Zalmai Rasoul, the Afghanistan Ambassador to London, has responded to the suspension of consular activities by some Afghan consulates in European countries, stating that the Afghan consulate in the United Kingdom will continue its operations without interruption.

In a statement released on Tuesday, July 30th, he affirmed the embassy’s commitment to supporting the rights and interests of Afghan citizens abroad.

Ambassador Rasoul emphasized that “the Afghanistan Embassy in London firmly declares that all consular and diplomatic services will continue without any disruption.” He added that “we are committed to supporting the rights and interests of Afghan citizens abroad and will utilize all our resources and facilities to provide the best possible services.”

Yesterday, the Taliban Foreign Ministry announced that the activities of 14 Afghanistan diplomatic and consular missions in European countries, which operate without coordination with the ministry, were deemed “unauthorized and a clear violation of accepted principles.”

The ministry’s statement indicated that the Afghanistan missions in London, Belgium, Berlin, Bonn, Switzerland, Austria, France, Italy, Greece, Poland, Sweden, Norway, Canada, and Australia were considered invalid due to their refusal to cooperate and coordinate with the ministry.

In response, Nazifullah Salarzi, the Afghanistan Ambassador to Belgium, has confirmed that consular services at all Afghanistan consular missions in Belgium and the European Union will continue. He asserted that the Afghanistan Embassy in Belgium remains recognized by the host country.

The conflicting statements from Afghanistan’s diplomatic representatives highlight ongoing issues within Afghanistan’s foreign service operations. Despite the Taliban administration’s decision to invalidate certain consular activities, key representatives, such as those in London and Brussels, maintain their commitment to uninterrupted service.

This comes amid the fact that no countries currently recognize the Taliban regime in Afghanistan as a legitimate government.

The resolution of these discrepancies will be crucial in ensuring the effective representation and support of Afghanistan citizens abroad.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Afghanistan has announced that the country has conducted $10 billion in trade over the past year.

In a statement released on Wednesday, July 31st, the ministry highlighted the achievements of the past year, detailing that this total includes $1.8 billion in exports and over $8 billion in imports.

However, this imbalance is a concerning indicator of the country’s economic health. The disproportionate ratio of imports to exports suggests a troubling dependency on foreign goods and services, which may undermine local industries and contribute to a persistent trade deficit.

The statement also noted significant increases in exports to various countries, with Kazakhstan up by 2.5%, China by 16%, Iran by 19%, Turkey by 53%, and Russia by 54%. Additionally, the ministry reported that 100 new production factories have started operations, approximately 1,000 industrial companies have been issued licenses, and over 23,000 investment licenses have been renewed.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce stated that over the past year, direct employment opportunities have been created for 646,015 individuals, while indirect opportunities have reached around 4.4 million. The ministry attributed these job opportunities to the empowerment of small and medium enterprises and various agreements.

Previously, the National Statistics and Information Authority had reported that Afghanistan’s export and import value for the fiscal year 1402 reached $10.3 billion.

Meanwhile, there is a significant imbalance between exports and imports. This discrepancy not only raises questions about the sustainability of economic growth but also signals potential vulnerabilities in Afghanistan’s trade strategy and economic stability. Addressing these disparities will be crucial for achieving a more balanced and resilient economy.

Three women’s rights activists from the United States have called for the Taliban’s gender apartheid in Afghanistan to be recognized as a crime against humanity. The activists, Heather Barr, Wahida Amiri, and Mitra Mehran, emphasized the severe lack of justice for Afghan women and girls.

During a special session of the U.S. Congress on human rights in Afghanistan, the activists painted a grim picture of the situation faced by Afghan women and girls. They criticized the ineffective diplomatic efforts that have failed to improve their conditions.

Heather Barr of Human Rights Watch pointed out that both the UN Special Rapporteur and Afghan human rights activists have called for the Taliban’s treatment of women to be recognized as gender apartheid. She stressed that this recognition should be incorporated into international legal frameworks.

Barr described the plight of Afghan women as shocking and alarming. She noted that private discussions between Western diplomats and the Taliban have not led to any significant improvements. She condemned the exclusion of women representatives from the third Doha meeting as a major victory for the Taliban.

Wahida Amiri urged U.S. Congress members to take action based on human dignity and international human rights conventions. She called for the U.S. government to recognize Taliban crimes against Afghan women as crimes against humanity under Articles 7 and 8 of the Rome Statute.

Amiri appealed to the committee to officially acknowledge gender apartheid in Afghanistan and recognize the Taliban as leaders of such a regime. She emphasized that her plea reflects the voices of Afghan people, including women and children.

Amiri also highlighted that U.S. support has facilitated the Taliban’s repression of women and girls. She criticized the U.S. for engaging in negotiations with the Taliban despite warnings from Afghan women and democratic forces, which led to a peace agreement.

She further criticized the U.S. government for providing millions of dollars in humanitarian aid to the Taliban despite their oppressive policies. Amiri urged Congress to prevent taxpayer money from being used to support the Taliban.

Mitra Mehran addressed Congress, detailing how the Taliban has increasingly restricted the rights of women and girls since taking power. She pointed out the removal of women’s employment, education, freedom of expression, and access to healthcare and social activities.

Mehran called on Congress to recognize gender apartheid as a crime against humanity and condemned the Taliban’s actions against women’s rights organizations. She highlighted Amnesty International’s reports of the detention and torture of protesting women.

The urgent appeal from these activists highlights the severe human rights violations perpetrated by the Taliban. Recognizing these actions as crimes against humanity could pressure the international community to take decisive steps to address the ongoing crisis and support Afghan women and girls in their fight for justice and equality.