Samarkand Declaration Calls for Inclusive Governance System in Afghanistan

Speaking during the Samarkand meeting, she expressed concerns about signs of decline in the international humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and urged the international community to reconsider their approach towards Afghanistan and the Taliban.

The MoS stressed that the ban on the right to work and education of Afghan women has created a deadlock in the Taliban’s relations with the world. She expressed regrets about the recent Taliban’s decisions, however, she asked western countries not to forget Afghanistan.

Western countries and the Taliban accuse one another of violating the commitments that led to the Doha Agreement.

While the Western countries want the Taliban to form an inclusive government and observe human rights, the Taliban, demands international recognition and the lifting of economic sanctions.

Although Pakistan has close relations with the Taliban, the Pakistan deputy foreign minister said that Pakistan and other neighbouring countries are facing the threat of terrorism from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

AFF stated that the Taliban have conducted arrest operations in Kapisa, Parwan, Panjshir, and Kabul provinces.

AFF added that the Taliban prevented the funeral prayers for the dead personnel of the front.

Earlier, AFF confirmed that six members of the front had been killed by the Taliban in Southern Salang, and the fate of Akmal Amir, the military commander of this front, is not known yet.

Media reports had also indicated that the Taliban had arrested relatives of the dead AFF forces in Kabul and Kapisa provinces.

AFF said that it has started its spring offensive against the Taliban across the country and launched special operations in Kabul, Parwan, Kapisa, and Panjshir provinces. This front claimed that dozens of Taliban forces have been killed and wounded in these operations.

The Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran told reporters that during the second round of this quadrilateral meeting, the foreign ministers discussed the crisis that has emerged due to continued sanctions imposed on Afghanistan.

According to Abdollahian, the foreign ministers also discussed drug trafficking from Afghanistan, its impacts on regional countries particularly Iran, and the responsibilities of the Taliban.

The foreign ministers of Iran, China, Russia, and Pakistan also issued a joint statement in which it has been said that terrorist groups including Islamic State – Khorasan (IS-K), Al-Qaeda, East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Balochistan Liberation Army, Jaish-ul-Adl and other terrorist groups based in Afghanistan are serious threats to regional and global security.

The statement urged the Taliban to establish an "inclusive government with the practical participation of all ethnic groups and reverse the restrictions imposed on Afghan women and ethnic minorities."

The statement also stated that the foreign ministers are against the re-establishment of military bases in and around Afghanistan and do not consider it useful for regional peace and stability.

The foreign ministers of Russia, China, Iran, and Pakistan emphasised that Afghanistan should monitor and prevent illegal cross-border activities.

According to the statement, transboundary issues related to Afghanistan, including the water issue with the neighbours, should be addressed through dialogue and consultation.

The statement also added that the Taliban should take effective measures to protect the safety, security, and legitimate rights of foreign entities and citizens in Afghanistan.

The Samarkand meeting kicked off today in Uzbekistan.

The foreign ministers of Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan have been invited to this meeting.

This meeting kicks off today, but it was not clear whether the Taliban had been invited to participate in the meeting or not.

The foreign ministers of Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan have been invited to the Samarkand meeting.

Ahead of the meeting, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, announced that the participants will focus on regional economic integration and the implementation of transportation and energy projects in Afghanistan.

At the same time, the National Resistance Council for Salvation of Afghanistan has urged participants of Samarkand meeting to pressurise the Taliban.

In an open letter, the Council has called the Taliban a global threat and urged regional countries to support Afghans to overthrow the group.

Media outlets and people close to the Taliban reported that the Wednesday evening attack had been carried out on an ISIS hideout in Kabul. According to them, two ISIS suicide bombers had been killed in the operation.

Al-Mersad, a media outlet aligned to the Taliban, reported that the group’s forces have arrested a suspect during the operation too. However, the Taliban spokesperson did not mention ISIS as the target of the group’s operation in Kabul.

The Taliban said that none of their forces have been injured or killed in last night’s operation. However, it is not possible to confirm the Taliban's claims due to restrictions on independent media reporting in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Afghan social media users have also reported that the Taliban conducted house-to-house search operations in several districts of Kabul.

They claimed that the Taliban have been looking for Akmal Amir, the commander of the Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF), who has been reportedly killed by the Taliban in an operation in Parwan province, but no independent sources have confirmed his death.