Officials from Badakhshan Department of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock have raised concerns about the sharp decrease in numbers of Marco Polo sheep and say their status in the province is under threat.

Marco Polo sheep are distinguishable by their large, spiral horns and live in the mountainous regions of Central Asia - including in the Wakhan National Park.

Their conservation status is "near threatened" and efforts have been made in the region to protect their numbers and keep them from being hunted.

Amanullah Hassan, the head of Badakhshan Agriculture Department, said a survey to count the Marco Polo and the Asiatic ibex was recently carried out by the National Park Authority, Environment Department and Wildlife Conservation Institute (WCI).

According to Hassan, the team assessed 20 herds that included both Marco Polos and Ibex, living at an altitude higher than 4,000 meters above sea level, and found the number of Marco Polos had dropped significantly against data collected by WCI in 2021.

Most Marco Polo sheep live in the Pamir Mountains region adjacent to the borders of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and China.

Their elevation ranges from 3,700 to 4,800 m above sea level.

Both Marco Polo and the Ibex are drawcards for the province as they attract dozens of tourists annually.

The Political Deputy Prime Minister, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, met with officials, scholars, and tribal leaders from Panjshir on Tuesday night at ARG where he stated the Islamic Emirate is committed to inclusivity and has initiated projects for equitable development. 

The Panjshiri participants in turn shared various issues with him and called for more efforts to be made in infrastructure development and in completing stalled projects. 

They also stressed that those who oppose the Islamic Emirate from outside the country cannot represent Panjshir, nor will Afghans accept them.

Kabir said the Islamic Emirate “will not tolerate discrimination and prejudice” and that Afghanistan has an independent and strong system.

The meeting was also attended by the Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce, the Acting Minister of Vice and Virtue, the Director General of Intelligence, and the Chief of Army Staff.

They all gave their assurance that they would try to resolve problems faced by Panjshir residents. 

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken confirmed late Tuesday that Thomas West has been moved from his role as Special Representative for Afghanistan and appointed Acting Head of the Office of Sanctions Coordination at the department. 

West was appointed in October 2021 as special envoy for Afghanistan and has with US allies and partners to help lead a humanitarian effort that “prevented a wider famine and met the urgent needs of millions of Afghans,” Blinken said. 

“Tom prioritized advocacy for the release of detained American citizens, as well as the continued relocation of Afghans to whom we owe a special debt,” the statement read. 

No one has been appoint to take over from West, however Blinken said: “The US commitment to Afghanistan remains an enduring priority and will be led within the State Department by Chief of Mission of the U.S. Mission to Afghanistan Karen Decker, Special Envoy Amiri, and Ambassador John Mark Pommersheim.”

According to him, Decker will lead diplomacy on Afghanistan from Doha, while Amiri will continue to lead diplomatic and policy efforts toward ensuring that human rights, and women’s rights, are prioritized. 

In Washington, Pommersheim, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Central Asia, will lead policy development and inter-agency coordination on Afghanistan.