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Pakistan’s Imran Khan party slams defense minister’s hinting at possible operations in Afghanistan
While condemning Asif’s rhetoric, opposition leaders stated that such statements endanger not only the “brotherly” relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan but also regional peace.
Following the Pakistani Defense Minister's remarks about the possibility of operations against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Afghanistan, former prime minister Imran Khan's Tehreek-Insaf (PTI) on Friday condemned the remarks, saying that Pakistan should not interfere in other countries.
"We don't allow any interference in our country, so we shouldn't interfere in any other country," members of the united opposition in the National Assembly stated in an emergency meeting.
While condemning Asif's rhetoric, opposition leaders stated that such statements endanger not only the "brotherly" relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan but also regional peace.
"Our ties with India are based on rivalry, and now we are trying to treat Afghanistan similarly. We cannot afford further escalation of the conflict and disorder," Asad Qaiser, a senior member of PTI, remarked.
He warned that launching attacks inside a neighbouring country would risk pushing the entire region into war.
Omar Ayub, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, highlighted that "even major world powers have faced challenges in Afghanistan, which has always been considered a geostrategic focal point in the region".
"India is leading many terrorist attacks inside Pakistan. Why didn't the defence minister remark about launching attacks inside India?" he questioned during a media talk outside parliament.
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said on Thursday that under Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, the government could target Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts across the border in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense in a statement, however, slammed the remarks as “careless,” warning of consequences if attacks take place.
Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), in a press conference on Saturday, also said that IEA will not allow incursion into Afghan soil.
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Pakistan’s defense minister says TTP hideouts in Afghanistan can be targeted
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IEA delegation attends conference for ‘Promoting Mining Cooperation’ in China
The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum said on Saturday in a statement that its delegation participated in a conference titled "Promoting Mining Cooperation" in China’s Hunan province.
The Ministry stated the conference aims to build a well-equipped laboratory in Afghanistan, increase the capacity of technical and professional employees of the Ministry of Mines, and encourage investors in the mineral resources sector of Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Chinese investors expressed their interest in Afghanistan’s gold, copper, mica, talc, oil, gas, lithium, lead and zinc mines.
At the conference, the ministry’s deputy minister of finance and administration and head of the delegation Hussamuddin Saberi talked about Afghanistan's natural resources contracts and investment opportunities and considered holding such programs effective for the relations between the two countries.
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Uzbekistan, EU envoys meet to discuss Afghanistan
Uzbekistan’s special representative for Afghanistan, Ismatulla Irgashev, on Friday met with the EU Special Representative for Central Asia Terhi Hakala.
During the meeting, the parties discussed the current state and prospects of Uzbek-European relations in the Afghan direction, the efforts of the international community to prevent a humanitarian crisis in the country and the possibility of using the international transport and logistics hub in Termez to deliver humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, Uzbekistan’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
Hakala highly appreciated the efforts of Uzbekistan to develop a consolidated regional position on Afghanistan, establish long-term peace and stability in the country, according to the statement.
The parties expressed mutual interest in continuing bilateral consultations on the Afghan issue, the statement added.
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UN expert calls for comprehensive, rights-focused action plan for Afghanistan
A UN expert on Friday called on the international community to devise and implement a comprehensive, human rights-centered action plan to address the human rights crisis in Afghanistan.
“The absence of a unified, forceful response from the international community has emboldened the Taliban (IEA),” UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, said.
In his latest report to the UN General Assembly, Bennett said that the human rights situation in Afghanistan is worsening, which includes systematic gender oppression, amounting to gender persecution and which many Afghans term “gender apartheid” with intergenerational implications.
Bennett expressed concern about the new “vice and virtue” law, announced in August, which he believes has institutionalized an expanding list of restrictions that “blatantly violate the rights of women and girls.”
He also expressed concern about the “shrinking civic space” in Afghanistan, the situation of minorities, journalists, and former government officials and security personnel.
“Justice, equality, and the rule of law are being systematically undermined,” he said.
The UN expert also called for increased funding and support for Afghan civil society and humanitarian efforts to mitigate the crisis.
Bennett urged the IEA to reverse its “repressive policies” and reinstate basic human rights. He pressed the international community to take a coordinated, multifaceted approach to support the Afghan people.
Bennett urged states not to normalize relations with the IEA until there are demonstrable human rights improvements and pathways to justice and accountability.
This comes as the Islamic Emirate has said that it is committed to ensuring human rights, including the rights of women and girls, according to Sharia, and this is an internal issue of Afghanistan.
The Islamic Emirate has banned Richard Bennett from traveling to Afghanistan, saying that he exaggerates small issues.
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