Taliban Official Extends Europe Tour: Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Slovakia

Ali Maisam Nazary, the NRF's Head of Foreign Relations, has urged German authorities to prevent their country from becoming a platform for spreading extremist ideologies and terrorism.

Nazary's comments come in the wake of a controversial speech by Abdul Bari Omar, the Taliban's Food and Drug Administration director, at an Islamic center in Cologne. This event has caused reactions among Afghan expatriates in the city and drawn criticism from German citizens and officials.

Nazary highlighted the dangers of the "genocidal and totalitarian ideology" promoted by Taliban figures like Omar, emphasizing the global threat they pose. The NRF representative called for a unified stand against terrorism amidst rising global concerns.

Omar's presence in Germany has been widely criticized. Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesperson, defended Omar's speech, saying it focused on Afghanistan's security and reconstruction. However, Tim Achtermeyer, a member of the North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament, condemned the event, expressing dismay over the platform given to the Taliban.

The German Foreign Ministry has also responded, condemning Omar's speech and presence, and investigating his entry into the country. The Ministry clarified that it does not recognize the Taliban government and did not issue a visa to Omar.

The Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs, which owns the building where Omar spoke, stated that their trust was abused. They claimed that an Afghan association had requested the space for a religious ceremony, which unexpectedly turned into a political rally featuring Omar, who was "unknown" to the union.

Despite the controversy, Omar defended the Taliban government in his speech, urging the audience to consider their "achievements" rather than media portrayals. He also shared images and videos of his speech on social media.

On 6 November, the Taliban-controlled Bakhtar News Agency reported Omar's attendance at the World Local Production Forum in The Hague, Netherlands.

The photo, taken in Germany, shows Qaderi alongside Abdul Bari Omar, the Taliban's National Food and Drugs Administration Director, who recently delivered a contentious speech in Cologne, Germany.

Omar, during his visit to an Islamic center in Cologne, lauded the Taliban leadership and government. His speech and presence have sparked significant reactions. The German Foreign Ministry, expressing strong disapproval, is probing Omar's entry into Germany, stating that no visa was issued for him. However, the Taliban's Bakhtar news agency reported Omar's participation in the World Local Production Forum in the Netherlands.

Qaderi, residing in Belgium since 2010 and granted asylum there for two years, regularly endorses Taliban activities on social media, including YouTube. In anticipation of Omar's visit, Qaderi teased "good news and historical events" on a social network while driving in the Netherlands.

In June, Belgian Deputy Minister of Immigration Nicole de Maure called for a reassessment of Qaderi's asylum status, highlighting the contradiction in his support for a regime he allegedly fled. Qaderi, celebrating his actions, posted: 'It is necessary for the Muslim nation to spare their lives and money in this way. Almighty Allah wanted the Muhammadan flag to be officially waved by my hands on the continent of Europe, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar.'"

On Friday, the organisation also demanded the release of other women’s rights activists including Manizha Siddiqi, Zhulia Parsi, Nida Parwani, and university professor Rasoul Parsi,

Parisa Azada was arrested on Wednesday by the Taliban intelligence agency in Dashte Barchi area of Kabul.

The Taliban officials have not commented on the motive behind Azada’s detention.

Amnesty International has warned that the continuation of severe Taliban restrictions and crackdown on women's and girls' rights can amount to crimes against humanity and gender persecution.

Amnesty International has once again called for the formation of an independent international mechanism to hold the Taliban accountable.

In the meeting, the Taliban governor said, "The situation of human rights in this province is much better."

Bakhtar News Agency, controlled by the Taliban, on Thursday, reported that Hakim told the UN official that Panjshir is more stable than other provinces of Afghanistan.

He welcomed Potzel's visit to Panjshir and said that in the last two years, the province was "forgotten by foreign institutions and donors.”

The Taliban governor in Panjshir asked the UN official to pay attention and provide aid support in the province.

He claimed that all ethnic groups live in Panjshir harmoniously, emphasising the absence of discrimination within the province.

Panjshir is known as the traditional stronghold of the Taliban’s opposition front. The main base of Ahmad Shah Massoud, the former leader of the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, was in this province. In 2021, Panjshir stood as the last province to come under the control of the Taliban.

Following the collapse of Afghanistan to the Taliban, intense guerrilla battles continued in Panjshir and Andarab region. The Taliban has been accused of massive arbitrary arrests, torture, and killing of the residents of the region.

In June, Amnesty International called the Taliban's "cruel behaviour" against the residents of Panjshir as a "war crime". The organisation said that it was able to document cases of "extra-judicial executions, torture, imprisonment, and arbitrary arrests" of people in this province.

Amnesty International confirmed that the Taliban resorted to mistreatment and torture of civilians amid the resistance forces in Panjshir. According to the organisation, the Taliban "detained the men and youth from the villages and subjected them to beatings and other abuse”.

In the meeting with Potzel, the Taliban’s governor in Panjshir, denied these reports and said that the leader of the Taliban, Hibatullah Akhundzada, "has more compassion and mercy for the people of Panjshir than in other provinces and makes exceptions for the residents of the province in all matters”.

UNAMA has not released a statement concerning the meeting. It remains unclear whether the deputy head of UNAMA successfully met the relatives of the victims of the Taliban’s killings and the families of the prisoners during his visit of the province.

Sidorov added that the CSTO is taking measures to restrain the threat of terrorism from Afghanistan.

On Thursday, during a press conference in Moscow, he stated that as of now, there is no military threat from Afghanistan. however, simultaneously it has been acknowledged that the current leadership of Afghanistan still does not fully control the situation in the country.

Sidorov responded to a question about whether Afghanistan is still considered a terrorist threat to CSTO member countries, stating, “Special measures are being taken in the northern areas of Afghanistan, which share borders with the member countries of the CSTO.”

However, he did not provide details about the measures taken by the organisation.

Sidorov also added that the issue of drug trafficking from Afghanistan still exists.

Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan are members of the CSTO and have held several joint military exercises near the borders of Afghanistan in the past two years.