Doha hosts talks on Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation
Amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, Doha hosted a round-table discussion on the current and future of the war-ravaged country…reports Asian Lite News
The talks were organised in co-operation between the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Qatar Red Crescent Society and its Afghan counterpart, with the participation of special advisors and ambassadors of several countries, Gulf Times reported.
The sessions are intended to support the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan that threatens the lives of millions of families.
Rina Amiri, the US special envoy for Afghan women, girls, and human rights said that she discussed issues concerning women’s rights and human rights in Afghanistan.
“Spent several days in Doha discussing women’s & human rights in Afghanistan & the importance of the Muslim world leading on these issues. Qatari women leaders are a great example of Muslim women in public & political roles to advance their country,” Amiri tweeted.
“Will continue to engage the Muslim world to show rich diversity in Islam & women & girls’ place in political, economic & social spaces. Afghanistan needs to utilize the talent of its women & girls to move towards stability & a future Afghans deserve,” she said in another tweet.
Six months after the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban, it is time for concerned countries to deepen their engagement with the country’s new authorities and take action to prevent an irreversible economic collapse, the top UN official in Kabul told the Security Council on Wednesday.
“Six months of indecision … are eroding vital social and economic coping systems and pushing the population into greater uncertainty,” said Deborah Lyons, who is the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and Head of the UN mission in Afghanistan, known as UNAMA.
Thanking donors for generous humanitarian contributions since August 2021, when international forces left Afghanistan after a two-decades-long engagement, she said the worst possible outcome was averted thanks to their support.
“As the winter season comes to an end, we have perhaps averted our worst fears of famine and widespread starvation,” she said. (ANI)
The Emir of Qatar has pledged Qatar’s preparedness to provide any possible assistance in order to reach an agreement in the Iran nuclear talks that ends the dispute and ensures the security and stability of the region, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk
The Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani welcomed Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on his visit to Doha and his participation in the 6th Summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), which will be held on Tuesday.
Both leaders witnessed a number of bilateral cooperation deals between two countries during Raisi’s visit to Doha, which is a first by an Iranian president in 11 years.
This also comes as the United States and Iran hold indirect talks aimed at salvaging a 2015 nuclear deal, which Gulf states deemed flawed for not addressing Iran’s missile programme and regional proxies, Al Jazeera reported.
Sheikh Tamim said that several regional and international issues of joint interest were discussed, especially regarding the security and stability of the region. In this regard, he reiterated that dialogue is the best way to resolve all differences and face the various challenges that the region is going through.
In joint remarks with Qatar Emir, the Iranian President said: “We believe that the level of existing cooperation between the countries of the region is not commensurate with potential ties.”
We seek change in regional relations towards interaction, cooperation & integration:#Iran's President, Raisi in Doha.
The (14) agreements signed with Iran increase cooperation between Iran & Qatar, attaching great importance in enhancing bilateral ties:#Qatar's Emir, Al-Thani. pic.twitter.com/q2iHZpHAo5
He also added that Iran seeks to enhance these relations as “our goal is regional convergence.”
Raisi said he hoped would the bilateral deals signed between both countries help improve ties with other Gulf Arab states.
Sheikh Tamim also explained that he was briefed by President Raisi on the outcome of the Vienna negotiations regarding the nuclear agreement between the Iran and the West, as well as its importance and impact on the security and stability of the region.
He pointed out that Qatar is attentively following the progress of the negotiations and hopes that a solution and agreement – that satisfies all parties, and guarantees the right of countries to peaceful uses of nuclear energy in accordance with international agreements and resolutions, will be reached in the near future.
He also pledged Qatar’s preparedness to provide any possible assistance in order to reach an agreement that ends the dispute and ensures the security and stability of the region.
Earlier, Qatar and Iran signed 14 memoranda of understanding in the fields of aviation, trade, shipping, media, cancellation of visa requirements, electricity, standards, education and culture.
Both leaders have discussed enhancing fields of cooperation between the two countries, especially the fields of economy, investment, energy, tourism and other areas that would develop cooperation in the interest of the two countries.
Sheikh Tamim noted that his talk session Raisi addressed the Palestinian cause as the central and pivotal issue in the region, as emphasis was placed on the need to stop the Israeli attacks against the Palestinian people and to find a solution to the issue in accordance with international outcomes, highlighting the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to live in freedom, dignity and stability.
The Emir explained that several issues related to the region were also discussed, including Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan, indicating that the two sides expressed their hope to find a peaceful solution to these issues as soon as possible.
Raisi also met with Qatar’s Interior Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani on Monday afternoon.
Qatar has good ties with Iran, with which it shares a giant gas field. Tehran supported Doha after Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies imposed a boycott on Qatar in mid-2017 in a dispute over its ties with Islamist groups and with non-Arab Turkey and Iran.
Iran and Central Asia
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said that Tehran welcomes the constant expansion of relations with all Central Asian countries.
Raisi made the remarks in a meeting with visiting Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Sardor Umurzakov, according to the Iranian presidency’s website.
The two sides are willing to develop and deepen all-out relations, he said, adding that “we are determined to take massive steps toward the prosperity and development of Iran and Uzbekistan by activating and using all capacities”, reports Xinhua news agency
Umurzakov, who is also Uzbekistan’s minister of investments and foreign trade, said his visit to Tehran is aimed at exploring ways to develop all-out ties.
Govt says it hopes for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire and will extend support to all peace initiatives in Afghanistan, reports Asian Lite News
The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday informed that India is participating in a meeting on Afghanistan Peace Process in Doha. Joint Secretary (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran) JP Singh is currently there as he has been invited by Qatar Special Envoy Mutlaq Bin Majed Al-Qahtani during his visit to India last week from August 5 to August 8.
“The meeting will include several other stakeholders within Afghanistan. The meeting is underway today and we will share with you updates once the meeting is over,” the MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a media briefing.
During his visit to India, the Qatar envoy had met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during which the EAM had shared India’s perspectives on the recent developments in the war-torn country.
Jaishankar in a tweet had said that he was pleased to receive the Qatar special envoy. “Shared the Indian perspective on recent developments in Afghanistan. Also the concerns of the region that I had heard during the interactions”
Qahtani had also met Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla. The MEA Spokesperson noted that discussions were held on the situation in Afghanistan for a peaceful and stable country. The Qatar spokesperson also discussed bilateral relations with the Foreign Secretary.
As regards the situation in Afghanistan, Bagchi said that India hopes for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire. “We are supporting all peace initiatives in Afghanistan. Primary concern is peace and stability in that country”, he said.
When asked about discussions with the Taliban, Bagchi said, “We are in touch with all stakeholders, various stakeholders. I would not like to say anything further”.
India closely monitoring developments in Afghanistan: MEA
Expressing hope that there will be an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire in Afghanistan, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said it is closely monitoring the developments in the war-ravaged country.
“We are supporting all peace initiatives Afghanistan, our primary concern is peace and stability in that country and offering a prosperous future that is independent, sovereign, democratic,” said Bagchi.
Bagchi maintained that India was in touch with all stakeholders as the situation on the ground was evolving.
Speaking about the threats posed to safety and security of Hindu and Sikh minorities living in Afghanistan, the MEA Spokesperson said, “We are closely monitoring developments in this regard, we are concerned about the deteriorating security situation.”
Referring to Wednesday’s security advisory issued by India for its nationals, he said, “Our mission in Kabul issued an advisory for Indian nationals earlier this week, advising them to return to India via commercial flights.”
“Last year, our mission in Kabul had facilitated the return of more than 383 members of the Hindu and Sikh community in Afghanistan, to India, and our embassy, our mission Kabul continues to remain in touch with Afghan Hindu and Sikh community members and we will ensure the provision of all necessary assistance to them,” the MEA Speokesperson said.
Replying to a question on reports of Indian assisted projects in Afghanistan under attack by Taliban, Bagchi stated, “I think it’s wrong to term them as, you know, Indian projects. These are projects that were done with Indian assistance, Indian support, but are projects of the government and people of Afghanistan.”
“And once we hand over them, we don’t make any claim that these projects as our own, of course, these are very useful and important projects for the development of the people of Afghanistan and we certainly hope that they will not get damaged and will continue to provide the benefit,” he stated.
Denying claims made in media reports of Taliban gaining control of a Mi-24 helicopter India had given to Afghanistan, the MEA Spokesperson informed that it was not an Indian Air Force helicopter.
Top Afghan peace negotiator Abdullah Abdullah and US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad are also in attendance, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk
Amid unabated violence in Afghanistan, a three-day conference is underway in Doha, Qatar to discuss the peace process in the war-torn country, with attendance from the Taliban, the US, and a host of other countries.
The participants at the high level titled Troika Plus include representatives from the UN, Qatar, US, UK, EU, China, Uzbekistan and Pakistan.
Top Afghan peace negotiator Abdullah Abdullah and US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad are also in attendance.
Participants will discuss the Afghan peace process, Ariana News reported.
Feraidoon Khozon, a spokesperson for the Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR), said: “Afghan delegation will convey its message of reduction in violence and accelerating peace negotiations in this meeting.”
Meanwhile, US special envoy Khalilzad who left Washington for Doha on Sunday had said he will push the Taliban to stop their military offensive and engage in peace talks with the Afghan government.
Later Tuesday, during a presser, a State Department spokesperson had said that “…Ambassador Khalilzad is there to seek to advance and seek to support. He will press the Taliban to stop their military offensive and to negotiate a political settlement.”
This meeting in Troika Plus format comes on the heel of the UNSC’s special session on Afghanistan where member states expressed concern about the deteriorating situation and called for a political settlement.
Afghanistan is witnessing a surge in violence as the Taliban has intensified its offensive against Afghan forces and civilians with the complete pullback of foreign forces just a month away.
‘Kabul could fall to Taliban in 1-3 months’
The United States is concerned that the Taliban could capture Kabul in 1-3 months, far sooner than previous intelligence assessment suggested, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday, citing informed American officials.
According to the newspaper, the situation in the country is now worse than it was in June when the US intelligence predicted that Kabul could collapse in 6-12 months after the American troop pullout from Afghanistan.
“Everything is moving in the wrong direction,” a source familiar with the new intelligence assessment told the paper.
The hostilities between the Afghan government and the Taliban have intensified as foreign troops began withdrawing from the country. The Taliban have since captured large rural territories and launched an offensive on major cities.
White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said on Tuesday that President Joe Biden continues to believe it is not inevitable the Taliban take over Kabul or entire Afghanistan.
Finance Minister leaves country
Afghanistan’s acting Finance Minister Khalid Payenda has stepped down and left the country following pressure from the presidential palace, local media reported.
According to sources, Payenda is not likely to return to Afghanistan. A letter from the Ministry of Finance, referred to by the TV channel, says the minister left the country “on an official visit,” Sputnik reported.
His resignation comes at a time when Afghanistan is witnessing a surge in violence amid US-led foreign troops’ pullback from the war-torn country.
“Today I stepped down as the Acting Minister of Finance. Leading MoF was the greatest honor of my life but it was time to step down to attend to personal priorities. I’ve put Mr. Alem Shah Ibrahimi, Deputy Minister for Revenue & Customs in charge until a new minister is appointed,” Payenda wrote on Twitter.
In less than a week, the Taliban captured seven out of 34 provincial capitals in the country. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Tuesday informed that at least 180 people have been killed while more than 1,180 have been wounded in four Afghan cities alone since July 9 as Taliban offensives have escalated.
The Afghan government forces and the Taliban must stop fighting “to prevent bloodshed.”If they fail to return to the negotiating table and reach an agreement, the situation for the Afghan people will become “even worse”,” Sputnik reported citing Michelle Bachelet. (ANI/Sputnik)
The officials had a meeting in Doha during Khalilzad’s visit to the countries of Central and South Asia and the Middle East…reports Asian Lite News
Qatar’s Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani confirmed at a Monday meeting with US special envoy to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, Doha’s commitment to facilitate the inter-Afghan dialogue to achieve peace, according to a press statement.
The officials had a meeting in Doha during Khalilzad’s visit to the countries of Central and South Asia and the Middle East, as attacks by the Taliban (banned in Russia as a terrorist organisation) raged in Afghanistan.
“During the meeting, the two sides affirmed the State of Qatar’s efforts and role in mediating to achieve stability in light of the ongoing developments in the field, as well as its commitment to encourage dialogue between brothers in Afghanistan and facilitate peace talks until a just and lasting political settlement is reached in Afghanistan,” the statement read.
Last week, the US Central Command said the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan was 90% complete. At the same time, Commanding General Austin Miller warned that the country might be on the path to civil war after Washington and its allies are through pulling out their troops.
At the moment, Afghanistan is facing a standoff between government forces and the Taliban, who reportedly took over 85% of the country. Anti-terrorist operations are being conducted across Afghanistan to prevent a further takeover.
The inter-Afghan talks began in September of 2020, but the parties were unable reach an agreement on key issues, in particular on a ceasefire between the troops. (ANI/Sputnik)
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday the withdrawal of the US forces from Afghanistan is too hasty as soldiers leave a lot of machinery and equipment behind.
“The Americans made a lot of things to understand over the 20 years of their presence in Afghanistan, starting with the declaration of the victory of democracy and ending with such a rather hasty withdrawal, abandoning a huge amount of equipment and other equipment,” Lavrov said during a press conference.
Meanwhile, three civilians lost their lives and six others were injured in a roadside bomb blast on Monday in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, Tolo News reported citing security sources.
The incident took place around 8 AM in the morning when a civilian vehicle was struck by a roadside mine in Bolan area Lashkargah city’s district 3.
The victims were taken to the emergency hospital in the city.
All the victims are members of one family who came from a district in Lashkargah city, and women and children are also among them, Tolo News reported.
Security officials have not made any remarks on the incident.
A day earlier, eleven members of the Afghan security forces lost their lives in two separate attacks that happened in the Helmand province. (ANI/Sputnik)
