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Muttaqi, US special envoys agree to continue engagement over key issues
Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting minister of foreign affairs, held a telephone conversation with Thomas West, the US Special Representative for Afghanistan, and Rina Amiri, the US Special Representative for Afghan Women, on Saturday where they discussed issues around recent US developments regarding the financial sector, in particular the banking sector.
According to Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), they also discussed political and humanitarian issues.
Muttaqi told the US envoys there had been progress in Afghanistan's financial sector, which was a positive step. He also said the IEA had made numerous achievements in a number of areas.
"Security has been established, Daesh has been suppressed and no one has been allowed to use Afghan territory against others," Muttaqi said.
He also said that despite challenges, the banking system in the country is now active, the Afghani currency has retained its value, the government has been able to pay salaries to its 500,000 former employees and tens of thousands of new employees without discrimination, and the new budget has been approved.
West in turn tweeted after their discussion that he “spoke with Taliban’s (IEA) Amir Khan Muttaqi this morning. Conveyed unified international opposition to ongoing and expanding restrictions on women and girls’ rights and role in society.
“Girls must be back in school, women free to move and work without restrictions for progress to normalized relations.
“Also discussed economic stabilization to support Afghan people, concerns about terrorist attacks on civilians, and recent dissolution of important institutions,” he said.
“Dialogue will continue in support of Afghan people and our national interests,” West said.
Rina Amiri, meanwhile, shared her concerns and views on women's education, their right to work and called on the IEA to work on improving the situation for women.
On the other hand, Muttaqi said that Afghan women work in the fields of education, health, passports and other areas.
He said: "A decree has been issued regarding the hijab and Afghan women have no problem with it, another decree on banning drugs has also been issued and implemented."
Both sides agreed to continue interacting in a bid to resolve key issues.
Norwegian Ambassador to Kabul Ole Lindeman also spoke with Muttaqi and discussed the current situation in Afghanistan and developments in humanitarian, health and economic spheres.
According to the foreign ministry, during the meeting the Norwegian ambassador said security in Afghanistan was in the interest of the whole world, adding that bilateral relations between Afghanistan and Norway would play a crucial role in addressing challenges.
Highlighting the favorable security situation in Afghanistan, Muttaqi said that now the door is open for the world to support Afghanistan.
Muttaqi called on all to monitor the situation in Afghanistan closely, and “not judge the new rulers based on propaganda by media and opposition, and assess facts themselves."
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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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Eight Afghan migrants die as boat capsizes off Greek island
Eight Afghan migrants died after a speedboat carrying migrants capsized off Greece's eastern island of Rhodes on Friday, the Associated Press reported.
Greek authorities said that the capsizing was the result of the boat’s maneuvering to evade a patrol vessel.
A total of 18 migrants — 12 men, three women and three minors — all Afghan nationals, were rescued, Greece's coast guard said Saturday. The dead were also from Afghanistan, it said.
Some migrants remained hospitalized, with one in critical condition, authorities said.
Two Turkish citizens, ages 23 and 19, were arrested as the suspected traffickers. The boat sank after capsizing, the coast guard said.
The sinking off Rhodes was the second deadly incident involving migrants in the past week.
Seven migrants were killed and dozens were believed missing after a boat partially sank south of the island of Crete over the weekend — one of four rescue operations during which more than 200 migrants were rescued.
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Norwegian Chargé d’Affaires meets with IEA deputy foreign minister
Welcoming the diplomat’s visit to Kabul, Stanikzai underscored the importance of political relations between Afghanistan and Norway, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
The Norwegian Chargé d’Affaires for Afghanistan, Per Albert Ilsaas, on Saturday met with IEA’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, Sher Muhammad Abbas Stanikzai, in Kabul.
Welcoming the diplomat’s visit to Kabul, Stanikzai underscored the importance of political relations between Afghanistan and Norway, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
In addition to focusing on bilateral political, humanitarian, and other pertinent issues, the two sides expressed hope that continued engagement would lead to constructive solutions to related issues.
This comes two weeks after the Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi expressed disappointment regarding the decision by the Norwegian government to downgrade diplomatic relations with Afghanistan.
Balkhi said in a post on X that such decisions should not be linked with internal affairs of other countries.
“Diplomatic engagement is most effective when it fosters mutual understanding and respect, even amidst differing viewpoints,” he stated.
“Access to consular services is a fundamental right of all nationals. We strongly urge all parties to prioritize this principle in the spirit of international cooperation,” he added.
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