Reopening of Afghan Banking System Supports Terror, Says Anti-Taliban Group

Bakhtar News Agency, media group controlled by the Taliban, reported that Hanafi in a ceremony in Kabul said that if the media work “within the framework of the Islamic Emirate (Taliban)”, then, the group has no problem with them.

The Taliban began imposing restrictions and censorship on media outlets and professionals, since they seized Kabul on August 15, 2021.

Taliban’s Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in a decree had ordered women TV presenters to wear a face mask while on air.

Also, the group does not allow media outlets to broadcast music and programmes wherein women don’t observe the hijab-rule based on their rules.

Currently, media organisations aren’t able to publish or broadcast anything objecting the Taliban members or their government, without facing reprisal.

The statement of Afghan diplomatic missions also stressed on the establishment of an elected, inclusive and accountable government, along with constitutional order.

The statement added that the Taliban have not been able to provide equal rights to Afghan citizens, especially women and girls.

On September 22, special representatives of the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Great Britain, and the United States issued a joint statement with clear demands from the Taliban on human rights and governance issues.

Western officials had warned that armed conflicts will increase without the establishment of an elected government in Afghanistan.

Earlier, the Taliban had denied Abdul Qayyum Zakir getting injured.

In a Facebook post, Saleh wrote that doctors of the 400-bed hospital called off Abdul Qayyum’s surgery in Kabul due to the possible reaction of the Taliban, and this Taliban commander was transferred outside the country.

However, Saleh stressed that the details of the transfer is unknown.

Qayyum Zakir is one of the Taliban’s senior military commanders who recently had been appointed as the Taliban’s war commander in Panjshir and Andarab by Hibatullah Akhundzada, leader of the group.

Following intense clashes between the National Resistance Front (NRF) and the Taliban in Panjshir, sources told Afghanistan International that Zakir has been injured on September 12 in Dare Abdullah Khel and had been transferred to Kabul for treatment.

Despite the Taliban denying the injury of Abdul Qayyum Zakir, in the past weeks, multiple reports of his injury and even death have been published.

She emphasised that the resistance of Afghan women and girls is "incredible and brave" and every women’s movement in Afghanistan must be supported.

Davidian added that the Taliban should be held accountable based on their actions, and not statements.

The UN Women’s country representative stressed that the deteriorating situation for Afghan women in the past year has been unpredictable, but added that to prevent further backsliding, there should be sustainable support for the women and girls of Afghanistan.

Abdul Nafi Takor, a spokesperson for the Taliban’s Ministry of Interior told Afghanistan International that the explosion had caused casualties and that all the victims were civilians.

According to Takor, the explosion took place after the Friday prayers when people were leaving the Wazir Akbar Khan Mosque.

So far, no individual or group has claimed responsibility for this explosion, but in the past, the Islamic State-Khurasan (IS-K) has taken responsibility for similar attacks.

IS-K recently said in a statement that the Taliban had not been able to prevent the group’s attacks in Afghanistan.