Taliban Requests Time for Organising Afghan Immigrant Repatriation, Says Iranian Minister

The Axel Springer Courage Award is one of the most important awards in Germany, which is awarded annually to human rights activists in various fields.

This award has been given to Afghan women who, for over two years, have faced deprivation of participation and activity in various aspects of life and society under the Taliban rule.

The Taliban has prohibited girls from going to school above grade six and female students from university.

Despite the Taliban's repressive actions, women in various cities have come to the streets to protest against the group's policies.

In response to women's protests, the Taliban has resorted to threatening, arresting, and torturing the demonstrators.

In an interview with Radio Television Afghanistan on Tuesday, Stanikzai commented on the recent Moscow meeting titled "Afghanistan Between Past and Future," expressing that Russia wasted its time hosting opposition leaders.

The meeting, facilitated by Sergey Mironov of A Just Russia Party, saw participation from several anti-Taliban figures, including NRF leader Ahmad Massoud and Hazara leader, Mohammad Mohaqiq. However, Stanikzai dismissed the event's significance, urging Russia to ignore the opposition groups.

Stanikzai called on opposition leaders like Ahmad Massoud to return to Afghanistan for talks, but clarified the Taliban’s stance against an inclusive government. He rationalised this by comparing the Taliban's situation to other countries where victorious parties form their governments, arguing that coalition governments have historically failed in Afghanistan.

He further commented on the political structure of the Taliban, likening it to Western systems in some respects, yet distinct in its rejection of elections and demands for allegiance to the Taliban leader.

This perspective comes amid concerns from Western countries and neighbouring states about the Taliban's monopoly causing internal tensions and potential instability in Afghanistan. Despite this, the National Resistance Front (NRF) vows to continue its resistance until a democratic government is established.

He asserted that the embassy, contrary to earlier announcements of suspension, would reopen soon. Previously, the Afghan Embassy in Delhi had declared a complete halt in its operations, issuing a formal statement to that effect.

Contradicting this, Stanikzai stated that the embassy has resumed operations and that claims of its closure, particularly those made by a former diplomat named Naeemi, were false.

He further mentioned that the Afghan consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad are operational and actively providing consular services, maintaining ties with the Taliban Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Afghan Embassy in India had attributed its closure to ongoing difficulties with the Indian government, citing unresolved issues regarding visa extensions for its diplomats despite an eight-week wait.

Stanikzai also revealed that two Afghan consuls are currently overseeing the embassy offices in India and indicated that full diplomatic representation would be restored shortly.

The front has also reported that a Taliban member had been injured too.

On X social media platform, AFF wrote that in an attack on the Taliban intelligence office in Pol-e-Khumri, three members of the group were killed and one got injured.

Meanwhile, after publishing a video, the front also claimed that it killed two Taliban members in an attack on the group’s checkpoint in "Bandar Mazar-e-Sharif" area of Pol-e-Khumri.

The Taliban has not yet commented on the matter.

Recently, AFF attacks on the Taliban forces have increased. Earlier, the front announced three attacks on Taliban forces in Kabul city.

The meeting, which convened on Tuesday in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz capital, saw delegations from Central Asian countries discussing the prevailing conditions in Afghanistan. Kulubayev expressed his backing for the initiatives of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.

Furthermore, Kulubayev urged the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy to intensify its efforts in the Central Asian region. He advocated for the centre to play a greater role in developing and advancing specific initiatives. These initiatives are aimed at bolstering dialogue, fostering confidence-building measures among Central Asian nations, and addressing emerging challenges while mitigating potential threats.

Roza Otunbayeva, the UN Secretary General's special representative for Afghanistan affairs, was also in attendance at this Central Asian gathering in Kyrgyzstan.