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Jaishankar calls for permanent ceasefire in Afghanistan

Jaishankar said India has been supportive of all the efforts being made to accelerate the dialogue between the Afghan government and the Taliban…reports Asian Lite News

Referring to the UN Secretary General’s report on the situation in Afghanistan, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said intra-Afghan talks have not resulted in a reduction of violence in the insurgency-hit country.

On the contrary, violence has only increased, especially after May 1, Jaishankar said in his remarks at the UNSC debate on the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.

“The country (Afghanistan) has been witnessing targeted attacks on religious and ethnic minorities, girl students, Afghan security forces, ulemas, women occupying positions of responsibility, journalists, civil rights activists and youth,” the EAM said.

“It is therefore crucial that the international community and, in particular, this Council presses for a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire to ensure immediate reduction in violence and protection of civilian lives,” he added.

The EAM said that a durable peace in Afghanistan requires a genuine “double peace”. That is, peace within Afghanistan and peace around Afghanistan. It requires harmonizing the interests of all, both within and around that country.

Jaishankar said India has been supportive of all the efforts being made to accelerate the dialogue between the Afghan government and the Taliban, including the intra-Afghan negotiations.

a piece of broken glass of a vehicle at the site of a bomb attack in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Photo by Rahmatullah Alizadah/Xinhua)

“If the peace process is to be successful, then it is necessary to ensure that the negotiating parties continue to engage in good faith, eschew the path to find a military solution, and fully commit towards reaching a political solution. A tangible demonstration of this commitment is required,” the EAM observed.

India welcomes any move towards a genuine political settlement and a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Afghanistan. “We support a leading role for the United Nations, since that would help improve the odds for a lasting and durable outcome,” Jaishankar maintained.

“I would like to reiterate our support for an inclusive, Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled peace process. Any political settlement in Afghanistan must ensure that the gains of the last two decades are protected, and not reversed,” he said.

“It should, therefore, preserve the constitutional democratic framework and ensure the protection of rights of women, children and minorities,” the EAM added.

ALSO READ: Taliban say committed to Afghan peace talks

In categorical terms, he said, “For enduring peace in Afghanistan, terrorist safe havens and sanctuaries must be dismantled immediately and terrorist supply chains disrupted. There needs to be zero tolerance for terrorism in all its forms and manifestations including its cross-border one. It is equally important to ensure that the territory of Afghanistan is not used by terrorist groups to threaten or attack any other country.”

a piece of broken glass of a vehicle at the site of a bomb attack in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Photo by Rahmatullah Alizadah/Xinhua)



“Those providing material and financial support to terrorist entities must be held accountable. We, as international community, must ensure that our commitments to Afghanistan, including to its various institutions are maintained,” Jaishankar maintained.

For Afghanistan’s economic development, it is important to have unhindered access to the high seas. The international community should work towards the removal of artificial transit barriers imposed on Afghanistan and ensure full transit rights guaranteed to Afghanistan under bilateral and multilateral transit agreements without any hindrance.

Jaishankar said India remains committed to steadfastly supporting Afghanistan during this transition.

“Our development partnership, including more than 550 Community Development Projects covering all 34 provinces, is aimed at making Afghanistan a self-sustaining nation. Additionally, we have just recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Afghanistan for building the Shatoot dam, which would provide safe drinking water to the residents of Kabul city,” the EAM said.

Taliban

“To provide greater regional connectivity, India has operationalized air freight corridors and the Chabahar Port. India also extended humanitarian assistance of 75,000 MT of wheat to Afghanistan through the Chabahar Port to overcome food insecurity in view of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he added.

Further, as a part of our endeavour to help Afghanistan tide over the COVID-19 pandemic, “we have supplied Made-in-India vaccines to Afghanistan, both bilaterally and through the COVAX facility,” the EAM said in his remarks at the debate.

He once again said that India continues to stand with Afghanistan in ensuring restoration of normalcy through a legitimate democratic process that is essential for the long-term stability of Afghanistan and the region.

“India will continue to provide all support to the Government and people of Afghanistan in realizing their aspirations for a peaceful, democratic and prosperous future, free of terror, so as to protect and promote the rights and interests of all sections of Afghan society,” the EAM noted. (INN)

ALSO READ: India played key role in Afghanistan development: Khalilzad

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Afghan forces recapture 2 districts

Without providing more details, the official said the government forces are in control of both the restive districts….reports Asian Lite News

Afghan government forces in an overnight counter-offensive have recaptured two districts in the northern Takhar province, an army spokesman in the northern region, Abdul Hadi Nazari said Monday.

“The security forces launched a counter-offensive early Monday in Khawja Ghar and Bangi districts and have regained control of them, forcing the insurgents to flee,” Nazari told Xinhua.

Without providing more details, the official said the government forces are in control of both the restive districts.

The Taliban terrorists have overrun a number of districts in the northern Takhar province and have been mounting pressure on Takhar’s provincial capital Taluqan city.

The terrorist group has not made comment on the report yet.

Meanwhile, five civilians were killed and four others wounded as a roadside bomb struck a vehicle in Ahmad Abad district of Afghanistan’s Paktia province, an official said.

“The deadly roadside bombing which targeted a civilian vehicle in Machalgo area of Ahmad Abad district on Monday afternoon claimed five lives comprising a woman, two children and two men and also injured four others. All the victims are civilians,” provincial government spokesman Abdul Rahman Mangal said.

All the victims were members of the same family who were going to attend a funeral service at a neighbouring village, the official added.

The spokeman blamed the Taliban militant group for the bombing.

The Taliban outfit, which is active in parts of Paktia province, is yet to make comment.

China has warned its nationals to leave Afghanistan immediately as the Taliban continues to capture more and more territories ahead of the final drawdown of US and NATO troops.

“This year, the conflicts in Afghanistan are constant, the terrorist attacks are frequent and the security situation is becoming more severe and complicated,” the embassy said in a notice, as quoted by the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

Meanwhile, amid the unrelenting violence in the war-torn country, China’s embassy in Afghanistan on Saturday had urged its citizens to “be more cautious” and to “urgently depart from the country through international commercial flights”.

According to security analysts, the US withdrawal from Afghanistan presents an opportunity for China and Russia to compete for influence in the country. “Afghanistan is clearly a place of interest” for China, Gen. Frank McKenzie, the commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), said last week.

“Anywhere you see (these projects) across the Middle East, that’s where in fact nations are vulnerable. I think Afghanistan is going to be one of those areas as we go forward.”

Nearly 20 years ago, China had opposed the US invasion of Afghanistan, but now it opposes an American withdrawal which, Beijing says, could leave the country in even more turmoil, Voice of America (VOA) reported.

Last month, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson had said, “The recent abrupt US announcement of complete withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan has led to a succession of explosive attacks throughout the country, worsening the security situation and threatening peace and stability as well as people’s life and safety.” (ANI/Xinhua)

ALSO READ: Stop pointing fingers at ISI: Qureshi tells Afghan govt

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Stop pointing fingers at ISI: Qureshi tells Afghan govt

The serial denials follow credible reports of Akhundzada residing in Karachi and Haqqani residing in the general Quetta area….reports Asian Lite News

Pakistani foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has warned the Afghan government not to point fingers at Islamabad’s spy agency, the Inter-services intelligence agency (ISI), for funding and sheltering a resurgent Taliban, which appears to be planning a takeover of Kabul.

“Get of out that groove, please. Get out of that groove. Now, listen, if you remain stuck in this, believe me you will not be able to travel far. And we want you to travel far. We want reconciliation and peace,” fumed Pakistani Foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi when he was confronted by the Afghan TV Channel Tolo News.

A defensive Qureshi vehemently denied that top leaders of Taliban have been living in Pakistan. He said he does not know the whereabouts of Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, Mullah Yaqoub or Sirajuddin Haqqani, adding the Afghan government should be asked.

The serial denials follow credible reports of Akhundzada residing in Karachi and Haqqani residing in the general Quetta area.

Al-Qaeda militant(WIKIPEDIA)

“They’re in Afghanistan. You need to engage with them. We’re only engaging with them to facilitate the peace process. We’re trying to be helpful. You know, many have started to recognizing that internationally, but there are some in Afghanistan who still have that mental blockage of accepting the fact that Pakistan is being genuine, is being constructive and is sincere because Pakistan feels it is Pakistan’s enlightened interest that there is peace and stability in Afghanistan. Why can’t people in Afghanistan understand that…” a visibly irritable Qureshi thundered.

“When things are not moving in the right direction, you’re looking for the scapegoats and the favourite scapegoat you have is Pakistan. When there’s failure within, you blame Pakistan for that. Pakistan is not responsible for the failure within. Pakistan is not responsible for the squabbling that is going on in Afghanistan. Pakistan is not responsible if the Afghan leadership cannot sit and work out a peace deal. We’re not responsible for that. It’s yours,” Qureshi riposted.

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Observers point out that Qureshi’s spray denials do not pass the fact check test. Over the past two decades, the Pakistanis have denied that they were supporting, sponsoring, and sanctuary to the Taliban-their false narrative exposed in great detail by Pakistani and foreign journalists and authors such as Ahmed Rashid, who wrote to powerful books about the Rawalpindi-backed rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan, which made it a sanctuary for spurring Global Jihad.

Yet Qureshi insisted when confronted with a volley of questions, that there were “misperceptions about Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan.

“There were misperceptions and a lot of you know talk that Pakistan is just concentrating on a particular faction, particular school of thought.”

Nevertheless, Qureshi did backtrack a bit, when he said that there is a “change” in Pakistan’s approach towards Afghanistan. He stressed that Islamabad did not want a prolonged war in its neighbourhood. Instead, Pakistan, embarking upon grand plans of connectivity wanted to become a hub of Central Asian trade and transit, via the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Pakistan therefore wanted a ‘friendly’ government in Kabul, which offered Islamabad a better choice and who can be the better choice than Taliban to meet its goals.

Standard (Flag) of the Navy of Pakistan(WIKIPEDIA)

But Pakistan’s bias in favour of the Taliban was also transparent when, instead of the Taliban, he held the Afghan government responsible for the recent spate of violence. In fact, he went on to say that pinning Taliban for the surge in bloodletting would be an “exaggeration”.

Qureshi’s narrative was immediately countered by Afghanistan’s national security adviser Hamdullah Mohib, and Pakistan’s Awami National Party leader and Pashtun rights activist Afrasiab Khattak.

“Why would the Taliban need another foreign minister when they already have one? Pakistan’s “neutrality” in Afghanistan was never credible but it has finally thrown away even that pretension. On its way to fully internalising the Afghan conflict, is Pak sure it can chew what it’s biting?” tweeted Khattak.

After the Tolo News encounter, the gap between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s government led by Ashraf Ghani seemed appeared to have widened even further. The bad blood between the two was even obvious earlier when Ghani said in an interview to German magazine Der Spiegel, alleged that Pakistan operates an organised system of support for the Taliban insurgents, who receive logistics and financial support from Islamabad, apart from carrying out recruitment for the extremist group.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

ALSO READ: Taliban say committed to Afghan peace talks

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Ghani, Abdullah to meet Biden at White House

This meet comes amid a dramatic surge in violence in Afghanistan amid the withdrawal of US troops….reports Asian Lite News

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and chairman of Afghanistan’s High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah are set to visit the United States next week to meet President Joe Biden.

“President Biden looks forward to welcoming Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, to the White House on June 25, 2021,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement on Sunday.

The visit by President Ghani and Dr Abdullah will highlight the enduring partnership between the United States and Afghanistan as the military drawdown continues, the statement added.

This meet comes amid a dramatic surge in violence in Afghanistan amid the withdrawal of US troops. Taliban has increased its spring offensive and attempted to siege more areas.

The United States said that it is committed to supporting the Afghan people by providing diplomatic, economic, and humanitarian assistance to support the Afghan people, including Afghan women, girls and minorities.

“The US will remain deeply engaged with the government of Afghanistan to ensure the country never again becomes a safe haven for terrorist groups who pose a threat to the US homeland,” the statement said.

The US continues to fully support the ongoing peace process and encourages all Afghan parties to participate meaningfully in negotiations to bring an end to the conflict, it added.

Earlier, Biden announced that the US will start its final withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan on May 1 and complete its pullout ahead of the 20th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Taliban wants ‘genuine Islamic system’

Amid the unrelenting violence in Afghanistan, the Taliban has said it remains committed to peace talks and wants a “genuine Islamic system” that would make provisions for women’s rights in line with cultural traditions and religious rules, in the war-torn country.

The statement amid a dramatic surge in violence around the country ahead of the withdrawal of US troops by the September 11 deadline, Turkish public broadcaster (TRT) reported. Taliban has increased its spring offensive and attempted to siege more areas.

“We understand that the world and Afghans have queries and questions about the form of the system to be established following the withdrawal of foreign troops,” said Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the head of the Taliban’s political office, in the statement.

“A genuine Islamic system is the best means for solution of all issues of the Afghans,” he said. “Our very participation in the negotiations and its support on our part indicates openly that we believe in resolving issues through (mutual) understanding.”

Ghani added that women and minorities would be protected under the religion of Islam and traditions of the Afghan society.

“We take it on ourselves as a commitment to accommodate all rights of citizens of our country, whether they are male or female, in the light of the rules of the glorious religion of Islam and the noble traditions of the Afghan society,” he said.

On Saturday, Abdul Ghani and his delegation met with Tomas Niklasson, EU Special Envoy and his delegation in Doha. They discussed the ongoing situation of Afghanistan and the peace process. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Top ministers replaced in Afghanistan as violence rises

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Taliban say committed to Afghan peace talks

Officials have raised concerns over the stalling negotiations and have said the Taliban has not yet submitted a written peace proposal…reports Asian Lite News

The Taliban said on Sunday they were committed to peace talks, adding they wanted a “genuine Islamic system” in Afghanistan that would make provisions for women’s rights in line with cultural traditions and religious rules.

The statement came amid slow progress in the talks between the hardline Islamic group and Afghan government representatives in Qatar and as violence rises dramatically around the country ahead of the withdrawal of foreign forces by September 11.

Officials have raised concerns over the stalling negotiations and have said the Taliban has not yet submitted a written peace proposal that could be used as a starting point for substantive talks.

“We understand that the world and Afghans have queries and questions about the form of the system to be established following withdrawal of foreign troops,” said Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the head of the Taliban’s political office, in the statement, adding the issues were best addressed during negotiations in Doha.

“A genuine Islamic system is the best means for solution of all issues of the Afghans,” he said.

Taliban
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“Our very participation in the negotiations and its support on our part indicates openly that we believe in resolving issues through (mutual) understanding.”

He added that women and minorities would be protected and diplomats and NGO workers would be able to work securely.

“We take it on ourselves as a commitment to accommodate all rights of citizens of our country, whether they are male or female, in the light of the rules of the glorious religion of Islam and the noble traditions of the Afghan society,” he said, adding that ‘facilities would be provided’ for women to work and be educated.

It was not clear whether the Taliban would allow women to carry out public roles and whether workplaces and schools would be segregated by gender.

The group’s spokesman did not immediately to respond to request for comment.

In May, U.S. intelligence analysts released an assessment that the Taliban “would roll back much” of the progress made in Afghan women’s rights if the Islamist extremists regained national power.

Before being ousted by the 2001 U.S.-led invasion, the Taliban imposed a harsh version of Islamic rule that included barring girls from school and women from working outside their homes and prohibiting them from being in public without a male relative.

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Top ministers replaced in Afghanistan as violence rises

Both the newly appointed ministers would soon be introduced to Parliament to obtaining a vote of confidence…reports Asian Lite News

The Afghan government has appointed two new key security ministers amid growing insurgency and violence in the war-torn country, Administrative Office of the Presidential Palace said in a statement.

“In accordance with separate decrees from the Presidential Office, General Bismillah Khan Mohammadi has been appointed as acting Minister of Defence and General Abdul Satar Mirzakwal as acting Interior Minister,” Xinhua news agency quoted the statement issued on Saturday as saying.

Both the newly appointed ministers would soon be introduced to Parliament to obtaining a vote of confidence, the statement added.

ALSO READ: India played key role in Afghanistan development: Khalilzad

The changes in the key security positions came after increase in security incidents as the Taliban outfit has increased activities since the start of the US-led forces pull out from Afghanistan on May 1.

The militant outfit has claimed capturing more than 40 districts over the past one month.

According to Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, five districts have been overrun by the militant group just over the past one week.

Security officials, without confirming the fall of districts, said “the government forces have made tactical retreat” and would soon launch counter-attacks to regain the districts.

Hundreds of people in the western Badghis provincial capital Qala-I-Naw and in the northern Jawzjan province have taken arms over the past couple of days and vowed to fight against Taliban if the government fails to ensure security.

ALSO READ: ‘As troops leave, risk of Al-Qaeda revival rising in Afghanistan’

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Erdogan reaches out to Biden over Kabul airport

One area where Erdogan hoped to showcase a central Turkish role in NATO is Afghanistan, where Ankara has offered to guard and operate Kabul airport after US and NATO forces withdraw in coming weeks, reports Mrityunjoy Kumar Jha

US President Joe Biden described his meeting with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Brussels on Monday as “productive”. This was a non-committal response which essentially meant that the US side had not made up its mind on what the clever Turkish president had dished out during the meeting.

Both NATO allies covered a lot of ground –from Afghanistan and Syria to defence issues and bilateral trade.

Turkey has angered its allies in the Western military alliance by buying Russian surface-to-air missiles and unilaterally intervening in wars in Syria and especially Libya, now an oil rich failed state, which could fuel Erdogan’s regional ambitions. Turkey is also in a standoff with Greece and Cyprus over territory in the Eastern Mediterranean. The US -Turkish relationship has been roiled in recent years, including by Erdogan’s militarism in Syria and Libya and his suppression of dissent following an alleged coup attempt in 2016.

The big blow to ties came in April, when Biden recognised the World War I slaughter of Arme by Turks and Kurds, as genocide, infuriating the Turkish leader. Last year, Biden called on Erdogan to abandon his decision to turn the Hagia Sophia, a former Christian church, from a museum into a mosque.

Yet, despite episodic events, Erdogan knows that the US cannot afford to leverage its pivotal position to radiate influence in several directions — Europe, West Asia, Caucasia, Central Asia, and now, with Pakistan’s assistance, South Asia. All American presidents starting from Harry Truman onwards have recognised Turkey’s vital location to extend US and western influence in several regions simultaneously.

Unsurprisingly, one area where Erdogan hoped to showcase a central Turkish role in NATO is Afghanistan, where Ankara has offered to guard and operate Kabul airport after US and NATO forces withdraw in coming weeks.

ALSO READ: Turkey interested in taking control of Kabul airport

Turkey has close historical ties with Afghanistan. It currently has some 500 soldiers in the war-torn country. But that number may rise, if Turkey concludes that it should take advantage of the post-American power vacuum, despite the heavy risks, demonstrated by history, that would be involved.

Conscious of Turkey’s imperial ambitions, fired by Erdogan’s aspiration to raise a 21 st century neo-Ottoman empire, the Taliban has reacted sharply. It asserted that all foreign forces should hold “no hope” of keeping a military presence in Afghanistan after the US and NATO troops withdraw, warning the security of embassies and airports would be the responsibility of Afghans. “If anyone does make such a mistake, the Afghan people and the Islamic Emirate shall view them as occupiers and shall take a stance against them as they have taken against invaders throughout history,” the statement said.

While the Taliban regularly attacked the US and allied troops during their nearly two-decade long stay in Afghanistan, Turkish forces remained unharmed. Turkey is the only Islamic country serving under NATO’s non-combatant Resolute Support mission, which is mandated to train, advise and assist Afghan security forces battling the insurgents.

The UN led Istanbul Summit for the Afghanistan peace hangs in the balance. It has been postponed until after the month of Ramadan which ended one month back but there is no movement on that. Despite repeated requests by Turkey, China and Pakistan, the Taliban has not responded for the meeting. Instead, the Taliban has been fighting and capturing strategic districts near Kabul.

The militant group has also overrun military sites of Afghan government security forces, and it has besieged towns and cities across the country. Those military gains by the Taliban have fuelled concerns that it could topple the Western-backed Afghan government and the battered Afghan security forces once the last foreign troops leave.

According to the US media, Washington is considering preparations for airstrikes to support Afghan forces if there’s a risk of the Taliban taking over Kabul. It has pledged to continue funding the 273,000-strong Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police.

“The United States will reorganise our counterterrorism capabilities and assets in the region to prevent the re-emergence of a terrorist threat in Afghanistan,” Biden said. “We will hold the Taliban and the Afghan government accountable to their commitments not to allow terrorists to threaten the United States or its allies from Afghan soil. And we will refine our national strategy to monitor and disrupt terrorist threats wherever they arise.”

Aware of the deep flux in Afghanistan triggered by several competing interests, India, as a major stakeholder in the peace and stability of Afghanistan, has been supporting a national peace and reconciliation process which is Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled.

“Met with @US4AfghanPeace Zalmay Khalilzad in Doha. Continued our exchange of perspectives on Afghanistan and the region,” Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar tweeted on Tuesday night. He met US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad in Doha.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

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Security forces retake key district from Taliban

Taliban

Taliban militants overran the district after heavy fightings when Afghan security forces tactically retreated to neighboring districts on June 7….reports Asian Lite News

The Afghan government’s security forces evicted Taliban militants and took control of a key suburban district in Afghanistan’s northern province of Faryab after heavy clashes, the country’s Ministry of Defense confirmed on Wednesday.

“The National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF), including national army’s commandos, supported by Afghan Air Force launched a cleanup operation in Dawalt Abad district on Tuesday night. The operation resulted in the killing and injuring of scores of the Taliban terrorists,” the ministry said in a statement.

The statement noted the district was completely cleared of the militants early Wednesday, and rule of law will soon returned in Dawlat Abad when the government offices and local police station will reopen later in the day, Xinhua reported.

Taliban

Taliban militants overran the district after heavy fightings when Afghan security forces tactically retreated to neighboring districts on June 7.

Taliban militants, who attacked security forces and captured several suburban districts across Afghanistan in recent weeks, have not made a comment on the report so far.

ALSO READ: ‘As troops leave, risk of Al-Qaeda revival rising in Afghanistan’

While the United States and NATO troops have been leaving the country, violence in the country is on the rise.

Meanwhile, two women and a child were killed in a shooting in the western Afghan province of Herat on Tuesday night.

Eleven people also suffered injuries in the incident.

Taliban

The victims were members of a family visiting a garden for a picnic in a suburban district, Ahmad Zia Zia, deputy spokesperson of the Interior Ministry, told Xinhua.

The incident occurred in Naw Abad, a village in Injil district, in the north of provincial capital Herat city at around 10:00 p.m. local time, he said, adding the wounded were transported by Afghan National Police personnel to a hospital.

The motive behind the incident was not immediately known as an investigation was underway, according to the source.

In recent time, the region has witnessed heavy fightings between the Taliban and national security forces. (ANI)

ALSO READ: ‘As troops leave, risk of Al-Qaeda revival rising in Afghanistan’

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‘As troops leave, risk of Al-Qaeda revival rising in Afghanistan’

The UN report said the Al-Qaeda Indian chapter’s leader is Osama Mahmood, who recently succeeded the late Asim Umar….reports Asian Lite News

A United Nations report released last week said that the risks of an Al-Qaeda revival are rising as the US and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) wind down their military presence in Afghanistan.

The report said that Taliban operatives consisting of Afghan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Myanmar nationals now run Al-Qaeda’s Indian sub-continent chapter from Kandahar, Helmand and Nimruz provinces in Afghanistan.

FM Shakil, writing in Asia Times said that hundreds of of Al-Qaeda operatives including the terror group’s elusive leader Ayman al-Zawahiri are sheltering in the Pakistan-Afghan border region, a hidden presence that could come above ground as Afghanistan tilts towards a new era of civil war.

The UN report said the Al-Qaeda Indian chapter’s leader is Osama Mahmood, who recently succeeded the late Asim Umar.

The wife of former Al-Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent leader Asim Umar was among 5,000 Taliban prisoners freed by the Afghan government in 2020 as part of the Doha agreement with the United States, which facilitated the US troop withdrawal.

Al Qaeda leadership resides in Af-Pak region, reveals UN report

“The group is such an ‘organic’ or essential part of the insurgency that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to separate it from its Taliban allies,” the report said.

The UN Analytical Support and Sanction Monitoring Team listed the Haqqani network, terrorist group that has used asymmetric warfare to battle US-led NATO forces, as the main link between Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, reported Asia Times.

It added that Al-Qaeda and the Haqqani network are closely interlinked on “ideological alignment, common struggle and intermarriage.”

The Haqqani network, which has been blamed for several high-profile suicide attacks in Afghanistan, also has the backing of elements within the Pakistani security establishment.

ALSO READ: Will keep pressure on IS, Al Qaeda in Afghanistan: US General

Washington deemed the group a terrorist organization in 2012 and repeatedly called on Pakistani authorities to launch military operations against the group.

But the Pakistani army consistently resisted launching attacks despite reports that senior Al-Qaeda leaders were present with Haqqani network elements in the area.

For decades, Pakistan’s security establishment had been treating the Haqqani network as a “strategic depth,” trusting it will secure Islamabad’s interests in Afghanistan’s political and security areas.

Seen by some as a Pakistan “proxy”, the Haqqani network has long been focused on targeting India-sponsored development projects in Afghanistan, wrote Shakil.

Al-Qaeda militant(WIKIPEDIA)

Farhatullah Babar, a Pakistani leftist politician, former senator and spokesperson for the Pakistan Peoples Party, said that it was disturbing to know that Al Qaeda leader Al-Zawahiri and an estimated 500 Al Qaeda operatives were living in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border area.

“The Afghan peace process has entered a crucial phase, which makes it necessary to be watchful of the re-emergence and cross border movements of militants. People in ex-tribal areas have also been complaining of the regrouping of militants and targeted killings,” Babar said.

“Such perceptions, if not dispelled, will play havoc with the peace process and the region will plunge into another round of war and mayhem over the coming decades. Any misstep and refusal to address it will be potentially disastrous.”

Security sources confirmed to Asia Times that Al-Qaeda operatives have also been sheltering in Pakistan-Iran border areas, where many foreign nationals have been spotted traveling back and forth to Iran using the Balochistan region as a base. (ANI)

ALSO READ: India played key role in Afghanistan development: Khalilzad

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India played key role in Afghanistan development: Khalilzad

Twitter@DrSJaishankar

Earlier, Zalmay Khalilzad met S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India in Doha and exchanged perspectives on Afghanistan….reports Asian Lite News

US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad on Wednesday laid emphasis on India’s role in Afghanistan’s economic and social development in the last two decades and said New Delhi will continue to have a vital role.

“India has played a very important role in Afghanistan’s economic and social development in the last two decades,” tweeted Khalilzad.

“It will continue to have a vital role as we work together, and alongside the rest of the international community, to help Afghans achieve peace, security and the economic well-being they yearn for and deserve,” added the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation.

Earlier, Zalmay Khalilzad met S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India in Doha and exchanged perspectives on Afghanistan.

U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad during the talks in Doha

“Met with Indian FM @DrSJaishankar in Doha yesterday. We discussed the priority both our countries attach to an independent, sovereign, and unified #Afghanistan at peace with itself and the world,” tweeted Khalilzad.

“Met with @US4AfghanPeace Zalmay Khalilzad in Doha. Continued our exchange of perspectives on Afghanistan and the region,” tweeted Jaishankar on Tuesday.

ALSO READ: Will keep pressure on IS, Al Qaeda in Afghanistan: US General

India has played a constructive role over several past years inside Afghanistan. India has extended aid of over USD 2 billion to Afghanistan and has been involved in massive developmental efforts in the war-torn country.

India has constructed the new parliament building at a cost of about USD 90 million, as a sign of friendship. The Afghan Parliament and the Salma dam are two of India’s showpiece projects in Afghanistan.

In recent years, the pace of Indo-Afghan bilateral cooperation in the political, security, development, and cultural areas has continued to accelerate, on the basis of the Afghanistan-India strategic partnership agreement (SPA).

India’s ability to mentor a nascent democracy will go a long way to demonstrate to the world that India is indeed a major power, especially a responsible one.

Amid the ongoing drawdown of US troops from Afghanistan, the war-torn country has seen a spike in the incidents of violence by the Taliban in recent weeks, leading to casualties of Afghan security forces and civilians.

Khalilzad and delegation comprising of US inter-agency delegation, including the National Security Council, Department of Defense, and USAID were visiting Kabul, Doha and the region to meet the Afghanistan government, other political leaders, and civil society representatives, including women’s groups, to hear their views on the peace process. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Bloodshed in Afghanistan as 3 districts fall to Taliban