Prominent Anti-Taliban Leader Alleges International Involvement in Afghanistan

In an interview with the Taliban-run Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA), Takal revealed that the Taliban and Russia are enhancing their political and economic ties.

This development comes as Moscow recently hosted a gathering of prominent Taliban opponents. The meeting, titled "Afghanistan between the past and the future," took place last Thursday under the auspices of Sergey Mironov, leader of the Just Russia Party, known for its close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Among the attendees were Ahmad Massoud, leader of the National Resistance Front (NRF); Mohammad Mohaqiq, leader of the Afghan People's Unity Party; Mahmoud Saiqal, former Afghan representative to the United Nations; Fazl Ahmad Manawi, ex-Minister of Justice of Afghanistan; Zahir Agbar, current Afghan ambassador to Tajikistan; and several other notable figures. In his address, the NRF leader lamented that Afghanistan has become "Talibanistan.”

Following the Moscow meeting, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met with Dmitry Zhirnov, the Russian ambassador in Kabul. The Taliban's Foreign Ministry stated that this meeting focused on discussing political and economic relations between Afghanistan and Russia, as well as recent regional and international events.

While Russia has not officially recognised the Taliban, it has permitted a number of the group's diplomats in Moscow. Russia has consistently advocated for the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan and stressed that the country should not serve as a safe haven for terrorists.

Emphasising the group's significance, Qomi highlighted its potential impact on stabilising Afghanistan.

In a social media post on platform X, Qomi noted on Sunday that the discussions also touched upon the strategic importance of the Chabahar port in bolstering economic ties with Afghanistan.

While details on the contact group's formation remain sparse, it is widely perceived as Iran's effort to underscore the influence of neighbouring countries in Afghanistan's affairs, potentially reducing the United States' involvement.

Concurrently, India's deputy foreign minister, on a two-day visit to Tehran, deliberated over the Chabahar port in meetings with Iran's foreign minister and other top officials.

The port stands as a crucial trade route between Afghanistan and India, serving as a prime alternative to Karachi port.

Given the escalating tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan regarding goods transit through Karachi port, the discussions between Iranian and Indian diplomats on the Chabahar port assume greater significance for advancing Afghanistan's economic relations.

Nabil indicated that there are reports that a group within the Taliban assesses how to acquire tactical nuclear weapons. He stressed the Taliban could seek these weapons through Pakistan or by hiring scientists.

Nabil also emphasised the divergent global perspectives on Afghanistan, with some viewing it as a problematic "black hole" and others as an opportunity. He stressed the need for consensus to guide Afghanistan back to its people.

The dialogue, which commenced on Monday in Tajikistan, attracted various anti-Taliban figures, experts, and politicians.

Rangin Dadfar Spanta, ex-National Security Adviser during Hamid Karzai's presidency, urged the U.S. and NATO to acknowledge their failures in Afghanistan. He advocated for international efforts to alter Afghanistan's current trajectory.

Spanta lauded the endeavours of Afghan women for human rights and democracy, terming them as a remarkable representation of the Afghan people's strive for liberty and justice.

He attributed the Taliban's return to power to the inefficiencies of the former Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and shifts in the global order.

Spanta highlighted ongoing issues in Afghanistan, including the absence of rule of law and socio-economic disparities.

He also commented on a recent United Nations report, acknowledging its significance while criticising the UN special coordinator for Afghanistan, Feridun Sinirlioglu, for seemingly downplaying the Taliban's actions. Spanta believed that while the report contains useful insights for resolving the Afghan conflict, it should not gloss over the Taliban's conduct.

This move, as reported by Dawn, a leading Pakistani newspaper, is intended to prevent the misclassification of Pakistani nationals as "Afghan deportees."

Dawn's sources at the Taliban's mission in Pakistan reveal that since this policy's implementation last Friday, there have been no deportations to Afghanistan from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The Taliban contends that, under the guise of deporting undocumented immigrants, Pakistani police have erroneously sent Pakistani citizens to Afghanistan.

When these individuals were sent back to Pakistan, Taliban diplomatic sources reported that Pakistani authorities rejected their re-entry. This issue is part of broader disagreements between the Taliban and Pakistan regarding the deportation of nearly two million migrants lacking legal documentation.

The Taliban has accused the Pakistani government of confiscating immigrants' belongings and not allowing sufficient time for them to retrieve these items before deportation. In contrast, Pakistani authorities have dismissed these accusations as unfounded, stating that comprehensive records, including photographs and fingerprints, have been taken of all deported individuals for future reference.

Pakistani officials further assert that the Taliban's new requirement for consulate verification will slow the deportation process, potentially prolonging the detention of these immigrants in Pakistan.

Previously, Karimi worked as the deputy spokesperson of the Taliban. The Taliban has not publicly announced the appointment of Karimi as the group’s ambassador to China.

Sources from the Taliban's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul confirmed to Afghanistan International on Saturday that Bilal Karimi has arrived in Beijing and is set to fill in the position of Taliban’s ambassador.

Bilal Karimi was a member of the Cultural Commission of the Taliban before the group’s takeover of power in August 2021. He was later appointed as the deputy spokesperson of the group.

China has not yet recognised the Taliban government, but has close commercial and political relations with this group.

Earlier, Beijing appointed a new ambassador for Afghanistan who in Kabul, handed over his credentials to Mullah Hassan Akhund, the prime minister of the Taliban.

After the collapse of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, China was one of the first countries after Pakistan and Russia to accept Taliban diplomats.