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Kabul suspends consular services at Afghan missions in 14 Western countries
The statement cited corruption, lack of transparency and non-coordination with the ministry as reasons for the closure.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has declared the consular services of Afghan missions in 14 Western countries to be invalid.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman said in a statement that the suspension of services at these missions was effective July 30,2024.
The countries concerned are the United States, United Kingdom, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, France, Italy, Greece, Poland, Sweden, Norway, Canada, Australia, and two in Germany, in the cities of Bonn and Berlin.
The statement cited corruption, lack of transparency and non-coordination with the ministry as reasons for the closure.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said this affects the issuance of deeds, endorsements, NOCs, passports, passport extensions and visas, among others.
The ministry said all passport extensions issued after the announcement will be invalid. However, visas issued prior to the announcement, which have been used to travel to Afghanistan or a third country and have entry/exit stamps prior to July 30, are deemed valid.
In addition, visas issued after July 30 are also invalid.
Travelers with visas issued by the missions in the 14 affected countries and who are currently in Afghanistan may remain in the country for the duration of their visa.
However, once they have left the country, they will not be able to return to Afghanistan on the same visa.
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G7 envoys urge national dialogue for lasting stability in Afghanistan
Special Representatives of the Group of Seven (G7), including the European Union, have emphasized the importance of a national dialogue for achieving long-term stability in Afghanistan.
Following a meeting on Afghanistan in Geneva, Switzerland, G7 special envoys issued a joint statement calling for the restoration of women's rights and urging the Islamic Emirate to fight terrorism.
The statement reads: "Achieving sustainable peace and stability requires credible governance that represents all segments of Afghan society."
The representatives also expressed concern over the IEA’s decision to ban girls from attending medical institutes, warning that it will have devastating consequences for the citizens, particularly mothers and their infants.
The statement described this ban as unacceptable and called on the Afghan authorities to lift it immediately.
Earlier, countries and international organizations had called for the removal of restrictions on the education and employment of women and girls, emphasizing the need for a national dialogue.
In response to these concerns, IEA has repeatedly stated that it will not allow interference in the internal affairs of the country.
The G7 special envoys also expressed their concern about the recent terrorist attacks in Kabul and the surrounding region, warning that terrorism remains a serious threat to Afghanistan's security. They confirmed the actions of the IEA against Daesh but stressed the need for more decisive measures.
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Afghanistan’s bright future lies in educating girls: Karzai
Hamid Karzai, the former president of Afghanistan, says the demand of Afghan girls for the reopening of schools and universities is their fundamental right and adds that Afghanistan cannot have a bright future without ensuring access to education for girls.
In a statement on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Karzai said: "The demand and voice of our country’s girls for education and knowledge is a rightful one and crucial for a prosperous Afghanistan."
He further emphasized, "Empowering the youth—both girls and boys—is the only way to achieve self-reliance, break the cycle of poverty, and drive the development and prosperity of society."
Karzai underscored that education is vital for Afghanistan’s growth and development, expressing hope that the doors of schools and universities for girls will be reopened as soon as possible.
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IEA to set up special courts to address pensions
Mawlawi Hebatullah Akhundzada, the supreme leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), has issued a decree to establish special courts to address pensions, Bakhtar news agency reported on Saturday.
According to the decree, the courts must confirm and process pensions in accordance with Sharia and law.
Pensioners have repeatedly voiced concern over delay in payment, saying that their financial challenges are growing.
Earlier this year, IEA's supreme leader banned money being deducted from salaries of government employees for pensions.
He also requested information on the tenure of employees and the total amount deducted from salaries for pensions.
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