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Khalilzad back on track with talks as he heads for region
US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad has embarked on another trip to Germany, Afghanistan and regional countries, aimed at strengthening the Afghan peace process, sources said.
Khalilzad was on Sunday in Germany and is expected to travel to Qatar, Afghanistan, Pakistan, UAE and a number of other regional countries in the coming days, sources added.
“He will resume discussions on the way ahead with the Islamic Republic and Afghan leaders, Taliban representatives, and regional countries whose interests are best served by the achievement of a just and durable political settlement and permanent and comprehensive ceasefire,” the US State Department said in a statement on Sunday.
This comes as negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban peace teams resumed last week after more than a month of delays.
Meanwhile, the Afghan State Ministry for Peace Affairs is optimistic about Khalilzad’s trip to the region.
“We welcome the US Special Envoy’s trip. The United States is a good strategic partner for Afghanistan and we hope this trip will be more effective in facilitating the peace process in Afghanistan,” State Minister for Peace, Sayed Sadat Mansoor Nader said.
The Taliban urged Washington to uphold its part of the US-Taliban agreement signed a year ago Sunday and stated the release of remaining prisoners and the end of blacklists have yet to be implemented.
The Taliban meanwhile issued a statement Sunday that urged the US to uphold its commitments as part of the agreement.
The group stated that “the release of remaining prisoners and end of blacklists are part of the agreement that have yet to be implemented.”
Khalilzad, a Republican, brokered a deal with the Taliban on behalf of the US last year and was asked to stay on in the position by US President Joe Biden for the sake of continuity.
The move is not typical, as traditionally incoming administrations replace politically appointed officials with their own team, particularly in foreign policy matters.
In late January, new US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: “We’ve asked him to continue the vital work that he’s performing.”
Khalilzad is a veteran of Republican administrations and served as US ambassador to the United Nations, Iraq and Afghanistan under former President George W Bush.
Former President Donald Trump’s administration then tasked Khalilzad, who was born in Afghanistan, with negotiating with the Taliban.
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US deports Afghan migrants to conflict-hit Central African Republic
The Central African Republic is considered one of the world’s poorest nations and has endured decades of violence, political unrest and human rights challenges.
The United States has deported a group of migrants, including citizens of Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and Armenia, to the Central African Republic, a country facing ongoing insecurity, armed conflict and political instability.
According to reports by CBS News, around 20 migrants were transferred from the US to the Central African Republic on Friday. The group reportedly included Afghan nationals, although authorities have not released detailed information about their identities or legal status.
The Central African Republic is considered one of the world’s poorest nations and has endured decades of violence, political unrest and human rights challenges. The US State Department has issued one of its highest travel warnings for the country, advising American citizens not to travel there due to security concerns.
The deportations are part of the Trump administration’s policy of sending certain migrants to so-called “third countries” as part of broader immigration enforcement measures. US officials say the initiative is aimed at accelerating the removal of migrants who no longer have legal authorization to remain in the country.
The move has drawn criticism from immigration lawyers and human rights advocates. They argue that some deportees had previously received legal protections preventing their return to their countries of origin because of fears of persecution, conflict or other serious risks.
Rights groups have also expressed concern over the fate of those sent to the Central African Republic, warning that transferring migrants to a country where they have no family ties, legal status or support network could expose them to significant humanitarian and security challenges.
The Central African Republic is the latest country to reportedly cooperate with Washington in accepting third-country deportees. Several countries in Africa and Latin America have previously agreed to receive migrants deported from the United States under similar arrangements.
Observers say the policy marks a significant expansion of US deportation efforts and has intensified debate over the treatment and protection of vulnerable migrants.
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Cabinet meeting held in Kandahar led by Afghanistan’s IEA supreme leader
Sources told Ariana News that a cabinet meeting of Afghanistan’s Islamic Emirate was held last Wednesday in Kandahar under the leadership of Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the Islamic Emirate.
According to the sources, Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate, along with a large number of cabinet members, also attended the meeting.
Sources added that key issues related to the country were discussed and reviewed during the meeting.
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Final round of 1405 Kankor exam concludes in Afghanistan
Abdul Baqi Haqqani, head of the National Examinations Authority, announced on Friday that the fourth and final round of the university entrance examination (Kankor), in which 120,000 candidates participated, has concluded in a transparent manner.
He added that this was an important and valuable step for the country’s academic process, which was successfully implemented by the National Examinations Authority through precise planning, organized management, and joint efforts.
This year’s Kankor examination organized in four stages. In the first stage, graduates from 15 provinces participated; in the second stage, graduates from 18 provinces were included; and in the third stage, 12th-grade graduates from Kabul province took part.
In the final stage, absentees from previous stages, graduates from abroad, graduates of ethnic and tribal studies, graduates of religious schools in Kabul province, 14th-grade graduates, and night faculty applicants were included. This examination was held today (Friday).
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