Ariana: The foreign community in Afghanistan came out in full support of Afghan women on Monday and commended them for their commitment to building peace and prosperity in Afghanistan. In a letter published Monday, to mark International Women’s Day, the Friends of Afghan Women Ambassadors’ Group stated they celebrate the “strength, resilience and perseverance of Afghan women. Click here to read more (external link).
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Tolo News: The Ministry of Public Health on Monday reported 14 new positive cases of COVID-19 out of 1,225 samples tested in the last 24 hours. The ministry reported that the cumulative total of known COVID-19 cases is 55,868, the total number of reported deaths is 2,451, and the total number of recoveries is 49,402. Click here to read more (external link).
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The Guardian (UK): These are the “danger hours” in Afghanistan: on the streets where Afghans fear for their lives; in negotiations where all sides know the risk of an even more vicious civil war and, in a worst case scenario, a chaotic collapse of Kabul. The US is trapped in a vice. Click here to read more (external link).
1TV: A proposed transitional government as part of Afghan peace process would last until adoption of a new constitution and an election to choose new government, a four-page peace agreement proposal obtained by 1TV shows. Head of the interim government, his deputies and cabinet would be appointed based on agreement by both parties to the conflict and he can never act as head of the state in future. Click here to read more (external link).
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Ghani
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
March 6, 2021
Afghanistan’s president said he was open to holding new elections as a way to transfer power, but insisted any new government should emerge only through the democratic process.
The comments by Ashraf Ghani at the March 6 opening of the country’s parliamentary session appeared to be a bid to push peace talks with the Taliban forward.
“Transfer of power through elections is a nonnegotiable principle for us,” Ghani said.
“We stand ready to discuss holding free, fair, and inclusive elections under the auspices of the international community. We can also talk about the date of the elections and reach a conclusion,” he said.
Ghani’s comments came days after reports emerged that the U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, suggested a new format for the country’s political future during his visit to Kabul this week.
Khalilzad is now in Qatar, where the Afghan government and Taliban leaders delegation have been holding peace talks since September 2020.
U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration has begun a review of its strategy for Afghanistan. That includes the agreement reached with the Taliban a year ago that paved the way for the ongoing peace talks.
Under that agreement, U.S. forces are set to withdraw by May, but a surge in fighting in past months has sparked concerns that a speedy exit may spark greater bloodshed and chaos.
Based on reporting by dpa and Reuters
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Tolo News: The Ministry of Public Health on Saturday reported 7 new positive cases of COVID-19 out of 1,003 samples tested in the last 24 hours. The ministry says the cumulative total of known COVID-19 cases is 55,847, the total number of reported deaths is 2,449, and the total number of recoveries is 49,369. Click here to read more (external link).
Ariana: Local officials in Farah province said a fire broke out at Nasr Farahi customs facility on the border with Iran. The fire has reportedly not yet been contained. Traders told Iranian media that an oil tanker caught fire. Two others have also reportedly since burnt out. Click here to read more (external link).