Category: Afghanistan

Marat Imankulov, Secretary to the Security Council of Kyrgyzalso noted commonality in resolving the situation in Afghanistan and its impact on peace, security and stability in the region…reports Asian Lite News

Counterterrorism, regional security, and the situation in Afghanistan were the dominating issues during the meeting of “National Security Advisers/Secretaries of Security Councils” of Central Asian countries, who gathered in the national capital on Tuesday.

Addressing the Central Asian representatives here, Uzbekistan Secretary Security Council Viktor Makhmudov said today’s agenda is important to coordinate efforts to ensure regional security and expansion of practical cooperation on Afghanistan.

“We should not allow Afghanistan to be isolated and leave it on its own to deal with social, economic and humanitarian crisis,” he said. “Because this will lead to increasing poverty in the region. Peace in Afghanistan is important as it also has new strategic possibilities, opportunities and it can be an area of growth and transport corridors and markets in this area.”

Tajikistan’s Security Council Secretary Nasrullo Mahmudzoda said new challenges and threats, including cybercrime, cyber terrorism and environmental, and biological threats, are emerging against the background of instability and uncertainty in different parts of the world.

He underlined that the highly destructive ideology of religious radicalism is advancing rapidly. “In this context, security issues remain a key focus of our work.”

“It is impossible to ensure international security without resolving internal conflicts. The situation in Afghanistan remains the most complex. Tajikistan committed to working closely with all countries to ensure peace, security and stability in our region and in Afghanistan,” he added.

Marat Imankulov, Secretary to the Security Council of Kyrgyz, noted that central Asian countries and India have a common interest in developing measures to combat terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking. Imankulov also noted commonality in resolving the situation in Afghanistan and its impact on peace, security and stability in the region.

On the trade front, the Secretary to the Security Council of Kazakhstan said trade, economic and humanitarian cooperation between Central and South Asia is receiving a new impetus. “The condition for the disclosure of this huge potential is to ensure security in our space on the basis of coordinator approaches,” he said.

During his remarks, Turkmenistan’s envoy to India Shalar Geldynazarov laid emphasis on the need to join forces to strengthen partnership between Central Asian countries and India in countering all regional and global challenges such as international terrorism, drug-arms trafficking and cross-border organised crime.

“This meeting is considered by Turkmenistan as one of the mechanisms to develop a consolidated regional approach to ensuring peace and stability and providing security to Afghanistan,” he said. (ANI)

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Nabil said that while engaging the Taliban was necessary for India in its “own interests”, New Delhi should keep channels open with former leaders as well…reports Asian Lite News

Pakistani terror groups like Jaish e Mohammad (JeM) and Lashkar e Toiba (LeT) have shifted bases to Afghanistan with help from the Taliban, according to a former top Afghan intelligence official.

In an interview to The Hindu, Rahmatullah Nabil, former head of the National Directorate of Security (NDS), cautioned that India must not let its guard down despite its engagement with Taliban as the terrorist groups have got access to more technology and territory.

Nabil said that while engaging the Taliban was necessary for India in its “own interests”, New Delhi should keep channels open with former leaders as well, even though they are now out of power, The Hindu reported.

Nabil, who served under both Presidents Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani, had closely cooperated with India during his tenure (2010-2015). He was resigned over President Ghani’s visit to Pakistan, and decision to set up hotlines between security chiefs, it was reported.

Earlier in November, India had expressed concern over the terrorist attacks in Afghanistan and asked the UN Security Council Sanctions Monitoring Team to keep up its vigilance against terror groups using the war-torn country.

India’s Deputy Permanent Representative R. Ravindra told the General Assembly that the Monitoring Team has played a useful role and India “expects them to continue to monitor and report on all terrorist groups that might use Afghanistan as a base to target other countries”.

He noted that the Council in a resolution “unequivocally demands that the territory of Afghanistan should not be used for sheltering, training, planning, or financing terrorist acts, specifically terrorist individuals and entities proscribed by the UN Security Council, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad”.

The two terror groups have carried out attacks on India.

Ravindra was speaking on a resolution expressing serious concern over the presence in Afghanistan of terrorist groups like the Al Qaeda and the Islamic State that was adopted by the General Assembly.

It also condemned the Taliban’s violation of human rights, especially of women and girls, and said that it was deeply concerned about Afghanistan’s dire economic and humanitarian situation.

The resolution introduced by Germany received 116 votes and there were none against it, but Pakistan. China, Russia and North Korea, along with six other countries, abstained.

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According to the survey, severe food shortages are being experienced by more than half of Afghanistan’s population as a result of drought and poor governance…reports Asian Lite News

Since the Taliban captured Afghanistan from the US troops in mid-August last year, the country’s economy has undergone a deep crisis, leading to acute food shortage and pushing 97 per cent of the country’s population below the poverty line, the survey released by International Organization for Migration (IOM) in coordination with EU partnerships said.

According to the survey, severe food shortages are being experienced by more than half of Afghanistan’s population as a result of drought and poor governance, which has a negative impact on their livelihoods and leaves many people in rural areas with few options for diversifying their sources of income, TOLOnews reported. “Nearly 60 per cent of the population suffers from climate shock,” the Survey said.

Concerns regarding Afghanistan’s poor wheat supplies were also voiced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock.

“We are producing between 4.7 to 5 million metric tons of wheat annually with the climate changes in Afghanistan,” said Mohammad Qassim Obaidi, an official of the ministry.

According to the IOM, one of the biggest effects of the “Taliban takeover of economies in major towns” on infrastructure was the reduction in employment prospects as a result of electricity cuts and decreased pricing, which led to the closure of many factories, TOLOnews reported citing the survey.

Meanwhile, the World Food Programme has also raised concerns about the economic crisis in Afghanistan.

“The economic crisis wiped out jobs, salaries & livelihoods across Afghanistan, helping families & communities support themselves is more important than ever,” wrote WFP on Twitter.

The rising crisis in Afghanistan has hit small enterprises the hardest and private companies have laid off more than half of their employees due to a shortage in sales and a drastic decline in the consumer demand for products. Moreover, millions of Afghans are on the brink of starvation as the country reels from a humanitarian crisis.

After the Taliban seized power following the hasty withdrawal of US soldiers, the international community froze Afghanistan’s assets and withheld help.

According to the International Labour Organization, more than 500,000 Afghan workers lost their jobs in the third quarter of 2021, and the number of people who will lose their jobs since the Taliban took control is expected to surge in the coming year, Khaama Press reported. (ANI)

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This comes as many countries in the international community are concerned about the resurgence of terrorism and the threats of terrorist groups emanating from Afghanistan…reports Asian Lite News

United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) issued an advisory for British nationals against travelling to Afghanistan as the situation in the country is “extremely volatile”, Khaama Press reported.

The FCDO said that there are no British consular officials present in Afghanistan, and their capacity to offer consular assistance is severely constrained and cannot be provided in person within Afghanistan.

If British nationals still choose to travel or remain in Afghanistan despite the “heightened,” they should maintain a low profile and exercise caution, according to the FCDO.

British citizens may access consular services at the British embassies in neighboring nations, the FCDO stated.

This comes as many countries in the international community are concerned about the resurgence of terrorism and the threats of terrorist groups emanating from Afghanistan, reported Khaama Press.

Terrorist attacks continue to be a serious threat throughout Afghanistan, including in the area of the airport. Tensions have risen as a result of incidents like the death of Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in July 2022.

Recently, in Kabul, the Afghanis witnessed several attacks on educational institutions. In September, there was an attack at the Kaaj Educational Center in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul.

This series of blasts come as the Taliban completed one year of its rule in Afghanistan following the ouster of the US-backed civilian government last year.

Rights groups said the Taliban had broken multiple pledges to respect human and women’s rights. In a recent Human Rights Watch (HRW) report, the Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP) repeatedly attacked Hazaras and other religious minorities at their mosques, schools, and workplaces. While the Taliban have done little to protect these minority communities from suicide bombings and other unlawful attacks from the Islamic State’s (ISIS) affiliate in Afghanistan.

Since the Taliban seized power in August last year, the IS has claimed responsibility for 13 attacks against Hazaras and has been linked to at least 3 more, killing and injuring at least 700 people.

According to HRW, the Hazara are a predominantly Shia Muslim ethnic group that has faced discrimination and abuse by successive Afghan governments for over a century. During the 1990s, Taliban forces targeted the Shia for mass killings and other serious abuses. With the Taliban back in power, the Hazara have been increasingly concerned for their safety and whether the new authorities will protect them. (ANI)

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