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IEA calls on Doha meeting delegates to help resolve Afghanistan’s challenges
Mujahid told delegates that the IEA is endeavoring to achieve economic independence by laying the foundations of a self-sustaining and secure national economy.
Heading Afghanistan’s delegation to Doha, Zabihullah Mujahid on Sunday called for working groups to be established to resolve three critical issues - the removal of all restrictions and sanctions; the unfreezing of all Afghanistan’s foreign reserves; and finding alternative livelihoods for former poppy farmers.
In his speech to delegates attending the UN-led Doha meeting on Afghanistan, Mujahid said: “We perceive the current Doha meeting as a crucial opportunity to engage in constructive dialogue regarding the unilateral and multilateral sanctions imposed on some officials and our financial and banking sectors, as well as the broader challenges confronting our national economy.”
He said the Doha forum represents a positive step towards addressing Afghanistan’s key challenges but noted that questions were being asked at home as to why no easing of sanctions had been made on the financial and trade sectors.
Mujahid stated that Afghans, who have suffered through almost 50 years of conflict, foreign invasions and interference by other countries had now gained independence, ended the war and built a system aimed at “fostering positive engagement with the world, however, in return they faced sanctions and restrictions?
“Is it fair and appropriate?” Mujahid asked.
He said he knows some countries disagree with the Islamic Emirate’s policies but that it was the duty of experienced diplomats to find ways to interact and understand each other.
“The policy differences should not escalate to the extent that powerful countries use their leverage to impose security, political, and economic pressures on our people, affecting the lives of our nation in a significant way,” he said.
He raised the issue of poppy cultivation and said despite sanctions and outside pressure, the IEA had banned the cultivation, processing and smuggling of poppy.
“Poppy cultivation, which remained as a significant challenge in Afghanistan, we reduced it to almost zero; however, in contrast, instead of recognizing and commending these initiatives, lifting banking restrictions to stimulate the country's economy and unfreezing national reserves, some countries have continued with their policy of non-cooperation,” he said.
Mujahid told delegates that the IEA is endeavoring to achieve economic independence by laying the foundations of a self-sustaining and secure national economy.
“We are committed to advancing real economic development in Afghanistan, taking initial steps towards creating jobs, establishing factories, lifting people out of poverty, and creating business opportunities for women,” he said.
Acknowledging the countries that provide humanitarian aid, Mujahid implied this was not a solution but that in order to end the humanitarian crisis, the international community needed to remove sanctions, provide development aid and allow the government and people of Afghanistan to utilize their capacities without restrictions for the revival of the national economy.
He spoke on the progress the IEA has made with its neighboring countries in terms of connectivity and mentioned the railway project linking Uzbekistan to Afghanistan and Pakistan. He also touched on the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project.
“In collaboration with Turkmenistan, we have made significant progress regarding the implementation of the ambitious gas pipeline project (TAPI) over the past two years. This milestone ensures positive participation in energy exchange and connectivity between Central and South Asia through Afghanistan,” he said.
He pointed out that a secure Afghanistan benefits the entire region and that ties already forged with regional countries demonstrates the IEA’s commitment to establishing and maintaining good relations.
In light of this, other nations, especially Western countries, can remove obstacles hindering the development of relations with the IEA, he said, emphasizing that differences of opinion “are natural”.
“Like the regional countries, they can take genuine and practical steps toward positive engagement,” Mujahid said.
“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is keen on engaging constructively with Western nations as well. Like any sovereign state, we uphold certain religious and cultural values and public aspirations that must be acknowledged to facilitate progressive bilateral relations rather than encountering disputes and stagnation.
“Our aspiration is for the national sovereignty, independence, values, and preferences of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to be duly respected, as affirmed by the United Nations Charter,” Mujahid said.
He also outlined progress made on a diplomatic note and said: “Just as the regional countries have positively interacted with the current government of Afghanistan as a responsible system, we hope that Western countries will also prioritize mutual bilateral interests in a similar manner.”
Mujahid however slammed “countries and organizations that profess to uphold human rights”. This was in relation to the “ongoing genocide in Gaza, Palestine.”
Without naming countries or organizations, he said: “It is important to note that certain entities directly involved in this humanitarian atrocity lack the moral standing to lecture us on human rights.
In conclusion, he reiterated that in order to ensure the Doha meeting is productive and meaningful, two areas need to be focused on. First was the removal of all restrictions and sanctions and second was the unfreezing of all Afghanistan’s foreign reserves.
“The continued freezing of these reserves has severely impaired the ability of commercial banks to meet the currency needs of their clients, both domestically and internationally,” he said adding that it was also crucial that interactions between
Afghanistan banks and foreign banks resume.
Mujahid’s third point was that alternative livelihoods were needed for Afghan farmers who previously cultivated poppies.
“This is a shared responsibility that must be addressed collectively, and Afghanistan should not be left to manage this challenge alone.
“I propose the formation of working groups to address these issues and look forward to having effective and productive discussions with respected representatives on these matters.”
The UN is hosting its 3rd meeting on Afghanistan. The meeting got underway on Sunday, June 30 and will wrap up on Monday, July 1 in Doha, Qatar.
Representatives from more than 25 countries and international organizations are taking part in the meeting.
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Maldives recalls envoy to Pakistan over meeting with Afghanistan envoy
The island nation’s foreign ministry said the much publicized meeting had not been sanctioned by the government
The Maldives government has recalled its top diplomat in Pakistan after he had an unauthorized meeting with an Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan envoy in Islamabad.
The island nation’s foreign ministry said the much publicized meeting between the Maldives High Commissioner Mohamed Thoha and IEA envoy Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb on Friday had not been sanctioned by the government.
Maldives media reported that the foreign ministry stated: “Consequently, appropriate action has been taken by the government of Maldives.”
Thoha’s name has also been removed from the website of the Maldives mission in Islamabad, and an official source told AFP that he had been recalled.
Since regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021, no country has yet officially recognized the government.
However, the IEA has been making inroads into the diplomatic arena and has official missions now stationed in a number of regional countries.
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Afghanistan exported more than 2,500 tons of pine nuts in 1402
Afghan pine nut is mostly exported to China, India, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce says that in the past solar year (1402) more than 2,500 tons of pine nuts worth $27 million were exported to neighboring countries and beyond.
Afghan pine nut is mostly exported to China, India, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
“The total weight of black pine nut exports during 1402 was 2,523 tons and the value was $27 million, mostly to China, India, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United States, Britain, Australia, the Netherlands, and other countries,” said Abdul Salam Javad Akhundzada, the spokesman of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
Officials in the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock say that since last year, pine nut production has increased in the country and they have also expanded artificial forests to harvest more pine nuts.
“In order to revive pine nut forests, according to last year's development budget, pine trees have been planted on approximately 1,500 hectares of land.
There used to be pine trees on these lands, but they were cut down or destroyed in a fire,” said Misbahuddin Mustain, the spokesperson of the Ministries of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock.
Experts say that currently China buys most of Afghanistan's pint nuts, but the government must find new markets so that it can be sold at a better price.
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IEA says deportation of Afghan migrants from neighboring countries has intensified
A committee of the High Commission for Addressing the Problems of Migrants said the process of forced expulsion of Afghan migrants from neighboring countries has intensified.
However, members of the committee emphasized, in their meeting with the Prime Minister's administrative deputy, that they have managed the resettlement of the returnees well in cooperation with relevant institutions.
In the meeting, Abdul Salam Hanafi, the administrative deputy prime minister, said that as winter approaches, committees should seek to ensure that the returnees will not face problems.
Experts say that the refugee hosting countries should treat Afghan migrants according to international laws, and take into account the current conditions of the country.
“To reduce immigration and increase economic stability, creating employment opportunities, increasing investment, giving various types of loans to people and issuing securities can be effective,” said Asifa Stanikzai, a migration expert.
Iranian officials have said that they deport 3,000 Afghan immigrants from the country every day and they plan to deport two million Afghan immigrants by the end of this year.
Forced deportation of Afghan migrants from Iran and Pakistan has been a serious challenge in the last three years, but according to experts, the Islamic Emirate has been able to manage the process to some extent.
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