Putin & Rahmon To Discuss Situation of Tajikistan’s Border With Afghanistan

During the inauguration ceremony, the Taliban Defence Minister Mullah Yaqoob said, "Neighbours should not worry, we will never violate the rights of our neighbours in using the water of the Amu Darya."

Media outlets affiliated to the Taliban reported that Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and Abdul Salam Hanafi, the two deputy prime ministers of the Taliban; Sirajuddin Haqqani, the group’s interior minister; Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, the deputy foreign minister, and a number of other senior officials of this group also participated in the inauguration ceremony.

Referring to the "concerns of Afghanistan's neighbours" regarding the use of Amu Basin water, Mullah Yaqoob said, "We want to have our rights. That’s why, no one should create an obstacle."

The Taliban’s minister of defence added, "The Qosh Tepa Canal was a dream that became a reality."

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s deputy prime minister for economic affairs, said that the purpose of the construction of the Qosh Tepa canal is not to harm anyone, "rather its only purpose is a proud Afghanistan, the self-sufficiency of Afghans and the use of natural resources in a better way”.

Taliban’s interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani also said, "After numerous problems, the first phase of the Qosh Tepa Canal has been completed by Afghan engineers."

The Taliban's interior minister added that although the Taliban's existing budget did not suffice for the Qosh Tepa project to be implemented fully, the process is being implemented as a result of the Taliban's "strong will".

Meanwhile, Abdul Salam Hanafi, the Taliban Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs, emphasised that this group will complete the Qosh Tepa canal work "in any possible way". Hanafi also said that the neighbouring countries should not worry that the Taliban "seems to push the Amu Darya completely [toward the Qosh Tepa Canal]”.

This Taliban official added that the Taliban government respects the rights of its neighbours and urges them to respect the rights of Afghanistan.

Earlier, the president of Uzbekistan warned that the Taliban is building the Qosh Tepa water transfer canal, and this could fundamentally change the water balance in Central Asia.

The Taliban said that more than seven billion Afghanis have been allocated for the construction of the canal and that it will take six years to build it.

Citing the Taliban’s ministry of public health, Doctors Without Borders reported the number of wounded at least 2,440 people.

At the same time, the World Food Programme in Afghanistan on Wednesday announced that more than 2,000 people died, and thousands were injured as a result of the earthquake on Saturday.

The casualties of Saturday's earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 increased even as at least three other earthquakes jolted western Afghanistan on Wednesday morning. The US Geological Survey stated that the magnitudes of the earthquakes were 6.3, 5.0, and 4.1, respectively.

So far, the exact number of casualties of the earthquakes on Wednesday has not been reported. However, the Taliban media reported that one person was killed and around 170 injured were taken to hospitals following the earthquake.

Saturday's earthquake in western Afghanistan, especially in Herat, destroyed several villages, especially in Zindajan district. The Taliban governor in Herat said that more than ten villages in this district were destroyed.

During the past five days, several earthquakes have struck western Afghanistan, especially Herat province.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported that 90% of the victims of Saturday’s earthquake in Herat are women and children.

The UK foreign office stated that there is no alternative, but pragmatic engagement with the Taliban government and the British government is currently following this policy.

This is the first time that the UK has recognised the Taliban's rule as "Afghanistan’s administration” and sent a conciliatory message for the group.

It is not clear who and which organisation, the statement has targeted. However, the statement mentioned that no one is allowed to use UK’s territory to seek "political changes through violence" in Afghanistan or to plan, recruit for, incite or finance terrorism in Afghanistan.

Since the return of the Taliban to the power, several groups have initiated armed resistance against the Taliban. These groups have declared their intent to pursue this conflict until the beginning of political negotiations and the establishment of a legitimate government in Afghanistan.

The UK government’s statement added, “Political change sought through armed violence or incitement of violence that amounts to an offence in UK law can be subject to investigation.”

It added that any kind of violence is not in the interest of Afghanistan or the international community, and they deplore violent attacks of all kinds.

The Taliban has repeatedly expressed that western countries do not support the armed resistance against the group interpreting it as a sign of international acceptance of the Taliban's rule in Afghanistan.

Earlier, Tobias Ellwood, a British parliament member, called for engagement with the Taliban, which caused a controversy and led to his resignation.

The Taliban-controlled Bakhtar news agency reported that there is a possibility of an increase in casualties.

Bakhtar reported that the earthquake on Wednesday caused financial loss and death and injury to residents of Injil, Raubat-i-Sangi, and Gulran districts.

At least three more earthquakes jolted western Afghanistan on Wednesday morning. The US Geological Survey stated that the magnitudes of the earthquakes were 6.3, 5.0, and 4.1, respectively.

The first earthquake occurred at 05:30 in the morning, and within one hour, two additional earthquakes jolted Herat again.

According to sources, the earthquake also left "casualties" in remote districts of the province, however, the exact number of casualties is still unclear.

Reports indicate that at least one of the historical minarets of Herat city has also been damaged due to the earthquake.

According to the sources, few houses in Kushk and Gulran districts have been destroyed too.

The epicentre of one of the earthquakes is said to be Chahar Burj area in the center of Herat province.

Local sources said that Wednesday's earthquake was also felt in Farah, Badghis, Nimroz, and Mashhad city of Iran.

According to sources, the earthquake destroyed residential houses in the central areas of Herat.

This earthquake occurred in Herat five days after a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck the province on Saturday, resulting in the loss of thousands of lives and injuries.

According to OCHA, another 485 people, including 191 men and 294 women, are missing.

According to the UN agency, six schools, three kindergartens, and two educational centres in this district were fully destroyed and eight other schools were partially damaged.

The United Nations added that 33 unaccompanied minors, 17 unaccompanied elderly, and 53 female-headed households have been identified as victims.

Meanwhile, on the third day after Herat's deadly earthquake, search operations continue among the ruins to find the missing people.

On Saturday, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake jolted Herat province.