KABUL – Minister Atmar discussed and provided necessary information on six main areas, including: (1) the security situation, (2) the presence of foreign fighters alongside the Taliban, (3) the dire humanitarian condition, and (4) the Taliban’s widespread crimes and human rights violations, (5) the government’s new security plan, and (6) main areas of cooperation with the international community.
Mr. Atmar went on to say that the rise of the Taliban’s bloody attacks in recent months had killed more than 3,000 people, displaced more than 300,000, and disrupted order and provision of services in half of the country’s districts. Currently, 18 million people face dire humanitarian situation.
Minister Atmar noted that the Taliban attacks were carried out in direct collusion with more than 10,000 regional terrorists from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Ansarullah, Jundallah, al-Qaeda, East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU).
Minister Atmar said the Taliban’s war crimes were indescribable, referring to the massacre of more than 100 people in Spin Boldak, forced marriages, destruction of more than 300 public infrastructures, and suspension of services in Taliban-controlled areas.
Foreign Minister Atmar also highlighted the Afghan government’s security plans and regional and global diplomacy. He said the Afghan government’s security plan would be charted out and implemented soon in coordination and support of all political and social strata to strengthen the government’s positions in strategic points and metropolitans. He also highlighted the joint program of the Afghan government and human rights organizations to document the Taliban’s crimes and hold them accountable worldwide.
Minister Atmar also elaborated on four areas of cooperation with the international community that included (1) repelling Taliban’s attacks on metropolitan areas, (2) preventing a human catastrophe and human rights abuses, (3) accelerating the Afghan Peace Process, and (4) implementing a six-month security program.
During the meeting, the representatives of regional countries and the United Nations expressed their support for an immediate cessation of violence and strengthening the peace process. The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Ms. Deborah Lyons said the attack on Herat and the UNAMA office showed that actions do not reflect commitments. She added that this was not just Afghan’s struggle, but a struggle that we should all pay serious attention to.
Referring to the current tough situation that Afghanistan and the international community face, the Turkish ambassador also said they needed coordinated action to address the problem of Afghanistan.
