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Khalilzad urges gov’t, Taliban to “immediately start intra-Afghan negotiations”

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US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad called on the Afghan government and the Taliban to immediately start intra-Afghan negotiations.

In a series of tweets, Khalilzad said: “there is no legitimate reason for delay.”

Condemning the Wednesday’s attacks in Kabul that claimed the lives of two civilians, including Abdulbaqi Amin, who was the head of the science council at the Ministry of Education, Khalilzad said, “His death at the hands of spoilers who seek to delay and derail Afghan peace is tragic.”

“We condemn this terrorist act and offer our condolences to his family, friends, and the Afghan people who yearn for peace,” Khalilzad added.

“The right tribute to Dr. Amin is for all sides to reduce violence and immediately start intra-Afghan negotiations,” he tweeted.

This comes as, on Thursday, President Ashraf Ghani said that the Afghan government has removed obstacles on the path to peace, and called on the Taliban to call a permanent ceasefire and sit around the negotiating table with the Afghan government.

In a video message to the Afghan security forces on the occasion of Afghanistan’s 101st independence anniversary, Ghan said a “fair and enduring” peace is due to come in the country as the government has made a huge effort to bring peace to Afghanistan.

“We have opened the way for a fair peace. In this regard we have not only shown our will and commitment but also we have taken practical steps toward achieving that; Taliban prisoners release and conveying consultative peace Loya Jirga are notable instances of our efforts,” Ghani said.

“We yearn for peace in which our youth engaged in building their country. We will bring a peace that all ethnicities of Afghanistan could live together in peace and security and strive for the excellence and progress of the country.”

Meanwhile, the Taliban demands a full release of all 320 “hard-core” controversial Taliban inmates as a precondition to kick start the peace talks with the Afghan government.

Although Ghani has signed the release order of these prisoners, the process has been stalled after the government on Wednesday suspended the release process.

Sediq Sediqqi, the Presidential spokesman, told Ariana News that the government will not release the remaining Taliban prisoners unless the group frees 22 Afghan security force members they are holding captive.

The process has also raised concerns and Australia and France have also publicly called on the government to not release some of these prisoners who are guilty of having killed their nationals.

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India to allow ambassador-level IEA post

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India’s government is expected to accept a top Islamic Emirate representative to the country soon, the latest step from New Delhi to improve ties with Kabul and counter China’s growing influence in Afghanistan, Bloomberg reported.

The IEA official won’t be recognized as a diplomat by India but will be the top representative for the government there. The IEA won’t be able to fly its flag at the embassy, at events or on official vehicles, according to Bloomberg.

Najib Shaheen, a diplomat in his early 30s at the Afghan embassy in Doha, is the main contender for the ambassador-level role in New Delhi. He has worked with the IEA for almost a decade, and is the son of the IEA’s ambassador to Qatar. Shawkat Ahmadzai, who works at the ministry of foreign affairs, is another candidate being considered for the role.

Only a handful of countries, including China, Pakistan and Russia, have accepted diplomats from the IEA, which seized power in Afghanistan in 2021.

India and Afghanistan agreed to resume bilateral trade after senior representatives from both sides met in Doha in January. The IEA also recently sent an administrator to Mumbai to serve as acting consul-general.

 

 

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IEA delegation led by Deputy PM Baradar leaves Kabul for Uzbekistan

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A high-level delegation of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), led by Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, left Kabul for Tashkent on Saturday.

The aim of the two-day visit is to expand political, economic, trade and transit relations between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan and attract Uzbek investment in various sectors in Afghanistan, Baradar’s office said in a statement.

Acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum Hedayatullah Badri, Acting Minister of Transport and Aviation Hamidullah Akhundzada, Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce Nooruddin Azizi, Acting Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock Ataullah Omari, Da Afghanistan Bank President Noor Ahmad Agha, and Deputy Finance Minister for Revenue and Customs Abdul Matin Saeed accompany Mullah Baradar in the visit.

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Abdul Kabir calls on Afghans to uphold and protect the Islamic system

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Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, the Acting Minister of Refugees and Repatriation, emphasized the collective responsibility of all citizens to protect and safeguard the ruling Islamic system during a graduation ceremony at a religious school in Kabul.

He highlighted the importance of maintaining national stability and unity, calling on everyone to contribute to the preservation of the country’s Islamic governance. 

In his address, Abdul Kabir also underscored the harmonious relationship between modern and religious sciences, noting that significant scientific advancements have been achieved in Afghanistan.

The remarks come amid repeated warnings from Islamic Emirate officials about external threats to Afghanistan’s stability. They have accused hostile groups abroad of launching negative propaganda campaigns aimed at undermining public trust in the ruling system and disrupting the country’s peace. 

IEA officials have urged citizens to remain vigilant against such conspiracies. They called on the public to reject false and misleading propaganda, emphasizing the need for unity to counter the efforts of those seeking to destabilize the nation.

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