Latest News
Khalilzad, Indian Leaders Discusses Afghan Peace Process
The U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad met with the Indian officials and other stakeholders on May 6-7 in New Delhi, the capital of India for consultations on the Afghan peace process, U.S. Embassy in India said in a statement.
In a statement released on Tuesday, U.S. Embassy said that Khalilzad met with Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale, and India’s Ambassador to Afghanistan Vinay Kumar, among others.
According to the statement, during his meetings, Khalilzad welcomed expressions of support for the Afghan peace process, which strengthens an emerging international consensus for peace efforts.
“He also recognized the many important contributions India has made to Afghanistan’s development,” the U.S. Embassy said.
“Khalilzad and his counterparts discussed the many important benefits that peace would bring, including preventing International terrorist use of Afghanistan as a platform for attacks; improved prospects for regional peace and security; and increased regional connectivity and trade,” the statement noted.
Khalilzad and the Indian officials also discussed that Afghanistan’s political future is for Afghans to decide through an inclusive and legitimate process, the statement added.
“They also agreed that Afghan gains of the last 18 years must be preserved and built upon. Khalilzad will continue to consult with Indian counterparts as the peace process moves forward,” the U.S. Embassy said.
Meanwhile, Zalmay Khalilzad said in a tweet on Tuesday that he appreciates India’s expression of support for our efforts; it strengthens an emerging international consensus.
“We agreed on important benefits peace will bring: addressing the threat of terrorist use of Afghanistan; increased regional connectivity and trade,” he said.
Khalilzad noted that by precluding the use of Afghan territory to attack any other nation, a peace agreement could strengthen ties by allowing the regional growth of trade and economies.
“As the world’s oldest and largest democracies, we agreed that the gains made in the last 18 years should be preserved. We also agreed that Afghanistan’s political future is for Afghans to decide through an inclusive and legitimate process,” Khalilzad tweeted.
Latest News
Iran, Pakistan leaders raise concerns over ‘terrorist groups’ in Afghanistan
Following a two-day official visit to Pakistan, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a joint statement emphasizing the need to further expand commercial and economic cooperation and transform the common border of the two countries from a “border of peace” to “border of prosperity”.
The two leaders also strongly condemned aggressions and crimes of Israel in Gaza, and demanded an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, as well as unimpeded humanitarian access to the besieged people of Gaza.
Numerous other issues were also discussed but on the topic of Afghanistan, they jointly declared their commitment to the development of Afghanistan as a peaceful, united, independent country free from the threats of terrorism and drug trafficking.
According to the statement the two countries pointed out that the existence of terrorist organizations in Afghanistan is a serious threat to the security of the region and the world.
The two sides stressed their desire to strengthen cooperation in the field of fighting terrorism and ensuring security and creating a united front against terrorism.
They also discussed the importance of coordinating regional and international efforts to ensure security and stability in the region.
“While respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan, the two sides recognized that increasing participation of all strata of Afghans in basic decision-making will lead to the strengthening of peace and stability in this country,” the statement read.
Latest News
Over 1,000 Afghan refugees forced out of Pakistan in one day
The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations (MoRR) says over 1,000 Afghan migrants were forcibly returned from Pakistan on Tuesday through Spin Boldak border crossing in Kandahar province, the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry stated that based on information provided by the Spin Boldak Kandahar border command, these returnees comprised 191 families, totalling 998 people.
In addition, three migrants released from Pakistani prisons were also returned, according to the statement.
The statement added that after registering the returnees, the refugees were referred to the offices of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the World Food Program (WFP) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Each family received 10,000 afghanis – paid to them by the Islamic Emirate.
In another statement, the ministry said that 2,783 migrants living in Iran voluntarily and forcibly returned to the country during this week.
Latest News
Afghanistan’s minister of transport and aviation attends regional meeting in Uzbekistan
Hamidullah Akhundzadeh, acting Minister of Transport and Aviation, headed a delegation to Uzbekistan for a ‘Six-Party Corridor’ meeting that included representatives from Afghanistan, Russia, Belarus, Pakistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
On the sidelines of this meeting the Afghanistan delegation discussed trade through the corridor with the other five relevant countries.
According to the ministry of transport and aviation, Akhundzadeh met with the deputy ministers of transport of Russia and Belarus.
He also discussed ways to expand transit between Afghanistan and Russia; and Afghanistan and Belarus, and provide the necessary facilities to achieve this.
The ministry added that the acting minister had a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Transport and the Special Representative of the President of Uzbekistan on Afghanistan and discussed the expansion of road transport between the two countries.
-
Sport5 days ago
Afghanistan Champions League kicks off with grand opening ceremony
-
Regional5 days ago
Iran’s foreign minister downplays drone attack, says Tehran investigating
-
Latest News4 days ago
Pakistan’s frontiers minister stresses ‘dignified’ return of Afghan refugees
-
Business5 days ago
Afghanistan’s economic prospects are bleak: World Bank
-
Latest News5 days ago
More than 800 Afghan refugees deported from Pakistan in two days
-
Regional3 days ago
Iranian president lands in Pakistan for three-day visit to mend ties
-
Climate Change4 days ago
Massive river flooding expected in China, threatening millions
-
Latest News4 days ago
Chinese keen to invest in Panjshir-Kabul water conduit project