Aggravation of the situation in Afghanistan

1 Azerbaijan

New modular-type military units will be created in Aghdam region — the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense reported. Aghdam region came under control of Baku after the war in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Ministry reported in May that after the end of hostilities in the territories in Karabakh, which came under control of Azerbaijan, 20 modular and container type military units will be formed. It was reported that at the beginning of June — 2 new military units were opened in Aghdam.

2 Afghanistan

The TOLO News TV reported while citing a source in the Afghan government that the country’s Air Force has suspended the operation to liberate the village of Spin Boldak, on the border with Pakistan, from the Taliban control. The operation was, supposedly, interrupted due to the possible intervention of the Pakistani Air Force. The first vice president of Afghanistan, Amrullah Saleh, stated that Islamabad had notified Kabul of a possibility of using military aircraft if the Afghan forces try to push the Taliban out the checkpoint in Spin Boldak. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry denied such report. The ministry added that Kabul notified Islamabad about the intention to conduct an air operation on the border with Pakistan. Pakistan «reacted positively to the Afghan governmental right to operate on its own territory, despite the fact that the military operations in such proximity to the state border are usually not allowed in international practice’’. The Taliban seized the main crossing point on the border with Pakistan «Spin Boldak — Chaman» in the Kandahar province on 14th of July.

3 Afghanistan

The Afghan President Ashraf Ghani stated that the Afghan government is calling on the Taliban to work together to bring peace to the country. He added that the Afghan government is willing to go «face to face» with the Taliban. Ashraf Ghani noted that it is impossible to resolve the situation in the country without reaching a «regional consensus». He added that the war and instability in Afghanistan are having a huge impact on the entire region.

4 Uzbekistan

The Uzbek Foreign Ministry spokesman Yusup Kabulzhanov stated during the international conference «Central and South Asia — Regional Interconnectedness. Challenges and Opportunities» that Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the USA have agreed to create a new 4-way consultation platform to support the Afghan peace process, and the post-conflict settlement. It was reported that the platform was adopted by the parties on 15th of July, 2021, in Tashkent. It will be also aimed at enhancing the regional connectivity. The parties will meet in the coming months to determine the terms of the cooperation by a mutual consensus.

5 Russia — Afghanistan

During a meeting with the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed his concern over the escalation of the situation in the north Afghanistan, near the borders with the Central Asian states. The Russian Foreign Ministry reported that «Russia underlines the need for a launch of a meaningful inter-Afghan negotiations in order to end the long-term conflict, and stabilize the situation in the country». The ministry noted that the parties discussed the military-political situation in Afghanistan, the prospects for the process of national reconciliation, and some issues of the relations.

6 Donbass

A US delegation led by George Kent, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the European and Eurasian Affairs, and the Acting Chargé d’Affaires of the USA in Ukraine, have visited the zone of the Ukrainian military operation in Donbass. During the visit, the American officials met with the representatives of the Ukrainian command. The parties discussed the compatibility of the Ukrainian and NATO forces, and the implementation of the NATO standards in the Ukrainian forces. George Kent stated that the USA will continue to provide the necessary aid to Ukraine. He added that the USA are ’’constantly and closely monitoring the situation in the east of Ukraine». Constantine Reztsov, specially for the ANNA NEWS