KABUL – The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has raised with the international community the grave concerns of the Government and people of Afghanistan over the Taliban's brutal attacks on cities, which have led to war crimes and blatant human rights violations and humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan.
The Afghan negotiating team headed by the Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation Dr. Abdullah, attended on Wednesday the Extended Troika meeting with the participation of Russia, the US, China, and Pakistan in Doha, expressly echoing the Afghan people and government’s demands.
The chairman of the High Council for Reconciliation called on the international community, especially the Troika meeting member states, to adopt serious measures to prevent Taliban attacks on cities, which have led to war crimes, widespread human rights abuses and humanitarian catastrophe. Mr. Abdullah also stressed the need to start meaningful and sincere negotiations to establish an immediate ceasefire and reach a political agreement.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan reiterates that the continuation of the Taliban's bloody attacks in collusion with regional and international terrorists will not only lead to a humanitarian catastrophe and the protraction of war in Afghanistan, but also exacerbate violent extremism and incite terrorists in the region posing a serious and irreparable threat to the collective security of the region and the world.
Therefore, stopping the Taliban violence and crimes in direct collusion with regional and international terrorists will be not only in the interest of Afghanistan but in the interest of the whole world, especially the countries of the region.
KABUL – Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Haneef Atmar met with Chargé d'Affaires of the US Embassy in Kabul Mr. Ross Wilson, to discuss security developments in the country and the Afghan peace process.
The Foreign Minister spoke about the political-security situation and the recent developments in the Afghan peace process, asserting the call of the Afghan people for an immediate end to the Taliban attacks on cities and the killing of people in different parts of Afghanistan.
Referring to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan's propositions to hold two special sessions of the UN Security Council and the UN Human Rights Council on Afghanistan, Mr. Atmar called for Washington's constructive support and cooperation with Kabul in that regard.
During the meeting, Mr. Atmar stressed the importance of dialogue on the establishment of a ceasefire, the resumption of negotiations, and the restoration of lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan as issues to be discussed at the forthcoming UN Security Council session.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs called on the UN Human Rights Council to send a fact-finding mission to Afghanistan to investigate human rights abuses and war crimes, and to prosecute violators and perpetrators of war crimes.
Mr. Wilson expressed concern over the flagrant human rights violations in Afghanistan, assuring Minister Atmar of his country's efforts to fulfill the Afghan people's desire to end the violence and ensure sustainable peace in Afghanistan.
The two sides also talked about the agenda, the level of participation, and the issues to be discussed in the upcoming Doha meeting.
KABUL – The Afghan Government delegation recently visited Pakistan in connection with the abduction and torture of the Afghan Ambassador’s daughter in Islamabad, which had taken place on July 16, 2021.
During this visit, the Pakistani side shared some information and findings with the Afghan delegation on the case. However, the remarks by Pakistani officials pointed at a different version of the case, and unfortunately did not address the basic issues such as how the incident took place and the identification of the perpetrators.
As agreed between the two sides in Islamabad on the first day, the Afghan delegation demanded that the Pakistani officials should share all information related to the case with Afghanistan for further technical investigations. Unfortunately, the information was not shared with the delegation.
The hospital and medical reports along with other available evidence clearly indicate that Ms. Silsila Alikhel had been abducted and tortured. The Government of Afghanistan, in coordination with the victim, is ready and will continue to cooperate to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs once again calls on the Pakistani government to focus on expeditious identification, apprehension, and prosecution of the perpetrators of the abduction.
KABUL – The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Mohammad Haneef Atmar met with the Special Envoy of Iran's Foreign Minister for Afghanistan, Mohammad Ebrahim Taherianfard, to discuss the latest security developments in the country and the strengthening of bilateral relations.
Speaking about the security situation in the country, the Foreign Minister termed the outcomes of the recent UN Security Council meeting important for ending violence and finding a political solution in Afghanistan.
Referring to Afghanistan's proposal to hold special sessions of the Security Council and the UN Human Rights Council on issues related to Afghanistan, Minister Atmar emphasized the constructive role of countries in the region and the world, particularly Iran in stopping Taliban violence and attacks on cities, as well as convincing the group to return to the negotiating table and meaningful peace talks.
Mr. Taherian, while expressing concern over the security situation in the country, assured the Foreign Minister of Tehran's readiness for comprehensive cooperation with Afghanistan.
Minister Atmar and the Iranian Special Representative for Afghanistan also discussed ways to strengthen regional cooperation to address the security situation in Afghanistan and the imminent Doha meeting.
KABUL – In a statement issued on August 4, 2021, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) strongly condemned the attacks on civilians and expressed its deep concern over the escalation of violence, by the Taliban, that has caused civilian casualties in Afghanistan.
The organization's General Secretariat, in the statement, calls for an immediate ceasefire and reiterates its commitment to supporting an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led inclusive peace and reconciliation process towards reaching a political solution.
Recalling the resolutions on Afghanistan adopted by OIC Summit and Council of Foreign Ministers meeting as well as the Makkah Declaration issued on July 11, 2019, by the International Ulama Conference on peace and stability in Afghanistan, the organization reiterates its solidarity and support to the people of Afghanistan.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes this statement and calls on OIC to play a more active and effective role in gaining the support of the Islamic world and verified Islamic institutions to end the bloodshed in Afghanistan and to hold the Taliban accountable for their crimes against humanity.
KABUL – The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Mohammad Haneef Atmar, during a telephone conversation this evening with the Minister of External Affairs of India S. Jaishankar, talked about the escalation of violence, widespread human rights violations by the Taliban and foreign terrorist groups operations in Afghanistan, and the need to hold a special session of the UN Security Council on Afghanistan. India currently holds the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council.
Minister Atmar discussed the unprecedented increase in the Taliban's brutal attacks on the Afghan people, which have resulted in the killing of scores of civilians and displacement of many thousands of others. Mr. Atmar highlighted the war crimes committed by the Taliban in their recent attacks carried out in collusion with foreign fighters and terrorist groups in Afghanistan, calling them flagrant violations of international humanitarian law and warned of catastrophic ramifications.
Given the catastrophic consequences of the Afghan war on stability, security, and prosperity in the region, the Foreign Minister raised with his Indian counterpart the proposition of Kabul regarding convening an emergency UN Security Council meeting on issues related to Afghanistan, particularly an immediate cessation of violence and the success of peace talks.
The Indian Minister of External Affairs expressed his country's deep concern over the escalation of violence, insecurity, and explicit human rights violations by the Taliban and terrorists in Afghanistan.
Mr. Jaishankar called the holding of the UN Security Council meeting important for the immediate cessation of human rights abuses and the establishment of lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region. He reassured Minister Atmar of his country's commitment to reviewing Afghanistan's proposal and conducting the necessary consultations.
The two sides also discussed the agenda and the level of participation in the upcoming meetings on the Afghan peace process in Doha.
KABUL – Minister Atmar discussed and provided necessary information on six main areas, including: (1) the security situation, (2) the presence of foreign fighters alongside the Taliban, (3) the dire humanitarian condition, and (4) the Taliban's widespread crimes and human rights violations, (5) the government's new security plan, and (6) main areas of cooperation with the international community.
Mr. Atmar went on to say that the rise of the Taliban’s bloody attacks in recent months had killed more than 3,000 people, displaced more than 300,000, and disrupted order and provision of services in half of the country's districts. Currently, 18 million people face dire humanitarian situation.
Minister Atmar noted that the Taliban attacks were carried out in direct collusion with more than 10,000 regional terrorists from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Ansarullah, Jundallah, al-Qaeda, East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU).
Minister Atmar said the Taliban's war crimes were indescribable, referring to the massacre of more than 100 people in Spin Boldak, forced marriages, destruction of more than 300 public infrastructures, and suspension of services in Taliban-controlled areas.
Foreign Minister Atmar also highlighted the Afghan government's security plans and regional and global diplomacy. He said the Afghan government's security plan would be charted out and implemented soon in coordination and support of all political and social strata to strengthen the government's positions in strategic points and metropolitans. He also highlighted the joint program of the Afghan government and human rights organizations to document the Taliban’s crimes and hold them accountable worldwide.
Minister Atmar also elaborated on four areas of cooperation with the international community that included (1) repelling Taliban’s attacks on metropolitan areas, (2) preventing a human catastrophe and human rights abuses, (3) accelerating the Afghan Peace Process, and (4) implementing a six-month security program.
During the meeting, the representatives of regional countries and the United Nations expressed their support for an immediate cessation of violence and strengthening the peace process. The UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan Ms. Deborah Lyons said the attack on Herat and the UNAMA office showed that actions do not reflect commitments. She added that this was not just Afghan’s struggle, but a struggle that we should all pay serious attention to.
Referring to the current tough situation that Afghanistan and the international community face, the Turkish ambassador also said they needed coordinated action to address the problem of Afghanistan.
KABUL – Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Mohammad Haneef Atmar met with NATO’s Senior Civilian Representative for Afghanistan, Mr. Stefano Pontecorvo.
Minister Atmar commended NATO's cooperation with Afghanistan over the last two decades and welcomed NATO leaders’ position to continue the organization’s diplomatic presence in Afghanistan and its training cooperation with the security and defense forces, particularly the training of Afghan Special Forces.
Minister Atmar elaborated on the importance of necessary legal amendments to the bilateral cooperation agreements between Afghanistan and NATO, considering the evolution of relations between Afghanistan and NATO.
Given the importance of NATO-Afghanistan strategic relations, Mr. Pontecorvo highlighted the role and plans of the organization to strengthen and enhance the capacity of the Afghan defense and security forces. He emphasized the security of Hamid Karzai International Airport and its importance for the presence of diplomatic missions and the continuation of international development assistance in Afghanistan.
Mr. Pontecorvo also proposed the establishment of an academy to train Afghan personnel to manage and lead airports in Afghanistan, which was welcomed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
KABUL – Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Haneef Atmar spoke with the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan Ms. Deborah Lyons about current developments, peace talks, rising Taliban attacks on cities, violation of human rights by Taliban, and the group's crimes against humanity.
Minister Atmar strongly condemned the Taliban attack on the UN office in Herat province. Expressing concern over the escalation of Taliban attacks on populated cities and centers, he called the group's inhumane crimes intolerable for the people and government of Afghanistan. Minister Atmar called on the international community to prosecute the perpetrators of these war crimes using international arrangements and mechanisms.
Minister Atmar also emphasized the role of international institutions, including the International Criminal Court and the United Nations Human Rights Council, in investigating, documenting, and punishing perpetrators of recent war crimes in Afghanistan. Noting that the priority of the Afghan people and government is an immediate ceasefire and reaching a comprehensive peace agreement, Minister Atmar called on the United Nations and the international community to exert maximum pressure on the Taliban to stop killing Afghan people and to agree to a political solution.
Ms. Lyons thanked the Afghan security forces for their timely support and response to curb Taliban attacks on the UN Mission in Herat province and expressed grave concern over the escalation of Taliban attacks on cities and killing innocent people.
Ms. Lyons also termed the high level of civilian casualties and potential threats to employees of humanitarian and international organizations as serious causes of failure of humanitarian aid and development projects, stressing the need to stop it immediately.
KABUL – Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Haneef Atmar met with the Chargé d'Affaires of the German Embassy to Kabul, Jan Hendrik van Thiel to discuss strengthening bilateral relations, security situation, and the Afghan Peace Process.
Minister Atmar expressed gratitude to Germany for its support to the state and preserving the hard-won gains and values over the last two decades. Minister Atmar also commended Germany's principled stance in condemning the escalation of attacks by the Taliban.
Expressing concern over the heightened violence, crimes, and human rights violations by the Taliban, Minister Atmar called for the cooperation of the international community, particularly that of the Federal Republic of Germany in exerting pressure on the Taliban to cease fighting and killing civilians.
The Charge d'Affaires of the German Embassy also expressed concern over the rising violence, reaffirming Germany’s readiness to strengthen the peace process and continued development and humanitarian cooperation with the Government of Afghanistan.
