Former Balkh Governor Criticises Iran for Handing over Afghan Embassy To Taliban

Noor urged Iran to reverse its decision of the transfer of the embassy’s charge to the Taliban.

Sources told Afghanistan International that Iran has decided to handover the Afghan embassy in Tehran to the Taliban next Saturday.

According to the sources, 15 diplomats have decided not to work with the Taliban and the Islamic Republic has closed the embassy and prohibited these diplomats from entering the embassy premises.

Iran has informed the Afghan diplomats in Tehran of Islamic republic’s decision about the transfer of control of the embassy to the Taliban on Monday, and the diplomats have decided to leave their jobs instead of working with the Taliban.

Sanctions Are in Nobody’s Interests; Resolve Challenges Through Dialogue, Says Haqqani

Feb 22, 2023, 12:24 GMT+0

Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban's interior minister, said that the banking and economic restrictions imposed against the Taliban increase the suffering of Afghans.

During a meeting with the Japanese ambassador in Kabul, Haqqani said that the sanctions are not in the interest of anyone in Afghanistan.

Haqqani emphasised that only through dialogue and mutual understanding, can they can solve the problems.

He described the position of the international community against this group as unfair and said that this policy "punishes" the common people in Afghanistan.

Haqqani urged the international community to change the trust deficit into dialogue and understanding.

However, the ambassador of Japan in Kabul asked the Taliban to allow Afghan girls to return to schools in the upcoming academic year.

While the Taliban suggests dialogue with the international community, the group has been accused of massive human rights violations across Afghanistan.

The Taliban has banned Afghan women from work, and education and removed them from social life.

Pakistan’s Defense Minister And Spymaster Meet Taliban Officials in Kabul

Feb 22, 2023, 09:23 GMT+0

Pakistan’s Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) chief Nadeem Anjum, and Pakistan's defense minister Khawaja Asif arrived in Kabul to hold discussions with Taliban officials. This is Anjum's first visit to Kabul as the head of Pakistan’s Intelligence agency.

The Taliban said in a statement that the Pakistani delegation held discussions with Mullah Baradar, the Taliban deputy prime minister, on biliteral and economic relations.

No further details have been released about the visit of Pakistan’s defense minister and ISI chief to Kabul.

The high-ranking Pakistani delegation's visit to Kabul comes amid weeks of heightened insecurity in Pakistan.

After the deadly Peshawar attack, Pakistan's Defense Minister said that these attacks have been conducted by terrorists that enter Pakistan from Afghanistan.

Pakistani officials said that the Tahreek Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the main anti-Pakistan group, has hideouts inside Afghanistan.

IS-K Confirms Death of Senior Member During Clashes With Taliban

Feb 22, 2023, 08:56 GMT+0

The Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) confirmed the death of Ejaz Amin Ahangar, known as Abu Usman Al-Kashmiri, a senior member of the group in southern Afghanistan. IS-K said in a statement that Al-Kashmiri had been killed on February 14 during a clash with the Taliban.

The exact location of death of this senior IS-K member has not mentioned in the IS-K statement.

Before joining the IS-K, Abu Usman Al-Kashmiri had been a member of Harakat Al-Mujahedin in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. He, then, joined Al-Qaeda and after a while in 2015, he announced that he had joined the ISIS.

Al-Kashmiri is believed to have been the first Amir of the "Indian province" of ISIS.

Over the past few months, the Taliban has reported numerous clashes with ISIS members in different provinces of Afghanistan.

No News Even After 11 Days of Detention of Rights Activist Narges Sadat, Says Family

Feb 21, 2023, 15:58 GMT+0

The family of women rights activist, Narges Sadat, confirmed that she had been detained by the Taliban on February 10. They said that Taliban have not provided any information about her fate and whereabouts.

Mohammad Reza, Narges Sadat's husband, urged the United Nations and the European Union to act for the release of the women’s rights activist.

Sadat, 23, had been detained by the Taliban from the Pole- Sorkh area of Kabul.

Sadat's husband told Afghanistan International that they have contacted the Taliban intelligence offices several times, but the Taliban have ignored their requests regarding information about his wife.

Mohammad Reza said that his mother and sister have contacted the Taliban intelligence headquarters in Kabul, but haven’t received any feedback.

The Taliban didn’t comment about the detention of the women’s rights activist.

The group has cracked down against women rights activists in Afghanistan extensively for the past year.

Torkham Border Crossing Closed for 3 Day; 6000 Trucks Stalled On Both Sides

Feb 21, 2023, 14:51 GMT+0

Ziaul Haq Sarhadi, a member of Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chambers of Commerce, said that over 6000 trucks have been stopped on both sides of Torkham border. According to Sarhadi, closure of Torkham border between Afghanistan and Pakistan has caused heavy losses to the traders.

It has been three days since the Taliban have closed the Torkham border crossing.

According to officials, after the closure of the border and gun fight between the Taliban and Pakistan border forces, the two sides have been in talks to reopen the border.

Sarhadi said, "Long queues of heavy trucks have formed on both sides of the border."

Taliban officials said that Pakistan has not fulfilled its commitments regarding the smooth transit of Afghan travellers, and patients seeking treatment in the country.

The Pakistani government has not publicly commented on the matter.

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