Afghans Denounce Kerman Blasts, Call for United Regional Anti-Terrorism Efforts

He criticised the Taliban's policy of detaining and suppressing opposition, stating, "filling the prisons will not strengthen your system."

While Stanekzai did not mention specific groups, the Taliban have been known to target human rights defenders and women's education advocates in recent years, actions that have drawn international condemnation.

On Wednesday, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) echoed similar concerns, urging the Taliban to halt the arbitrary arrests of individuals advocating for girls' education. UNAMA highlighted the importance of upholding rights to family, legal representation, care, and a fair trial.

In a social media post, Stanekzai emphasised that a sustainable political system requires justice, national unity, and both national and international legitimacy. He advocated for national reconciliation in Afghanistan, a goal he pursued as a key figure in former President Ashraf Ghani's government. However, the Taliban have historically rejected dialogue with Afghan political figures and groups, undermining reconciliation efforts.

Amidst increasing activities of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the ministry warns that ISIS is looking to heighten tensions through terrorist acts targeting Shiites and religious minorities.

The ministry highlighted its proactive measures in monitoring cyberspace to dismantle online extremist networks. In 2022 alone, it received 16,522 complaints to block radical, sectarian, anti-state, and terrorist content on social networks.

Additionally, the Ministry linked the surge in organised attacks by TTP to the 2022 peace negotiations between the Pakistani government and extremist militants. Despite the completion of fencing along Pakistan's western border, Taliban and ISIS members continue to damage the barriers to infiltrate Pakistan.

Pakistani officials have noted that the ceasefire between the government and TTP has inadvertently aided terrorist groups. The withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan is also cited as a factor in the increased militant activities in the region.

TTP militants have been orchestrating attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan provinces. A recent attack in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, resulted in the deaths of at least 23 soldiers and injured over 30.

In a statement, the ministry introduced new restrictions on athletes' attire during training. However, it did not specify whether these restrictions apply to male or female athletes.

This Taliban ministry also declared on Tuesday that "thin clothes" are contrary to Islamic Sharia and Afghan culture. Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, Taliban’s minister of Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, urged merchants to abstain from importing such clothing.

Earlier, the Taliban had banned women from sports, recreation, and travel without a male guardian.

Over the past two years, the Taliban’s Ministry of Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has imposed several regulations that severely restrict citizens' freedom.

The Taliban has mandated that government employees must grow beards and wear hats, and in certain instances, has taken action against those who failed to comply with such directives.

Soleimani, the former commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was killed on 3 January 2020, near Baghdad International Airport in an American airstrike.

The blasts occurred on the route to the 'Kerman Martyrs' Cemetery,' where Soleimani is buried. Tasnim News Agency described the explosions as 'massive' and reported the immediate response of security forces. It was noted that two bomb-laden bags were found at the cemetery's entrance and were likely detonated remotely.

Babak Yektafar, the spokesperson for Iran's National Medical Emergency Organisation, noted that some of the injured are in critical condition, raising concerns about an increase in the death toll.

The Deputy for Political and Security Affairs of Kerman Governorate labelled the explosions as 'terrorist' acts. No group has yet claimed responsibility for these incidents, which took place during the anniversary ceremony of Soleimani's killing.

In a statement on Wednesday, the NRF reported that on Tuesday night at 9pm in Badakhshan, the governor's office of the Taliban was targeted with rocket attacks, resulting in injuries of two members of the group.

The NRF added that in a separate attack, the front’s forces detonated a car carrying Taliban members in Pul-e Khumri city, the capital of Baghlan province, around 7:30 on Tuesday night. In this explosion, two Taliban members were killed, and one fighter of this group was injured.

The front added that its forces remained unharmed in these operations.

However, the Taliban has not responded to the NRF’s claim. Earlier, the front also reported the killing of a Taliban fighter in a clash in Kunduz on Tuesday.

Recently, the NRF published its six-month report, claiming that during this period, it conducted 90 attacks on the Taliban and killed 128 members of this group.