Latest news with #Aghan
Scotsman
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Time to halt legal gravy train
Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk MP John Lamont. John Lamont MP, my Westminster colleague, has come in for some predictable criticism because he signed an early day motion which called for the implementation of 'a comprehensive national strategy to identify, detain, and deport' all illegal immigrants. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Up popped the usual suspects, like Green MSP Ross Greer, parroting stuff about immigrants filling vacancies in the NHS or care sector, conveniently overlooking the fact there aren't enough homes for people living here now, that they can't get GP appointments or find an NHS dentist. Such vacancies contrast with the high number of inactive working age people, over a fifth of the labour force, and a rise of 500,000 on pre-pandemic levels. The UK is the only G7 country showing such an increase, and the leap in sickness benefit claims isn't all down to Long Covid. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad At the heart of the problem is an attitude that UK law doesn't matter, and human rights lawyers are only too keen to drain public resources by using the courts to block deportations on the spurious grounds that even sending back violent criminals is a breach of the European Convention on Human Rights. By its nature illegal immigration is hard to measure, but it's thought there are around a million people here with no right of residence. Of the 166,000 people whose asylum applications were refused in 2010-23, 84,000 were still here this time last year, and now 24,000 Aghan refugees must be accommodated because of a staggering security blunder, it's time the legal gravy train slowing down deportations was halted. Sue Webber is a Scottish Conservative MSP for Lothian
Business Recorder
31-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Afghanistan welcomes upgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan
KABUL: Afghanistan has welcomed the decision to upgrade diplomatic relations with Pakistan, where the Taliban government's foreign minister is due to travel in the coming days, his office said on Saturday. The move signals easing tensions between the neighbouring countries, as relations between the Taliban authorities and Pakistan — already rocky — have cooled in recent months, fuelled by security concerns and a campaign by Islamabad to expel tens of thousands of Afghans. Pakistan's top diplomat on Friday said the charge d'affaires stationed in Kabul would be elevated to the rank of ambassador, with Kabul later announcing its representative in Islamabad would also be upgraded. 'This elevation in diplomatic representation between Afghanistan & Pakistan paves the way for enhanced bilateral cooperation in multiple domains,' the Aghan foreign ministry said on X. Kabul's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is due to visit Pakistan 'in the coming days', ministry spokesman Zia Ahmad Takal told AFP. Muttaqi met with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in May in Beijing as part of a trilateral meeting with their Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. Wang afterwards announced Kabul and Islamabad's intention to exchange ambassadors and expressed Beijing's willingness 'to continue to assist with improving Afghanistan-Pakistan ties'. Dar hailed the 'positive trajectory' of Pakistan-Afghanistan relations on Friday, saying the upgrading of their representatives would 'promote further exchanges between two fraternal countries'. Only a handful of countries — including China — have agreed to host Taliban government ambassadors since their return to power in 2021, with no country yet formally recognising the administration.
New Indian Express
31-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Afghanistan welcomes upgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan
KABUL: Afghanistan has welcomed the decision to upgrade diplomatic relations with Pakistan, where the Taliban government's foreign minister is due to travel in the coming days, his office said on Saturday. The move signals easing tensions between the neighbouring countries, as relations between the Taliban authorities and Pakistan -- already rocky -- have cooled in recent months, fuelled by security concerns and a campaign by Islamabad to expel tens of thousands of Afghans. Pakistan's top diplomat on Friday said the charge d'affaires stationed in Kabul would be elevated to the rank of ambassador, with Kabul later announcing its representative in Islamabad would also be upgraded. "This elevation in diplomatic representation between Afghanistan & Pakistan paves the way for enhanced bilateral cooperation in multiple domains," the Aghan foreign ministry said on X. Kabul's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is due to visit Pakistan "in the coming days", ministry spokesman Zia Ahmad Takal told AFP. Muttaqi met with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in May in Beijing as part of a trilateral meeting with their Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. Wang afterwards announced Kabul and Islamabad's intention to exchange ambassadors and expressed Beijing's willingness "to continue to assist with improving Afghanistan-Pakistan ties". Dar hailed the "positive trajectory" of Pakistan-Afghanistan relations on Friday, saying the upgrading of their representatives would "promote further exchanges between two fraternal countries". Only a handful of countries -- including China -- have agreed to host Taliban government ambassadors since their return to power in 2021, with no country yet formally recognising the administration. Russia last month said it would also accredit a Taliban government ambassador, days after removing the group's "terrorist" designation.
Time of India
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cabinet demands federal govt to review its Afghan policy
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cabinet has urged the federal government to reassess its Afghanistan policy, advocating for direct provincial talks to foster regional peace. Citing persistent terrorism and strained relations, the resolution emphasizes the need for immediate measures to rebuild trust and ensure stability. The province seeks empowerment to resolve outstanding issues through meaningful dialogue. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Cabinet in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has approved a resolution, calling on the federal government to review its Aghan policy and allow the provincial authorities to hold direct talks with the neighbouring country to ensure lasting peace in the region.A meeting of the provincial Cabinet with Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur in the chair on Friday approved the resolution stated that "Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should be empowered to play an effective role in resolving all outstanding issues through direct and meaningful dialogue with Afghanistan so that lasting peace and stability in the region can be ensured."The resolution further recommended the provincial government urge the federal government to reconsider and immediately revise its current policy regarding resolution further stated Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been a victim of terrorism for several people of the province are still yearning to be freed from this menace, the resolution said, adding that the ongoing incidents of terrorism continued to pose a constant threat to the lives and property of the policy of the Government of Pakistan concerning Afghanistan has proven to be ineffective, it of curbing terrorism, it has led to its escalation and has also strained the relations between the two countries and their has further complicated the situation by promoting mutual hatred, affecting trade, and deteriorating law and order."It says that "in this context, immediate and concrete measures have become essential to restore trust between the two brotherly nations and to establish lasting peace in the region."The resolution was recently passed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Provincial Assembly.
Business Recorder
18-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
160 Afghan trucks given clearance: India reopens Wagha border after 26-day closure
ISLAMABAD: After a 26-day closure following the Pahalgam terrorist incident on April 23, India reopened Wagah-Attari Border, allowing over 160 stranded Afghan trucks, loaded with dry fruit, essential edibles and medicinal herbs, it was learnt. The decision follows a recent easing of military escalation between Pakistan and India after a ceasefire agreement reached on May 10. The Wagah-Attari border crossing had been closed for all kinds of trade and passengers movements since April 22, halting shipments of dry fruits—primarily from Afghanistan. Pakistan allows 150 Afghan trucks to enter India via Wagah border The latest development marks the first movement of Afghan trucks through this trade route since the suspension. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, in a letter to Afghanistan Embassy in Islamabad on April 30 considered and honoured the request made by the Afghan side on 28 April 2025 regarding the containers stranded at different transit points in Pakistan. The ministry has the honour to inform that in view of the brotherly relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Government of Pakistan has decided to permit stranded Afghan trucks, carrying goods in transit to India, which entered Pakistan before 25 April 2025, to cross Wagah border for delivering the goods, the letter reads further. The list of 150 trucks provided by the esteemed Embassy has been transmitted to the concerned authorities. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Islamabad avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the esteemed Embassy the assurances of its highest consideration. Permission was granted to stranded trucks by Indian authorities after a formal request by Afghan authorities. It was learnt that Aghan Acting Foreign Minister also spoke with the Indian Foreign Minister in this regard. In response, India's Ministry of External Affairs facilitated the process, with the Deputy Commissioner of Customs at ICP Attari notifying the Assistant Director at the Land Customs Station in Wagah, Lahore, of the decision. The Indian government had approved the transit of stranded trucks and customs had made special arrangements to ensure the smooth passage of goods. Pakistan allowed Afghan stranded trucks to cross over Attari as a goodwill gesture to Kabul despite ongoing suspension of trade with India. Pakistan does not allow third-country transit trade via its territory, said an official at MoFA. India imposed the suspension of trade and closure of all land routes following Delhi's trade restrictions on April 24—measures that came two days after the Pahalgam terror attack, killing 26 tourists. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
