US aligns with Pakistan to fix Kabul’s political situation again

Kabul [Afghanistan] November 30 (ANI): US is expected to align with Pakistan along with NATO to fix the fragile political situation in Afghanistan which includes resuming dialogue with the Taliban government. Simply put, Afghanistan will once again become an area of co-operation between US and Pakistan according to M.K Bhadrakumar writing for Asia Times.

“US and its North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies have come full circle back to the old pathway that it is only Pakistan that can be depended upon to leverage the Taliban to get them to accede to Western demands,” M K Bhadrakumar said. Further, a high-level Pakistani military delegation was hosted at the NATO headquarters in Brussels where the contours of the Afghanistan situation is discussed

Further, the EU is expected to reopen its embassy in Kabul shortly but insists it is not recognizing the Taliban government.

On the other hand, while the Western capitals feel the pressure to do something quickly that prevents a refugee flow, a system needs to be put in place first whereby they can directly reach out to the Afghan people, sidestepping the Taliban. “There has been a flurry of activity lately, with officials from Brussels flying in and out of Central Asian capitals, especially Tashkent and Dushanbe. The EU hopes to open a “humanitarian corridor” to Afghanistan,” M K Bhadrakumar said.

On the other hand, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated earlier that the US wants to keep military contacts with Pakistan and the recent visit to NATO headquarters by the high-level Pakistani military delegation was part of that process “When it comes to Pakistan, NATO has had regular contacts with Pakistan for many, many years.

Of course, not least discussing the situation in Afghanistan. We have political contacts, we have regular military contacts and dialogue and I think this is important that this continues because there are still many challenges in the region, especially related to the future of Afghanistan,” General Jens Stoltenberg said.

Finally, the US/NATO overture to the Pakistani military leadership in Rawalpindi coincides with the rise of the Taliban in Kabul

Saudi Arabia calls for OIC meeting to address humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, ahead of winter

Saudi Arabia has appealed to members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to convene an extraordinary meeting on the worsening humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. As reported by Saudi Press Agency, the Saudi officials on Monday reiterated that millions of Afghans face an amplifying humanitarian crisis this winter and are in dire need of assistance and aid, reported TOLOnews.

Saudi Arabia further mentioned that it anticipates peace disruption and national as well as global instability if the humanitarian crisis continues to deepen and deteriorate in Afghanistan. “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as Chair of the Islamic Summit, and in line with relevant OIC decisions on Afghanistan, called upon the OIC to, urgently, convene an Extraordinary Ministerial Meeting to discuss the humanitarian situation in the country and pathways for an urgent humanitarian response,” reported TOLOnews citing local press agency sources.

In order to curb the growing humanitarian concerns in Afghanistan and to ensure regional and international peace, Saudi Arabia has insisted that member states and international organizations join the said meeting.

Pakistan has offered to host the meeting on December 17 in its capital city- Islamabad. “We have also offered to host the meeting, in Islamabad, on 17 December 2021. We are confident that the OIC Member States will endorse this offer,” quoted TOLOnews as saying Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

Afghanistan and the people of the country are facing the brunt in the form of humanitarian crisis and a complete economic collapse since the Taliban took over.

Afghan girls stress over bleak future as schools remain shut for grade 7 and above

Since the Taliban took over power in Afghanistan, schools from classes 7 to 12 have remained shut for girls in the country.

Girl students in the country’s eastern province of Nangarhar have been concerned about their uncertain future as schools have been shut for them from classes 7 to 10, since the Taliban took control, reported TOLOnews.

Students are requesting the Islamic Emirate, the ruling government in Afghanistan to provide adequate educational opportunities. “We hope the classes beyond grade six will be started,” said an Afghan girl student.

The Taliban regime’s education department mentioned that they have been trying to facilitate girls’ access to education beyond grade 6, reported TOLOnews. TOLOnews quoted the head of Nangarhar’s education department as saying, “The Islamic Emirate will make the necessary decisions about their education and future. We hope the issue will be solved soon in the way that the problems of primary girl schools were solved. This ban is for a temporary period of time, and is due to a lack of proper conditions.”

The Taliban regime has permitted girl education from 7th to 12th grade in some of the Afghan provinces but thousands of girls are still awaiting the Afghanistan government’s sanction to attend school.

India, Pak struggling to reach consensus on providing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan: Report

Islamabad and New Delhi are at loggerheads over the modalities of shipment of Indian wheat to Afghanistan via Pakistan as the two countries are struggling to find a common strategy for humanitarian assistance for the people of Afghanistan, officials here told Pakistani newspaper Express Tribune.
The modalities for the transportation of Indian assistance were shared with the Indian government through its mission in Islamabad.

As per modalities, Pakistan had proposed transportation of wheat on Pakistani trucks to be operated by the United Nations. The Pakistani trucks under the banner of the UN would load wheat at the Wagah crossing and then take it to Afghanistan.

The shipment charges would be paid by the Indian government. India has to complete the transportation within 30 days of the commencement of the first shipment. It is estimated that about 1,200 trucks would be needed to ship 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat. But, according to diplomatic sources, India objected to the Pakistani modalities, insisting no conditions should be attached with humanitarian assistance.

Last week, Pakistan decided to allow India to transport 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat and other humanitarian goods to Afghanistan through the Wagah border in a move Islamabad said was made on an “exceptional basis” keeping in view the humanitarian crises in Afghanistan.

Last week, the Ministry of External Affairs said India is examining the response of Pakistan and also working with it on modalities for the supply of 50,000 metric tons of wheat and life-saving medicines to Afghanistan‘
Bagchi said at the weekly media briefing that humanitarian assistance should not be subject to conditionalities. He said India has always stood by the people of Afghanistan, be it humanitarian support, or development assistance.

Contrary to Pakistan‘s proposal, India has suggested that the wheat should be transported either in Indian or Afghan trucks. But Pakistan stood its ground, insisting the shipment should be carried out by Pakistani trucks under the UN banner.

But Pakistani officials said Islamabad did not attach any conditions and added modalities were meant to ensure smooth shipment of Indian assistance.

Despite differences, one official said both sides might find a common ground and some decision is expected this week. Afghanistan is facing a severe humanitarian crisis. A combination of a suspension of foreign aid, the freezing of Afghan government assets, and international sanctions on the Taliban have plunged a country already suffering from high poverty levels into a full-blown economic crisis, Amnesty International said in a statement.

This comes as 22.8 million people are facing acute food insecurity and hunger, while the World Food Programme estimates that at least a million children are already suffering from acute malnutrition. According to the UN, more than USD 200 million of humanitarian aid a month is needed to avert disaster. (ANI)