Tried To Be Moderate, Taliban’s Controversial Minister Tells British Religious Scholars

Jul 31, 2023, 10:00 GMT+1

Khalid Hanafi, the Taliban’s Minister of Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, said that his ministry has tried to be “moderate”.

During a meeting with a group of British religious scholars who visited Kabul, Hanafi discussed the activities of the controversial Ministry of Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.

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Islamic Republic Implements Surveillance Programme for Afghan Refugees Inside Iran

Jul 31, 2023, 08:45 GMT+1

Mehdi Saadati, a member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Iranian Parliament, announced that Iran monitors Afghan refugees.

Saadati claimed that the “enemy” has now been utilising the Afghan refugees in Iran and stressed that these refugees have been under surveillance by Iran’s intelligence and security agencies.

The statement comes as last year, after an attack on an Iranian shrine which killed 13 people and wounded several others, Iran’s intelligence ministry claimed that the attackers were citizens of Afghanistan and Tajikistan.

Although Saadati stressed that there are no security concerns from these Afghan refugees, he added that these refugees top the list of groups under surveillance by the Islamic Republic's intelligence and security agencies. He also mentioned the "illegal" activities of some Afghan refugees and warned them about these activities.

Saadati said, "According to our policies, we must have a good relationship with the people of Afghanistan."

Recalling the border tensions between the Taliban and Iran, this Iranian MP said that these "small incidents were resolved with the authority of the Islamic Republic of Iran”.

The process of expulsion of Afghan refugees from Iran has increased in recent months. In the latest case, the Islamic Republic deported more than 7,500 Afghan refugees and handed them over to the Taliban at the Dogharon border.

According to Iranian officials, thousands of Afghans have been deported from Iran every week because they do not have valid residence documents.

Kazakhstan To Hold Economic Meeting On Afghanistan

Jul 29, 2023, 15:12 GMT+1

The Tass news agency, quoting Kazakhstan’s foreign ministry, reported that the Kazakhstan-Afghanistan economic meeting will be held in Astana next week.

On July 27-28, Astana had hosted a meeting of representatives of five Central Asian countries and the US.

It has been said that the representatives of Afghan private companies are going to participate in the next economic meeting.

No details about the presence of Taliban representatives in this meeting have been divulged.

On Friday, Tass news agency quoted Kazakhstan’s foreign ministry as saying that more than 150 representatives from various sectors, including Afghan banks, will participate in the upcoming meeting.

It has been reported that the representatives of the Ministry of Trade, Kazakh Export Company, and a number of representatives of Kazakh banks and logistics companies will hold talks with the participating Afghans.

It has also been said that an exhibition of Afghan products will be held on the sidelines of this meeting.

Tass added that nearly 70 companies from Afghanistan are going to participate in this exhibition. The exhibition will be held on August 4-5.

Afghanistan International To Start Broadcasts In Pashto

Jul 29, 2023, 13:26 GMT+1

Afghanistan International plans to start broadcasts in Pashto language starting August 1, 2023. Officials of this media organisation said that they are committed to the principles and values of accurate, unbiased, and professional reporting.

According to them, the launch of the Pashto section will be gradual and will be more digitally-oriented.

According to the senior managers of this media organisation, "Afghanistan, two years after the beginning of a new period of political developments, needs brave, comprehensive and uncensored information more than ever."

They said, "Afghanistan International believes that all Afghan citizens should have access to accurate and unbiased information."

Afghanistan International started its Persian broadcasts about two years ago on August 2021.

This media organisation began its activities when the Taliban’s takeover of the power in Afghanistan, had a deep impact on the operation of independent media in the country, and a new wave of repression and restrictions against freedom of expression and independent media had begun.

Taliban Forces Suffered Heavy Casualties In Baghlan Province, Claims NRF

Jul 29, 2023, 12:26 GMT+1

The National Resistance Front (NRF) claims to have inflicted "heavy casualties" to the Taliban in Khost district of Baghlan province.

NRF announced that the attack took place on Friday at a Taliban outpost in Charkh-wa-Falak area of the province.

However, in a statement, NRF has not given any other details about the casualties from the attack.

NRF stressed that the "targeted and guerilla" operations of NRF forces will continue throughout the country against the Taliban forces.

Over the past few days, the National Resistance Front has announced several attacks conducted on Taliban positions in several provinces.

On Friday, NRF had announced that its forces killed three Taliban members in Kapisa province.

Also, the front said on Tuesday that it has inflicted casualties on the Taliban in Nuristan, Laghman, and Nangarhar provinces.

Taliban spokespersons have not reacted to the NRF claims.

Civil Disobedience Against Taliban as People, Including Women, March In Kabul On Ashura

Jul 29, 2023, 10:23 GMT+1

Hundreds of residents of western Kabul neglected severe restrictions of the Taliban on Shias and marched on the streets of the Dasht-e Barchi area in District 13 on the Day of Ashura.

In a video clip received by Afghanistan International, a large group of women also participated in the march in western Kabul as an act of civil disobedience against the restrictions of the Taliban.

Earlier, in Kabul, influential Shia cleric, Ayatollah Seyed Mohsen Hojjat had asked Shias not to heed the restrictive orders of the Taliban.

This year, the Taliban imposed unprecedented restrictions on Shias’ celebration of Ashura and the month of Muharram.

In the past week, Afghanistan International published several video clips and reports showing that the Taliban suppressed the gatherings of mourners and prevented Shia mourning ceremonies across Afghanistan.

In the latest case on Friday, at least one person died and several others had been injured when the Taliban shot at a Shia gathering who performed rituals on the Day of Ashura in Ghazni city.

In another video clip received by Afghanistan International, the Taliban violently dispersed Shia mourners in Chindawol area of Kabul.

The Taliban stopped caravans of Shia mourners in districts 1 and 10 of Kabul city too.

Earlier, Khalid Zadran, the Taliban’s police spokesperson in Kabul, confirmed that the group had prevented the convoys of Muharram mourners in Kabul.

Khalid Zadran said, "Some caused disorder in public areas and roads in a disorganised manner and contrary to the sayings of the elders, which caused the security forces to stop them out of their responsibility and security."