KABUL, 07 January 2022, (TON): Deputy Foreign Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Sher Muhammad Abbas Stanekzai said that they have completed all preconditions for recognition and now is the time for the International Community to come forward and recognize the IEA.

Speaking at a convention in Paktia province, Sher Muhammad Abbas Stanekzai said that security, rule of law, and full control over Afghanistan’s borders are major preconditions for recognitions that have been met by the Taliban.

The Deputy FM who was also a key member of the Taliban’s negotiating team during US-Taliban talks said “they have been busy negotiating with the US and European countries for months and the talks are yet to be finished.”

“No negotiations have been carried out between Pakistan and Afghanistan on Durand Line. No Afghan government has authority to decide about the line as this is only the authority of the Afghan people.”

World must coordinate humanitarian aids with Taliban, “a spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan of has said that the UN and International Community must distribute their humanitarian assistance in coordination with the Taliban.”

Inamullah Samangani said that to assure further efficacy and positive outcomes of humanitarian aids to Afghanistan, the world needs to distribute them in condition with DFA. He expressed gratitude to the relief assistance provided to the Afghan people by the International community so far and asked for more aids.

LONDON, 07 January 2022, (TON): Russia's envoy to talks aimed at reviving the nuclear deal in Vienna met with the Saudi ambassador to Austria.

Mikhail Ulyanov said he briefed Prince Abdullah bin Khalid bin Sultan and members of his team on the “situation in the Vienna talks.”

The two officials also “exchanged views on prospects of security dialogue” in the Arabian Gulf.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned Iran that time was running out to salvage the 2015 nuclear accord with major powers.

ANKARA, 07 January 2022, (TON): Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held telephone talks with colleagues from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Ilham Aliyev, Sadyr Japarov and Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

According to the office of the Turkish leader “the contacts were made on the basis that he is currently the interim chairman of the Organization of Turkic States.”

“During negotiations with Tokayev, he noted that he is closely following the development of events in fraternal and friendly Kazakhstan, expresses condolences to the relatives of the victims and wishes the wounded to recover.

The office said “President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed solidarity with Kazakhstan and stressed that the Organization of Turkic States also supports Kazakhstan. President Erdogan noted that, if necessary, Turkey is ready to exchange any technical knowledge and experience.”

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed confidence that Kazakhstan will overcome the problems through dialogue.

KHARTOM, 07 January 2022, (TON): Sudanese security forces fired tear gas and live ammunition, killing at least three people as thousands once again took to the streets in the capital of Khartoum and other cities to protest the October military coup.

According to activist Nazim Sirag and the Sudan Doctors Committee “in Omdurman, the twin city of Khartoum, two protesters were killed, while in the Sudanese capital’s district of Bahri one demonstrator was shot and killed.”

Sirag said “one of the fatalities in Omdurman was a man who was shot in the head and died before reaching the hospital.”

Many were wounded, including by gunshots, the activist and the committee said.

The spasm of violence is the latest since the Oct. 25 military takeover that has scuttled hopes of a peaceful transition to democracy in Sudan. Thursday’s fatalities bring to at least 63 the number of people killed since the coup, and hundreds have been wounded in clashes with security forces trying to thwart protests.

WASHINGTON DC, 07 January 2022, (TON): Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Kazakhstani Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi regarding the ongoing state of emergency in Kazakhstan.

The Secretary reiterated the United States’ full support for Kazakhstan’s constitutional institutions and media freedom and advocated for a peaceful, rights-respecting resolution to the crisis.

The Secretary also raised the priority of promoting stability in Europe, including support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in response to Russian aggression.

Meanwhile, The head of the EU’s foreign policy service, Josep Borrell, m-ade a statement that military assistance to Kaza-khstan from the CSTO ma-kes him think about situations, memories of which are best avoided. He stated the corresponding position on Thursday on his Twitter page.

NEW DELHI, 07 January 2022, (TON):  India ruled out the possibility of holding the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit.

It said "there is still no consensus that would permit holding of the summit.”

The last SAARC Summit was scheduled to be held in Islamabad, Pakistan on November 15-19, 2016 but after a terror attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18 that year.

India expressed its inability to participate in the summit due to "prevailing circumstances".

The summit was called off after Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also declined to participate in the Islamabad summit.

Asked about Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi's remarks that his country was ready to host the 19th SAARC Summit, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Arindam Bagchi told that "you are aware of the background as to why the SAARC Summit has not been held since 2016."

He said "there has been no material change in the situation. So, there is still no consensus that would permit holding of the summit.”

RIYADH, 07 January 2022, (TON): The Arab coalition said “more than 390 Houthis have been killed in various operations in Yemen.”

In oil-rich Marib province, more than 150 Houthi fighters had been killed and 19 military vehicles destroyed in operations over the last 24 hours.

The Arab coalition also carried out strikes in the southern province of Shabwa which resulted in the deaths of 240 Houthis and the destruction of 25 military vehicles.

The coalition said its spokesman Brig. General Turki Al-Malki would hold a press conference on Saturday at 4pm AST during which he will present evidence that the militia is using the ports of Hodeidah and Salif for military purposes.

The coalition added “Hodeidah port has become a center for smuggling and assembling Iranian ballistic missiles.”

The Arab coalition said “a UAE-flagged ship was hijacked off the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah by armed Houthis on Sunday.”

WASHINGTON DC, 07 January 2022, (TON): The current American administration proceeds from the premise that the United States should both compete fiercely with China and maintain productive relations with it.

This was stated by the coordinator for the Indian and Pacific Oceans in the National Security Council (NSC) White House Kurt Campbell.

An adviser to the American leader said, speaking at an online seminar at the Carnegie Endowment “I believe it is possible, although it will be difficult for the United States, we do not have a long tradition of this, we will have to both assertively, vigorously compete in a number of areas, and maintain constructive, positive and productive discussions with China on issues of importance for both sides.”

Campbell was also asked what he considers at this stage a key challenge for relations between Washington and Beijing.

NEW DELHI, 07 January 2022, (TON): Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has been invited by his Indian counterpart Dr S Jaishankar to the Joint Consultative Commission meeting in India.

In a tweet, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar extended the invitation.

He said "2021 was a demonstration of our deep solidarity and friendship. We agreed that we must build further on that foundation in 2022.”

Jaishankar also congratulated Dr Momen on the Test cricket victory of Bangladesh against New Zealand.

NEW DELHI, 07 January 2022, (TON): The Union Ministry of External Affairs said that it is closely monitoring the construction of a bridge by China across East Ladakh’s Pangong lake.

The ministry’s spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told reporters “the bridge is being constructed in an area that is under China’s illegal occupation and the Indian government is taking steps to safeguard the country’s security interests.”

China is constructing a bridge across East Ladakh’s Pangong Tso that would potentially allow its People’s Liberation Army to deploy troops faster between the north and south banks of the lake.

One-third of the nearly 160 kilometre-long lake lies in India, and the other two-third in China. It was one of the prominent flashpoints when border tensions between the two countries flared up in June 2020.

Bagchi also commented on a purported video shared by Chinese media of People’s Liberation Army soldiers in the Galwan valley on New Year’s day.