Taliban Says It Is Unperturbed By US Rescinding Afghanistan’s Designation as Non-NATO Ally

A witness told Afghanistan International that one of the men had been arrested at Dawoodzai shopping center across the road that leads to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan.

In the videos the reason behind the armed clashes and identity of the arrested individuals are still unknown. Scattered shots can be heard from around the main building of the Ministry of Finance in PD 1 of Kabul in the video shared with us.

The Taliban have not commented on the clashes yet.

Mujahid claimed on Twitter that during the clashes, two IS-K fighters have been killed and four others have been arrested.

Local sources told Afghanistan International that on Wednesday evening they heard explosions of several Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG) in the 315 Family area of Khairkhana, District 15 of Kabul.

It was reported that a Taliban outpost had been attacked in the area.

Potzel, who was previously Germany’s ambassador in Afghanistan, had been appointed as new Deputy Special Representative of UNSG on June 17, 2022.

As Deborah Lyons, former head of UNAMA and UNSG special representative in Afghanistan, ended her mission in Afghanistan in mid-June, currently Markus Potzel, is also the acting head of UNAMA office in Afghanistan.

“It's with a sense of honour and respect that I've returned to Afghanistan, this time as a deputy UNAMA head. I'm committed to working for the Afghan people as their country goes through a crucial juncture in its modern history”, he said.

The reopening of girls’ secondary schools, respecting human rights, and women’s rights and the formation of an inclusive government are among the main issues raised by the UN towards the Taliban.

Al-Arabiya TV quoted Hamid Karzai on Tuesday, July 5th , as saying that if the Taliban government is accepted by the people, there is no need to share power.

The former Afghan president’s statement was republished by Afghanistan International, quoting Al-Arabiya, which received widespread reactions. Karzai's office said that it has sent a letter to Al-Arabiya TV to correct its report.

The former president of Afghanistan, who is allegedly under house arrest by the Taliban, has repeatedly insisted on holding a Loya Jirga in the past few months.

Mr. Karzai says that a national dialogue is needed to resolve the Afghan crisis.

In the statement, the Taliban leader said, “We want good and strong diplomatic, economic and political relations with the world, including the United States, in the framework of mutual commitments.”

In Eid message, the Taliban leader assured others that Afghanistan will not be a threat to neighbouring countries and the world and that no one should not interfere in Afghanistan's affairs. This comes even though according to the US intelligence and neighbouring countries, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Al-Qaeda, and other terrorist groups are actively present in Afghanistan.

In fact, just a day ago (July 5), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan announced in a statement that several missiles were shot from Afghanistan towards their country. In the last ten months, there have been attacks on other neighbouring countries around Afghanistan, for which ISIS has taken responsibility.

However, the leader of the Taliban and officials of this group have always talked about interaction with America and other countries in the messages they have published on various occasions.

So far, the Taliban government in Afghanistan has not been recognized internationally as a legitimate state.

Among other issues, the Taliban leader asked religious scholars to "put their efforts in order to enlighten people's minds through mosques, assemblies, and media”.

In the message, he said that people will taste true dignity, security, and prosperity when there is no rebellion and disobedience to Allah Almighty, so, the task of enlightening the people and making them aware of religion has been entrusted to honourable scholars. He added that scholars should cooperate with the Taliban on religious education.

The Taliban cabinet recently approved the establishment of three to 10 seminaries in every district of Afghanistan. The Taliban leader also stated that the Taliban government is committed to freedom of speech in the light of Islamic principles and Sharia law, and implicitly warned the journalists to frame their activities in the abovementioned context.

So far, no picture of the Taliban leader has been published and many people and former officials of Afghanistan doubt that Akhundzada is alive.