Islamic Emirate at a Glance

(Part IV)

Summary of the Most Significant Accomplishments of the Islamic Emirate During the Solar Year 1402, (2022 – 2023)

By: H.N

Foreign Policy

The foreign policy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is grounded on the principles of impartiality, good neighborliness, and safeguarding the national interests of Afghanistan in global interactions. The foreign policy of the country is shaped and determined by the leadership of the Islamic Emirate, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs entrusted with its implementation.

Within the framework of the Islamic Emirate’s foreign policy, Afghanistan is viewed as an independent nation fostering positive relationships with its neighbors and other countries worldwide, based on mutual interests and adherence to international commitments. Pursuant to this policy, Afghanistan neither interferes in the affairs of other countries nor permits external intervention in its internal matters. Additionally, Afghanistan does not allow its territory to be used against its neighbors or other nations.

Over the past two years, the foreign policy of the Islamic Emirate has been pursued with a balanced and economy-centric approach in interactions with countries, institutions, and international organizations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in alignment with this approach, has actively engaged with the international community and seized opportunities to advance national interests.

Under this balanced and economy-centric foreign policy framework, the achievements in promoting national interests can be summarized across various sectors as follow:

Expanding and Managing Relations

Bilateral interaction between countries ranks among the top priorities of national diplomatic institutions for fostering mutual understanding and creating opportunities for enhanced cooperation. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan emphasizes leveraging bilateral diplomatic capacities to achieve national interests in its interactions. In pursuit of this objective, numerous meetings, telephonic conversations, and official declarations have been conducted and orchestrated.

In various meetings and official gatherings with dignitaries from the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of India, the United States of America, the Russian Federation, the Kingdom of Japan, the People’s Republic of China, the Kingdom of Malaysia, European nations, Middle Eastern counterparts, and delegates from international organizations and entities including the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the pressing need for fostering constructive bilateral ties, delegating political and consular representation to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, facilitating the acceptance of diplomatic and consular envoys, and amplifying collaborative efforts across political, economic, cultural, and humanitarian domains has been accentuated.

Furthermore, bilateral diplomacy has served as an indispensable conduit for engendering trust-building measures between the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and a diverse array of nations globally, emblematic of the efficacy of Afghanistan’s foreign policy trajectory over the past two years.

The Political and Consular Representation of Afghanistan Abroad

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has endeavored to establish coordination between political and consular representations abroad and the Ministry itself, along with other domestic entities, in order to provide enhanced and superior services to the country’s citizens residing beyond boundaries. The ministry of foreign affairs of the Islamic Emirate, through its policy of persuasion, has not only activated Afghanistan’s political and consular representations but also prevented stagnation in addressing the daily affairs of the country’s citizens abroad.

The Islamic Emirate’s efforts to delegate political and consular representations to its diplomatic missions have yielded remarkable successes. As a result of these endeavors, new diplomats and political and consular representations have been dispatched to countries in the region, including the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Turkey, the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Russian Federation, the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the Kingdom of Malaysia.

Although diplomats have not been dispatched to many countries by the Islamic Emirate thus far, political and consular representations operate in accordance with the guidelines and regulations of the ministry of foreign affairs of the Islamic Emirate.

Addressing Challenges Stemming from Ambiguity in International Treaties

One of the recurring issues that consistently turns interactions and cooperation between countries into conflicting relationships or creates a basis for conflict in international dealings among nations is the differing interpretations and understandings of the provisions outlined in treaties.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has strived to shift bilateral relations from tension to cooperation in this regard, employing principled and diplomatic approaches. In this context, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has facilitated necessary coordination to host the 26th Joint Commission Meeting on the Helmand River Waters with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Additionally, it has addressed claims raised by Iran by providing legal justifications in accordance with the provisions stipulated in the Helmand River Treaty.

Attracting Foreign Investment in Infrastructure Projects

One of the key priorities in the foreign policy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is economy-centric approach. In pursuit of comprehensive development for the country, the Islamic Emirate has focused on encouraging foreign investment in Afghanistan’s infrastructure sector. With nationwide security being effectively established, the conducive environment for foreign investment has been fully facilitated.

Recognizing the necessity of investment and commercial cooperation with other countries and the private sector for the growth of domestic industries, efforts have been made to attract foreign investment in various sectors. Notable efforts in attracting foreign investment include negotiations with Turkish investors, resulting in the announcement of cooperation by Zalal Textile Company in the purchase and sale of Afghan cotton. Furthermore, bilateral negotiations between Afghanistan and the People’s Republic of China have seen remarkable trade and investment agreements in the fields of industries and mining.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate has also prioritized the process of informing and encouraging foreign investment in its operational framework. In this regard, a list of eight infrastructure projects, meeting international and technical standards, has been communicated to the Turkish embassy to attract investment. Additionally, emphasis has been placed on the necessity of investment in Afghanistan in various meetings with representatives from neighboring countries.

Attracting Humanitarian Assistance

The Islamic Emirate has consistently embraced humanitarian assistance from the global community as a means to address the economic challenges facing Afghans. In this context, efforts have been made to facilitate the reception of humanitarian aid from affiliated entities of the United Nations, European Union member states, the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Turkey, the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Turkmenistan, and other neighboring, regional, and international countries.

As a result of negotiations conducted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with countries and international organizations, approximately $2 billion in humanitarian aid was disbursed to Afghanistan in 2022. This assistance encompassed food supplies directly distributed to the needy people, with the remainder allocated to sectors such as healthcare.

Another significant accomplishment in this regard is the establishment of the representation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The activation of this representation in Afghanistan has facilitated essential opportunities for the distribution of humanitarian aid from member countries of this organization to needy families in Afghanistan.

Continued…