Pakistan to host Troika Plus meet on Afghanistan on Thursday

[ghazi52]

Pakistan to host Troika Plus meet on Afghanistan on Thursday

Tahir Khan
November 9, 2021

Pakistan will host senior diplomats from the United States, China and Russia in Islamabad on Thursday to discuss the situation in Afghanistan. — Reuters/File


Pakistan will host senior diplomats from the United States, China and Russia in Islamabad on November 11 (Thursday) to discuss the situation in neighbouring Afghanistan, officials said on Tuesday.

The Troika Plus meeting on Afghanistan will be attended by special representatives from all four countries, a diplomatic official told Dawn.com.

Representatives of the four countries will also meet Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, who is arriving in Islamabad tomorrow (Wednesday) — the first visit to Pakistan by an Afghan minister since the Taliban seized control of Kabul on August 15.

“Troika Plus at SRs (special representatives level) will meet with Muttaqi,” the Pakistani official said.

“Troika Plus has become an important forum for engagement with Afghan authorities. It will express support for an inclusive government, discuss ways to prevent a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan as well as the protection of human rights, particularly women's rights,” he said.

This is the first full-fledged meeting of the Troika Plus after the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan.

The last meeting was held in Doha on August 11, in which the US was represented by former special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad.

Another meeting was convened by Russia in Moscow on October 19, but the US did not participate citing "logistics".
Later, Khalilzad was replaced by Tom West and the US indicated its willingness to attend the Troika Plus meeting being convened by Pakistan this week.

“The US would probably like to explore how flexibility can be brought on the Taliban's stance on inclusivity, women's rights and governance matters. The US also seems to show some concern towards the humanitarian crisis arising out of restrictions on banks,” a Pakistani official told Dawn.com.

He said the US would also try to assess the position of Russia, China and Pakistan on the current situation in Afghanistan.

“The meltdown of the Afghan state [apparatus] and society can be worrying for the US as it would cause proliferation of terrorist and militant groups, spreading instability in the region,” the official added.

 

[ghazi52]

Int'l engagement with Afghanistan crucial to avert civil war, Qureshi tells Troika Plus meeting

Naveed Siddiqui | APP
November 11, 2021


China decides to join Pakistan’s ‘Troika Plus’ meeting on Afghanistan 24 hours after turning down India's invite

US State Department's Special Representative and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Afghanistan Thomas West (R) at the Troika Plus meeting. — Photo courtesy: Foreign Office

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi addresses the 9th meeting of Troika Plus in Islamabad on Thursday. — Photo courtesy: Foreign Office

A group photo of world leaders flanked alongside Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi (third from left) participating in the Troika Plus meeting. — Photo courtesy: Foreign Office

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Thursday that it was crucial for the international community to avoid repeating mistakes of the past and pursue positive engagements in order to avert economic collapse or an all-out civil war from breaking out in Afghanistan,.

Addressing the opening session of the two-day meeting of Troika Plus — comprising US, Russia, China and Pakistan — held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the foreign minister said engagement with Afghanistan was important as nobody wished to see a relapse into civil war and an economic collapse to spur instability.

"Everyone wants terrorist elements operating inside Afghanistan to be tackled effectively and we all want to prevent a new refugee crisis," he said.

He said peace in Afghanistan was not only important for Pakistan, but for the rest of the world as well.

The foreign minister said that Afghanistan stood at the brink of economic collapse today and with international funding dried up, it had become difficult to even pay salaries, let alone pursue development projects.

He said people were reeling under the effects of a severe drought, adding that any further downward slide would severely limit the new administration's capacity to run the government.
"It is, therefore, imperative for the international community to buttress the provision of humanitarian assistance on an urgent basis," he stressed, adding that the sectors of health, education and municipal services required urgent attention.

The foreign minister said enabling Afghanistan to access its frozen funds would dovetail into the efforts to regenerate economic activities and move the Afghan economy towards stability and sustainability.

Similarly, he said, the UN and its agencies must be urged to find ways to reach out to the common Afghan and help stabilise the situation.

Qureshi said being an immediate neighbour, Pakistan had a direct stake in Afghanistan's peace and stability.

With a shared heritage and history, we consider every ethnic community of Afghanistan important in the final destiny of the country, he said.

He mentioned that Pakistan had already taken a number of steps to facilitate people in Afghanistan.

"These include waiver of customs duties on perishable food items to support farmers in Afghanistan, provision of humanitarian assistance, facilitating pedestrian movement, keeping the border open during Covid-19 and visa on arrival for medical cases."

He recalled that during his visit to Kabul last month, he had endeavoured to understand the new Afghan government's expectations from the international community.

"It also provided us the opportunity to share our assessment with the Taliban leadership and highlight the international community's expectations of them," he said.

"We believe Taliban are interested in engagement, as they seek international acceptance and support," he added.

The meeting was attended by Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood, Pakistan's Ambassador to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmad Khan, Pakistan's Special Representative to Afghanistan Muhammad Sadiq, US State Department's Special Representative and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Afghanistan Thomas West, Russia's Special Envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov and China's Special Representative for Afghanistan, Yao Jing.

Separately, Prime Minister Imran Khan also urged the international community to fulfil "its collective responsibility to avert a grave humanitarian crisis confronting [the] people of Afghanistan".

Expressing these views in a tweet, he added that his government had assured Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mutaqqi, who is on a three-day visit to Pakistan, of providing "all possible humanitarian aid to Afghanistan."

"Pakistan has always stood with the Afghan people in their hour of need ... We are sending essential food items, emergency medical supplies and winter shelters to provide immediate relief to Afghan ppl. We will also provide free Covid-19 vaccines to all Afghans travelling across the border into Pakistan," he tweeted.

 

[ghazi52]

Russia said it all & Pravin Sawhney is spot on. India has no role in Afghanistan...

 

[ghazi52]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=218838107027735

 

[ghazi52]

Foreign Minister’s remarks at opening session of Troika Plus meeting

Special Representatives of China, Pakistan, Russia and US,

November 11, 2021

I welcome you all to Islamabad at the 9th meeting of Troika Plus. Your presence here reflects our common desire to see a peaceful, stable, unified, sovereign and prosperous Afghanistan.

I wish you success in your deliberations today.

Distinguished delegates,

The Troika Plus is meeting after a gap of 3 months.

During this period, Afghanistan has gone through a fundamental transformation.
A new administration is functioning in Kabul; interim cabinet was instituted and a massive evacuation was carried out by the international community.

The redeeming factors were: no bloodshed; much dreaded mass exodus of new refugees did not occur; encouraging announcement from Taliban on future step and, most importantly, international community has remained engaged.
The engagement with Afghanistan must not only continue but should be enhanced for multiple reasons. Nobody wishes to see a relapse into civil war, no one wants an economic collapse that will spur instability; everyone wants terrorist elements operating inside Afghanistan to be tackled effectively and; we all want to prevent a new refugee crisis.

All of us have common concerns related to Afghanistan and also have a shared interest in the country’s peace and stability. And to bring that about, is a shared responsibility.

Distinguished delegates,

In this situation, the Troika Plus has assumed greatersignificance and has a critical role to play.

We are confident that Troika Plus’s engagement with the new Afghan government will help consolidate peace and stability,
promote sustainable economic development and help constrict space for terrorist outfits operating from and within Afghanistan.


Distinguished Delegates,

Today, Afghanistan stands at the brink of an economic collapse.

With international funding dried up, it has become difficult to pay even salaries, let alone pursue development projects.
The common man is reeling under the effects of a severe drought.

Any further downward slide will severely limit the new administration’s capacity to run the government.

It is, therefore, imperative for the international community to buttress provision of humanitarian assistance on an urgent basis.
Health, education and municipal services require urgent attention.

Enabling Afghanistan to access its frozen funds will dovetail into our efforts to regenerate economic activities and move the Afghan economy towards stability and sustainability.

Similarly, the UN and its agencies must be urged to find ways to reach out to the common Afghan and help stabilize the situation.


Distinguished delegates;

Being an immediate neighbor, Pakistan has a direct stake in Afghanistan’s peace and stability
Pakistan and Afghanistan have a shared heritage and history.


We consider every ethnic community of Afghanistan important in the final destiny of the country.
Located next door, we have borne the brunt of four decades of conflict and instability in the shape of refugees, drugs and terrorism.

We see the current situation as an opportunity to end the prolonged conflict.

Towards that end, we have already taken a number of steps to facilitate the common man in Afghanistan. Some of these are:

• waiver of custom duties on perishable food items to support farmers in Afghanistan
• provision of humanitarian assistance;
• facilitating pedestrian movement;
• keeping the border open during COVID-19 and;
• Visa on arrival for medical cases.

Post-15 August, I hosted a number of my counterparts from various countries.

We are grateful to the neighbors of Afghanistan for supporting our call for a regional platform to discuss common concerns and opportunities. The two meetings yielded substantive and forward looking outcome documents.

During all these interactions in Pakistan and abroad, our consistent message to the international community and the new Afghan government has been to remain engaged and find a mutually agreed way forward.

Distinguished delegates,

My visit to Kabul last month, helped us understand the new Afghan government’s expectations from the international community.
It also provided us the opportunity to share our assessment with the Taliban leadership and highlight the international community’s expectations of them.

We believe Taliban are interested in engagement, as they seek international acceptance and support.
It is, therefore, crucial that the international community avoids repeating mistakes of the past and continues with positiveengagement.

For our part, I reaffirm my Prime Minister’s resolve to help Afghanistan on its path towards peace, progress and prosperity.

 

[ghazi52]

The Frontier Post

ISLAMABAD: In a joint statement on Thursday, Russia, China, Pakistan and the United States welcomed the Taliban’s continued commitment to ensure safe travel for all who wish to enter and leave Afghanistan. The sides stressed the importance of establishing airports throughout the country to provide commercial air travel for the smooth flow of humanitarian aid.

Islamabad hosted a m-eeting of the extended Tr-oika, comprising Pakistan, China, Russia and the United States to discuss the latest situation in Afgha-nistan. The extended Troika met with senior Taliban representatives on the sidelines of the meeting.

The document circulated by the Pakistani Foreign Ministry notes that they expressed deep concern regarding the severe humanitarian and economic situation in Afghanistan and reiterated unwavering support for the people of Afghanistan.

Recalled the relevant Afghan – related UNSC Resolutions, including respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Afghanistan that is free of terrorism and drug related crime, and that contributes to regional stability and connectivity.

Welcomed the Taliban’s continued commitment to allow for the safe passage of all who wish to travel to and from Afghanistan and encouraged rapid progress, with the onset of winter, on arrangements to establish airports countrywide that can accept commercial air traffic, which are essential to enable the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian assistance.

Called on the Taliban to work with fellow Afghans to take steps to form an inclusive and representative government that respects the rights of all Afghans and provides for the equal rights of women and girls to participate in all aspects of Afghan society.

Agreed to continue practical engagement with the Taliban to encourage the implementation of moderate and prudent policies that can help achieve a stable and prosperous Afghan-istan as soon as possible.

Emphasized that access to education for women and girls at all levels is an international obligation and encouraged the Taliban to accelerate efforts to provide for full and equal access to education countrywide.

Welcomed the international community’s urgent provision of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and expressed grave concern at the potential for an economic collapse and significantly worsening humanitarian crisis and a new refugee wave.

Called on the Taliban to ensure unhindered humanitarian access, including by women aid workers, for the delivery of humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan to respond to the developing crisis. Welcomed the greater role of United Nations as a coordinator in such fields as contributing to stability and delivering emergency assistance.

Urged the United Nations and its specialized agencies to develop programs to implement the international community’s commitments to support the people of Afghanistan.

Condemned in the strongest terms the recent terrorist attacks in Afghanistan and called on the Taliban to cut ties with all international terrorist groups, dismantle and eliminate them in a decisive manner, and to deny space to any terrorist organization operating inside the country.

Reaffirmed their expectation that the Taliban will fulfill their commitment to prevent use of Afghan territory by terrorists against its neighbors, other countries in the region and the rest of the world.

Called on the Taliban to take a friendly approach towards neighboring countries and to uphold Afghanistan’s international legal obligations, including universally accepted principles of international law and fundamental human rights and to protect the safety and legitimate rights of foreign nationals and institutions in Afghanistan.

Acknowledged international humanitarian actors’ concerns regarding the country’s serious liquidity challenges and committed to continue focusing on measures to ease access to legitimate banking services.
Called on the international community to take concrete actions to provide Afghanistan with help against COVID 19.

 

[farok84]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1458706080071139334

https://twitter.com/x/status/1458735452106764296

https://twitter.com/x/status/1458922860756582405

Joint Statement on Troika Plus Meeting, 11 November 2021, Islamabad
MEDIA NOTE
OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON
NOVEMBER 11, 2021

On 11 November 2021, Islamabad hosted a meeting of the extended Troika, comprising Pakistan, China, Russia, and the United States to discuss the latest situation in Afghanistan. The extended Troika met with senior Taliban representatives on the sidelines of the meeting.
In the spirit of the discussion, as well as building on previous outcomes of Troika and extended Troika meetings, the four participating States:

1. Expressed deep concern regarding the severe humanitarian and economic situation in Afghanistan and reiterated unwavering support for the people of Afghanistan.
2. Recalled the relevant Afghan – related UNSC Resolutions, including respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Afghanistan that is free of terrorism and drug related crime, and that contributes to regional stability and connectivity.
3. Welcomed the Taliban’s continued commitment to allow for the safe passage of all who wish to travel to and from Afghanistan and encouraged rapid progress, with the onset of winter, on arrangements to establish airports countrywide that can accept commercial air traffic, which are essential to enable the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian assistance.
4. Called on the Taliban to work with fellow Afghans to take steps to form an inclusive and representative government that respects the rights of all Afghans and provides for the equal rights of women and girls to participate in all aspects of Afghan society.
5. Agreed to continue practical engagement with the Taliban to encourage the implementation of moderate and prudent policies that can help achieve a stable and prosperous Afghanistan as soon as possible.
6. Emphasized that access to education for women and girls at all levels is an international obligation and encouraged the Taliban to accelerate efforts to provide for full and equal access to education countrywide.
7. Welcomed the international community’s urgent provision of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and expressed grave concern at the potential for an economic collapse and significantly worsening humanitarian crisis and a new refugee wave.
8. Called on the Taliban to ensure unhindered humanitarian access, including by women aid workers, for the delivery of humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan to respond to the developing crisis.
9. Welcomed the greater role of United Nations as a coordinator in such fields as contributing to stability and delivering emergency assistance.
10. Urged the United Nations and its specialized agencies to develop programs to implement the international community’s commitments to support the people of Afghanistan.
11. Condemned in the strongest terms the recent terrorist attacks in Afghanistan and called on the Taliban to cut ties with all international terrorist groups, dismantle and eliminate them in a decisive manner, and to deny space to any terrorist organization operating inside the country.
12. Reaffirmed their expectation that the Taliban will fulfill their commitment to prevent use of Afghan territory by terrorists against its neighbors, other countries in the region and the rest of the world.
13. Called on the Taliban to take a friendly approach towards neighboring countries and to uphold Afghanistan’s international legal obligations, including universally accepted principles of international law and fundamental human rights and to protect the safety and legitimate rights of foreign nationals and institutions in Afghanistan.
14. Acknowledged international humanitarian actors’ concerns regarding the country’s serious liquidity challenges and committed to continue focusing on measures to ease access to legitimate banking services.
15. Called on the international community to take concrete actions to provide Afghanistan with help against COVID 19.

Joint Statement on Troika Plus Meeting, 11 November 2021, Islamabad - United States Department of State

Islamabad hosted a meeting of the extended Troika, comprising Pakistan, China, Russia, and the U.S. to discuss the latest situation in Afghanistan. The extended Troika met with senior Taliban representatives on the sidelines of the meeting.

www.state.gov

 

[Cookie Monster]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=218838107027735

Anyone got full version of this? I wanna see this joker get mad and give a response

 

[Goritoes]

Akele hum, Akele tum na jane kahan ho gai Indians ki seeti gum

 

[xyx007]

Also with NSA meeting in Delhi, india received a slap from Russia.

After Delhi Declaration, Russia issues own statement, with tweaks

The Indian Express takes a look at how the two statements differed.

indianexpress.com