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UN Security Council set to condemn IEA crackdown on Afghan women
The UN Security Council is set to vote on Thursday to condemn a ban on Afghan women working for the United Nations in Afghanistan.
The resolution will also call on the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) to “swiftly reverse” its crackdown on the rights of women and girls.
The resolution to be voted on – drafted by the United Arab Emirates and Japan and seen by Reuters – describes the ban as “unprecedented in the history of the United Nations” and asserts “the indispensable role of women in Afghan society.”
Diplomats said it is expected to be adopted. A resolution needs at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by Russia, China, the United States, Britain or France to pass.
The draft resolution says the ban on Afghan women working for the United Nations “undermines human rights and humanitarian principles.”
Earlier this month the IEA began enforcing the ban on Afghan women working for the U.N. after stopping most women working for humanitarian aid groups in December. Since toppling the Western-backed government in 2021, they have also tightened controls on women’s access to public life, including barring women from university and closing girls’ high schools.
The IEA says it respects women’s rights in accordance with its strict interpretation of Islamic law and officials have said decisions on female aid workers are an “internal issue.”
The draft Security Council resolution demands all parties allow full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access “regardless of gender” and “stresses the urgent need to continue addressing the dire economic and humanitarian situation.”
It also “recognizes the need to help address the substantial challenges facing Afghanistan’s economy, including through efforts to enable the use of assets belonging to Afghanistan’s Central Bank for the benefit of the Afghan people.”
The United States froze billions of the bank’s reserves held in the U.S. and later transferred half of the money to a trust fund in Switzerland overseen by U.S., Swiss and Afghan trustees.
The draft resolution also stresses “the critical importance” of the United Nations’s continued presence across Afghanistan.
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IEA summons Pakistan’s charge d’Affaires over deadly airstrikes
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has summoned the Charge d'Affaires of the Pakistani Embassy in Kabul, the ministry said in a statement.
In a strong protest, the ministry handed over a "firm protest note" to the Pakistani diplomat, condemning the recent airstrikes by Pakistani forces in the Barmal district of Paktika province.
The note stressed that the protection of Afghanistan's territorial integrity is a "red line" for the Islamic Emirate and warned that such reckless actions would have serious and far-reaching consequences.
The Pakistani airstrikes, which took place late Tuesday night, resulted in 46 deaths and left six others injured in Barmal district.
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Karzai calls Pakistan’s airstrikes in Paktika ‘blatant aggression’
Afghanistan's former president, Hamid Karzai, has strongly condemned the recent Pakistani military airstrikes in Barmal district of Paktika province, calling it a “blatant aggression” and a violation of Afghanistan's sovereignty.
In a statement on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Karzai attributed the ongoing tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan to Islamabad’s misguided policies, which he argued have fostered extremism in the region and consistently sought to destabilize Afghanistan.
Karzai stressed that resolving these tensions requires an immediate and thorough reassessment of Pakistan's policies.
He also called for the establishment of a "civilized relationship" grounded in mutual respect and good neighborly relations, which he believes would benefit both nations.
The Pakistani airstrikes on late Tuesday night in Barmal district resulted in 46 fatalities and six injuries.
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Deal on Islam, Islamic Emirate impossible: Deputy PM Kabir
The Political Deputy of Prime Minister, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, has firmly stated that any deal involving Islam or the Islamic Emirate is impossible. He emphasized the IEA remains steadfast in upholding the values of Jihad and will continue to adhere to its core principles.
During a visit to Baghlan province, where he attended a ceremony marking the graduation of religious madrassa students, Kabir reiterated that IEA’s relations with the international community are grounded in Islamic principles. He also reassured that the caretaker government is addressing relevant issues with a sense of responsibility and commitment.
Kabir further highlighted that efforts to improve education and development are already underway, with a gradual focus on resolving the challenges facing the Afghan people.
In a significant development, the Deputy Prime Minister also mentioned that military personnel from the previous government have been granted amnesty and are now living in full security, with no threats to their safety.
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