Emphasising that the Taliban government would not allow terrorist groups to use its soil against Pakistan, Afghan Chargé d’Affaires (CdA) Mawlawi Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb on Tuesday said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor created many opportunities for the region that could benefit Afghanistan as well.

Pakistan has experienced an increase in terrorist attacks as a total of 59 of them occurred countrywide in August compared to 38 attacks in the previous month, according to a digital database maintained by the Pak Institute for Peace Studies, an Islamabad-based think-tank.

Islamabad has repeatedly conveyed its concerns to the Afghan government over the presence of terror outfits, including the banned militant Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan group, inside Afghanistan, saying that the militants have consistently used Afghan soil to launch terror attacks inside Pakistani territory. Kabul denies the allegations.

Speaking at a seminar titled “Strengthening Economic Ties between Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asia” organised by the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) in Islamabad, Shakeeb said he felt that any insecurity in Afghanistan and the inability to prevent the outflow of terrorism would not allow the building of regional economic cooperation that could help bring prosperity to the people of the entire region.

Mawlawi Shakeeb also stated that Afghanistan’s involvement in the Belt and Road Initiative would not only enhance investments in its infrastructure. but also bring the regional countries closer. “We believe that trilateral cooperation among Afghanistan, Pakistan, and China can usher in a new era of regional collaboration,” he added.

Terming Pakistan as one of the leading trade partners of Afghanistan, he expressed the Afghan interim administration’s commitment to enhancing trade and investment between the two countries.

He acknowledged the recent challenges in trade and economic relations between the two countries, adding that he felt that Afghanistan was striving to revitalise economic relations.

Besides security-related issues, Mawlawi Shakeeb highlighted Western sanctions, frequent closures of crossing points, limited customs facilitation, frequent checking of loaded vehicles and sudden and unilateral increases in tariffs as major obstacles to trade flows.

He underlined the need for the two countries to invest in trade infrastructure, streamline customs processes, strengthen trade facilities, develop transportation links, build mutual trust and enhance diplomatic dialogues to achieve long-term trade benefits.

While calling for greater collaboration on economic policies and expansion of transportation and transit projects between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Mawlawi Shakeeb emphasised the desirability of sustained diplomatic engagement among regional countries and joint efforts for peace and security to provide a sustainable foundation for regional economic cooperation.

He also underpinned the need to refrain from imposing economic restrictions and other policies that hindered regional economic cooperation.

The Afghan CdA highlighted the importance of Afghanistan as a bridge between South and Central Asia. He shared that the Afghan interim administration had already begun work on the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline and added that Kazakhstan had expressed interest in joining the project.

He also shared that Afghanistan was working towards implementing projects such as the Trans-Afghan Railway, CASA-1000 and other regional initiatives.

IRS President Ambassador Jauhar Saleem also underscored the importance of peace and stability in Afghanistan for intraregional trade and economic prosperity.

Afghanistan cricket T20I captain Rashid Khan tied the knot on Thursday in a cheerful wedding ceremony attended by his fellow cricketers, admirers and loved ones.

Khan is considered one of the finest cricketers of this time specifically in T20I cricket. He owns multiple records with his name. He is a spinner who took 50 and 100 wickets.

Moreover, he has also been ranked the No 1 bowler in ICC T20I rankings. He was just 17 when he made his ODI debut on Afghanistan’s tour of Zimbabwe in 2015, according to ESPNCricinfo.

Global sportstar, who has been the key to Afghanistan’s successes in their early years in international cricket, graced his fans with the news of his wedding.

Notably, his brothers Amir Khalil, Zakiullah and Raza Khan also got married in the same wedding ceremony.

The pictures and videos of Khan’s wedding ceremony went viral on social media as his fans could not stop drooling over the new chapter of their favourite cricketer’s life.

Additionally, prominent players from the Afghan cricket team wrote heartiest congratulations to Khan. Among all of them, the sweet words of veteran team member Mohammad Nabi caught everyone’s attention.

“Congratulations to the one and only King Khan, Rashid Khan, on your wedding! Wishing you a lifetime of love, happiness, and success ahead. @rashidkhan_19,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Khan adorned a traditional Afghan outfit matching with his brothers as he was seen smiling with full heart on his special day.

A ministerial meeting of the Quadrilateral Group — comprising Pakistan, China, Iran, and Russia — expressed deep concern over the security challenges originating from Afghanistan, stating that terrorist groups operating in the war-torn country “pose a serious threat to regional and global security.

Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant attacks since the Taliban government returned to power in neighbouring Afghanistan in 2021, mostly in the northwestern border province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), but also in southwestern Balochistan, which borders Afghanistan and Iran.

According to data from the Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS), the two most vulnerable provinces saw a sharp rise in deadly attacks last month.

The digital database of security incidents managed by the Islamabad-based think-tank suggested an alarming situation as the number of attacks jumped from 38 in July to 59 in August. These incidents included 29 attacks in KP, 28 in Balochistan, and two in Punjab.

The government in Islamabad has time again called on Kabul’s interim rulers to prevent their land from being used by the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant organisations for carrying out attacks against Pakistan.

The quadrilateral meeting was held in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session on September 27, according to a joint statement issued on Sunday.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif attended the meeting on behalf of Pakistan while China, Russia and Iran were represented by their respective foreign ministers.

During the meeting, the ministers said that terrorist groups such as Daesh, Al-Qaida, the Eastern Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Jaish ul-Adl, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), TTP and other groups based in Afghanistan, “continue to pose a serious threat to regional and global security”.

The session also condemned the recent terrorist attacks in all shapes and forms in Afghanistan and the region, including the attacks by Daesh on Karbala pilgrims on 13 September 2024 and the attacks by TTP in Bannu and Besham in Pakistan on 15 July and 26 March 2024, respectively.

The minister also expressed concern over the terrorism-related security situation in Afghanistan and the region and “stressed the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, as well as principles of equal indivisible security, examine regional security issues from a more comprehensive and integrated perspective, and work together to address various security challenges in Afghanistan and the region”.

The quadrilateral meeting stressed the need to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation at both bilateral and multilateral levels. “Afghanistan should be supported in taking comprehensive measures to address both the symptoms and root causes of terrorism and to eradicate terrorism at an early date.”

“They called on [Afghan Taliban rulers] to take visible and verifiable actions in fulfilling the international obligations and commitments made by Afghanistan to fight terrorism, dismantle, and eliminate all terrorist groups equally and non-discriminatory and prevent the use of Afghan territory against its neighbours, the region, and beyond,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, the four countries also reiterated their support for Afghanistan’s national sovereignty, political independence, unity, and territorial integrity.

“They reaffirmed principles of international law, particularly non-interference in its internal affairs, and the right of the Afghan people to independently decide the future of their country in accordance with the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter,” it added.

The ministers stressed that all members of the international community have a shared interest in a stable and peaceful Afghanistan, “a country that should serve as a platform for international cooperation rather than geopolitical competition.”

Furthermore, the countries urged Afghan rulers to create conditions that facilitate the return of Afghan refugees to their homeland, prevent further migration, and take serious measures to ensure returnees’ livelihoods and reintegration into political and social processes to achieve a lasting solution.

Last year, when the country witnessed a surge in terror-related incidents, the then-caretaker government in October decided to repatriate illegal refugees including undocumented Afghans residing in the country.

Ever since the government commenced the repatriation campaign last year, more than 500,000 undocumented Afghans have gone back from Pakistan so far, according to UN figures.

The ministers urged the international community and donors to provide, adequate, predictable, regular, and sustainable financial support and other necessary assistance, in line with the principle of international responsibility and burden sharing, for time-bound and well-resourced repatriation of refugees back to Afghanistan, as well as to countries hosting Afghan refugees, particularly Iran and Pakistan.

“The ministers emphasised that strengthening peace and stability in Afghanistan and countering the threats of terrorism, and drug crime emanating from its territory are in line with our common interests in the region,” the statement concluded.

 

Sydney
CNN
 — 

Australia’s men’s cricket team has withdrawn from a series of upcoming matches against Afghanistan in protest over the ruling Taliban’s restrictions on women and girls’ education and employment, Cricket Australia (CA) said in a statement Thursday.

The teams were scheduled to play three One Day International (ODI) games in the United Arab Emirates in March, but CA decided to cancel the series after “extensive consultation” with “several stakeholders including the Australian government,” the statement said.

“CA is committed to supporting [and] growing the game for women and men around the world, including in Afghanistan, and will continue to engage with the Afghanistan Cricket Board in anticipation of improved conditions for women and girls in the country,” it added.

In December, the Taliban announced the suspension of university education for all female students. The move followed a decision in March to bar girls from returning to secondary schools, coming after months-long closures that had been in place since the hardline Islamist group took over Afghanistan in August 2021.

Later that month, the Taliban ordered all local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to stop their female employees from coming to work, warning that non-compliance would result in the revocation of their licenses.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) responded to CA’s decision on Thursday, describing it as “pathetic” and “an attempt to enter the realm of politics and politicize the sport.”

“By prioritizing political interests over the principles of fair play and sportsmanship, Cricket Australia is undermining the integrity of the game and damaging the relationship between the two nations,” the statement added.

“The decision to withdraw from playing the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan is unfair and unexpected and will have a negative impact on the development and growth of cricket in Afghanistan, as well as affect[ing] the love and passion of the Afghan nation for the game.”

The ACB said it was considering what action to take on the matter, including the possibility of writing to the International Cricket Council (ICC) and “rethinking the participation of Afghan players” in Australia’s domestic Twenty20 competition, the Big Bash League (BBL).

The ACB statement followed comments from prominent Afghan player Rashid Khan.

Khan, who played for the Adelaide Strikers in this year’s BBL, accompanied a statement on Twitter with the words: “Keep politics out of it.”

“I am really disappointed to hear that Australia have pulled out of the series to play us in March,” Khan wrote.

“I take great pride in representing my country and we have made great progress on the world stage. This decision from CA sets us back in that journey.

“If playing vs Afghanistan is so uncomfortable for Australia then I wouldn’t want to make anyone uncomfortable with my presence in the BBL. Therefore I will be strongly considering my future in that competition.”

CA had previously backed out of a proposed Test match against Afghanistan due to be hosted in Tasmania in November 2021 over the Taliban’s ban on women participating in sports.

“Driving the growth of women’s cricket globally is incredibly important to Cricket Australia. Our vision for cricket is that it is a sport for all, and we support the game unequivocally for women at every level,” CA said at the time.

Australia’s sports minister Anika Wells on Thursday said Canberra supports Cricket Australia’s move.

“The Australian government welcomes Cricket Australia’s decision to withdraw from the upcoming men’s One Day International series against Afghanistan, following the Taliban’s increased suppression of women and girls’ rights,” she tweeted.

Although the Taliban repeatedly claimed it would protect the rights of girls and women, the group has done the opposite, stripping away the hard-won freedoms for which women have fought tirelessly over the past two decades.

The United Nations and at least half a dozen major foreign aid groups have said they are temporarily suspending their operations in Afghanistan following the ban on female NGO employees.