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Next week, a meeting is scheduled to take place in Pakistan, usually attended by political opponents of the Taliban. Among nearly forty Afghan figures expected to participate, the political movement Peace and Justice, led by Hanif Atmar, the former foreign minister and the last senior official of the Republic regime, is also listed. It is possible that Atmar himself or his representative will attend this meeting.
The Palestinian group Hamas announced on Saturday that it would only lay down its arms if an independent and fully sovereign Palestinian state is established.
This statement came in response to a report by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, which claimed that in an audio recording attributed to Steve Witkoff, the U.S. envoy on Middle East affairs, it was said: “Hamas has declared its readiness to disarm.”
According to a report by Reuters on Saturday, August 2, Guterres acknowledged that in the context of the UN’s efforts to improve efficiency and reduce costs, the massive volume of documents and meetings has not only proven ineffective but has become a burden on the system.
The United Nations Security Council has granted a travel exemption to Abdul Salam Hanafi, Deputy Prime Minister of the Taliban, allowing him to travel to Doha, the capital of Qatar. On Saturday, August 2nd, the UN issued a statement confirming that Hanafi is scheduled to travel to Doha for medical treatment from August 14 to August 31.
Previously, the United Kingdom had issued a similar advisory for its staff and citizens in Pakistan. Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, has experienced sporadic armed attacks and ongoing security concerns in the past. Threats against diplomatic missions and foreign nationals have long been a source of serious concern in the country.
His comments come after the Taliban-affiliated state news agency Bakhtar reported the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Taliban’s Ministry of Energy and Water and Mirwais Azizi, CEO of Azizi Energy, allegedly worth $10 billion. Under the agreement, the company is expected to produce 10,000 megawatts of electricity and implement power projects across multiple Afghan provinces by the year 2032.
Afghanistan’s economy, heavily reliant on agricultural exports such as dried fruits, nuts, and medicinal herbs, is expected to feel the brunt of the change. Many Afghan producers already struggle with limited access to international markets due to infrastructure challenges and trade restrictions.
