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IEA delegation meet envoys from regional countries on sidelines of Doha meeting
During the meetings, ways to enhance stability and peace in Afghanistan and support the aspirations of the Afghan people for a decent life were discussed, and the importance of the Doha process to achieve the desired progress was emphasized.
Zabiullah Mujahid, spokesman for Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan said in a series of posts on X that he had constructive meetings with special envoys of regional countries and discussed mutual relations and how to further strengthen ties.
Mujahid said he had a constructive meeting with the special representative of Pakistan Asif Durrani and Pakistan’s ambassador and diplomats to Doha.
“We thank them for their hospitality and hope for good and constructive relations for both countries,” Mujahid said.
Earlier, Mujahid said a quadrilateral meeting between Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Qatar was held in Doha on Monday.
In this meeting, the Trans Afghanistan Railway Project, from Uzbekistan to Pakistan, was discussed.
All parties requested the early start and completion of this project, Mujahid said.
He also stated that he had met with Iranian special envoy Hassan Kazemi Qomi.
This meeting went well, said Mujahid, and that discussions had cenetered around the strengthening of ties and the overall importance of regional connectivity and cooperation.
The special envoy of Qatar’s minister of foreign affairs, Faisal bin Abdullah Al Hanzab meanwhile met separately with Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva; Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Afghanistan, Esmatullah Erkashev; and Special Envoy of Switzerland for Afghanistan Albert Grof.
During the meetings, ways to enhance stability and peace in Afghanistan and support the aspirations of the Afghan people for a decent life were discussed, and the importance of the Doha process to achieve the desired progress was emphasized.
Russian ambassador at the UN Vasily Nebenzya meanwhile said: “Taliban [IEA] is de facto authorities on Afghanistan, and we've been saying consistently that you have to recognize this fact and deal with them as such. Because whether you like it or not, but this movement is running the country now. And you cannot simply ignore that.”
Asked about how far Russia is from removing IEA from the sanctions list, ambassador Nebenzya said: “I cannot tell you a definite answer. But I heard some talks about it. But generally speaking, it is good that Taliban [IEA] was finally invited to Doha this time.”
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Suhail Shaheen meets with Chinese ambassador to Qatar
The head of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s (IEA) political office in Doha, Suhail Shaheen, met with China’s ambassador to Qatar late Monday for talks on bilateral relations, good neighborliness, and trade and investment opportunities between the two countries.
“About the Wakhan road, the export of Afghanistan's fresh fruit to China, the reconstruction of cold stores, China's assistance in the field of medical equipment to the Ministry of Health and good neighborliness between the two countries were discussed,” Shaheen said in a voice message.
China and the Islamic Emirate have been rapidly expanding relations in recent months.
Experts, meanwhile, have said that other countries need to engage with the IEA, as China is doing, in order for Afghanistan to come out of isolation.
Shaheen also met with Katharina Ritz, the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation to Afghanistan.
He discussed numerous issues including humanitarian assistance, health sector challenges and climate change.
Both sides emphasized that ICRC activities need to be expanded, considering the needs of the people.
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IFRC reports over half of Afghanistan’s population needs urgent humanitarian aid
Afghanistan ranks among the most vulnerable countries globally to climate change and disaster risks
The International Federation of Red Crescent (IFRC) has reported that Afghanistan continues to face prolonged and complex humanitarian crises.
IFRC said in a report published on Tuesday, that about 23.7 million people, more than half of Afghanistan’s population, are in urgent need of humanitarian aid.
According to the IFRC, natural disasters, the growing impact of climate change, population displacement, economic challenges, and food insecurity are the main factors contributing to Afghanistan’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Afghanistan ranks among the most vulnerable countries globally to climate change and disaster risks.
The country is also prone to earthquakes, with nearly 400 tremors recorded in the last three years, including significant quakes, such as the 6.3 magnitude in Herat Province in October last year.
The compounding effects of disasters in the country have exacerbated the already fragile situation in Afghanistan, the IFRC’s report read.
These successive disasters have pushed more Afghans into poverty and heightened their vulnerability.
In addition, Afghanistan’s economic crisis is widespread, with more than half of households experiencing an economic shock.
The country’s economy is heavily dependent on foreign aid and remittances, which have declined significantly since the political change in 2021.
This has resulted in high levels of unemployment, challenging people’s coping mechanisms and thwarting the already fragile economy’s ability to adapt to shocks, the report read.
The IFRC said more than 85 percent of the country’s population is now living below the poverty line.
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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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