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UN’s DiCarlo says trust and honesty needed by all parties for Afghanistan to move forward
“Human rights and especially the rights of women and girls , and inclusion of all members of society will continue to be an integral part of our discussions,” DiCarlo said.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo said on Tuesday after meeting with members of Afghanistan’s civil society that there “really is a need to build trust on all sides”.
Addressing a press conference after her meeting, she said it was important to have dialogue “that’s built on honesty”.
“It’s got to be based on principles, those of the UN Charter, and various human rights treaties that Afghanistan is a party to.”
She said: “We are still at the beginning of this process.”
According to her there was a need for everyone to be patient and realistic.
“It's a process based on the independent that the UN Security Council recognized last November; the assessment calls for a more coordinated and structured process, with clear conditions and expectations from all sides.
“It also calls for a principled, step-for-step approach with a clear understanding of the outcomes and commitments from all sides.
“Human rights and especially the rights of women and girls , and inclusion of all members of society will continue to be an integral part of our discussions.”
In terms of moving forward, DiCarlo said there had been a discussion in Monday’s meeting with special envoys and the Islamic Emirate on the possibility of establishing smaller working groups to discuss key issues.
“We are continuing that discussion on how to proceed forward,” she said.
Once again she reiterated that this process was in its early stages and would need time and patience.
“Really, our approach has one goal. And that’s helping all the people of Afghanistan.”
DiCarlo’s meeting with civil society representatives not part of the official agenda. Contrary to earlier reports that no envoys from foreign countries had attended this meeting, DiCarlo said there “had been a fair number of member states” at the meeting.
She pointed out attendance had been “optional”.
Asked whether civil society representatives were upset at having been sidelined from the 3rd Doha meeting she said: “Obviously, civil society, many would have like to be at the meeting but they were pleased to have the opportunity to speak with some of the envoys.”
DiCarlo was also asked why such the two-day meeting and the meeting with Afghan civil society representatives had been so shrouded in secrecy; and why the identities of the civil society members were being withheld.
In answer, she put it down to the UN “respecting the privacy” of individuals and that UN meetings are closed events.
She did however say the international community does feel that Afghanistan is not abiding by its international obligations.
However, at the very end of the two-day meeting, mention was made that eventually there would be a need for an “intra-Afghan dialogue”.
“What we are doing is not an intra-Afghan dialogue right now. We are just going through issues at this point; and we want to get various perspectives.
“Let’s be perfectly honest, the citizens and the de facto authorities are not ready for sitting down at the table with each other. At least they weren’t for this past meeting,” she said.
The two-day UN-led Doha meeting was the third of its kind but the first one that the Islamic Emirate attended.
However, representatives of Afghan civil societies had been barred from attending the event. Instead, DiCarlo and some foreign envoys met with them in a separate meeting on Tuesday.
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Afghanistan exported more than 2,500 tons of pine nuts in 1402
Afghan pine nut is mostly exported to China, India, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce says that in the past solar year (1402) more than 2,500 tons of pine nuts worth $27 million were exported to neighboring countries and beyond.
Afghan pine nut is mostly exported to China, India, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
“The total weight of black pine nut exports during 1402 was 2,523 tons and the value was $27 million, mostly to China, India, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United States, Britain, Australia, the Netherlands, and other countries,” said Abdul Salam Javad Akhundzada, the spokesman of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
Officials in the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock say that since last year, pine nut production has increased in the country and they have also expanded artificial forests to harvest more pine nuts.
“In order to revive pine nut forests, according to last year's development budget, pine trees have been planted on approximately 1,500 hectares of land.
There used to be pine trees on these lands, but they were cut down or destroyed in a fire,” said Misbahuddin Mustain, the spokesperson of the Ministries of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock.
Experts say that currently China buys most of Afghanistan's pint nuts, but the government must find new markets so that it can be sold at a better price.
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IEA says deportation of Afghan migrants from neighboring countries has intensified
A committee of the High Commission for Addressing the Problems of Migrants said the process of forced expulsion of Afghan migrants from neighboring countries has intensified.
However, members of the committee emphasized, in their meeting with the Prime Minister's administrative deputy, that they have managed the resettlement of the returnees well in cooperation with relevant institutions.
In the meeting, Abdul Salam Hanafi, the administrative deputy prime minister, said that as winter approaches, committees should seek to ensure that the returnees will not face problems.
Experts say that the refugee hosting countries should treat Afghan migrants according to international laws, and take into account the current conditions of the country.
“To reduce immigration and increase economic stability, creating employment opportunities, increasing investment, giving various types of loans to people and issuing securities can be effective,” said Asifa Stanikzai, a migration expert.
Iranian officials have said that they deport 3,000 Afghan immigrants from the country every day and they plan to deport two million Afghan immigrants by the end of this year.
Forced deportation of Afghan migrants from Iran and Pakistan has been a serious challenge in the last three years, but according to experts, the Islamic Emirate has been able to manage the process to some extent.
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Iran executes 13 Afghans in October, 49 in total since January
Last month, Iran carried out at least 166 executions in October alone bringing the total in the first 10 months of 2024 to at least 651
Iran Human Rights reported this weekend that in the first 10 months of 2024, Iran has executed 49 Afghan nationals, 13 of whom were executed in October alone.
According to IHR, the number of executions of Afghan nationals has increased in the past three years.
In 2022, 16 Afghan nationals, including a juvenile offender and a woman, were executed.
In 2023, this number increased to 25.
This year, the trend has accelerated further.
IHR warned that Iran may take advantage of the rising conflict between Iran and Israel to escalate the number of executions in the coming months.
Last month, Iran carried out at least 166 executions in October alone bringing the total in the first 10 months of 2024 to at least 651.
This marks the highest number of executions recorded in a single month since Iran Human Rights began documenting executions in 2007.
Among those executed were the 13 Afghan nationals, six women, and an Iranian-German citizen.
The organization has called on the international community, media, and civil society to closely monitor and respond to what they say is an “alarming rise in executions”.
IHR also stated that since the presidential election and the recent escalation in Iran-Israel tensions, the number of executions has surged, with at least 353 people having been executed between August and October - since President Massoud Pezeshkian took office.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has not yet commented on the number of Afghan nationals executed.
The Iranian government does not disclose the number of Afghans it executes or the reasons behind most cases.
However, it is widely believed that a significant portion of these executions are related to drug charges.
Human rights organizations have criticized the Iranian government for conducting such executions, arguing that these actions violate international laws and the right to life.
Amnesty International says that the death penalty, without exception, constitutes a violation of the right to life as articulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
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