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World reacts to deadly earthquakes in Afghanistan’s Herat province
Foreign governments and international organizations have expressed their sympathy following the powerful earthquakes that rocked Afghanistan’s western Herat province on Saturday, killing and injuring thousands of people.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani said that his country stands in solidarity with the government and people of Afghanistan in their hour of need.
“Our condolences with families of victims who have lost their loved ones in the devastating earthquake in Afghanistan. We are in touch with Afghan authorities to help with rescue/relief work,” he said on X.
Pakistan’s ambassador in Kabul said Pakistan is “prioritizing dispatch of search & rescue teams, medicines, food and shelter items.”
Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said Japan endeavors to “swiftly provide necessary assistance, by collaborating with international organizations, so that the people in the affected areas can overcome the hardships they are facing.”
Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs also offered support to people in Afghanistan.
Melanie Joly said on the X platform, formerly Twitter, that "Canada stands ready to support the Afghan people" following the 6.3-magnitude quake that struck near Herat, Afghanistan’s fourth-largest city.”
China’s foreign ministry spokesperson said: “We believe that the people of Afghanistan will overcome the impact of the disaster and rebuild their homes at an early date. We will do our best to assist in Afghanistan’s disaster-relief efforts in light of its needs.”
Azerbaijan`s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the earthquake in Afghanistan.
“Deeply saddened by the news on devastating earthquake in Herat, Afghanistan that claimed hundreds of lives. We express our condolences to families of those who lost their lives in this disaster. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Afghanistan,” the ministry said.
Qatar’s foreign ministry in a statement affirmed Doha’s support to those affected by the earthquake, and its full readiness to provide the necessary assistance to recover from the effects of the earthquake.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani also expressed regret over the loss of lives in the earthquake.
Kanaani extended his sympathy to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) and people of the country.
According to Afghanistan’s State Ministry for Disaster Management, 2,053 people have been killed or injured as a result of Saturday’s earthquakes in Herat.
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Afghanistan carries out retaliatory attack against Pakistan
The Ministry of National Defense said on Saturday it has attacked "centers and hideouts of evil elements and their supporters" across the Durand Line.
"Several points across the hypothetical line including centers and hideouts of evil elements and their supporters from where attacks were organized in Afghanistan were attacked in revenge from the southeast of the country," the ministry said in a statement.
Meanwhile, sources said that retaliatory attacks across the Durand Line began last night from Alisher district of Khost province and Dand Patan district of Paktia province and continued until morning.
According to sources, light and heavy weapons were used in the clashes.
Earlier, Pakistan launched airstrikes in Paktika's Barmal district on Tuesday, killing and wounding dozens of people.
The Ministry of National Defense of Afghanistan had warned that the attacks would not go unanswered.
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Syria is ‘more strategically important’ to US than Afghanistan: Khalilzad
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US envoy for Afghanistan peace, said that he had urged senior officials in the Joe Biden administration to take a more active approach toward Syria.
According to a report by the New York Times published on Friday, Khalilzad said the Biden administration made a mistake by refraining from having more direct contact with the Islamic Emirate after it came to power in 2021.
He said the recent meeting of the US delegation with Ahmed al-Sharaa, the new Syrian ruler, in Damascus was a positive step.
“Not that prematurely engaging doesn’t have risks,” Khalilzad said. “But I think there is an element of timing, of shaping things.” He added that Syria is “more strategically important” to the United States than Afghanistan, making the task more urgent.
Meanwhile, Khalilzad on Friday reiterated that the Doha Agreement states that a new government in Afghanistan would be determined by negotiations and dialogue between the IEA and other Afghan sides.
"The Doha Agreement did not define the nature of Afghan political systam, but it clearly stated that a new government would be determined by negotiations and dialogue between the Taliban and other Afghan sides," Khalilzad said on X. "The challenge for Afghans, Taliban and others, is how to deliver on this commitment, given current realities."
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Pakistan’s forced repatriation of Afghan refugees has fueled hatred: Imran Khan
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the forced deportation of Afghan refugees, which was intended to reduce terrorism, has actually created hatred that is detrimental to regional peace.
Speaking to reporters in Adiala Jail, Khan criticized Pakistan's recent airstrikes on Afghanistan and said that this is the second time Pakistan is bombing Afghanistan.
He also criticized that Bilawal Bhutto did not visit Afghanistan even once when he was the Pakistani foreign minister, while this should have been a priority.
Imran Khan recalled that he had told the then Pakistani Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa not to replace the head of the intelligence agency, General Faiz Hamid, because the situation in Afghanistan would be very different after the withdrawal of American forces, but he did not accept this only to extend his term, which led to an increase in terrorist attacks in Pakistan.
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