China Respects Taliban’s Policies, Says Group’s Ministry of Interior

According to the Taliban, Xing said that China fully respects the "independence, beliefs and culture of Afghanistan."

Many countries have urged the Taliban to change their policies towards women and girls in Afghanistan.

However, the Taliban have stated that the ban on women's work and education is "a part of Afghan culture". The group has asked the international community and the United Nations to respect cultural differences and not to interfere in the internal affairs of the Taliban.

China is one of the few countries which has not criticised the violation of women’s and girls’ rights under the Taliban rule.

The Taliban’s Ministry of Interior stated that the Chinese Ambassador has emphasised on non-interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan.

According to the group’s statement, Haqqani has also praised China's position towards Afghanistan.

Following the appointment of a new Chinese ambassador for Afghanistan, Mullah Hassan Akhund, the Taliban’s Prime Minister accepted his credentials on September 13, and welcomed him in a special ceremony held at the Arg (Presidential Palace).

During his meeting with the Taliban officials, Xing stressed on maintaining the territorial integrity and independence of Afghanistan.

According to the Taliban, Xing stressed that China does not follow the policy of interference in the Afghanistan affairs and will work to strengthen relations and cooperation between the two countries.

China is one of the few countries which has established close relations with the Taliban since their takeover of power and has signed several contracts in the mining sector of Afghanistan.

The new Chinese ambassador to Afghanistan is the first foreign ambassador who has been sent to Afghanistan under the Taliban control with official credentials.

China is looking at its economic interests in Afghanistan, and in the last two years, Chinese companies have signed several mining contracts in Afghanistan.

Taliban Supports Azerbaijan’s Territorial Integrity, Says Group’s Spokesperson

Sep 16, 2023, 14:43 GMT+1

Zabihullah Mujahid, Taliban’s spokesperson, said that the group attaches immense importance to the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and supports it.

Azerbaijan and Armenia have been engaged in a long-standing conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The most recent exchange of gunfire between the two sides occurred last Saturday.

In an interview with CBC Azerbaijan TV, Mujahid stressed that the group supports Azerbaijan in the issue of territorial integrity.

In this interview, a part of which was aired on Friday, he said that the issue of territorial integrity is extremely important for the Taliban, "I think it is as important as it is for Azerbaijan”.

Forces of Azerbaijan and Armenia had been involved in a six-week armed conflict in 2020 that left 6,500 dead. The tension between both countries has caused Russia to mediate between the two sides often.

Three years ago, both countries agreed on a ceasefire with the meditation of Moscow. However, tensions between both the countries continue.

In an interview with Politico, Nikol Pashinyan, the Armenian Prime Minister on September 13, said that there is a possibility of escalation of tensions with Azerbaijan, and so, their forces should return to the bases.

The Taliban spokesperson told CBC Azerbaijan that the group is ready to cooperate with Azerbaijan. He added that they want the embassy of Azerbaijan in Kabul to begin operations and have Taliban representatives accepted in Baku.

Mujahid promised to ensure the security of the Azerbaijani embassy in Afghanistan and said, "We are prepared to create the necessary conditions and carry out appropriate measures."

TTP Condemns Detention of Afghan Refugees in Pakistan

Sep 16, 2023, 13:00 GMT+1

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) condemned the detention of Afghan refugees in Karachi city of Pakistan.

In a statement, TTP said that Pakistani forces desire to take "millions" of rupees from refugees in the form of bribe. At the same time, TTP also denied the involvement of Afghans in the recent attacks in Pakistan.

In the statement, it said that the government of Pakistan has double standard towards Afghans. It added that the Pakistani government "calls the Afghan government a brother" and on the other hand they "commit crimes against Afghan refugees”.

TTP stressed that Afghan citizens were not involved in the group's attacks in Pakistan, and said that "it is unreasonable to launch large-scale and coordinated attacks that were carried out in Chitral from outside Pakistan”.

Recently, Pakistani Taliban launched an attack in Chitral district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa state of Pakistan, which killed several Pakistani security forces.

TTP claimed that the Pakistani police arrested "Afghan refugees and daily wage laborers" under the pretext of alleged Afghan involvement in the Karachi violences.

The group urged the people of Pakistan to demonstrate their goodwill towards the Afghan population in order to alleviate the escalating oppression.

Since the Taliban’s takeover of power in Afghanistan, TTP has increased its attacks against the Pakistani security forces.

Pakistani officials, including the country's Army Chief of Staff, said that Afghan citizens have been involved in attacks against Pakistani forces.

At the same time, the Pakistani police has intensified the detention of Afghan refugees inside Pakistan. Human rights organisations have expressed concern over the detention and situation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

On the other hand, in a letter, TTP ordered the military commissions of their group in the north and south of Pakistan not to recruit Afghans into their ranks.

Count of Afghanistan's Historical Monuments May Reach 20,000, Claims Taliban

Sep 16, 2023, 10:59 GMT+1

The Taliban's Ministry of Information and Culture announced that the number of historical monuments in Afghanistan will increase to 15,000-20,000 if they are registered and carefully examined.

Atiqullah Azizi, Taliban's deputy minister of information and culture, told Bakhtar news agency that currently five thousand historical works had been registered in Afghanistan.

Azizi said that Herat, Balkh, Bamiyan, Ghazni, Kabul and Kandahar have the most historical monuments.

While the Taliban is talking about the existence of new historical monuments in Afghanistan, organisations dedicated to preserving cultural heritage have warned that hundreds of historical sites and monuments are at risk of destruction in Afghanistan.

The destruction and collapse of Afghanistan's historical sites and monuments is one of the concerns of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

Among others, Jam Minaret in Ghor Province, one of the oldest historical monuments of Afghanistan, which has been registered by UNESCO, is in an alarming condition and faces the risk of collapse.

Taliban’s Qush Tepa Canal Will Alter Water Dynamics in Central Asia, Says Uzbek President

Sep 16, 2023, 10:10 GMT+1

Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the President of Uzbekistan, has warned that the Taliban's construction of the Qush Tepa canal has the potential to significantly alter the water dynamics and balance in Central Asia.

Mirziyoyev said that a new consumer has appeared that "does not have any obligations with our countries”.

He made these statements on Friday at the fifth Central Asian Leader’s Summit in Dushanbe city.

In addition to Mirziyoyev, presidents of Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan attended this summit.

Uzbekistan’s president also suggested the formation of a collaborative group involving these nations to address the issue that has arisen concerning the transfer of water from the Qush Tepa Canal.

He stressed, "I consider it necessary to form a joint group to examine all aspects of the Qush Tepa canal construction and its impact on the Amu Darya water region."

He also suggested to consider the issue of Taliban’s participation in regional talks on the joint use of water resources.

Uzbekistan has relatively close relations with the Taliban. Ismatilla Ergashev, Mirziyoyev’s special representative for Afghanistan, has visited Afghanistan several times and has hold talks with Taliban officials, including about the Qush Tepa canal.

Mirziyoyev considered engaging with the Taliban as a means to prevent border tensions with group.

In March 2022, the Taliban announced construction of the Qush Tepa Canal in northern Afghanistan.

According to Abdul Ghani Baradar, Taliban’s Deputy Prime Minister, this project can boost Afghanistan’s agriculture sector.

In February 2023, the Economist magazine in an analysis wrote that although the Qush Tepa Canal, benefits Afghan farmers, but it can fuel conflict and tension with countries such as Uzbekistan.

It added that Uzbekistan relies on the Amu River to irrigate its cotton fields, but the Taliban's development of the canal could reduce the water level in the river.

According to reports, cotton cultivation is the largest source of employment and income in Uzbekistan, and a decrease of water level in Amu River is a significant threat to the country's textile industry.

The Taliban said that more than seven billion Afs have been allocated for the construction of the canal and it will take six years to complete.

The National Resistance Front (NRF) had previously claimed that the Taliban has distributed lands around the Qush Tepa canal.

NRF had stressed that the Taliban was distributing lands near the Qush Tepa Canal to "terrorists".

Do Not Recruit Afghan Nationals, Orders Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan

Sep 15, 2023, 14:56 GMT+1

In a letter, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) issued an order to the group’s military commissions in the north and south of Pakistan to not recruit Afghans into their ranks.

The leadership of the TTP has warned that if the commanders disobey the order, they will be punished.

The letter was published on Thursday, September 14.

Since the Taliban’s takeover of power in Afghanistan, TTP has increased its attacks on the Pakistan’s security forces.

According to reports, Pakistani Taliban have gained access to the US weapons left in Afghanistan.

Following the group’s attack on an army base in Baluchistan of Pakistan, the country’s military officials said that three Afghan nationals were involved in the attack.

Previously, General Asim Munir, the Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan, had accused Afghan citizens of being involved in terrorist incidents in Pakistan.

Last month, Munir had said that Afghan militia activities have dangerous consequences for the security of the region.

On August, reliable sources confirmed to Afghanistan International that an order was issued by Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of Afghan Taliban, stating that war in Pakistan is prohibited and "haram".

At that time, sources said that the group did not want to publicise the order due to concerns about internal reactions.

Islamabad has asked the Taliban to publicise their leader's order public to stop the activities of TTP and its Afghan supporters.

Last month, Mullah Yaqoob, the Taliban's defence minister, also said, "When the emir prohibits the Mujahideen from fighting and they still fight, that war is not called Jihad."

Pakistani authorities have always said that TTP wages terrorist attacks against Pakistan from Afghanistan.

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