KABUL (Pajhwok): UNHCR strongly criticized forced deportations of Afghan refugees from Iran and Pakistan last week, when the Japanese ambassador in Kabul called on the interim government to reopen girls’ schools. Also last week, UNAMA said support for the private sector, the role of women and drugs were key points of discussion of the working groups on Afghanistan in Doha. Last week’s important events PM urges Iran to refrain from violating refugees’ rights UNHCR concerned at forced deportations of Afghan refugees ICC calls for IEA top judge’s arrest. Mujahid denies recognizing ICC UNGA resolution pledges continued support to Afghanistan MoFA partially welcomes UNGA resolution Japanese envoy wants girls’ schools opened in Afghanistan UNAMA: Doha meetings focused on support for private sector, women’s role Violent incidents Last week, three people were killed in different incidents of violence in Afghanistan. One armed robber was killed in Kandahar and two in Zabul during clashes with security forces and one robber was captured alive, local officials said. It is worth noting that six people had been killed and another injured in different incidents in Afghanistan in the previous week. Before the regime change in August 2021, hundreds of civilians, insurgents and security forces would get killed and maimed every week in Afghanistan. Afghan refugees According to reports, Iran has stepped up forcibly deporting Afghan refugees; with some reports indicating that up to 30,000 Afghans are returning to their country from Iran every day, and Afghan refugees are also being expelled from Pakistan. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said last week that it is estimated that about three million Afghans will return to their country this year. The UN refugee agency representative for Afghanistan, Arafat Jamal, said in Kabul last week: “We are witnessing an irregular, inhumane and widespread deportation process of Afghans initiated by both countries (Iran and Pakistan); This situation is putting great pressure on Afghanistan. Afghanistan welcomes the return of its citizens but is not prepared to deal with the situation.” Mullah Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, said that an additional budget of 1.5 billion afghanis has been allocated to increase services for refugees and build temporary shelters. Mirwais Azizi, head of the Azizi Group, also said he would contribute one billion afghanis to the wellbeing of the refugees. Islamic Emirate officials have called on Iran to pay attention to the principle of good neighborliness in the deportation of Afghan refugees. Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund said: “I call on Iranian officials to refrain from violating and insulting the rights of Afghan refugees during their deportation and to allow them to return their movable property to their homeland and to properly collect their immovable property and accounts.” Similarly, last week, Deputy Prime Minister for Administration Maulvi Abdul Salam Hanafi said: “Those who come from that side [Iran] face many problems; each of them has a different story, they are not treated well on the way and in the camps, and their rights have been violated there.” He said more than 500,000 Afghans returned to their country in June alone, and up to 40,000 people return to the country every day through Islam Qala and the Silk Road. ICC request and IEA response According to reports, the International Criminal Court last week accused the Leader and Chief Justice of the Islamic Emirate of “crimes against humanity” and demanded their arrest. In response, Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, said “Such announcements and statements cannot have any effect on the firm determination and Sharia position of the Islamic Emirate; We do not recognize or have any obligation to any institution by the name and title of the International Court of Justice.” UN General Assembly meeting on Afghanistan Last week, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on Afghanistan, pledging continued support to Afghanistan. The resolution called on Kabul to respect human rights, abide by international law, and take decisive action against terrorism. Some countries in the assembly described the text as one-sided and called for practical interaction with the Islamic Emirate. The UNGA statement said the text of the resolution was adopted with 117 votes in favor, two against (the United States and Israel), and 12 abstentions, and this action shows the international community’s continued attention to the situation in Afghanistan. The Islamic Emirate partially praised the resolution, but said it was not consulted in this regard, which in itself raises questions about the accuracy and practicality of some parts of the resolution. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the resolution praised the achievements of the Islamic Emirate in the areas of maintaining security in Afghanistan, combating narcotics, providing humanitarian and basic needs assistance to the people of Afghanistan, removing obstacles to Afghanistan’s economic growth, and promoting relations between countries with Afghanistan. Girls’ Education Last week, Japanese Ambassador to Kabul Takayoshi Kurumaya said at a ceremony to mark Japan’s support for health: “I respectfully urge the current authorities to allow girls to return to education, especially in fields such as medicine, nursing and public health; this is not just an individual issue, but is vital for national health and well-being. Supporting girls’ education strengthens society.” Doha Working Group Meetings The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Doha Working Group Meetings held with the participation of representatives from 26 countries and the United Nations, officials from the Islamic Emirate and international organizations. The discussions focused on supporting the private sector, the role of women, combating drugs and Afghanistan’s international commitments.