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Muttaqi says IEA will skip Doha meeting if their ‘conditions’ aren’t met

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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.

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Balkh’s copper industry hit hard by struggling economy

A number of coppersmiths in Mazar-e-Sharif city say one of their biggest problems is that the market is flooded with cheap, foreign goods.

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For generations, coppersmiths have plied their trade in northern Balkh province, but the few that are left say they are struggling to survive in Afghanistan’s battered economy.

They say the market for handmade copper products has shrunk over the years and that people no longer use their pots, pans and water jugs as they did in the past.

They have in turn appealed to the public to start using their household items instead of buying mass produced imported items.

A number of coppersmiths in Mazar-e-Sharif city say one of their biggest problems is that the market is flooded with cheap, foreign goods.

Chamber of Craftsmen in Balkh officials acknowledge the industry is shrinking but have said efforts are being made to boost the sector. They have also appealed to the public to support domestic products.

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Former Australian hostage in Afghanistan Timothy Weeks dies in Kabul

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Timothy Weeks, a 54-year-old English language teacher from Australia, who spent three and a half years in captivity in Afghanistan, died in Kabul on Wednesday.

Weeks, who converted to Islam and went by the name of Jibra’il Omar, was living in Kabul at the time of his death.

The Australian academic had been a lecturer at the American University in Kabul in 2016 when taken hostage by the Islamic Emirate along with an American colleague Kevin King.

He was held hostage for three years before being released in a prisoner swap in 2019.

The prisoner-swap deal saw the two men released in exchange for three Islamic Emirate prisoners, including Anas Haqqani.

According to a statement issued by the Islamic Emirate, Omar passed away in Kabul on Wednesday. He had been battling cancer for “a long time”, the statement read.

“He was captured by the Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate in the past years, then he was released from prison during the exchange of prisoners, then he converted to the holy religion of Islam with his self-satisfaction and changed his name from Timothy Weeks to (Jabriel Omar),” the statement read.

“Jabriel Omar worked as an English teacher in Kabul. He was very fond of Afghanistan and the Islamic Emirate, and based on that he considered it best to live in Kabul,” the IEA said.

Abdul Mateen Qani, the spokesman for the Islamic Emirate’s ministry of interior, said on X that the “MoI of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan expresses its deep sorrow over his death and expresses its condolences to his friends and relatives.”

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India’s foreign secretary Misri meets with Afghanistan’s FM Muttaqi in Dubai

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India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan in Dubai on Wednesday for talks on a number of issues.

According to a statement issued by India’s foreign ministry, the two diplomats discussed the need to strengthen bilateral ties and ongoing regional issues.

Misri reaffirmed India's long-standing friendship with the people of Afghanistan, and emphasized the strong people-to-people connections between the two nations.

Misri highlighted India's commitment to addressing Afghanistan's urgent developmental needs and extending humanitarian support.

The discussions also included an assessment of India's ongoing humanitarian assistance programs in Afghanistan.

Misri outlined India's contributions, which have included multiple shipments of critical aid such as 50,000 metric tons of wheat, 300 tons of medicines, and 27 tons of earthquake relief supplies. Other assistance provided by India includes 40,000 liters of pesticides, 100 million doses of polio vaccine, 1.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine, hygiene kits for drug rehabilitation, winter clothing, and educational materials.

Muttaqi expressed his gratitude to India for its continued engagement and support to the Afghan people.

He acknowledged the positive impact of these humanitarian efforts and emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation in the near future.

Both parties agreed to explore further developmental initiatives to complement the existing humanitarian programs.

India also agreed to provide additional support in the areas of health and refugee rehabilitation, as requested by Afghanistan. Furthermore, the two sides discussed enhancing sports cooperation, particularly in cricket, a sport that holds significant cultural value for Afghanistan’s youth.

The two ministers also explored ways to bolster economic and trade relations, particularly through the use of the Chabahar port. This strategic port, which connects India, Iran, and Afghanistan, is expected to facilitate smoother trade routes, including for the transport of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.

In their discussions, the Afghan side reiterated its understanding of India's security concerns, acknowledging the importance of regional stability.

Both sides agreed to maintain regular communication and continue engagement at multiple levels to further deepen bilateral relations.

According to the statement, this high-level meeting underscores India's ongoing commitment to the people of Afghanistan, even amid challenging political and security circumstances, and highlights the continued importance of regional cooperation in South Asia.

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