Taliban Central Bank Governor Embarks On Visit To Bahrain

Kanani clarified that Iran advocates for the inclusion of all Afghan factions in political frameworks, opposing their exclusion.

In Tehran's Monday press conference, Kanani expressed concern over the potential regional impact of Afghanistan's instability. He emphasised the necessity of forming an Afghan government representative of its entire populace. This stance, he noted, has been consistent in Tehran's policy over the last two years during Taliban rule.

Kanani reiterated Iran's position that all parties should back the creation of a government encompassing all Afghan ethnicities and groups.

The meeting in Moscow, hosted by Sergey Mironov of the Just Russia Party, convened opposition groups to the Taliban. In the meeting, Iran's representative criticised the Taliban for not forming an inclusive government and expressed readiness to facilitate dialogue between the Taliban and diverse ethnic representatives. Additionally, concerns were raised about various terrorist factions in Afghanistan, highlighting the potential threat despite their current inactivity.

SAMAA TV, drawing information from the Inter-Services Public Relations Pakistan (ISPR), even published the identity card number of the suicide bomber.

This revelation has led to concerns, highlighted by the Pakistani TV station, that individuals with legal Afghan government documents could be involved in terrorist activities within Pakistan. This report contradicts previous denials by the Afghan Taliban, who have consistently refuted claims linking Afghans to instability in Pakistan.

The suicide attack, which occurred on Sunday, involved the detonation of a motorcycle near a vehicle of Pakistani security forces in Bannu district. The explosion resulted in the death of at least two civilians and injuries to seven civilians and three Pakistani soldiers.

Pakistani media sources have linked the attack to Hafiz Gul Bahadur, a commander of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Speaking to Afghanistan International at the Herat Security Dialogue in Dushanbe, the former Afghan jihadi leader asserted that the international community remains actively involved in Afghanistan's affairs and continues to have a presence in the country.

Khan's statement echoes previous remarks by another ex-jihadi leader, Mohammad Mohaqiq, who alleged during a meeting in Moscow that American forces are covertly managing the Taliban government's operations from a hotel in Kabul.

The Herat Security Dialogue, taking place in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, serves as a critical platform where various anti-Taliban figures, scholars, and experts have convened to deliberate over the current state of Afghanistan.

The Afghan Institute of Strategic Studies, which is the organiser of the summit, in a statement, declared that the organisation brought together global experts, politicians, and representatives of different countries to discuss the critical situation 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.