British Embassy Chargé d'affaires Discusses Consular Services In Europe With Taliban

The German police assessed the situation in cooperation with the Federal Criminal Police Office and the state's Criminal Police Office and were present at the scene, the newspaper said.

The German newspaper Bild quoted a spokesman for the German Interior Ministry in the state of Hesse as saying that the police became aware of the matter and investigated it after the Afghan Cultural Association Hesse eV of this state called for a funeral ceremony for Khalil Haqqani.

The newspaper, which also criticised the celebration, wrote, "Afghans who took refuge in Germany before the Taliban takeover have expressed their concern and anger over the celebration on social media."

According to a report by Bild, the presence of Afghans at the Haqqani funeral in Frankfurt was low, with only a small number of men attending the Hamza Grand Mosque on Sunday afternoon.

Bild wrote about the Taliban's Minister of Refugees, "Haqqani was the uncle of Sirajuddin Haqqani, the current Minister of Interior and the leader of one of the powerful factions of the Taliban. In the past 20 years, members of the Haqqani Network have been involved in hundreds of deadly attacks on civilians."

Khalil-ur-Rehman Haqqani, the Taliban's minister of refugee affairs, was killed in a suicide attack on Wednesday, December 11, which was claimed by the ISIS.

The holding of a funeral ceremony for Khalil Haqqani in Frankfurt, Germany, has been met with severe criticism.

Some have seen the move as a sign of the presence of Taliban supporters in the city and have expressed concerns about threats against Afghans opposed to the Taliban.

The three-year plan aims to empower the economy, create job opportunities and improve women's livelihoods.

"Millions of people in Afghanistan continue to fall into poverty and depend on humanitarian aid, and women are the most affected," EU Ambassador to Afghanistan Veronika Bošković Pohar said on Monday, December 16, while underscoring the deteriorating economic situation in the country.

"The project promotes inclusive economic growth and helps communities free themselves from dependence on foreign aid," Pohar added.

In addition to supporting women and vulnerable groups such as youth, internally displaced people and farmers affected by the poppy ban, the initiative also addresses the challenges of climate change and introduces climate-smart technologies to increase resilience, Pohar said.

Najmuddin Najam, Executive Director of the Aga Khan Foundation and Coordinator of the Aga Khan Development Network in Afghanistan, described the project as an important step in the development of international cooperation, saying, "This initiative strengthens the long-standing partnership between the EU and the Aga Khan Development Network, focusing on improving sustainable livelihoods and economic well-being, especially for women and youth."

"The project will play an important role in developing skills and restoring cultural and historical sites, with the aim of strengthening local economies, increasing agricultural production and mitigating the effects of climate change," he added.

The European Union said that during the implementation of the project, 34,200 families are expected to benefit directly and 292,544 people indirectly.

It is also said that 26,793 women will benefit directly and 146,272 will benefit indirectly from skills training, financial support, and new job opportunities.

The European Union has emphasised that all its humanitarian assistance and development projects in Afghanistan are implemented through credible partners and in accordance with the principles of impartiality and transparency. Pohar described the project as an example of the EU's enduring commitment to supporting Afghan communities and building a better future amid the challenges.

The EU has allocated €143 million for humanitarian aid and €146 million for basic needs and livelihoods in Afghanistan this year, EU Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas Niklasson had told the EU Parliament earlier. He stressed that no part of this aid reaches the Taliban.

Earlier, the European Commission's foreign affairs spokesperson said that the bloc's minimal presence in Kabul to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and monitor the human rights situation in Afghanistan does not mean recognition of the Taliban government.

The exact date of the reopening of the highway has not been announced, but the Taliban's Ministry of Public Works has said that they are trying to clear the road.

The Taliban official also posted pictures of heavy snowfall on this highway on his account on social media platform X.

According to the details provided by Mohammad Ashraf Haqshenas, "so far, the thickness of the snow in northern and southern Salang has reached 7 centimetres”.

Earlier, local sources had put the number of stranded workers at 35.

Bakhtar News Agency quoted Muradi, as saying that rescue groups helped the stranded workers.

The collapse of a coal mine occurred on Saturday evening, December 14, in the Sefid Khak area of the village of Goleh in the Dari Suf Payin Valley.

Earlier, local sources had said that rescue teams were dispatched to the site to pull the workers out of the mine.

The Taliban-controlled Bakhtar News Agency wrote that the mine collapsed while workers were working inside it.

Although some sources put the number of stranded people at 35 and some more than 40, the Taliban has so far refused to provide specific statistics on the stranded workers.

Regarding the protection of the monument, which is in danger of collapse, McPhillips said that efforts are underway to attract funding.

According to the report, McPhillips stressed on the need to protect the monument.

McPhillips has said that a new bridge will be built for tourists to pass over the Hari-rud river near Minar-e-Jam.

The minaret, which is considered a masterpiece of the Ghurid civilisation, was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2002, however, the lack of sufficient attention in its restoration over the past two decades has led to repeated warnings about the possibility of its collapse.