Recent Taliban changes in Badakhshan, from reshuffling local officials to deploying a 1,000-strong special force, point to a growing struggle over control of the province’s lucrative gold mines.
Two sources within the Taliban’s Ministry of Defence have confirmed to Afghanistan International that the formation of a new 8,000-member special force known as the “Hibati Unit” is under way.
Asad Qaiser, a member of Pakistan’s National Assembly from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, has announced that a grand jirga will be held in July to discuss problems caused by the closure of border crossings with Afghanistan and ongoing trade challenges.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Information & Broadcasting said its military carried out strikes along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border overnight.
UN human rights experts in Geneva have warned that the Taliban’s decree on the “separation of spouses” legitimises child marriage and blocks women and girls from leaving abusive relationships.
The Taliban’s use of drones has evolved over five years from commercial surveillance aircraft and propaganda tools into a more ambitious program involving armed and apparent one-way attack drones.
The Taliban’s commission on migrant affairs says Pakistan deported at least 2,990 Afghan migrants on Friday, returning them through the Torkham and Spin Boldak crossings.
The Islamabad High Court has stopped the deportation of 18 Afghan nationals and directed Pakistani authorities to explain the cancellation of their residency cards.
