Islamabad, 07 May 2023 (APP)

ISLAMABAD:

For the first time in Pakistan’s history, Pakistan has surrendered the quota allotted to the country by Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrims as applications fell short of the available seats.

The religious affairs ministry has confirmed that the eight thousand government scheme quota has been returned. The sources in the ministry informed that the move was aimed to save 24 million dollars as the government would have to pay this additional amount for accommodation.

The federal government had earlier announced that there would be no balloting for the Hajj applicants as the authorities could see that there would be a shortage of applicants.

This historic change shows the drastic impacts of inflation in the country.

It had been the government’s long-standing demand to increase the quota but Pakistan failed to meet the allotted quota. This year, Pakistan was given full share for the pilgrimage after a long time.

The report said the government also considered to allocate the unused Hajj quota to the private Hajj operators. However, because of the fear that private operators might buy dollars from open market, it planned to surrender the unutilised quota.

Rawalpindi, 07 May 2023 (Express Tribune-ISPR)

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen. Syed Asim Munir met Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Amir Khan Muttaqi and his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang in separate meetings, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Sunday.

State Councilor and Foreign Minister Gang and Acting Afghan FM Muttaqi are on a two-day visit to Pakistan to attend the China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue in the country.

In a press release, the ISPR said that Gen. Munir and Chinese FM Gang discussed matters of mutual interest, including regional security and defence cooperation in their meeting.

The COAS reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to the China-Pakistan strategic relationship and also pledged full support for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, which is a vital component of the neighboring country’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the statement furthered.

It maintained that the army chief also appreciated Beijing's unwavering support for Islamabad on regional and international issues.

“Foreign Minister Qin Gang underscored the importance of the longstanding strategic relationship between the brotherly nations and expressed his satisfaction over the progress made on the CPEC while reiterating China's commitment to its timely completion,” added the military's media wing.

The ISPR furthered that the Chinese FM appreciated Pakistan's efforts in maintaining regional peace and stability, especially the support of Pakistan's armed forces to provide security to Chinese nationals and projects in the country.

The two dignitaries also discussed the evolving security situation in the region. The COAS acknowledged China's role in promoting peace and stability in the region, and both sides agreed to enhance their existing cooperation in defence and security domains to effectively counter common security challenges.

“The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both sides reiterating their resolve to further strengthen the time-tested, all-weather friendship between Pakistan and China,” added the ISPR.

COAS meets Muttaqi

In his meeting with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting FM of Afghanistan, the army chief discussed issues of mutual interest, including aspects related to regional security, border management, and formalisation of bilateral security mechanisms for improvement in the current security environment, the ISPR said.

“[The] COAS stressed the need for enhanced cooperation between the two brotherly neighbours to effectively tackle the common challenges of terrorism and extremism,” the press release added.

The statement furthered that the army chief reiterated the need for full support and commitment from the Afghan interim government in matters of mutual interest.

“Foreign Minister Muttaqi appreciated Pakistan's traditional support for the people of Afghanistan and acknowledged the important role that Pakistan continues to play in facilitating peace and development in Afghanistan,” the military’s media wing added.

The statement furthered that the Afghan acting FM also expressed his desire to work closely with Pakistan to promote regional stability and prosperity.

“Both sides agreed on the importance of maintaining regular contacts to strengthen bilateral ties and address issues of common concern,” said the ISPR.

The COAS reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to a stable, peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan.

Doha, 04 May 2023 (QT)

By Ashraf Siddiqui

Special Envoy of Iran for Afghanistan Hassan Kazemi Qomi has stressed the international community and the United Nations keenness to support the initiatives and mechanisms chalked out by the neighbouring and regional countries of Afghanistan to advance peace and stability in the country and the region.

Talking to Qatar Tribune on the sidelines of the two-day UN Conference on Afghanistan concluded in Doha on Tuesday, Qomi said Afghanistan and its people for the last four decades have been facing numerous challenges and crises, including security, economic, occupation, terrorism, narcotics, drugs and other problems.

He pointed out that Afghanistan’s internal situation has badly affected the economic, security and stability of the neighbouring countries, as well as the regional countries.

He said, “We are witnessing a wave of large migration of Afghans from their country. The unfortunate sufferings and challenges being faced by the Afghan people are the result of 20 years of long occupation and the colonial policies adopted during those years. Therefore, the major responsibility to shoulder economic viability and humanitarian support lies on the countries that occupied Afghanistan for long years.”

Qomi said although occupation forces have gone out of Afghanistan, there have been some proxy wars in the country and terrorist groups, including ISIS, are replacing them.

“The crises are increasing, expanded, promoted and are adding to the problems for Afghanistan and to the region. We believe that occupying forces are accountable for all these sufferings and problems and they should be held accountable for these issues,” he said. “So today, with great concern, regional and the neighbouring countries are following Afghan development and at the same time, we are trying to establish some regional initiatives mechanism to take
part in the Afghan process and encourage Kabul to take some effective measures,” he added.

“In addition to the support and helping the Afghans to resolve their economic problems, to progress and develop, to create a political process, to overcome the crisis, to advance peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region, it is important to free the Afghan frozen assets,” Qomi added.

He emphasised that Pakistan, being a neighbouring country, can play an important role to create a stable, sustainable and peaceful Afghanistan.

“Let us adopt a united voice through meetings on Afghanistan making Taliban officials committed and encourage them to form an inclusive government to pay attention to humanitarian issues, rights of women and to all other necessary issues,” he stressed.

“With our experience during the last over four decades facing the Afghan challenges, we need to encourage the Taliban to realise the ground realities that they are a part of the Afghan reality, but there are several other ethnicities, and factions to be included in forming the government to avoid civil wars, promote a stable Afghanistan and create trust among the international community,” the Iranian diplomat said.

The UN Conference on Afghanistan in Doha, Capital city of State of Qatar was concluded without any result and with an open division in approach towards solving of Afghan crisis among the Western participants and the Afghan region's participating countries.

Secretary General United Nations, Antonio Guterres along with delegations from around 25 countries participated in a two-day conference. Guterres addressing to the press conference on concluding said that next meeting on Afghan crisis between the key players will continue at later stage, without announcing when and where.

A number of participating delegates specially from the region around Afghanistan raised their reservations on not inviting the Taliban representatives.

Doha, 04 May 2023 (QT)

By Ashraf Siddiqui

THE United Nations two-day meeting on Afghanistan was a very important way for the international community to address the Afghanistan issue and China supports all the United Nations initiatives to restore stability in the country, said China’s Special Envoy on Afghan Affairs, Yue Xiaoyong.

Talking to Qatar Tribune  the second day of the UN Conference on Afghanistan, Xiaoyong said the conference was the first meeting of its kind since the previous government in Afghanistan collapsed and the Taliban took over Kabul on August 15, 2021.

He said there were no high expectations from this meeting and it was not a decision making gathering, but a sort of informal discussion between key players to exchange views to see what best approach can be taken for better handling of Afghanistan issues.

Xiaoyong said China attaches importance to the role being played by the United Nations towards solving regional and international issues and supports the initiatives. “However, to make meetings on Afghanistan useful, we look forward to having the next meetings where Taliban will participate. We raised this point during a two-day conference and advocate for their participation.

It was a pity that we were discussing issues of a sovereign country and there was no representation of that country,” he said. “It is important to keep dialogue with them, communicate with them, engage them so that Taliban and the participants may know each other’s concerns and views.”

He said those forces which occupied for long 20 years Afghanistan have much more responsibility to come forward and help in Afghanistan’s economic viability and development, stressing that China is concerned, being a neighbouring country and among the five global powers, about security issues in Afghanistan as well as of the region.

“We understand that there are multiple issues, including terror threats, poverty, women’s fundamental rights, regional security, urgent management crisis and policy issues, how to have sustainable stability in the country, to have a moderate and appropriate policy to avoid extremism. China will play its part of responsibility along with neighbouring and regional countries,” Xiaoyong added.

He pointed out that many participants in the conference also raised their concerns towards the Afghan crisis and suggested worthwhile efforts to help Afghanistan in areas of humanitarian, development, trade and investment which can solve many other issues in a much better way, adding that China emphasises addressing the roots causes of terrorist threats.

Two-day UN Conference On Afghanistan held on May 01-02, 2023 in Qatar was concluded without any result with announcement by the UN General Secretary Antonio Guteress that meeting on Afghanistan will continue at later stage.

He also said that he will like to meet the Talibans at an appropriate time. It is to note that Talibans were not invited in the 2-day conference concluded on Tuesday. A number of the participating delegates raised their observations why Talibans were not present.

Doha, 02 May 2023 (QT)
By Ashraf Siddiqui

Under the wise leadership of the Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar has become an exemplary success story in the development, diplomacy and sports sectors, as well as in promoting international and regional peace and stability, Ambassador of Bangladesh to Qatar Md Nazzrul Islam has said.

The ambassador was addressing a gala reception to celebrate Bangladesh’s 52nd Independence Day in the presence of Minister of Environment and Climate Change Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al Thani; Director of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Ibrahim Yousif Abdullah Fakhro; diplomats and members of the Bangladesh community.

The envoy said Qatar has made remarkable strides in different areas of development to achieve the goals under Qatar National Vision 2030, while the successful hosting of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is just another testimonial of Qatar’s limitless ambition and capacity.
Ambassador Nazzrul Islam added that bilateral relations between the two countries have grown from strength to strength in diverse sectors in recent years as Bangladesh and Qatar work closely together on global issues like climate change, combating terrorism and extremism, health and education under the UN platform.

He said, “Bangladesh Prime Minister recently paid a visit to Qatar in March and she is again happy to come to attend the Qatar Economic Forum in May 2023. Two rounds of Foreign Office consultations have taken place during the last four years.
We have completed a defence agreement this year as well. All these have rightly paved the way for the forthcoming visit to Bangladesh by the Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.”

Paying homage to the father of the nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for his visionary leadership in achieving the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, the envoy said in the last decade, Bangladesh has continued to stay on track to achieve the goals set in the SDG 2030 global agenda and the national vision 2041.
He said Bangladesh graduated from the Least Developing Country (LDC) status two years ago as the country celebrated the golden jubilee of its independence. In the last one decade, Bangladesh, under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, became the ‘development miracle’ through enviable socio-economic progress.
“We are now the 34th largest economy in the world and by 2030, we are set to become the 25th largest economy. Women have been mainstreamed in national development and economic activities. Political stability, able leadership, strategic investment in digitisation, technological innovation, connectivity, education and skill development have been the mainstay of our development journey. The unique Delta-Plan 2100 aims to create a prosperous and climate resilient delta for our future generations,” he added.

Speaking about Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, he said a large population of Myanmar citizens, who escaped inhuman persecution by the Myanmar military, are hosted in a temporary shelter in his country, adding that Bangladesh has received global acclamation for its significant role in the UN peacekeeping missions.
He added that around 400,000 Bangladeshi expatriates consider Qatar as their second home under the kindness of HH the Amir and the government of Qatar.
“We are happy to present today before you a few traditional cultural items like songs and dances performed by Bangladeshi children and amateur singers,” he said.

Around 13 students of Bangladesh School displayed colourful traditional cultural dance and a local Bangladeshi community music band Srabon artistes entertained the guests with national songs on the occasion. Among the artistes were guitarist and vocal Amin Rasul Saiful; Mujib I’d Dowla on drum; Pnytom Dutta on Bass; Sohel Ahmed on keyboard; guitarist Tanjhim Hassan; vocalist Dr Shahadat Hossain and vocalist James Anick.

Doha, 02 May 2023 (QT)

By Ashraf Siddiqui

PAKISTANI State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar has underscored the need for the global community to join hands to make Afghanistan economically viable and stable, stressing that pushing the Afghan girls, boys and people to economic starvation cannot lead to any solution and it is against the fundamental rights of 40 million Afghan people.

Talking exclusively to Qatar Tribune on the sidelines of the UN Conference on Afghanistan, which kicked off in Doha on Monday, Khar said the world community is required to keep politics aside and come together to meet the real needs of the Afghan people.

She said, “The important step now is to empower Afghans economically, so that they may be able to make their own future, no matter under what type of regime they live. They have fundamental rights and it is a fundamental duty of the world body.

Broadly speaking, the entire world community’s objectives are similar. I think nobody says that they do not want peace and security in Afghanistan. What we need to do is to make a real assessment of the useful kits. Disengagement policy is not the solution. There is a need for change in behaviour to engage with Afghans. We would rather end up die trying, but we cannot give up hope for the people of Afghanistan.”

Answering a question about the Afghan regime’s attitude and policy towards women’s fundamental rights, Pakistan’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs said, “Pakistan’s stated policy is very clear. Islam does not prohibit women from participating in the economy, Islam does not prohibit women from getting education, rather instructs girls and boys, men and women to get education. “For us, it is not an Islamic issue. We have made it very clear. What Afghan policy makers have taken direction in this regard is not being useful at all.

However, we do not encourage economic starvation of girls and children, because they are not being treated well. It is exceptionally important that we understand the economic starvation is not the answer.”

The two-day UN Conference on Afghanistan took off with the participation of special envoys for Afghanistan from around 25 countries along with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.