Consultations begin for broad-based interim govt in Afghanistan

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Consultations begin for broad-based interim govt in Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD/ KABUL 19,2021(News Desk) – The process for government formation have begun in Afghanistan. Afghan President Hamid Karzai, former chief executive Abdullah Abdullah and former prime minister Gulbuddin Hekmatyar met with a Taliban delegation, and consultations were held on a broad-based interim arrangement.

Analysts said international legitimacy is vital for Afghan Taliban, as they would need finances to run the state.

Taliban leader Anas Haqqani met with Abdullah Abdullah and Hamid Karzai at the same time. According to a Taliban spokesman, former Afghan Senate chairman Fazal Hadi and other officials were also present at the meeting.

During the meeting, the Afghan political leadership was given foolproof security. Taliban leader Ans Haqqani also met with Hezb-e-Islami chief Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.

Ashraf Ghani is no longer important

US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman has said that Ashraf Ghani is no longer important, he is not considered a player in Afghan politics. US Deputy Secretary of State said that Ashraf Ghani has announced his return to Afghanistan.He declined to comment on Ashraf Ghani’s asylum in the UAE.

Political prisoners released

The Taliban said on Twitter that following the announcement of their leader, Mullah Hibat Akhundzada all political prisoners had been released.

The order, issued in Arabic, directs all governors to unconditionally release all prisoners, young and old, from today and return them to their families.

US, UK and others urge to protect rights of women

Twenty-one countries including the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, have issued a joint declaration urging the Taliban to protect the rights of women and girls.  

“We are concerned about the right of Afghan women and girls to education, the right to freedom of employment and their freedom of movement, to protect women, girls and all Afghans,” the joint statement said. The UAE has announced that it has welcomed the former Afghan president and his family on humanitarian grounds.

Monitory issues

The U.S. State Department said in a statement that the Biden administration has frozen 9.5 billion dollar of Afghan government reserves in U.S. banks since the Taliban took control of Kabul.

The former head of the central bank in Afghanistan said in a tweet that the Taliban had contacted him and asked for details of his assets. He confirmed the frozen assets and said the Taliban would have to add an economist to their team on an emergency basis.

Also Read : Afghan Central Bank’s head tells story of Kabul fall

“Afghanistan’s federal available reserves are 7 7 billion dollars, of which $ 3.1 billion in US bonds, 2.4 billion in WBRAMP assets, 2 1.2 billion in gold and 300 million in cash,” he said in a tweet.  

With 1.3 billion in international accounts and 70 million in BIS are available. He said the IMF was due to pay the Afghan government 340 million in installments on August 23, but it was unclear whether the money would be received.

IMF announces to withhold funds

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has announced to withhold funds for Afghanistan due to the uncertain situation. The IMF has said that the international community’s position on recognizing the Afghan government is unclear, adding that Afghanistan cannot access IMF resources due to uncertainty.

British Parliament

On the other hand, addressing a special session of the British Parliament on the situation in Afghanistan, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the Taliban must prove their intentions and not their words.

He said the UK had helped 2,000 Afghans leave the country, with another 2,000 Afghans applying, while several applications were being processed. He defended the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan, saying that without the United States they could not live there.

Former British Prime Minister Theresa May said on the issue of Afghanistan that it was a major blow to Britain’s foreign policy, raising the question of whether our intelligence was so weak. Don’t we understand that the Afghan government is so weak? Do we think that we just have to follow America?

Iranian President

Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi has said he is ready to work with his Russian and Chinese counterparts for peace and stability in Afghanistan.

According to the Iranian presidential office, Raisi talked on the phone with both Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Three people were killed in Jalalabad over hoisting Afghanistan’s national flag

Three people were killed and a dozen others injured as the Taliban violently broke up a protest in Jalalabad, the eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday, quashing a rare public show of dissent.
The incident took place when local residents tried to install Afghanistan’s national flag at a square in the city.

 

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