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Women MPs share concerns with US Congress in virtual meeting
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Women representatives of the Wolesi Jirga (Lower House of Parliament) attended a video conference with key members of the U.S. Congress on Thursday evening where they discussed the latest political and security developments in Afghanistan.
According to the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Afghan delegation also shared with the US Congress members and Senators their concerns about the consequences of the withdrawal of US and NATO troops.
Members of the U.S. Congress meanwhile pledged to share the concerns raised with their fellow congressmen, the Senate, and the U.S. Government and continue to support and help Afghanistan preserve the achievements of the past two decades.
The Afghan parliamentarians in turn called on U.S. congressmen to help prevent the country from returning to the “dark days of Taliban rule”.
They said the escalation of violence, the targeted killings, the Taliban’s continued links with al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations was a clear violation of the Doha Agreement, as was the group’s unwillingness to seek a political solution.
The women called on their U.S. counterparts to help persuade the Taliban and their regional supporters to accept an immediate and permanent cease-fire in the country.
The meeting was attended by Acting Minister of Women’s Affairs Hasina Safi, Chairwoman of the House Committee on Women and Human Rights Nahid Farid, Member of Parliament Shinkai Karukhil, and Zohra Ahmadzai Deputy Chairman of the Supreme National Reconciliation Council and Advisor to the First Lady.
On the U.S. side, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee Adam Smith and U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham, Young Kim, Steve Chabot, Andy Kim, and Michael Waltz attended the dialogue.
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Torkham crossing closure harms Afghan, Pakistani traders: MoCI
Jawad Akhundzada: “We hope that Pakistan will reconsider this issue and take steps to resolve it fundamentally, ensuring that this route is not closed by them again.”
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The Ministry of Commerce and Industry spokesman Abdul Salam Jawad Akhundzada says Pakistan’s closure of the Torkham crossing violates all international trade laws and causes harm to the traders and citizens of both countries.
Jawad Akhundzada stated that if Pakistan’s obstacles to economic activities continue, it may further damage the economic relations between the two countries, emphasizing that the ministry is working to resolve this issue through dialogue with Pakistan.
“Once again, we are witnessing the closure of the Torkham crossing, which has blocked our trade and transit routes. This harms both our traders and citizens, as well as those of Pakistan,” he said.
He added, “We hope that Pakistan will reconsider this issue and take steps to resolve it fundamentally, ensuring that this route is not closed by them again.”
Meanwhile, officials from the Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce have stated that trade and transit between Kabul and Islamabad, including all economic activities, have been politicized by Pakistan, increasing trade challenges between the two countries.
The officials also noted that if Islamabad continues to create such problems, Afghan traders may end their trade and economic relations with Pakistan.
Khan Jan Alokozai, the head of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce, said, “Currently, with the route closed, Pakistan is suffering significant losses. Hundreds of trucks carrying goods such as fruits, onions, potatoes, and tomatoes pass through this crossing, all of which are now halted, causing them losses.”
“I believe that if this situation continues, both transit and trade with Pakistan will end,” he said.
However, members of the private sector stated that Afghanistan has already diverted 70 percent of its transit from Pakistan to other routes. They warn that if Pakistan continues to create obstacles to economic activities, trade between the two countries will soon drop to zero.
It has been over a week since Pakistan closed the Torkham crossing to all traffic, leaving thousands of freight carriers loaded with commercial goods stranded on both sides of the border.
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Next German chancellor: We need to learn from experience in Afghanistan
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Friedrich Merz, who is projected to become Germany’s next chancellor, has been cautious about the debate about European troops in Ukraine after the peace deal.
“We have learnt that you should not go anywhere if you do not know how to get out. We have to learn from the experience in Afghanistan,” he said in an interview.
Some European leaders have proposed sending European troops to Ukraine as part of a peace deal with Russia.
Moscow, however, has rejected the proposal.
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Islamabad says Afghanistan is trying to build border post on Pakistani territory
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Pakistan’s foreign ministry said on Friday that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) is trying to establish a border post on Pakistani territory.
Shafqat Ali Khan, Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesperson, made the remarks at a press conference a week after Pakistan closed the key Torkham crossing to travellers and trade.
He called on the Islamic Emirate to resolve issues through bilateral mechanisms such as the Joint Coordination Committee.
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman also said the international community should address the issue of US military equipment left behind in Afghanistan.
“The question of weapons left behind by the US remains a serious concern for us for one particular reason, that those weapons are being used by the terrorists for attacks inside Pakistan,” Khan said, noting that Islamabad had been raising the issue with American officials.
This comes as US President Donald Trump has called for the return of American military equipment left in Afghanistan.
The Islamic Emirate, however, has said the equipment now belongs to Afghans and would not be returned. The Islamic Emirate has also dismissed concerns about the use of such equipment against other countries.
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman also sought clarity from the US on its policy about the resettlement of Afghan refugees in third countries.
“If a country is not willing to take them back, and if any of them lack valid visas or residency status, they would be deemed illegal. In such cases, our policies governing undocumented individuals will determine our course of action,” he said.
A large number of Afghan migrants are in Pakistan for the purpose of resettling in the United States. Pakistan has announced that it will deport illegal immigrants.
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