country.
"If the Taliban and the Afghan government don't reach on a peace agreement, any kind of deal in this regard will lead into deepening the ongoing crisis in the country," said Abdul Hadi Arghandiwal, the head of Hezb-e-Islami.
It comes as the U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad who has recently engaged in six days of talks with the Taliban in Qatar said that his meeting with the Taliban in Doha was much better than previous meetings.
He said there is a moment of opportunity and he hopes Afghans seize this opportunity to put political differences aside and deal with “this moment positively and urgently.”
“We have the opportunity to avoid future tragedies, to bring the 40 years of war to an end, to a good end, and I urge everyone to rise to the occasion. I am hopeful that they will,” Khalilzad said.
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G7 envoys urge national dialogue for lasting stability in Afghanistan
Special Representatives of the Group of Seven (G7), including the European Union, have emphasized the importance of a national dialogue for achieving long-term stability in Afghanistan.
Following a meeting on Afghanistan in Geneva, Switzerland, G7 special envoys issued a joint statement calling for the restoration of women's rights and urging the Islamic Emirate to fight terrorism.
The statement reads: "Achieving sustainable peace and stability requires credible governance that represents all segments of Afghan society."
The representatives also expressed concern over the IEA’s decision to ban girls from attending medical institutes, warning that it will have devastating consequences for the citizens, particularly mothers and their infants.
The statement described this ban as unacceptable and called on the Afghan authorities to lift it immediately.
Earlier, countries and international organizations had called for the removal of restrictions on the education and employment of women and girls, emphasizing the need for a national dialogue.
In response to these concerns, IEA has repeatedly stated that it will not allow interference in the internal affairs of the country.
The G7 special envoys also expressed their concern about the recent terrorist attacks in Kabul and the surrounding region, warning that terrorism remains a serious threat to Afghanistan's security. They confirmed the actions of the IEA against Daesh but stressed the need for more decisive measures.
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Afghanistan’s bright future lies in educating girls: Karzai
Hamid Karzai, the former president of Afghanistan, says the demand of Afghan girls for the reopening of schools and universities is their fundamental right and adds that Afghanistan cannot have a bright future without ensuring access to education for girls.
In a statement on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Karzai said: "The demand and voice of our country’s girls for education and knowledge is a rightful one and crucial for a prosperous Afghanistan."
He further emphasized, "Empowering the youth—both girls and boys—is the only way to achieve self-reliance, break the cycle of poverty, and drive the development and prosperity of society."
Karzai underscored that education is vital for Afghanistan’s growth and development, expressing hope that the doors of schools and universities for girls will be reopened as soon as possible.
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IEA to set up special courts to address pensions
Mawlawi Hebatullah Akhundzada, the supreme leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), has issued a decree to establish special courts to address pensions, Bakhtar news agency reported on Saturday.
According to the decree, the courts must confirm and process pensions in accordance with Sharia and law.
Pensioners have repeatedly voiced concern over delay in payment, saying that their financial challenges are growing.
Earlier this year, IEA's supreme leader banned money being deducted from salaries of government employees for pensions.
He also requested information on the tenure of employees and the total amount deducted from salaries for pensions.
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