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Koofi and Gailani discuss peace process with Norweigan diplomat
In a virtual discussion with Audun Halvorsen, the State Secretary at Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Fatima Gailani and Fawzia Koofi, members of the Republic’s peace talks team, discussed the importance of the role and presence of women in the peace process.
Gailani said that today's Afghanistan is different from what it was in the past - by having gained “experience from past problems and lessons learned”.
She said: "Our achievements in various fields are vitally important."
Emphasizing the effective use of current opportunities to achieve lasting peace in the country, she said that the protection of women's rights and the participation of women in politics is key to ensuring a bright future for Afghanistan.
Stating that the role of the UN and strengthening regional consensus and the role of neighboring countries in supporting the peace process is of significant importance, Gailani said that there is a need to strengthen coordination and coherence among international partners to get them to support this process.
Fawzia Koofi, meanwhile spoke about recent developments in the peace process, and mentioned the negotiating team's efforts to stop targeted killings and the ongoing violence, and to establish a durable ceasefire.
Stressing the importance of continuing the peace negotiations, Koofi said: "Clear and measured mechanisms are needed to move the peace process forward, and the Negotiating Team of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has worked on these mechanisms."
She emphasized the role of international partners in continuing their cooperation for a stable Afghanistan, and said that establishing peace and security in Afghanistan is crucial to regional stability.
Koofi also spoke about the importance of international guarantees and the United Nations' role in ensuring peace in Afghanistan, saying that parties who make decisions regarding the peace process must ensure that the decisions will lead Afghanistan to peace and stability.
The State Secretary in the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway also said that the country, together with the international community, will continue to support the Afghanistan peace process and will work for achieving sustainable peace and stability in Afghanistan.
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Weakened Iran could pursue nuclear weapon, White House’s Sullivan says
Israeli strikes on Iranian facilities, including missile factories and air defenses, have reduced Tehran’s conventional military capabilities, Sullivan told CNN.
The Biden administration is concerned that a weakened Iran could build a nuclear weapon, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday, adding that he was briefing President-elect Donald Trump's team on the risk, Reuters reported.
Iran has suffered setbacks to its regional influence after Israel's assaults on its allies, Palestinian Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah, followed by the fall of Iran-aligned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Israeli strikes on Iranian facilities, including missile factories and air defenses, have reduced Tehran's conventional military capabilities, Sullivan told CNN.
"It's no wonder there are voices (in Iran) saying, 'Hey, maybe we need to go for a nuclear weapon right now ... Maybe we have to revisit our nuclear doctrine'," Sullivan said.
Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful, but it has expanded uranium enrichment since Trump, in his 2017-2021 presidential term, pulled out of a deal between Tehran and world powers that put restrictions on Iran's nuclear activity in exchange for sanctions relief, read the report.
Sullivan said that there was a risk that Iran might abandon its promise not to build nuclear weapons.
"It's a risk we are trying to be vigilant about now. It's a risk that I'm personally briefing the incoming team on," Sullivan said, adding that he had also consulted with U.S. ally Israel.
Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, could return to his hardline Iran policy by stepping up sanctions on Iran's oil industry.
Sullivan said Trump would have an opportunity to pursue diplomacy with Tehran, given Iran's "weakened state."
"Maybe he can come around this time, with the situation Iran finds itself in, and actually deliver a nuclear deal that curbs Iran's nuclear ambitions for the long term," he said.
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Saudi Arabia reopens embassy in Afghanistan
In November 2021, Saudi Arabia said it was resuming consular services in Afghanistan. It also provides humanitarian aid in the country through its KSRelief organisation.
Saudi Arabia has resumed its diplomatic operations in Kabul, reopening its embassy on Sunday.
"Based on the desire of the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to provide all services to the brotherly Afghan people, it has been decided to resume the activities of the mission of the Kingdom in Kabul starting on December 22," the embassy posted on social media site X.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan's acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi recently met with Saudi representatives, expressing a desire to expand bilateral relations. Saudi officials reaffirmed their commitment to providing humanitarian aid and strengthening collaboration in various fields.
In November 2021, Saudi Arabia said it was resuming consular services in Afghanistan. It also provides humanitarian aid in the country through its KSRelief organisation.
Saudi Arabia was one of only three countries, the others being Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, that recognised the first IEA government which came to power in 1996 and was overthrown by the United States invasion of 2001.
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Human traffickers should be sentenced to 1 to 3 years in prison: IEA leader
The Leader of the Islamic Emirate has issued a decree instructing the Ministry of Interior Affairs to prevent human trafficking and to arrest and refer culprits to military courts.
The decree containing six articles says that that military courts should sentence human traffickers to one year in prison for the first time, two years if repeated for the second time and three years if repeated for the third time.
The ministries of Hajj, information, telecommunications, borders, propagation of virtue, as well as religious scholars are asked to inform the public about the dangers and adverse consequences of travelling through smuggling routes.
The decree comes as the rate of migration has increased following the political change in Afghanistan in 2021.
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