Category: MIddle East

Qatari forces reportedly at Kabul airport

An Afghanistan Civil Aviation Authority official has said there are a number of Qatari forces stationed at Kabul airport. The source, who did not want to be named, told BBC the Qataris have been stationed at the airport for a few months.

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Iran steps up deportation of Afghan refugees

At least 3,000 Afghan refugees return to Afghanistan from Iran every day, many of whom are forcibly returned, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) officials have reported. Investigations by the Ministry of Refugees found that 7,500 people entered Afghanistan from the Iranian border in the past two days. According to the ministry, of these people, 5,500 were forcibly returned to Afghanistan […]

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Iran raises April crude oil selling prices for Asia – sources

Iran has set the official selling price (OSP) of its Iranian Light grade for its Asian buyers at $4.70 a barrel above the Oman/Dubai average for April, up $2.05 from the previous month, two industry sources with direct knowledge of the matter said on Wednesday, Reuters reported. The table below shows April crude prices to Asia, as differentials to the […]

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Turkish FM ‘advises’ IEA officials on what’s needed to gain int’l recognition

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Sunday he advised Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) officials on what steps need to be taken for the Afghan government to gain international recognition. “We told them in a very friendly fashion which steps should be taken for international recognition,” Cavusoglu told a press conference. He said that they focused on the importance […]

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IEA hoping for Kabul airport deal with Turkey and Qatar

While attending the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister told Anadolu Agency on Saturday that he is “hopeful” an agreement will be reached with Turkey and Qatar on operating the airport services in Kabul. Stating that an agreement had been secured on “a number of issues regarding Kabul Airport” with these two countries, Amir Khan Muttaqi said some issues […]

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Karzai says while the war has ended, unity has not yet been achieved

Former president Hamid Karzai has said that while the war has ended in Afghanistan, the country has not achieved peace and stability as it desired. Speaking to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, Karzai said: “So far, we have not reached that peace and stability the Afghan people desire, which lies in national unity, the peace which is attained by national unitedness, […]

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Iranian FM calls US withdrawal from Afghanistan ‘embarrassing’

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has dismissed US claims that its withdrawal from Afghanistan had all been planned, saying given a choice, Washington would not have opted for the “embarrassing” pullout. In an interview with Iran’s Press TV, Amir-Abdollahian said: “You saw how the United States withdrew from Afghanistan after 20 years in such a manner. If the US could […]

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Iranian president tells Putin NATO’s expansion is ‘serious threat’ to region’s security

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi told Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call on Thursday that NATO’s expansion was a “serious threat” to the region’s security and stability, the semi-official Nour News reported. “NATO’s expansion eastward creates tension and is a serious threat to the stability and security of independent states in various areas,” Raisi was quoted as saying following […]

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Iran Proposes Joint Investment Programs In Afghanistan

The Iranian special envoy for Afghanistan expressed Tehran’s readiness for joint investment programs in various fields in the neighboring country, such as the mining industry, energy and agriculture. Hassan Kazemi Qomi held separate meetings with acting minister of foreign affairs of the Taliban, Amir Khan Muttaqi, and Minister of Energy Mulla Abdul Latif Mansur in Kabul. The Iranian envoy and […]

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Iran President says insecurity will return to Afghanistan if inclusive govt not formed

During a meeting with the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said that his neighbors should help form an inclusive government in Afghanistan, otherwise the country will become insecure. Raisi who was on a visit to Qatar, said at a joint press conference with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani that in […]

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