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Stanikzai issues stern warning to Pakistan over refugee issue
While condemning the forced expulsion of refugees and their mistreatment by Pakistan, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, deputy foreign minister for political affairs, on Monday warned the country of strong reaction and said that Afghanistan now has a strong army.
Speaking at a conference on economic development in Kabul, Stanikzai said that Pakistan’s expulsion of refugees is cruel and a unilateral decision.
"We do not give anyone the right to do the atrocities on our sisters, brothers and children that the security forces are doing on the soil of Pakistan. We were very patient and did not react strongly. Our hope and expectation from the security forces and civil government of Pakistan is that they should change their behavior and not force us to respond to their actions. The reaction of Afghans is well known to the world. Afghans do not react much and if they do, it will be recorded in history. Thank God, we have a strong defense force today. Our Ministry of Defense is strong, thank God. We have more weapons than most of our neighbors. We have a trained force that defeated NATO and America two years ago,” Stanikzai said.
This senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Pakistani forces seize the property of Afghan refugees before expelling them.
He also emphasized that Pakistan has ignored the request of the United Nations and the world not to deport Afghan refugees, while it has made money from the presence of refugees in its soil for years.
"The United Nations, the world, human rights organizations all want Pakistan to reverse its decision. But they intensify their stubbornness unilaterally and now there is a lot of pressure and crowding at our borders including Spin Boldak and Torkham. Tens of thousands of people, including children, come to Afghanistan every day,” Stanikzai said.
Pakistan has cited security concerns as the reason for expelling illegal foreigners.
Officials of the Islamic Emirate, however, have said that Pakistan is making an excuse as IEA has already made a commitment to the world that it will not allow its soil to be used against any other country.
Visiting Torkham, Acting Minister of Refugees and Repatriation Khalil-ur-Rahman Haqqani called on Pakistani authorities to stop mistreating Afghan refugees.
“They should reconsider their decision and stop this process. They should not confiscate refugees’ property, but repatriate them in a dignified manner. They should stop beating or torturing them,” Haqqani said.
The Pakistani government had given illegal refugees until November 1 to leave the country.
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G7 envoys urge national dialogue for lasting stability in Afghanistan
Special Representatives of the Group of Seven (G7), including the European Union, have emphasized the importance of a national dialogue for achieving long-term stability in Afghanistan.
Following a meeting on Afghanistan in Geneva, Switzerland, G7 special envoys issued a joint statement calling for the restoration of women's rights and urging the Islamic Emirate to fight terrorism.
The statement reads: "Achieving sustainable peace and stability requires credible governance that represents all segments of Afghan society."
The representatives also expressed concern over the IEA’s decision to ban girls from attending medical institutes, warning that it will have devastating consequences for the citizens, particularly mothers and their infants.
The statement described this ban as unacceptable and called on the Afghan authorities to lift it immediately.
Earlier, countries and international organizations had called for the removal of restrictions on the education and employment of women and girls, emphasizing the need for a national dialogue.
In response to these concerns, IEA has repeatedly stated that it will not allow interference in the internal affairs of the country.
The G7 special envoys also expressed their concern about the recent terrorist attacks in Kabul and the surrounding region, warning that terrorism remains a serious threat to Afghanistan's security. They confirmed the actions of the IEA against Daesh but stressed the need for more decisive measures.
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Afghanistan’s bright future lies in educating girls: Karzai
Hamid Karzai, the former president of Afghanistan, says the demand of Afghan girls for the reopening of schools and universities is their fundamental right and adds that Afghanistan cannot have a bright future without ensuring access to education for girls.
In a statement on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Karzai said: "The demand and voice of our country’s girls for education and knowledge is a rightful one and crucial for a prosperous Afghanistan."
He further emphasized, "Empowering the youth—both girls and boys—is the only way to achieve self-reliance, break the cycle of poverty, and drive the development and prosperity of society."
Karzai underscored that education is vital for Afghanistan’s growth and development, expressing hope that the doors of schools and universities for girls will be reopened as soon as possible.
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IEA to set up special courts to address pensions
Mawlawi Hebatullah Akhundzada, the supreme leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), has issued a decree to establish special courts to address pensions, Bakhtar news agency reported on Saturday.
According to the decree, the courts must confirm and process pensions in accordance with Sharia and law.
Pensioners have repeatedly voiced concern over delay in payment, saying that their financial challenges are growing.
Earlier this year, IEA's supreme leader banned money being deducted from salaries of government employees for pensions.
He also requested information on the tenure of employees and the total amount deducted from salaries for pensions.
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