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Muttaqi says IEA will skip Doha meeting if their ‘conditions’ aren’t met
Acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi said Wednesday in a meeting with Russia’s ambassador Dmitry Zhirnov that if the Islamic Emirate’s conditions are not taken into consideration ahead of the Doha meeting, then the IEA would prefer to sit this out.
In answer to a question by Zhirnov on whether the IEA would attend the Doha gathering of special representatives to Afghanistan, along with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Muttaqi said they were in close contact with the relevant UN agencies and had shared their views on whether to attend.
Muttaqi said it would be good to attend the meeting but only if it is an opportunity for high-level meaningful consultations between the IEA and the UN, and if the IEA is able to fulfill its responsibility as the official representative of Afghanistan.
Muttaqi said if the IEA’s conditions are not taken into consideration, non-participation would be preferred.
Zhirnov said he understands the IEA’s stance and would convey this to Moscow.
The two diplomats also discussed other issues of bilateral importance.
The IEA has reportedly set conditions for them to attend the meeting. However they have not given details.
On Tuesday, Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Iran’s ambassador and special representative in Kabul, said the Islamic Emirate has two “important conditions” in order for a delegation to participate.
Qomi did not however say what the two conditions were.
The second meeting of the special representatives of the countries on Afghanistan affairs is scheduled to be held on the 18 and 19 of this month in Doha.
The meeting will be hosted by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and participants will discuss the recommendations in the “Afghanistan Independent Assessment” report based on UN Security Council Resolution 2721.
The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum of Afghanistan has signed a 30-year agreement with a private company to extract marble in Daikundi province.
Under the contract, the company will invest AFN 283 million in exploring and mining marble at the “Mesh-Uliya” site, spanning 16.74 square kilometers in central Daikundi.
Hedayatullah Badri, Minister of Mines and Petroleum, stated that the marble will be processed domestically before being exported abroad. He added that the Mesh-Uliya project is expected to create around 200 jobs, and the company is committed to supporting local communities through social initiatives.
Economic experts highlight that such investments, especially those focusing on domestic processing, are crucial for job creation, boosting exports, and strengthening the national economy. Analysts further note that the project will improve local infrastructure, expand social services, and enhance the economic and social well-being of Daikundi residents.
Since the return of the Islamic Emirate to power, efforts to develop Afghanistan’s mining sector have intensified, with multiple contracts signed in areas including cement, copper, iron, and lapis lazuli, involving both domestic and international companies.
A passenger bus veered off the Salang Highway before dawn on Sunday, leaving five people dead and 44 others injured, the Ministry of Public Works said.
According to the ministry, the incident occurred at around 2:00 a.m. in the Shawol area of North Salang when a passenger bus deviated from the main road due to the driver’s negligence.
Mohammad Ashraf Haqshenas, spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Works, said five passengers were killed and 44 others sustained injuries. He added that personnel from the Salang Maintenance and Protection Directorate promptly arrived at the scene and transferred the injured to the Khunjān clinic for medical treatment.
The Ministry of Public Works has urged drivers and passengers traveling on the Salang Highway to strictly follow the instructions of on-duty teams, observe traffic regulations, and carry warm clothing, food supplies, and snow chains to prevent similar incidents.
The ministry also noted that heavy snowfall and stormy weather have led to the temporary closure of the highway, while road maintenance teams are continuing snow-clearing operations.
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Major fire in Mandawi Kabul market contained, extensive losses prevented
Local shopkeepers said the fire broke out around 4 a.m.
The Ministry of Interior reported that personnel from the General Directorate of Firefighting and Emergency Response successfully prevented the further spread of a fire at Mandawi market on Kabul early Sunday morning.
Abdul Mateen Qani, spokesperson for the ministry, said that the fire destroyed 10 storage facilities and 8 shops. He added that initial losses are estimated at around $700,000, but timely action by firefighting personnel saved property worth approximately $2.2 million.
Qani explained that the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit. He praised the rapid and effective containment operations, which prevented more extensive damage.
Local shopkeepers said the fire broke out around 4 a.m.
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