Acting Minister Denies Disputes Within Islamic Emirate

Mohammad Younus Akhundzada made the comments during a ceremony marking the launch of several development projects in Parwan province.

Mohammad Younus Akhundzada, the acting minister of rural rehabilitation and development, denied claims of disagreements within the leadership of the Islamic Emirate, and pledged that the Islamic Emirate would never compromise its principles or concede its authority to international organizations or companies. 

 He made the comments during a ceremony marking the launch of several development projects in Parwan province.

He said: “The propaganda spread by some from foreign countries through the media, claiming that there are problems and disagreements within the Islamic Emirate, and which might influence you—do not be influenced. There is not even a shred of disagreement among the members of the Islamic Emirate.”

In his speech, the minister said that the caretaker government seeks to establish positive relations with other countries, but under no circumstances will it compromise the country’s principles.

Akhundzada said: “If there are institutions, companies, or even the United Nations, when they act as a system within the country, we do not need them. This country, this system, and these principles belong to us. We do not give authority over them to anyone, nor do we negotiate them with anyone.”

Mohammad Idris Anwari, the governor of Parwan, stated during the ceremony: “Government officials think of nothing other than your well-being, interests, and resolving your problems.”

The event was held to inaugurate approximately 175 small and large development projects costing more than 245 million afghani in the Shinwari and Salang districts of Parwan.

Abdul Samad Sadiq, director of rural development in Parwan, assured the public: “We give you 100 percent assurance that these projects will be implemented exactly as outlined in the design and proposals.”

The lack of healthcare centers, schools, and standard roads are among the main challenges for residents of remote areas in Parwan. Locals have called on officials to address these problems.

Abdul Qadeer, a resident of Darah Kafshan in Shinwari district, told TOLOnews: “Our houses and pasturelands cover an area of about 25 square kilometers, and there is only one clinic which cannot serve everyone. We need a clinic and a road.”

According to officials, these projects include the construction of side roads, bridges, culverts, retaining walls, and irrigation canals, all supported by the World Bank.

Acting Minister Denies Disputes Within Islamic Emirate
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Nationwide Polio Vaccination Campaign to begin tomorrow in Afghanistan

 

A nationwide polio vaccination campaign will begin tomorrow in Afghanistan, aiming to immunize over 200,000 children under five years old.

A nationwide polio vaccination campaign is set to begin on Monday, May 26, across all provinces of Afghanistan, according to health authorities. The initiative aims to immunize millions of children under the age of five against the deadly poliovirus.

In Sar-e-Pul province, local officials confirmed the campaign began a day earlier, targeting over 200,000 children. Health workers are going door to door to ensure comprehensive coverage and prevent further transmission of the virus in vulnerable communities.

Health authorities emphasized that the primary goal of this campaign is the complete eradication of polio from Afghanistan. Despite significant progress in recent years, Afghanistan remains one of the few countries where wild poliovirus is still endemic.

Polio is a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects young children. It can cause irreversible paralysis and, in severe cases, death. Although consistent vaccination efforts have reduced polio cases significantly, challenges such as insecurity, misinformation, and difficult terrain continue to hamper full eradication.

Health experts and organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, have reiterated their call for families to support vaccination teams and ensure every eligible child receives the vaccine. Collaboration at the community level is essential to achieving a polio-free future.
Officials stress that with sustained public cooperation and uninterrupted access to all regions, Afghanistan has a real chance of eliminating polio in the near future. The campaign is part of broader global efforts to end polio worldwide, with Afghanistan’s success playing a critical role in reaching that goal.
Nationwide Polio Vaccination Campaign to begin tomorrow in Afghanistan
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India Resumes Online Visa Issuance for Afghan Citizens

25 May 2025

The categories of visas that have been listed on the portal are “student, business, medical, medical attendant, entry, and UN diplomat.”

The Indian newspaper The Hindu, has reported that the country has resumed granting several categories of visas to Afghan nationals, including to business people and artists, according to a notification on a government website.

India had suspended all visa services to Afghans and shut down its embassies and consulates following the fall of the Republic and Islamic Emirate’s takeover in Afghanistan.

According to sources cited in the report, the change occurred in the last week of April, however, there has been no official announcement by the Indian government on the issue.

The Indian government source told the Hindu: “Afghans are getting visas for trade, medical [purposes], and other categories.”

According to the website of indianvisaonline.gov.in, a portal for “new Afghan visa” has been added to the website where “Afghan nationals may apply for online visa.”

The categories of visas that have been listed on the portal are “student, business, medical, medical attendant, entry, and UN diplomat.”

The portal says that Afghans who own property in India, dependent parents of a student visiting India for higher education, and parents of a student below the age of 18 may also apply for entry visas.

After the government fell on August 15, 2025, most embassies in Afghanistan closed their offices and suspended their activities, and in August 17, that year, “e-Emergency X-Miscellaneous visa” was announced by India for stranded Afghan citizens, which were mostly granted to those from the Hindu and Sikh communities.

India Resumes Online Visa Issuance for Afghan Citizens
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Landmines in Parwan Have Killed 200 People in One Village Alone

According to the residents, nearly 1,000 families live in this village, which is considered one of the most remote regions in Parwan.

Residents of a village in Koh Safi district of Parwan province say that due to landmines left over from past wars, approximately 200 people have lost their lives in just one area.

According to the residents, nearly 1,000 families live in this village, which is considered one of the most remote regions in Parwan.

Mohsin Khan, a resident of Koh Safi, said: “There have been many landmines here over the past 30 years, and they have martyred many people. We have nearly 200 martyrs due to mine explosions, and the number of people injured by mines is also very high.”

Omar Gul, another resident of Koh Safi, said: “There are mines everywhere you go—on every hill and in every field.”

Ghulam Sakhi, a resident of the village of Jawzak in Koh Safi district, who lost one hand and one leg due to leftover landmines from decades of conflict, said he is now unable to work due to his disability.

“I had gone into the mountains to collect firewood. I didn’t recognize the mine, and when I picked it up, it exploded and took my hand and leg,” he said.

Local authorities in Parwan have pledged to address this issue.

Sayed Hikmatullah Shamim, spokesperson for the Parwan governor, stated: “The provincial leadership will coordinate this matter with the relevant departments, and the issue will be addressed soon.”

Despite the restoration of security and the complete end of conflict across the country over the past four years, landmines left from previous wars continue to claim victims, especially among women and children.

Landmines in Parwan Have Killed 200 People in One Village Alone
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Turkic States Urge Inclusive Govt and Rights Protection in Afghanistan

The Islamic Emirate has responded by stating its desire for cordial relations with these countries.

In a joint statement, the leaders of Turkic states have emphasized the establishment of an inclusive government in Afghanistan, respect for human rights, and the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking.

The president of Kyrgyzstan highlighted the necessity of peace and stability in Afghanistan, stating that his country supports effective measures and assistance to help Afghanistan achieve sustainable development and security.

Sadyr Japarov, the president of Kyrgyzstan, stated: “In this regional context, where threats and challenges remain, high-level political coordination and cooperation are of great importance to us. In this regard, the declaration by the leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization regarding Afghanistan demonstrates Kyrgyzstan’s interest in peace and stability in the country. We also call for effective support and measures to strengthen security and sustainable development in Afghanistan.”

During an informal meeting, the leaders of the Turkic states requested their foreign ministers to continuously monitor the situation in Afghanistan. They also called for sustained engagement by the international community to ensure a peaceful Afghanistan.

The joint statement reads: “We encourage the formation of a representative government that reflects the diversity of the Afghan nation. We call for respect for human rights, including the protection and guarantee of the fundamental rights of all Afghan citizens without any form of discrimination. We emphasize the necessity of increased cooperation and decisive action in combating terrorism to ensure that Afghan soil is not used by terrorist groups to threaten or attack other countries.”

In response to the statement, Moein Gul Samkani, a political analyst, said: “We also have our own mechanisms and advocate for convening a Loya Jirga to foster political dialogue. We have no objection to this idea, but these countries should not explicitly impose such demands, as it is not in their interest either. It would be better for them to allow us to independently create our own process.”

The Islamic Emirate has responded by stating its desire for cordial relations with these countries.

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, stated that forming an inclusive government is an internal matter and assured that Afghan soil will not pose a threat to others.
He said: “Afghans themselves will address domestic issues, as this is a national need. The demands, concerns, and proposals of the people will be considered. However, other countries should also recognize their responsibilities concerning Afghanistan, to the extent that it pertains to them.”

The Organization of Turkic States was established on October 3, 2009, with the participation of Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Today, the organization includes eight members, comprising seven Turkic-speaking countries and Hungary.

Turkic States Urge Inclusive Govt and Rights Protection in Afghanistan
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Special Forces officer blocked 1,585 Afghans from UK

Joel Gunter and Hannah O’Grady
BBC News
May 23, 2025
Ben Taggart Afghan special forces units known as the 'Triples' appear during an exercise.
Afghan special forces were in danger of reprisal after the Taliban seized back the country

A UK Special Forces officer personally rejected 1,585 resettlement applications from Afghans with credible links to special forces, newly released documents say.

The files, disclosed by the Ministry of Defence in court on Thursday, show the unnamed UKSF officer rejected every application referred to him in the summer of 2023, in what was described as a “sprint”.

The MoD told the court that the officer may have been connected to the ongoing inquiry into alleged war crimes committed by the SAS.

The admission comes after the BBC revealed last week that the UKSF officer – who previously served in Afghanistan – rejected applications from Afghans who may have witnessed the alleged crimes.

Afghan commandos, known as the Triples, supported the SAS and SBS for years in Afghanistan and were in danger of reprisal after the Taliban seized back the country in 2021.

But thousands of UK resettlement applications containing credible links to the Triples were rejected.

The rejections came at a time when a public inquiry in the UK had begun investigating allegations that British special forces had committed war crimes on operations in Afghanistan where the Triples were present.

If the Afghan commandos were in the UK, they could be called as witnesses – but the inquiry has no power to compel testimony from foreign nationals who are overseas.

MoD officials raised concerns as early as October 2022 about the role of the UKSF in rejecting applications with links to the Triples units, the new documents show.

In a witness statement submitted to court, Natalie Moore, the head of the UK’s Afghan resettlement team, wrote that she became concerned the UKSF was applying a practice of “automatic rejections” with regard to Triples, giving rise to the “appearance of an unpublished mass rejection policy”.

Despite concerns first being raised internally in October 2022 – and again between October 2023 and January 2024 – in March 2024 the MoD denied to both the BBC and Parliament that UKSF had had a veto over the former commandos’ applications.

In January 2024, following the BBC’s revelation of the existence of a UKSF veto over applications, then-Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer warned senior cabinet ministers in writing of a “significant conflict of interest that should be obvious to all”.

The veto gave the UKSF “decision-making power over… potential witnesses to the inquiry”, Mercer said, calling the arrangement “deeply inappropriate”.

In the same letter, Mercer said that he had seen evidence that five former Triples had been killed by the Taliban after their resettlement applications were rejected.

And in a meeting with Ms Moore, he highlighted a case in which an applicant was rejected having “previously confronted UKSF leadership about EJKs [extrajudicial killings] in Afghanistan”.

Mercer told the BBC on Friday he was “shocked and appalled” at the revelations from the court case.

“When I raised what was happening with the most senior officers and civil servants in the UK Government, one in particular from UKSF claimed he was offended, and it was offensive to UKSF, that I had raised it.

“He was either lying to my face as a Cabinet Minister, which is serious enough, or is so deeply incompetent that he didn’t know.”

The Triples – so-called because their designations were CF 333 and ATF 444 – were set up, trained, and paid by the UKSF. When Afghanistan fell to the Taliban, they were judged to be in grave danger of reprisal and were entitled to apply for resettlement to the UK.

But more than 2,000 applications judged by resettlement caseworkers to have credible evidence were subsequently rejected by the UKSF.

The MoD later announced a review of more than 2,000 rejected applications after finding that the decisions were “not robust”.

Earlier this week, Armed Forces Minster Luke Pollard announced a new phase of the review to take into account up to 2,500 further cases which may have been improperly rejected.

Some of the former Triples who were denied visas have since been tortured and killed by the Taliban, according to testimony from former colleagues, family members and lawyers.

The documents disclosed in court on Thursday, as part of a judicial review case brought by a former member of the Triples, reveal that the government launched two investigations that examined the actions of the UKSF and the allegations of a conflict of interest at the heart of the Triples rejections.

A summary of one of those investigations, known as Operation X, said it “did not obtain any evidence of hidden motives on the part of the UKSF liaison officer” and found “no evidence of automatic/instant/mass rejections” of the Triples by the UKSF – but provided no evidence to back up those conclusions.

It instead concluded that the more than 2,000 rejections of Triples were down to “slack and unprofessional verification processes” by the UKSF liaison officer and “lax procedures followed by the officer in not following up on all lines of enquiry before issuing rejections”.

More than 600 of those rejections have since been overturned.

BBC Panorama reported recently that the rejection of the Triples applications had been overseen by Gen Jenkins, who was head of the UKSF at the time and was promoted last week to be the head of the Royal Navy.

In the court documents, the MoD said that Gen Jenkins had no involvement with the applications and that he had not appointed the UKSF officer who rejected them.

Tom de la Mare KC, representing the former Triple who brought the case, accused the MoD of breaching its duty of candour in the case by failing to disclose evidence of a blanket practice of rejection of the Triples applications.

He further accused the MoD of providing misleading responses to requests for information.

Cathryn McGahey KC, representing the MoD, told the court she did “not seek to excuse or underplay in any way the provision of inaccurate answers”, and she apologised for the fact that the MoD had previously told the court that no veto existed.

The case is examining whether the review of the rejected Triples applications was conducted in a lawful manner. Ms McGahey told the court that “there might have been a better way of doing it, but that doesn’t make it unlawful”.

Daniel Carey, partner at DPG, the law firm acting on behalf of the former Triples, said: “My client spent years asking the MoD to rectify the blanket refusals of Triples personnel and has seen many killed and harmed by the Taliban in that time.

“He is pleased that the MoD have agreed to inform everyone of the decisions in their cases and to tell the persons affected whether their cases are under review or not, but it should not have required litigation to achieve basic fairness.”

Special Forces officer blocked 1,585 Afghans from UK
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Pakistan, Afghanistan move towards ‘restoring ties’ in talks with China

By

Al Jazeera

Islamabad, Pakistan – As Pakistan remained embroiled in a war of words with its archrival India – following a dramatic exchange of missiles and drones nearly two weeks ago – it this week advanced diplomatic efforts with two other neighbors: China and Afghanistan, which could lead to the formal resumption of diplomatic ties between Islamabad and Kabul after nearly four years.

In an “informal” trilateral meeting held in Beijing on May 21, the foreign ministers of China, Pakistan and Afghanistan convened under a forum first launched in 2017, and which last met in May 2023.

This time, a key outcome from the meeting, according to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, was a renewed willingness by both Pakistan and Afghanistan to restore diplomatic relations after heightened tensions in recent years.

“Afghanistan and Pakistan expressed clear willingness to elevate diplomatic relations and agreed in principle to exchange ambassadors as soon as possible. China welcomed this and will continue to provideassistance for the improvement of Afghanistan-Pakistan relations,” Wang said.

A Pakistani diplomat with direct knowledge of the talks told Al Jazeera that the next round of the trilateral meetings will be held “very soon”, within a few weeks, to build on the momentum from the Beijing conclave.

“I am reasonably optimistic about the outcomes. It was a great confidence- and trust-building exercise between the three countries,” said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity about the Beijing meeting.

Trilateral diplomacy amid Indo-Pakistan tensions

The meeting came after a four-day standoff between Pakistan and India, with both countries claiming “victory” and launching diplomatic offensives to assert dominance.

The conflict, from May 7 to May 10, followed Indian strikes on what it called “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan, in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir last month that left 26 civilians dead. India blamed the attack on Pakistan-based armed groups, an allegation Islamabad denies.

While China urged restraint on both sides, its support for Pakistan was evident on the front lines of the conflict, with the Pakistani military using Chinese fighter jets, missiles, and air defence systems.

On the other hand, Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said on May 15 that he appreciated Afghan acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s “condemnation” of the Pahalgam attack, in a conversation between the two. Indian media also reported a visit to New Delhi by senior Taliban figure and deputy interior minister, Ibrahim Sadr, in early May.

For Pakistan and China, the “conflict with India has reinforced strategic clarity” on the need to work closely with Afghanistan,  Sayed said.

Kabul-based political analyst Tameem Bahiss agreed.

“This [the call between Muttaqi and Jaishankar] signals a major shift in India-Afghanistan relations, one that could raise concerns in Islamabad amid an already volatile regional climate,” he said. “The timing of this trilateral meeting, not just its content, reflects an urgent need for coordination among these three countries as new geopolitical dynamics take shape in South and Central Asia.”

A rocky relationship

When the Afghan Taliban returned to power in August 2021, many saw it as a win for Pakistan, given its historical ties to the group. From 1996 through 2021, Pakistan was one of the Taliban’s key allies. India, meanwhile, viewed the Taliban as a proxy of Pakistan’s intelligence agencies and refused to engage with it.

However, relations between Pakistan and the Taliban have deteriorated.

Pakistan has accused the Afghan Taliban of allowing groups like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to launch attacks across the border, an allegation the Taliban vehemently deny. The TTP, formed in 2007, shares ideological roots with the Afghan Taliban but operates independently.

According to the Pak Institute for Peace Studies, Pakistan suffered 521 attacks in 2024 – a 70 percent increase from the previous year – resulting in nearly 1,000 civilian and security personnel deaths.

But in a trip that was seen as a potential breakthrough in strained ties, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar visited Kabul on April 19, just days before the Pahalgam attack.

Ihsanullah Tipu, an Islamabad-based security analyst, says Pakistan’s renewed diplomatic outreach to Afghanistan prioritises key concerns, with security taking precedence over trade, border disputes, and border closures, a sentiment he said China also shares.

“To foster meaningful trade ties, Pakistan’s security concerns must be addressed first,” Tipu told Al Jazeera, warning that failure to do so could escalate tensions to armed conflict.

“But given China’s global influence and close ties with both Pakistan and Afghanistan, Beijing can play a pivotal role as a guarantor of any commitments made,” added Tipu, who co-founded the security research portal The Khorasan Diary.

Common security threats

While Pakistan continues to accuse the Afghan Taliban of harbouring fighters who attack targets in Pakistan, many of these assaults have been directed at Chinese nationals working on CPEC projects.

China has also expressed concern over the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), alleging that its fighters use Afghan territory to stage attacks against China.

Sayed of PCI stressed that both Pakistan and China see security as their “core interest” in Afghanistan.

“This is a shared threat, and in the past the ETIM has also had a significance presence in Afghanistan. And these militant networks are connected with each other as well. So that is a pre-requisite for any cooperation to move forward, to first neutralise these terrorist outfits, which seem to be operating freely and comfortably in Afghanistan,” he said.

However, Bahiss noted that since the Taliban’s return to power, most regional countries, including China, have found the security situation inside Afghanistan acceptable, enabling ongoing economic engagement.

“The key exception is Pakistan, which continues to face serious threats from Afghan soil. While Pakistan prioritises eliminating or containing the TTP, Kabul is focused on trade, transit, and regional integration,” he said.

This is where China’s pivotal role could come into the picture, the Kabul-based analyst said, adding that the country is uniquely positioned to mediate by encouraging security cooperation while also advancing trade and transit initiatives that benefit all three countries.

During the civilian governments in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2021, India and Afghanistan developed close ties, despite several attacks on Indian diplomatic missions by the Taliban and its allies.

In recent months, there has been increased interaction between officials from New Delhi and Kabul, including the recent Jaishankar-Muttaqi conversation.

Does this warming of ties raise alarm in Islamabad? Sayed doesn’t think so.

“Pakistan doesn’t mistrust Kabul. But Pakistan has asked for action. The rulers there need to walk the talk regarding TTP and other terrorist outfits. I don’t think either Beijing or Islamabad opposes Kabul having positive relations with India, as long as it doesn’t compromise the interests of Pakistan and China,” he said.

However, Bahis said New Delhi’s rapprochement with the Taliban could lead to worries in Pakistan and China, both of which have historically had tense ties with India.

“While recent India-Afghanistan contacts are still in early stages, their timing may raise concerns in Islamabad,” he said.

“Afghanistan has the sovereign right to engage with any country, including India. But it must tread carefully. Clear messaging is essential to ensure that its growing ties with New Delhi aren’t misinterpreted as threats by other regional players,” Bahiss said. “Balancing these complex relationships will require diplomacy, transparency, and mutual respect.”

Source: Al Jazeera
Pakistan, Afghanistan move towards ‘restoring ties’ in talks with China
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Beijing pledges Development Aid amid Kabul’s push for stronger economic ties

Beijing has pledged development aid to Kabul, focusing on health, agriculture, and energy as both sides seek stronger economic ties.

Acting Foreign Minister of the Taliban administration, Amir Khan Muttaqi, met with Luo Zhaohui, head of China’s International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), on Thursday, May 22, to discuss bilateral cooperation and China’s role in Afghanistan’s reconstruction. The high-level meeting marks another step in China’s increasing engagement in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of Western forces.

Muttaqi expressed hope for deeper collaboration between Kabul and Beijing, especially in the sectors of agriculture, energy, and long-term infrastructure development. He described China as a vital development partner in rebuilding the country’s economy and public services.

According to Hafiz Zia Ahmad Takal, deputy spokesperson of the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Chinese official pledged development assistance in healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, and energy. He also expressed interest in launching feasibility studies for oil and gas exploration, and supporting capacity-building initiatives.

Chen Xiaodong, the head of China’s development agency, reiterated these commitments during the meeting, promising that China would support Afghanistan’s recovery through technical and financial cooperation. Takal added that Muttaqi presented specific proposals to CIDCA outlining areas where China’s support could accelerate Afghanistan’s reconstruction efforts.

The talks come amid broader Chinese diplomatic activity in the region. Muttaqi had previously met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to discuss enhancing political and economic ties between the two nations.

Analysts say China’s expanding role in Afghanistan reflects a strategic bid to ensure regional stability and secure its interests in connectivity, energy, and trade. The country’s geographic position makes it a key corridor for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its potential linkages to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

However, experts warn that without broader international recognition and domestic inclusivity, Afghanistan’s development progress may face limitations. While China’s involvement signals a shift in regional dynamics, the sustainability of such support remains uncertain in the face of persistent security and governance challenges.

According to Zia Ahmad Takal, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Chinese delegation pledged support in various areas including healthcare, infrastructure, oil and gas exploration feasibility studies, and professional training programs for Afghan institutions.

 

Beijing pledges Development Aid amid Kabul’s push for stronger economic ties
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Shaheen: Delaying Recognition of Islamic Emirate No Longer Logical

Shaheen warned that further delaying recognition of the Islamic Emirate is no longer logical. “The Islamic Emirate is a current reality of Afghanistan. The region and the world have come to acknowledge this, which is why they are now engaging with us. We believe that issues can be resolved through understanding and engagement. Over the past 40 years, many global powers tried confrontation and aggression, and it didn’t work,” he said.

Regarding relations with Pakistan, he stated that Kabul seeks good ties with Islamabad, but those ties must be mutual, balanced, and free from “blame games.”

According to Shaheen, countries like India and Iran have also come to realize that the caretaker government operates independently of any foreign power, a fact that has shifted their approach.

He added, “We support positive relations with Pakistan and our other neighbors, but they must be reciprocal to be effective.”

Political analyst Mohammad Aslam Danishmal said: “The Afghan government should continue its balanced policy as it has so far.”

The caretaker government has repeatedly called for international recognition. In response, the international community has outlined conditions including the formation of an inclusive government, respect for human rights, and combating terrorism and drug trafficking.

Shaheen: Delaying Recognition of Islamic Emirate No Longer Logical
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Getting married, with 49 other couples 

The Daily Hustle

Rohullah Sorush • Roxanna Shapour

Afghanistan Analysts Network

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For many young Afghans, the dream of getting married and starting a family is stymied by a myriad obstacles on the road to their hoped-for nuptials. One of the main barriers is the high cost of weddings and the steep bride price that many fathers ask for in exchange for their daughter’s hand in marriage. In recent years, some charities have stepped in to help young men overcome the financial demands of getting married by sponsoring group weddings. In this instalment of the Daily Hustle, Rohullah Sorush hears from an Afghan man about how he and his wife found themselves getting married in a group ceremony alongside 49 other couples. 

A rocky start in life 

My name is Ghulam. I was born in Kabul’s Kart-e Sakhi neighbourhood in 1983 during the Russian occupation of Afghanistan. I only went to school until third grade. Back then, with the civil war raging, times were tough, and when I was ten years old, I had to go to work to help support my family. At first, I got a job in a small baked goods factory, later moving to a rug-weaving workshop, where the pay was slightly better.

In 2000, I went to Iran to find work. I got a job in a metal workshop. I worked there for eight years, honing my skills as a metalworker. The shop did a brisk business and I made good money. I kept some of my earnings for my own expenses and sent the rest home to my mother. Sadly, we lost my father while I was in Iran, which made me the main provider for my mother and two brothers, who were still young and I wanted them to stay in school.

Time to start a family 

When I came back to Kabul, I opened a small metal workshop in the Kot-e Sangi area, with the little money my mother had been saving from my earnings in Iran. I made metal doors, windows and other things people needed for their homes. The shop gave me a living and I could support my family. My mother kept nagging me to get married. She said it was time for me to start a family of my own, and she set out to find me a suitable girl. Finally, after considering several young women, she settled on a lovely girl from a good family and I got engaged. But getting engaged is one thing and actually getting married is something else.

It’s not unusual for Afghans to get engaged and stay engaged for several years, because they can’t afford to get married. I wasn’t any different. First, I had to pay a bride price to my father-in-law, which I couldn’t afford. Then, it was the cost of having a wedding, because in Afghanistan, you have to invite many guests. It’s not just close relatives and friends; you must invite members of your tribe whose weddings you yourself have attended. Even a small wedding typically involves about 500 guests. Larger weddings can exceed 1,000. At the very least, you have to hire a wedding hall and pay for food for all the guests.

My perpetual engagement 

Four years after I got engaged, I still hadn’t saved money enough to get married. My fiancée and her family were getting impatient. My father-in-law was asking for 250,000 afghani [about 3,600 USD] as a bride price and I had calculated that it would cost another 500,000 afghani [about 7,000 USD] for a small wedding. I really couldn’t see how I’d come up with 750,000 afghani [about 11,000 USD], even if I worked all the hours God sent.

I told my father-in-law about my financial troubles. He said he’d reduce the bride price to 50,000 afghani [about 700 USD]. I asked a friend for a loan. He didn’t have the money but introduced me to someone who I could borrow money from. I went to the man and we agreed that he’d give me the funds, which I’d then pay back within six months. But when I went to my father-in-law with the money, he’d changed his mind. He said he wouldn’t accept any amount lower than what he’d originally asked for. So I returned the money to the man who had lent it to me. My wedding was now postponed indefinitely.

A resolution at last 

Another two years went by and I was still no closer to having saved enough to get married. I spoke to my fiancée and told her I didn’t think I’d ever save enough money for us to get married the way her family wanted us to. I was saving as much as I could, but I still had to support my family and everything, including weddings, was getting more expensive by the day.

One day, a friend told me about the Abul Fazl ul-Abbas Social and Cultural Foundation. He said they supported couples who wanted to get married, but didn’t have the financial means to do so. He said they did this by organising group weddings, which they pay for. So one day I went to the foundation’s office and talked to the people there about the possibility of taking part in one of their group weddings. Later that day, I raised the idea with my fiancée.

We decided that she’d get her family to agree to a group wedding, but when she first raised the idea with them, her uncle opposed it. He said they’d attended the weddings of many relatives and it was time for them to return the hospitality by hosting a wedding. But she wouldn’t give up. She kept bringing it up every few days until her parents finally relented and agreed. It felt like a miracle.

I went back to the foundation and told them I wanted to take part in one of their group weddings. They talked me through their selection procedure and said they’d need to first do some checks. They’d be in touch, they said, and if I met all the conditions, we could take part in one of their group wedding ceremonies.

Qualifying for a group wedding 

The Abul Fazl ul-Abbas Foundation doesn’t just accept anyone who asks to be married in a group wedding. They have strict guidelines for who can qualify. First, they must speak to the couple and their families to ensure everyone agrees. Second, they need to confirm that the groom isn’t already married. Lastly, they will investigate the groom’s financial situation to make sure he genuinely lacks the means to pay for a wedding, for example, that he doesn’t own any property that he could sell to pay for his wedding.

I wasn’t worried. I knew I met all their conditions. They came to my home and talked to my mother. She told them that my father had died and I supported the family. They saw the rented rooms we lived in. They met my in-laws to make sure they’d be happy with their daughter getting married in a group wedding.

Finally, they agreed to accept us. Before the wedding, we had to attend several meetings where they talked to us about what it means to be married, including the rights of a husband and the rights of a wife.

Finally, the big day 

50 couples got married during our wedding event. The foundation had given each couple 50 invitation cards so that family and friends could join us for the occasion. Our wedding was in the evening, but another 50 couples were set to marry during a lunch ceremony the following day.

Everyone was dressed the same, because the foundation had given each bride a wedding dress, veil, and shoes, and each groom a suit, shirt, socks and shoes. There were also wedding presents for every couple to help them as they started their new life together – a nine-metre rug, a set of dishes for a family of four, a pressure cooker and a gas heater.

They did the nekah [marriage contract] before the ceremony so that the couples are mahram to each other and don’t have problems sitting together, talking and holding each other’s hands. The event itself was a celebration for friends and family – a public declaration of our marriage. The atmosphere was festive. Although there was no music, there were people who recited religious poetry. A simple dinner of traditional Afghan rice was served, but nothing else alongside the main dish – no fruit or vegetables. Each couple also got their own wedding cake. We took our cake home to share with family and friends.

We couldn’t afford to host any parties, like a pre-wedding henna night, but our families gathered at our house after the wedding to celebrate. They threw noql [a traditional sweet] and chocolate as we got out of the car and we had a simple gathering with our wedding cake and tea. The day after the wedding my in-laws visited for the takht jami (post-wedding party). We had a simple dinner and they brought gifts for my wife

Happily ever after 

It’s been five years since my wife and I got married along with those 49 other couples in a group wedding. We have a happy home and are blessed with two children. Sometimes, I ask her if she regrets forgoing a big wedding. “Not for a moment”, she says. “I decided to start my life with you, and I’ve never looked back. Look at the life we have now, look at our amazing children. If I’d held out for a big wedding, we might still be waiting for you to save up.”

Edited by Roxanna Shapour

Getting married, with 49 other couples 
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