The Pakistani embassy in Kabul said Tuesday that it is indefinitely closing its consulate in the Afghan capital for security reasons, while tensions between neighboring countries have increased. The closure of the visa section will be a big blow to many Afghans. Hundreds of people apply daily for permission to travel to Pakistan for treatment, supplies and university education.
Embassy spokesperson
According to a message shared by the embassy spokesperson on WhatsApp, the consular section will close on Monday "until the screening ends. A spokesman told AFP that the consulate generally processes about 1,500 visa applications a day. Pakistan's foreign minister said Islamabad has convened Afghan suspects to convey serious concerns about the safety and security of diplomatic personnel at Pakistan and Kabul embassy.
In the statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the embassy employee was harassed. They were interrupted on the road and the embassy vehicle was hit by a motorcycle as they headed toward the embassy. Demonstrations outside the Pakistani embassy are common, and are often triggered by people who are dissatisfied with visa wait time or security while waiting in a long line.
The relationship between Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Pakistan has long been criticized by Afghanistan for numerous accusations, including supporting the Taliban.
Pakistan denied it helped the rebels
Recent tensions with Afghanistan's border with eastern Kunar provinces have heightened tensions. Both sides blamed each other's troops for cross-border shelling. Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said six Pakistani soldiers were injured in Afghanistan's "unprovoked mortars and heavy fires" by the Afghan soldiers.
Embassy spokesman said Pakistani consulate services are still open in Herat, Jalalabad and Mazar-i-Sharif and applicants are encouraged to travel to Jalalabad if a visa is required.
Thai organizers said
Asian countries had a decisive talk about what could be the world's largest trade agreement, and that despite the allegations raised by India, it would announce success at the summit in Bangkok. But China, the champion of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), said that 15 member states agreed to advance without India, but have opened the door to participate in a deal stimulated by the US-China trade. War.
Despite a message of support for Donald Trump's US President's Association for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), local countries pointed out that Washington downgraded the delegation for the annual Asian gathering.
Southeast Asian countries expected to announce at least a tentative agreement on the 16-nation trade block, which would account for one third of the world's gross domestic product and nearly half of the world's population.
But negotiations between ministers began late at night following a recent demand raised by India. This block includes 10 ASEAN member states and China, Korea, Japan, India, Australia and New Zealand.
Thailand's Commerce Minister
Jurin Lak Sanawi Sit told reporters that 16 countries would reach an agreement and announce on Monday, but admitted that some details still need to be cleaned up. He said the plan will be signed next year under the chairman of ASEAN Vietnam. But China's vice-president Le Whey said 15 countries decided to advance first.
Text-based negotiations have been completed and the market access problem is essentially the conclusion," he said. "Welcome aboard whenever India is ready. Indian officials familiar with the dialogue said everything was not resolved and that discussion is still underway.
Trade war stimulus
A new impetus for completing the deal came from the trade wars that sparked local wars, but India said with knowledge of the negotiations that a potential flood of Chinese imports and officials called India late. One advantage for Southeast Asian countries that include relative weight India in trade agreements is that China has less domination. In the Trump administration, diplomatic and security calculations in Southeast Asia have changed.
And the US's decision to send lower-level delegations to the East Asian Summit and the US-ASEAN Summit in a row raises regional concerns that it can no longer rely on China's growing counterweight. Due to the downgrade of the US delegation, only three executives from ten regional countries attended the general US-ASEAN meeting.
At the summit, US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said at a business meeting that the US President Donald Trump was "very involved and fully committed" to the area. White House National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien received a personal message from the Trump offering to host the Southeast Asian Leaders Conference in the United States.
He also accused China of "threatening" in the South China Sea. Some local countries have rejected China's maritime claim and complained that Beijing illegally bans their use of energy resources and fisheries. But diplomats and analysts said Washington's message was clear.
Former Thai National Security Adviser Panitan Wattanayagorn said, “Due to the Trump administration's involvement, doubts were raised more seriously, which could also affect other superpowers in advancing their agenda. .
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