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Ghani says Geneva Conference will determine Afghanistan’s future
President Ashraf Ghani said on Sunday that the Geneva pledging conference will influence Afghanistan’s future development and path to self-reliance and peace.
“We will gather virtually tomorrow for the 2020 Geneva Conference on Afghanistan. We aim to realize the decades’ hopes of all Afghans for a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan, said Ghani.
“The outcomes of this pledging conference will heavily influence the country’s future development and our path towards self-reliance and peace.”
Based on the official schedule, the pledging conference will run over two days from Monday and bring together 70 countries and international organizations – all of whom will attend the summit virtually.
The conference will focus on three key issues: financial support for the Afghan government; preserving the achievements of the past 19 years and support for the Afghan peace process.
Questions have been raised however on whether the Afghan government has implemented its commitment from the 2018 Geneva conference.
“We want to say that people are concerned about governance in Afghanistan. People do not trust either side,” said Rafi Azizi, the head of a civil society organization.
Afghan delegates meanwhile said they will try their best to convince the international community to continue its support.
However, the international community had set 10 conditions for financial support to Afghanistan.
“The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan implemented all conditions set by the international community. We are ready to attend the conference,” said Latif Mahmood, head of government media and information center.
Some participants say that it is a key opportunity for the international community to support Afghanistan but securing more funding will be difficult because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Janne Taalas, Special Envoy of Finland for the Geneva Conference 2020, said in an interview with VOA that some countries will review their aid to Afghanistan due to the spread of coronavirus.
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India condemns Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has condemned recent airstrikes by Pakistan on Afghanistan’s territory.
In a statement, Ministry spokesperson Shri Randhir Jaiswal said the attacks resulted in the deaths of several civilians and the destruction of civilian infrastructure.
He described the strikes as yet another act of aggression by Pakistan, which continues to oppose the idea of an independent Afghanistan.
India reiterated that Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be fully respected.
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14 Pakistani soldiers killed after military post falls along Durand line: MoD
The statement added that Afghan forces destroyed one armored tank and a military vehicle belonging to Pakistani troops during the fighting.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense announced Saturday that Afghan defensive forces captured a Pakistani military post along the Durand Line in eastern Afghanistan following clashes between the two sides.
In a statement, the ministry said the operation was launched in response to what it described as “crimes of the Pakistani military regime” in border areas of Kunar and Nangarhar provinces.
According to the ministry, 14 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 11 others wounded during the operation.
The statement added that Afghan forces destroyed one armored tank and a military vehicle belonging to Pakistani troops during the fighting.
Defense officials emphasized that Afghanistan’s forces remain prepared to respond to any threats along the Durand Line.
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UN Security Council to vote on extension of UNAMA mission in Afghanistan
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has previously criticized UNAMA’s activities, claiming that the mission’s reports misrepresent the situation in Afghanistan.
The United Nations Security Council is set to vote on Monday regarding the extension of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), with a draft resolution proposing a three-month extension until June 17.
The debate over the mission’s extension has divided key members of the Council. China initially called for a one-year extension, while the United States has advocated for a shorter duration. The U.S. position is based on the belief that a three-month extension would allow the Council to conduct a comprehensive review of UNAMA’s mandate before committing to a longer-term renewal.
A statement from the Security Council explained that Washington views this as an opportunity to reassess the mission’s appropriateness and effectiveness. “This mission is one of the most costly political special missions of the United Nations and operates in a highly complex environment. Therefore, the Council needs to assess whether the mission remains appropriate and effective,” the statement read.
The draft resolution also emphasizes growing concerns about human rights in Afghanistan, particularly the ongoing restrictions placed on women and girls. It calls on the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to lift these limitations and stresses the need for continued support in areas such as development, counterterrorism, and mine clearance. UNAMA’s field presence is also considered vital for providing critical humanitarian support and monitoring developments on the ground.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has previously criticized UNAMA’s activities, claiming that the mission’s reports misrepresent the situation in Afghanistan, painting a negative and misleading image to the international community. As the vote approaches, the future of the mission—and its ability to effectively address Afghanistan’s ongoing challenges—hangs in the balance.
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