Recognition of Taliban Regime Not on Table, Says EU Envoy

Niklasson said that in a meeting with the Pakistani officials, the parties agreed on the need for cooperation between the region and the international community for the benefit of the Afghan people.

The EU special envoy stressed on Friday that during his three days in Pakistan, he discussed with the country's officials about the consequences of the Taliban's policy on the ban of women from work.

The EU envoy also said that in these meetings, the need for inclusive government and protection of the rights and freedoms of Afghan citizens was emphasised.

Niklasson stated that the Taliban's decision to ban women from work, will harm needy women and children in Afghanistan at the worst possible time.

Besides these, Thomas Niklasson, referring to the recent deadly attack on a mosque in Peshawar, said that this attack is a reminder of the terrorist threats against Afghanistan and its neighbouring countries.

Secretaries of Security Councils of Regional Countries to Discuss Afghanistan, Says Russia

Feb 3, 2023, 13:52 GMT+0

Zamir Kabulov, the Russian special envoy for Afghanistan, said that the meeting of Secretaries of Security Councils of Central Asian countries, Pakistan, India, and China will be held in Moscow. According to Kabulov, in the meeting, the participants will discuss Afghanistan.

The Russian diplomat said that Moscow’s invitation has been sent to the regional countries, but the exact date of the meeting has not been specified.

The meetings of Secretaries of the Security Council of regional countries regarding Afghanistan have been continuously held in the last few years.

The last meeting of these stakeholders had been held on May 27, 2022, in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan.

In the meeting, the representatives of all countries emphasised that an inclusive government should be formed in Afghanistan.

Extreme Cold Weather Puts Millions of People At Risk in Afghanistan, Says ICRC

Feb 3, 2023, 11:59 GMT+0

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned that the extreme cold weather in Afghanistan has put the lives of millions of people at risk. ICRC added that more humanitarian aid is needed to prevent the deterioration of the situation.

The Red Cross stressed that many people in Afghanistan cannot afford to keep warm due to economic challenges.

The Red Cross has released a video that shows some citizens using plastic to heat their homes.

Khyber, one of the daily wage workers, said that there is no work, and in this cold season, a ton of coal costs 14,000 afghanis. He said that we do not know how to buy coal or wood for 14,000 afghanis.

This worker said that they burn plastic and old shoes so that they can warm up for a while.

Drug Trafficking Increased After Taliban Takeover of Afghanistan, Says Tajikistan

Feb 3, 2023, 10:55 GMT+0

Habibullo Vohidzoda, the director of Tajikistan's drug control agency, said that after the Taliban’s return to power, drug trafficking has increased from Afghanistan. Vohidzoda said that in 2022, four tonnes and 165 kilograms of drugs have been confiscated by Tajik forces.

The Tajik official added that as a result of the increase in drug smuggling from Afghanistan, more drug traffickers have been arrested too.

Vahidzoda stressed that in 2021, eight Afghan citizens had been arrested for drug trafficking in Tajikistan, and in 2022, the number has jumped to 19 people.

Tajikistan says that the largest shipments of drugs smuggled into Tajikistan has come from Afghanistan.

The Prosecutor General of Tajikistan also said recently that drug smuggling from Afghanistan has almost doubled.

Tajik authorities urged regional countries to expand cooperation in order to curb the increase in drug smuggling from Afghanistan.

Kyrgyzstan security officials had also previously announced that large amounts of drugs from Afghanistan entered the black market of regional countries.

Drug trafficking to Tajikistan and other Central Asian countries has been reported at a time when the Taliban have banned the cultivation and sale of narcotics in Afghanistan.

Taliban Confirms Afghan University Professor’s Detention in Kabul

Feb 3, 2023, 09:32 GMT+0

The Taliban's director of media oversight Abul Haq Hemad confirmed that the group has detained university professor, Ismail Mashal, and transferred him to “security agencies for investigation”. Hemad said that Mashal had been “provocative against the regime”.

On Thursday, sources told Afghanistan International that Ismail Mashal had been detained by the Taliban.

Mashal has been a bold critic of the ban on girls’ education by the Taliban. Recently, he tore up his educational certificates in protest of the Taliban’s ban on girls’ education and work and donated his books, especially to Afghan girls.

Hemad said that members of the Taliban have treated Mashal well so that he feels at home at the security agencies. Hemad added that the university professor is in contact with his family.

However, on Thursday, relatives of Mashal told Afghanistan International that he was violently detained by the Taliban members.

Resolve Differences Through Diplomacy, Taliban Urges US

Feb 2, 2023, 14:58 GMT+0

Taliban reacted to the imposed restrictions on visas for the group’s members by the United States and called it an obstacle to improving relations with the US. The Taliban's foreign ministry said that sanctions and pressure don’t resolve differences.

The group has urged the United States to resolve issues between the two sides through diplomatic channels.

The US Department of State announced visa restrictions on current and former Taliban officials in response to the ban on the education and work of Afghan girls and women.

According to the State Department, the restrictions have been imposed to make Taliban leaders accountable for their policies against women in Afghanistan.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Taliban added that the group is "committed to the rights of the people of Afghanistan that are acceptable by Islamic values, and traditions of Afghanistan”.

The Taliban also asked the United States to adhere to the Doha Agreement and act upon their commitments.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Taliban has emphasised that it is ready to discuss the differences with the United States.

The Taliban Ministry also stressed that despite US’ imposed restrictions on the financial and banking sectors, the group has been active to provide prosperous living conditions for Afghans.

The Taliban foreign ministry called the US restrictions on the banking sector "illegal" and a clear violation of the human rights of the Afghan people.

The Taliban's reaction to the new restrictions imposed by the United States comes at a time when this group has deprived Afghan girls and women of the right to education and work since taking over Afghanistan in August 2021.

Despite international pressure and human rights organisation’s calls, the Taliban hasn’t reversed their decisions regarding women and girls.

Human rights organisations have said that depriving Afghan girls and women of education and work has fuelled the economic crisis and increased poverty in the country.

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