By Mohammad Farshad Daryosh in ToloNews, Dec 31, 2022 at 10:56 PM
Afghanistan’s politics faced many ups and downs in 2022. The Islamic Emirate’s administration was not recognized by any country in the world. Moreover, the travel ban exemption for 13 Islamic Emirate officials was not extended.
This year, Afghanistan’s seat in the UN was not given to the Islamic Emirate.
The United Nations General Assembly decided on December 16 that the representative of the previous government would continue to hold Afghanistan’s seat in the organization.
At a United Nations meeting on Afghanistan on November 10, 116 nations approved a 48-article resolution.
The resolution listed women’s employment and education as the most crucial requirements for Afghanistan’s recognition, along with a prohibition on using Afghan soil against other nations.
“The relations of the international community and its engagement with the Taliban depends on the improvement and implementation of resolutions as well as the fulfillment of the Taliban’s commitments. This is a critical point because it shows that the international community has a clear message for the Taliban,” Chargé d’Affaires of the Afghanistan Permanent Mission to the UN, Nasir Ahmad Faiq, said.
Although the Islamic Emirate has consistently asserted that it has met all conditions for recognition, some say the West is preventing this.
“The West is behind this. They prevent the recognition of and cooperation with an Islamic government. Although the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has made–and continues to make–great attempts, unfortunately, some pressures are applied,” said Zabiullah Mujahid, spokesman of the Islamic Emirate.
The international community has not recognized the current government of Afghanistan, but the European Union, India, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, Uzbekistan, and China all kept active their embassies.
On October 22nd, Japan resumed its diplomatic activities in Afghanistan, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) established an office in Kabul to improve relations and offer humanitarian assistance.
“At the moment, the Japanese Embassy in Kabul has begun its limited activity and is doing the minimum necessary work. For security reasons, I refrain from mentioning the details,” said Japan’s foreign minister, Yoshimasa Hayashi.
A source told TOLOnews on October 10, 2022, that Abdul Haq Wasiq, the Islamic Emirate’s head of intelligence, had a meeting in Doha with the US special envoy for Afghanistan and the deputy director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). However, the details of this meeting between these two senior intelligence officials were unclear.
Later, two well-known Afghan government prisoners were released from US prisons.
Asadullah Haroon, a member of the Islamic Emirate was released from Guantanamo Bay.
Bashar Noorzai, also known as Haji Bashar, was close to Mullah Muhammad Omar, the former leader of the Islamic Emirate. He was freed by the United States in exchange for the release of one American citizen.
“China is acting in Afghanistan based on its interests, but it will not recognize Afghanistan’s government until it is confident that the government is inclusive and that others have a place in the government,” said Torek Farhadi, a political affairs analyst.
Representatives of many countries as well as high and low-ranking delegations from nations including Pakistan, China, and Iran visited Afghanistan in 2022.
In 2022, Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob Mujahid, the acting defense minister, visited the United Arab Emirates and met with top government officials there.
Mujahid traveled to the UAE at the same time as Hamid Karzai, the former president of Afghanistan, paid a visit there.
Following the visit of the two Afghan officials, US special envoy Thomas West also traveled to the UAE.
“The important point that has to be done is that we should reach a major political understanding,” said Sangar Amirzada, a political expert.
Travel Exemption
The United Nations Security Council meeting ended without a decision on the extension of travel exemption for 13 Islamic Emirate officials.
Due to the Islamic Emirate’s policy, the US State Department restricted visas for current and former officials on October 11, 2022.
All the legislation issued during the presidency was canceled by the current government of Afghanistan on July 9, 2022.
“I have called for the revision of all procedures and policies of ministries made by the previous governments in the past 20 years by clerics. Suppose there was anything against Sharia or the interests of the people. In that case, it will be removed and we will establish a pure Islamic system,” said Mawlawi Hebatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the Islamic Emirate.
The lack of a constitution, lack of the announcement of an official cabinet, the absence of an official flag of Afghanistan in the world, poverty, and unemployment continue to be the major issues for the country, and it is unclear whether the current government will be able to resolve these problems in the coming year.
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-181414
