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Afghanistan’s defense ministry sends in rescue teams to quake-hit Herat

Afghanistan’s defense ministry has sent in rescue teams to Herat province to help find survivors still buried in the rubble of collapsed buildings after Saturday’s deadly 6.3 magnitude earthquake and the string of strong aftershocks.
Early Sunday, the full picture of the carnage began to emerge as videos posted to social media showed villages using their bare hands to dig survivors out of the rubble.
Rescue teams have now arrived in some of the worst hit areas, which include Zinda Jan district, where most of the quakes were epicentered.
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the acting first deputy prime minister, said on Sunday he will visit the affected area and assess the situation.
At an emergency meeting to organize aid for the victims, officials said the worst hit area was Zinda Jan district, where more than 3,000 houses were destroyed.
Zinda Jan also had the highest casualty toll, officials said.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has also deployed emergency response teams to the area, the organization said in a statement.
The IRC said it is closely monitoring the situation and is actively coordinating its response with multiple other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to assess the extent of the damage and provide assistance to those in need.
“The IRC’s emergency response teams are mobilizing to provide immediate assistance, including medical care, and other essential services to the affected population. Our teams are working tirelessly to ensure that the most vulnerable individuals and communities receive the support they need during this difficult time,” the statement read.
Salma Ben Assia, Country Director for the IRC in Afghanistan said: “Our hearts go out to the people of Herat who have been affected by this devastating earthquake. The IRC urges the international community to stand in solidarity with the people of Herat and support the ongoing relief efforts.
“We are committed to working alongside our partners and local authorities to provide immediate assistance and support to those affected. In times like these, unity and collaboration are crucial, and we are grateful for the coordination efforts with other NGOs to ensure a swift and effective response,” she said.
Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders have also rushed to assist and set up five medical tents at the Herat Regional Hospital to accommodate the influx of injured patients. Hundreds of victims have already been treated at the hospital since yesterday early afternoon.
Iranian Red Crescent Society has also reportedly sent 15 volunteers of its Rapid Response team to Afghanistan following the deadly earthquake.
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Muttaqi urges Oman to release Afghan prisoners

Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Amir Khan Muttaqi, during his visit to Oman, has called on the country to reduce the prison terms of Afghan prisoners and release them.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday, Muttaqi met with several officials of Oman including the Minister of the Royal Office in the Sultanate of Oman, the officials of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment, and the Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs.
He called for the start of direct flights between the two countries and Oman’s coordination with the Afghan Embassy in providing consular services to Afghans residing in Oman.
He also called for increased trade between the two countries.
Muttaqi told the Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs of Oman that the experiences of the two countries in the field of mosques, pilgrimage and endowments should be shared with each other. He also called for Oman’s assistance in the reconstruction of mosques in Afghanistan.
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Greece at UN: Any engagement with IEA cannot be detrimental to women

Greece’s representative said at a United Nations meeting Tuesday that the Islamic Emirate continues gender discrimination in Afghanistan, and any engagement with it cannot be detrimental to women.
The meeting was held under the theme “Afghanistan to New York: Afghan women calling for action,” a side event of the 69th session of Commission on the Status of Women.
A Greek official said at the meeting that the Islamic Emirate has tried to erase women from the public life by enacting the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Law.
He also said that the restrictions on the work of women in the United Nations and NGOs have had a severe repercussion on delivering humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan.
The official asked Islamic Emirate to end the “systematic violation” of women’s rights in Afghanistan.
Isabelle Rome, the Ambassador at Large for Human Rights for France, said that depriving women’s rights is depriving the rights of half of humanity and France will not remain silent about it.
Australian Ambassador for Gender Equality, Stephanie Copus Campbell noted that Australia, Canada, Germany and the Netherlands have initiated proceeds against the Islamic Emirate for women’s rights violations.
In September last year, the four nations had announced that they would take the Islamic Emirate to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) if it does not improve women’s rights in Afghanistan.
The Islamic Emirate has said that the rights of women in Afghanistan are ensured according to Sharia and countries should not interfere in the internal affairs of Afghanistan.
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India: Pakistan should not blame others for its own failures

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of India has strongly rejected Pakistan’s accusation of supporting terrorism, asking its neighbor “to look inwards instead of pointing fingers and shifting the blame for its own internal problems and failures onto others.”
“We strongly reject the baseless allegations made by Pakistan. The whole world knows where the epicenter of global terrorism lies. Pakistan should look inwards instead of pointing fingers and shifting the blame for its own internal problems and failures onto others,” Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of India, said.
Recently, militants affiliated with the Balochistan Liberation Army group killed 21 people in an attack on a passenger train in Balochistan province.
Shafqat Ali Khan, the spokesperson of Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that India is sponsoring terrorism against Pakistan.
He also said that the attackers were in “direct communications with Afghanistan-based planners throughout the incident.”
The Pakistan Army has also linked Afghanistan to the incident.
However, the Islamic Emirate has denied the claim.
Abdul Qahar Balkhi, the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement urged Pakistan “to focus on resolving their own security and internal problems instead of such irresponsible remarks.”
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