UK Envoy: UN Proposal on Afghanistan Ready for Discussion

He added that the proposal emphasizes strengthening relations with Afghanistan and ensuring the country’s security.

The chargé d’affaires of the British Embassy for Afghanistan, Robert Chatterton Dickson, informed the acting minister of refugees that a proposal regarding Afghanistan has been prepared by the United Nations.

In a meeting with Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, acting minister of refugees and repatriation, the British envoy said a UN proposal concerning Afghanistan has been finalized and will soon be shared with the Islamic Emirate.

He added that the proposal emphasizes strengthening relations with Afghanistan and ensuring the country’s security, and that the UK has played a significant role in its preparation.

Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, spokesperson for the Ministry of Refugees, also said:” Mr. Dickson expressed his satisfaction during the meeting that a proposal concerning Afghanistan has been prepared at the United Nations and is set to be shared with Islamic Emirate officials in the near future. He stated that the proposal includes strengthening relations with Afghanistan, ensuring security, and other positive elements. The United Kingdom has played an important role in drafting this document.”

Political analyst Ahmad Khan Andar said: “Countries like the UK, which were involved in the war in Afghanistan and contributed to its political and economic instability, should make greater efforts—not just for their own interests, but to avoid neglecting the Afghan people.”

During the meeting, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir reiterated the Islamic Emirate’s commitment to building positive relations with European countries, especially the United Kingdom, based on mutual respect.

At the same time, former Afghan President Hamid Karzai also met with the UK’s chargé d’affaires and emphasized the importance of strengthening relations between Kabul and London. He thanked the UK for its continued support and expressed hope that cooperation would persist.

Former diplomat Aziz Maarij said: “If the UK takes the initiative to engage with Afghanistan and improve relations, it could encourage other Western and European countries to do the same, which would benefit Afghanistan by helping it gain recognition and emerge from international isolation.”

Although the UK has not formally recognized the Islamic Emirate, its representatives who have met with Emirate officials have stressed the importance of continuing engagement with the interim government.

UK Envoy: UN Proposal on Afghanistan Ready for Discussion
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Liberal candidate co-authored inquiry submission suggesting Hazaras not persecuted for ethnicity in Afghanistan

The Liberal candidate for Bruce co-authored a parliamentary submission suggesting the Hazara community in Afghanistan was not persecuted on the basis of its ethnicity, contradicting the Australian government and drawing rebuke from international human rights groups.

Zahid Safi co-authored a submission to a 2021 parliamentary inquiry into Australia’s involvement in the Afghanistan war, which incorrectly cited a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report to allege Hazara “warlords” had “cut the breasts of women” and watched “live delivery of pregnant women” during the early 1990s. The 2005 HRW report does not mention these acts.

The allegations led members of the Hazara community, which has a significant presence in the electorate of Bruce, to lodge their own dissenting submissions to the inquiry, alleging the claims relied on “racist tropes” and sought to erase the “well-documented persecution of an entire ethnic group”.

Safi did not directly comment on those allegations when contacted by Guardian Australia, instead stating he was “a staunch advocate for freedom of religion or belief for all individuals worldwide”.

“As someone who fled the country because of war, I know everyone under the Taliban suffered, and my advocacy for human rights is shaped by those experiences,” Safi said.

The Senate submission co-authored by Safi said, in reference to conflict in Afghanistan, “that victims of war are not based on ethnicity”.

“The victims of war are targeted based on ideology,” the joint submission said. “This means, whoever opposes the Taliban and their ideology, is perceived as the Taliban’s enemy. Therefore, their perceived animosity is not based on ethnic division.”

A 2022 briefing paper on Afghanistan, prepared by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, states the Hazara community are an ethnic group that represents an estimated 10-20% of the country’s population. It states the Hazara face “a high risk of harassment and violence (…) on the basis of their ethnicity and sectarian affiliation”.

The department notes the Hazara community has been historically persecuted, noting it was subjected to “the worst single recorded massacre in the country’s recent history” in August 1998, when the Taliban, a predominantly Pashtun organisation, “massacred at least 2,000 Hazaras”.

The submission co-authored by Safi also expressed frustration that other ethnic groups from Afghanistan had allegedly been “sidelined” by the Australian government and media, due to an alleged prioritisation of the Hazara community.

“Pashtuns have had the most casualties compared to others and this needs to be acknowledged by the Australian government as the 20 years’ war existed mostly in the Pashtun provinces,” the submission stated.

Thousands of Hazaras who fled Afghanistan after persecution from the Taliban in the 1990s settled in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs, within the federal electorate of Bruce. The electorate is also home to other Afghan ethnic groups.

Safi said: “A full and fair reading of my submission makes clear that I advocated for every single living individual at risk from the national atrocity and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan under the Taliban.”

Guardian Australia has spoken to other co-authors of the report who stand by its claims.

Bruce is held by the incumbent Labor MP, Julian Hill. A margin of 6.6% at the 2022 election has been reduced to 5.3% after a redistribution.

The submission has been criticised by HRW’s Afghanistan researcher, Fereshta Abbasi, who accused the authors of misrepresenting a report by the organisation to imply brutal violence in Kabul between 1992 and 1995 was conducted exclusively by Hazaras.

“Among these atrocities were those carried out by ethnically Pashtun militia forces and ethnically Hazara militia forces against civilians of these respective ethnic groups, in tit-for-tat kidnappings, rapes and killings,” Abbasi said.

“Attributing them exclusively towards Hazaras is misleading. It is our finding that these attacks were in fact based on ethnicity – in that the victims were targeted because of their ethnicity.”

A dissenting submission made by members of the Hazara community, who asked for the Senate to withhold their names, said the submission co-authored by Safi had “the effect of amplifying racist tropes”.

“It highlights the actions of a few actors in a past civil war, drawing attention to ethnicity to imply the guilt of entire ethnic groups, or to imply that people who belong to ethnic groups other than Pashtun are violent in nature,” the dissenting submission said.

A separate dissenting report by two academics specialising in Afghanistan at La Trobe University and Deakin University, along with solicitors and PhD candidates, accused the submission of containing “a series of factually incorrect statements and racist prejudices”.

“Instead of acknowledging the historical and current persecution of the Hazaras, and the significant risks faced by Hazaras in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime; the authors deliberately blame the Hazaras for the general violence and human rights abuses that were perpetrated during several phases of the war in Afghanistan,” the academics and lawyers said.

Liberal candidate co-authored inquiry submission suggesting Hazaras not persecuted for ethnicity in Afghanistan
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Germany to expand deportation plan to Afghanistan under new Government

Khaama Press

Germany’s new government plans to expand deportations to Afghanistan, targeting rejected asylum seekers amid growing political pressure and migration concerns.

German media have reported that the country’s future government plans to resume deportation flights to Afghanistan and Syria as part of a tougher immigration policy targeting undocumented migrants and rejected asylum seekers.

According to Deutsche Welle on Thursday, April 10, the plan aims to return around 200,000 individuals who currently hold a “tolerated” (Duldung) immigration status. This marks a significant shift in Germany’s approach to managing migration challenges.

Among those most affected are Afghan migrants, who make up one of the largest asylum-seeking communities in Germany. The new policy reportedly includes accelerating the process of returning Afghan nationals to their home country.

Thorsten Frei, head of the Christian Democratic Union’s parliamentary group, told Bild newspaper: “We will carry out deportations and return flights to Afghanistan and Syria. The German people can count on this promise.”

Germany had halted deportations to Afghanistan after the Taliban took over in August 2021 due to human rights concerns. However, mounting domestic political pressure has pushed the government to reconsider its stance.

Over the past decade, tens of thousands of Afghans have sought asylum in Germany, fleeing war, insecurity, and threats from the Taliban. Many of them remain under “tolerated” status—lacking permanent residency but not deported due to safety concerns in their home country.

The first deportation flight to Afghanistan since the Taliban’s return to power occurred in August 2024, with 28 Afghan men convicted of criminal offenses returned to Kabul via a Qatar-mediated agreement. The flight was seen as a trial step toward broader deportation efforts.

The incoming government’s new deportation policy, expected to take effect after the February 2025 elections, is likely to extend beyond criminal offenders and include all rejected asylum seekers—raising concerns among migrant rights groups.

Germany’s renewed deportation policy highlights a growing tension between domestic political pressures and humanitarian obligations. As the government moves forward, the fate of thousands of vulnerable individuals remains uncertain, sparking debates over the balance between security and compassion.

 

Germany to expand deportation plan to Afghanistan under new Government
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Terrorism still main obstacle to better ties with Kabul, says Foreign Ministry

Khaama Press

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry says terrorism remains the main hurdle in improving bilateral ties with Kabul, citing ongoing security concerns and cross-border threats.

Shafqat Ali Khan, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that terrorism remains the primary obstacle to improving bilateral relations with the Taliban-led administration in Afghanistan. His remarks were made during Pakistan’s weekly press briefing, as reported by Dawn on Friday, April 11.

Khan noted that while Pakistan has made diplomatic efforts to enhance ties with the Taliban government, the persistent security challenges pose a serious threat to progress. “We have tried to improve relations, but the main hurdle, as is evident, remains the security situation and the sanctuaries terrorists benefit from,” he said.

These statements reflect Pakistan’s ongoing concerns that militant activity inside its borders is being supported or enabled by elements operating from Afghanistan. Islamabad has previously accused the Taliban of failing to prevent extremist groups, particularly Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), from launching cross-border attacks.

The Taliban, however, have consistently denied such allegations. Officials in Kabul have reiterated that they do not allow Afghanistan territory to be used for operations against neighboring countries, including Pakistan, and argue that such claims are politically motivated.

Despite their shared interests in security and trade, both sides remain at odds over counterterrorism cooperation and intelligence sharing. Attempts at high-level dialogue have yet to produce substantial agreements on how to address cross-border militant threats.

For relations to meaningfully improve, analysts suggest both sides must increase transparency and coordination on security operations. As violence continues to hinder diplomacy, regional stability hinges on whether Pakistan and the Taliban can bridge their differences through credible actions and sustained dialogue.

Terrorism still main obstacle to better ties with Kabul, says Foreign Ministry
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Islamic Emirate Leader Calls for Full Implementation of Sharia in Paktia

The leader of the Islamic Emirate also stressed the importance of unity among the people and the prevention of divisions.

The leader of the Islamic Emirate met with the governor of Paktia and other provincial officials in Kandahar.

During the meeting, Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada emphasized that the time has come to implement Sharia in the country’s political, economic, and military sectors. He called on local officials to make serious efforts to enforce Islamic rulings, especially the law of “Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.”

The deputy spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate, Hamdullah Fitrat said: “The esteemed Amir al-Mu’minin instructed officials to strengthen the Islamic system, implement Sharia, enforce the law of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, and serve the people.”

The leader of the Islamic Emirate also stressed the importance of unity among the people and the prevention of divisions.

Fitrat further stated: “The Amir al-Mu’minin urged the people to cooperate with ministries, find solutions to public problems, and eliminate ethnic divisions.”

Political analyst Abdul Sadiq Hamidzoy said: “If the government wants the support of the people, the foremost need is for social justice, so that no one feels disappointed or alienated.”

This comes as the leader of the Islamic Emirate had previously, during Eid al-Fitr prayers in Kandahar, emphasized the importance of setting aside differences and said that an Islamic system can only succeed when there is unity and harmony among all citizens.

Islamic Emirate Leader Calls for Full Implementation of Sharia in Paktia
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Save the Children: 4,000 Child Deaths on Migration Routes

Insecurity, hunger, and climate change have been cited as the main reasons for child migration.

In its annual report, Save the Children stated that more than 4,000 children have died on migration routes worldwide between 2014 and early 2025.

Insecurity, hunger, and climate change have been cited as the main reasons for child migration. According to the report, the deadliest migration routes for children include the route from Afghanistan to Iran, the Mediterranean Sea, the Sahara Desert, and the U.S.–Mexico border crossing.

The report states: “According to the analysis of IOM data, the deadliest routes for children were the Mediterranean Sea, followed by the Sahara Desert, the Afghanistan-to-Iran migration route, and the US-Mexico border crossing. Almost half of all recorded child migrant deaths were caused by drowning, while at least one in every seven deaths resulted from vehicle accidents or dangerous transport conditions.”

Save the Children also identified the decline in foreign aid as one of the drivers of child migration and urged world leaders to invest in securing the future of children.

The organization emphasized the importance of collecting accurate data on the situation of migrant children, including information related to health, education, protection, and causes of death.

Asifa Stanekzai, a migrant and child rights activist, said: “To prevent such tragedies, measures should be taken such as strengthening education, improving the economic status of families, providing social support to children, raising awareness about irregular migration, reforming laws, and building support structures for children.”

This comes as, due to economic challenges, many Afghan children and adolescents have been forced to migrate to neighboring countries in recent years.

Save the Children: 4,000 Child Deaths on Migration Routes
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UNHCR Calls for Coordinated, Dignified Repatriation of Afghan Refugees

According to statistics from UNHCR for Afghanistan, since September 2023, 900,000 Afghans have returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office for Afghanistan has called on Iran and Pakistan to treat Afghan refugees appropriately.

The head of this organization stressed in an interview with TOLOnews that there should be coordination between host countries and refugee-supporting agencies in the repatriation process of Afghan refugees.

Arafat Jamal, head of UNHCR for Afghanistan, stated: “We need the countries to cooperate. We want countries to work together systematically so that we have an orderly and dignified and generous repatriation. We appeal to the parties to come together to discuss and to do this in harmony. We also appeal to our donors who have supported us over the years, to not let up now. This country can be a prosperous country.”

Meanwhile, a number of Afghan refugees living in Pakistan have once again called on the Pakistani government to stop the forced deportation of Afghan refugees.

“Our children were born here, they are not familiar with Afghanistan, and their education will remain incomplete. Besides, we have worked here all our lives and own assets which remain here,” said Enayat Shams, an Afghan refugee in Pakistan.

“Afghan refugees in Islamabad and Rawalpindi have businesses; we’ve worked here for forty years and cannot relocate all at once,” said Shaheen Zakhil, representative of Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

At the same time, the Ministry of Economy has announced that the Islamic Emirate will support returning refugees and is working to provide education, employment opportunities, and resettlement for those deported from Pakistan.

Abdul Latif Nazari, deputy minister of economy, stated: “The Islamic Emirate’s measures for returning refugees include housing and shelter, health and hygiene care, and essential needs such as education and employment. We ask host countries to treat our dear refugees with patience and uphold human dignity.”

According to statistics from UNHCR for Afghanistan, since September 2023, 900,000 Afghans have returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan.

UNHCR Calls for Coordinated, Dignified Repatriation of Afghan Refugees
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Vice and Virtue Ministry Reacts to UNAMA Report

UNAMA said that six months after the law’s enforcement, the Islamic Emirate has made more systematic efforts to implement it.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in its latest report stated that the implementation of the Islamic Emirate’s vice and virtue law has significantly impacted people’s lives, particularly women, with widespread challenges.

UNAMA said that six months after the law’s enforcement, the Islamic Emirate has made more systematic efforts to implement it.

According to the report, provincial committees were deployed to 28 provinces to enforce the law.

UNAMA stated: “These efforts include the establishment of PVPV law provincial implementation committees in 28 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces with the deployment of some 3,300 PVPV inspectors with broad discretionary powers conducting enforcement operations around the country.”

“The law on the promotion of virtue should also include commercial transactions,” said Nasir Shafiq, a university professor.

UNAMA’s report highlights that enforcing this law has had extensive social and economic impacts on both women and men. It also mentions that the law’s direct and indirect effects have further complicated and worsened Afghanistan’s economic situation.

The report also said that the social and economic impacts of this law may have aggravated Afghanistan’s already dire economic and humanitarian situation and negatively affected the capacity of UN humanitarian agencies and national and international NGOs that provide aid to millions.

“If UNAMA engages with us in substantial discussions, we can validate many of their statements. Secondly, the principles of the law on the promotion of virtue are based on Islamic values and are important in an Islamic society,” said Amanullah Hotaki, a political analyst.

Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate’s Ministry of Vice and Virtue responded by saying that some entities are attempting to manipulate public perception through propaganda. A spokesperson added that the Islamic Emirate respects the rights of all citizens and has so far prevented 1,130 forced marriages.

Saif-ul-Islam Khyber, spokesperson for the ministry, stated: “Certain anonymous addresses and intelligence organizations are, as in the past, trying to disregard the ministry’s achievements and accuse the Islamic system and particularly this ministry based on unverified rumors.”

UNAMA, citing World Bank findings, stated that restrictions on women’s education and employment by the Islamic Emirate could cost Afghanistan’s economy $1.4 billion annually.

It is worth noting that this ministry had previously rejected a quarterly UNAMA report that pointed to violations of women’s rights and freedom of expression.

Vice and Virtue Ministry Reacts to UNAMA Report
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Economy Ministry: US Aid Bill ‘Tool of Pressure on Islamic Emirate’

The US Department of State confirmed yesterday that it has suspended its aid to the World Food Programme in Afghanistan and Yemen.

The Ministry of Economy said a new bill that passed a vote in the US House Foreign Affairs Committee and is heading to Congress, which concerns aid to Afghanistan is a tool of pressure on the Islamic Emirate.

The US House Foreign Affairs Committee has approved a bill titled “No Tax Dollars for Terrorist Act” and has forwarded it to the US Congress for further review.

Brian Mast, the US House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman, stated that the bill mandates the State Department to develop a strategy to prevent countries and NGOs from financially assisting the Islamic Emirate.

He said: “This bill requires the Department of State to develop and implement a strategy to discourage foreign countries and non-government organizations, NGOs, from providing financial and material support to the Taliban.”

Tim Burchett, a US Congressman, said: “The State Department needs to ensure that any aid, whether financial or material, does not go to terrorists in Afghanistan. We need to have a clear understanding of the influence the Taliban has on, not just international aid, but the Afghan banking system as well.”

The Ministry of Economy commented on the bill.

Abdul Latif Nazari, deputy minister of economy, said: “The recent bill … is aimed at pressuring the Islamic Emirate and has a political approach. The Islamic Emirate has not benefited from US aid and has no role in the aid process.”

In response to the US aid suspension, Mohammad Naeem, deputy minister of finance and administration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also stated that conditioning humanitarian aid on political criteria is surprising.

“This move directly affects our people and government because these funds had a direct impact on our economy, trade, and current situation. This aid had helped our economy to some extent,” said Mohammad Nabi Afghan, an economic analyst.

The US Department of State confirmed yesterday that it has suspended its aid to the World Food Programme in Afghanistan and Yemen.

A spokesperson for the department said the reason for the suspension is concern that the aid might benefit the Islamic Emirate.

Economy Ministry: US Aid Bill ‘Tool of Pressure on Islamic Emirate’
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Afghanistan: Taliban Hands Over Bagram Air Base To US

StratNews Global
Donald Trump recently said the US is planning to return to Afghanistan, a country its military exited in 2021, in a bid to counter China’s influence over the war-torn South Asian nation.

 

The Taliban has transferred control of Afghanistan’s strategic Bagram Air Base to the United States, marking a significant development in regional military dynamics, media reports said.

A U.S. C-17 aircraft recently landed at the base, bringing military vehicles, equipment, and senior intelligence officials, reported Khaama Press, quoting Medium.

Among the reported arrivals is the Deputy Chief of the CIA, highlighting the strategic significance of this renewed American presence at Bagram, the news agency reported.

However, no official confirmation on the handover has been made so far.

Initially, the Taliban had refused to hand over the Bagram Air Base to U.S. forces.

Trump’s Comments On Bagram Air Base

Donald Trump recently said the US is planning to return to Afghanistan, a country its military exited in 2021, in a bid to counter China’s influence over the war-torn South Asian nation.

“I think we should get it back,” the US President was quoted as saying by the media.

He remarked following his first Cabinet meeting since taking over the role of commander-in-chief of the US armed forces.

He reminded that the US gave billions of dollars to Afghanistan and said America should reclaim disused and demilitarized military equipment that was left behind during the chaotic exit four years ago.

The withdrawal took place during former President Joe Biden’s rule, leading to the fall of ex-President Ashraf Ghani’s regime.

With the US forces leaving Afghanistan and Ghani’s government toppling, the Taliban insurgents returned and forcibly took control over the country that has witnessed wars for decades.

“What has bothered me very much is that we gave billions and billions of dollars to Afghanistan, nobody knows that, and yet, we left behind all of that equipment, which would not have happened had I been president at the time,” Trump was quoted as saying by the media.

“I think we should get a lot of that equipment back,” he said.

China Factor

Trump said the US is planning to keep its control over Bagram air base to counter China’s influence.

“The air base is exactly one hour from where China makes its nuclear missiles. So, we were going to keep Bagram,” he said.

“The airbase is one of the biggest airbases in the world. It has one of the biggest and most powerful runways,” he said.

“We gave it up. You know who is occupying it at the moment? China. Because Biden gave it up. So, we’re going to keep that,” Trump said.

Joe Biden-led administration had exited the army from Afghanistan after twenty years since the US invaded the South Asian country following the 9/11 terror attacks.

US Military Equipment

Approximately $7 billion of military equipment that the US transferred to the Afghan government over the course of 16 years was left behind in Afghanistan after the US completed its withdrawal from the country in August, according to a congressionally mandated report from the US Department of Defense viewed by CNN.

Bagram Airfield

The Bagram Airfield-BAF, also known as Bagram Air Base, is located 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) southeast of Charikar in the Parwan Province of Afghanistan.

Bagram Air Base was formerly the largest U.S. military base in Afghanistan.

The base fell into the hands of Taliban rebels after the NATO-trained Afghan National Army had surrendered in 2021.

In the 1950s, Bagram airfield was originally built by the Soviet Union during the early period of the Cold War era.

Both the US and the Soviet Union tried to spread their influence over Afghanistan.

(With inputs from IBNS)

Afghanistan: Taliban Hands Over Bagram Air Base To US
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