Latest News
International community calls on Taliban to stop spring offensive
The Special Envoys of the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, NATO, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States on the Afghan Peace Process in a joint statement on Friday “strongly” condemned the continued violence in Afghanistan.
The statement, which was issued following a virtual meeting of the international community envoys and the Taliban delegation, said that the Taliban are largely responsible for the continued violence, urging all warring parties to take immediate and necessary steps to reduce violence and in particular, “to avoid civilian casualties in order to create an environment conducive to reaching a political settlement.”
The envoys called on all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law in all circumstances, including those related to the protection of civilians and urged all sides to immediately agree on steps that enable the successful implementation of a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire.
The envoy emphasized that durable peace in Afghanistan can only be achieved through an inclusive, negotiated political settlement among Afghans.
The envoys affirmed their commitment to UNSC resolution 2513 (2020) and emphasized that they oppose the establishment in Afghanistan of any government by force which would constitute a threat to regional stability, the statement read.
The envoys highlighted “the need to accelerate the pace of the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace negotiations and committed to work with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Taliban, and other Afghan political and civil society leaders to reach a comprehensive and sustainable peace agreement and political compromise that ends the war for the benefit of all Afghans and that contributes to regional stability and global security.”
This comes as the Taliban have intensified attacks across the country since the foreign troops’ officially begin to withdraw from Afghanistan on May 1.
The Taliban militants have captured the Dahla dam in Kandahar, the Shahr-e Kohna region of Baghlan-e Markazi district of Baghlan province, a security base in Ghazni, and a military base and three outposts in Laghman province during the last seven days.
The international community also called upon the Taliban “to stop their undeclared spring offensive, to refrain from attacks against civilians, and to stop immediately all attacks in the vicinity of hospitals, schools, universities, mosques and other civilian areas.”
The envoy also called for an immediate end to the campaign of targeted assassinations against civil society leaders, the clergy, journalists and other media workers, human rights defenders, healthcare personnel, judicial employees, and other civilians.
Meanwhile, the Taliban in a series of tweets that a powerful Islamic government is a need in Afghanistan that could maintain “women’s rights and freedom of speech.”
Cooperation between the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment and the Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce has paved the way for exporting potatoes from Bamyan province to the Uzbek market.
In this regard, Sayed Karim Hashemi, President of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, and Doran Vahabov, President of the Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce, have agreed on the export of 100,000 tons of Bamyan potatoes to Uzbekistan. Work is underway to finalize the export agreement.
Meanwhile, the first shipment of potatoes, consisting of eight trucks, has departed for the Uzbek city of Termez through the Hairatan Port.
The chambers of commerce of both countries, in cooperation with local authorities in Bamyan, have facilitated connections between traders and farmers and coordinated the purchasing, marketing, and transportation of the produce. This initiative is expected to expand market opportunities for Bamyan farmers and strengthen trade between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.
Afghanistan’s Prime Minister, Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, met with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk in Kabul on Thursday evening, emphasizing the need to strengthen bilateral relations and expand economic cooperation between the two countries.
According to a statement from the Presidential Palace, several senior officials from both countries attended the meeting, including Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and representatives of Russia’s political and economic sectors.
Akhund described Afghanistan’s security and stability as favourable conditions for foreign investment and thanked Moscow for recognizing the Islamic Emirate and supporting Afghanistan in international forums.
Meanwhile, Overchuk praised the security situation and developments in Afghanistan, expressing Russia’s interest in investing in various sectors of the country.
He said around 70 representatives of Russia’s private sector were accompanying the delegation and were expected to hold discussions with relevant ministries and institutions of the Islamic Emirate on trade and investment agreements, as well as ways to address existing obstacles.
The Russian deputy prime minister reaffirmed his country’s support for Afghanistan in various fields.
Afghanistan’s private sector and the Russian Federation have signed 15 economic cooperation agreements worth a total of $103 million.
The agreements were signed in the presence of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, and Alexey Overchuk, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister.
Under the agreements, the two sides will cooperate in importing medicines, wheat, flour, and cooking oil into Afghanistan, as well as exporting fresh Afghan fruits, particularly pomegranates, to Russia.
Expanding bilateral trade relations and developing economic cooperation in various sectors are also among the key areas covered by the agreements.
According to officials, the agreements will facilitate two-way exports and imports between the two countries.
Respiratory illnesses rise in Gaza with worst to come as winter floods arrive, WHO says
Afghanistan and Uzbekistan agree on export of 100,000 tons of Bamyan potatoes
Afghanistan and Russia discuss expanding economic cooperation and boosting investment
Argentina clinch futsal gold after defeating Portugal in Dakar 2026 final
Putin agrees to European role in Ukraine peace talks as Zelenskiy welcomes move
Afghanistan finish runners-up after 6-0 defeat to Brazil in futsal final
Trump says US may strike Iran’s ‘Pickaxe Mountain’ nuclear facility
Rubio heads to Central Asia while other US officials hit foreign policy hot spots
Violent protests spread across Europe as Albanian PM blames ‘foreign hand’
Governments take websites offline as critical cyber flaws trigger global alert
Tahawol: Russia’s special attention to situation in Afghanistan discussed
Saar: Discussion on US’s humiliating defeat in Afghanistan
Tahawol: High-level Russian delegation’s visit to Kabul discussed
Saar: Afghanistan’s situation in focus at CSTO discussed
Tahawol: Efforts to halt deportation of Afghan refugees from US discussed
-
Sport4 days agoPortugal beat Afghanistan 2-0 in Dakar Youth Olympics futsal semi-finals
-
Sport5 days agoAfghanistan’s record partnership highlights fourth day of Test against Zimbabwe
-
Sport5 days agoAfghanistan thrash Senegal 6-0 to reach Dakar Youth Olympics futsal semi-finals
-
World4 days agoFirst Muslim US senator-elect El-Sayed calls for review of aid to Pakistan
-
Regional4 days agoIran defends two-day proposal for peace talks after US rejects conditions
-
Business4 days agoAfghanistan approves new foreign investment policy in bid to attract international investors
-
Sport3 days agoOmar Zawak thrash Istiqlal Kabul 5-1 in ACL
-
Sport4 days agoFirst Test between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe ends in a draw