Iran Supports Afghanistan’s Independence and Stability, Says Iranian Official

The Taliban's foreign ministry quoted Sheng as saying that China is "ready to help" regarding the immigrant issue.

Abdul Qahar Balkhi, the Taliban’s foreign ministry spokesperson wrote on X social media platform that Muttaqi, in the meeting with the Chinese ambassador, discussed “forced deportation of refugees at the beginning of the cold winter, usurping their assets and other rights, and several other related issues”.

China has a close trade and political relationship with Pakistan. This is the first time that China has expressed an opinion regarding the issue of deportation of undocumented immigrants from Pakistan.

The Chinese ambassador has expressed their interest in cooperating with the Taliban in solving the issue of undocumented immigrants, which has become a big challenge for the Taliban.

The Taliban has criticised Pakistan for deporting undocumented Afghan immigrants on the eve of winter and has demanded more time for these immigrants.

Pakistan has declined the Taliban’s and Western countries' demands to extend the deadline for the deportation of immigrants.

Muttaqi has explained to the Chinese representative "about the [Taliban's] measures to welcome and resettle Afghan refugees”.

Taliban officials had previously made a commitment to assist immigrants to the best of their ability, although they did not provide specific details.

According to Safi, earlier, a family member of a Taliban cabinet member chose to host their wedding ceremony in Peshawar rather than Kabul.

In an analysis published in Jang newspaper, it has been stated that according to estimates, about five thousand members of the Taliban have Pakistani citizenship.

The memo stated that when former Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour was killed in a US drone strike in 2016, a Pakistani electronic identity card was found with him.

At that time, Mansour was targeted by a Pakistani drone attack in Baluchistan when he was coming to Pakistan from Iran.

In the analysis of Jang newspaper, it has been stated that a wide and diverse range of Afghan immigrants are currently living in Pakistan.

The newspaper has classified Afghan immigrants in Pakistan into seven different categories.

According to the analysis, the sixth and seventh categories are Afghans who have sought refuge in Pakistan in the past two years, fearing the Taliban's revenge.

This category includes former government employees, artists, civil activists, and former employees of foreign organisations in Afghanistan. Western governments have promised some of these immigrants that they will be granted visas, but as of now, these visas have not been issued.

Some others entered Pakistan with short-term health and tourist visas, but the Pakistani embassy in Kabul did not extend their visas.

In the analysis of the Jang newspaper, the government of the country has been asked to sympathise with these immigrants and provide them shelter.

Earlier, human rights organisations expressed concerns that if these Afghans are deported from Pakistan, they could be at risk of retaliation from the Taliban.

Putin said that weapons sent to Ukraine are sold to the Taliban and "can be accessed by anyone".

On Friday, in a meeting with members of the country's Civic Chamber in Moscow, the Russian president criticised the military support of the Western countries to Ukraine and the sale of these weapons in black markets.

Since February last year, when Russia invaded militarily on Ukraine, Western countries have been sending weapons worth tens of billions of dollars to Ukraine to fight the Russian forces.

Ukraine said that it has tight control over the weapons it receives, but some Western security officials have previously expressed concern about the weapons being sold on illegal markets.

The United States of America asked Ukraine to take more measures to fight corruption in the country.

Last year, the head of Interpol, Jürgen Stock, warned that some advanced weapons sent to Ukraine would end up in the hands of organised crime groups.

In March, a report on the war in Ukraine and the illegal arms trade was published by the Global Initiative against Transnational Organised Crime stating that so far, no significant number of weapons have been taken out of Ukraine.

However, the report warned that if the threats are not addressed, when the current war ends, "Ukraine’s battlefields could and will become the new arsenal of anarchy, arming everyone from insurgents in Africa to gangsters in the streets of Europe”.

According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy report, eight major Western donors, led by the United States of America, have pledged to Ukraine to send at least 84 billion euros in military aid to the country.

In a statement, the Taliban wrote that the visit was made at the official invitation of the Iranian government and Mullah Baradar and the delegation accompanying him will discuss economic cooperation, bilateral relations, trade, transit, transportation, infrastructure, railways, and regional connectivity with Iranian officials.

As per the Taliban's statement, this visit will involve deliberations on increasing trade via the Chabahar port, expanding Afghanistan's involvement at the port, and promoting economic cooperation between the two nations.

The Taliban said that Mullah Baradar will encourage Iranian businessmen to invest in Afghanistan during his visit to Tehran.

Taliban’s Office For Deputy PM for Economic Affairs wrote that "a high-ranking delegation" of the Taliban will accompany Mullah Baradar during his visit to Iran”. Iranian media outlets wrote that 30 Taliban members are included in the delegation.

ISNA news agency reported that prior to the Taliban's takeover of power in 2021, Mullah Baradar had traveled to Tehran "as the head of the Taliban's political office”. Nevertheless, following the Taliban's return to power and Mullah Baradar's appointment as the group's deputy prime minister, this marks his first visit to Tehran.

In a statement, he emphasised that despite significant and fundamental differences in his perspectives with the Taliban, it is essential to engage in discussions and be ready for "national cooperation" to address this challenge.

Atmar said that his differences with the Taliban are on fundamental rights and freedoms of people, especially women, and regarding the political system, peace, and stability in Afghanistan.

In the statement, he wrote that the time has come for the Taliban leaders to make a "wise, responsible and patriotic" decision considering the fate of the "deplorable immigrants" and the widespread consequences of expelling the immigrants.

Atmar stressed that the Pakistani government has "disrespected" the human rights of Afghan immigrants and "disregarded" the wishes of the people of Pakistan and international organisations.

He added that the Taliban and the political opponents of the group should "cooperate" to protect the lives, property, and dignity of the immigrants.

In the statement, he said that the Taliban can turn this "tragedy into an opportunity for national reconciliation and the sustainable return of all Afghan refugees”.

Atmar strongly stated that the Pakistani government will never stop "exploiting the Afghan immigrant population for political and security objectives”.

He emphasised that the "instrumental use" of Afghan immigrants in "experimental policies and proxy wars, even against Afghanistan, is a shameful and unforgivable history”.

He stated that the time has come to end this "tyranny" and asked the Taliban to immediately stop "the policy of harassment, detention, and killing of people affiliated with the previous government, political and human rights activists and restrictions against the basic rights of citizens, especially women".

He also emphasised that, in the longterm, a legitimate political system, founded on the will of the people and national reconciliation, should be established through intra-Afghan dialogue.