ISIS Beheads Individual in Kunar Accused of Spying For Taliban

In a statement on social media, Massoud accused the Taliban of 'kidnapping women and disrespecting them,' warning that such actions could hasten their downfall and fuel resistance.

The Taliban's Ministry of Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice confirmed several arrests for 'improper hijab' but did not disclose the number of women detained. Sources informed Afghanistan International that Taliban officials had also 'beaten and arrested' girls in western Kabul for dress code violations, transferring them to an undisclosed location.

Massoud's statement highlighted the indefensibility of overlooking such 'crimes' by the Taliban and placed some responsibility on those advocating moderation and engagement with the group.

This latest wave of arrests has drawn international attention. Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Afghanistan, criticised these actions as a violation of women's rights and freedom of expression, calling for the immediate release of the detained women.

The Taliban's prescribed hijab, as outlined by their Ministry of Virtue and Vice, requires women to cover their entire body, including their face, hands, and feet. This enforcement, met with resistance from various Afghan societal segments, has been challenged even by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, leader of the Islamic Party of Afghanistan, who argued against the imposition of such specific dress requirements.

Despite these criticisms, the Taliban's Ministry of Virtue and Vice maintains that their version of the hijab is a divine command and insists on its strict implementation.

Referring to the death of Ayman al-Zawahiri, the leader of the al-Qaeda, in Kabul, Miller said that US continues to monitor Afghanistan.

He made these remarks during a press briefing addressing the escalation of terrorist activities in Afghanistan.

In response to a question from Mariza Hussaini, a reporter from Afghanistan International, he said that the United States continues to remind the Taliban of their counterterrorism commitments, with an expectation for adherence.

The Taliban does not categorise militant groups, including the Al-Qaeda, as terrorists and has rejected calls from Western countries and the region to expel them from Afghanistan. The Taliban says that while it won't permit these groups to launch attacks on other countries, however, it does not label them as terrorists.

Regional countries, particularly, express concerns over the presence of militant groups in Afghanistan. The government of Pakistan has iterated in multiple statements that the Afghan Taliban will not curb the attacks of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and its affiliated groups on Pakistani soil.

The US State Department Spokesperson urged the Taliban to address terrorist and militia groups. In reference to the demise of Ayman al-Zawahiri, the leader of al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, an indirect warning was issued, indicating that the US is prepared to target these groups in Afghanistan if deemed necessary.

Al-Zawahiri was killed in a US airstrike in Kabul on July 30, 2022. However, the Taliban has denied Zawahiri's presence and his death in Afghanistan. Despite appointing a new leader, Al-Qaeda has not disclosed the details surrounding the death of al-Zawahiri.

Jalali stated that the Taliban, referring to ISIS as "seditionists," has never labelled even the gravest crimes of this group in Afghanistan as terrorist.

The Taliban's foreign ministry denounced the Kerman incident, where two explosions killed nearly a hundred people, but refrained from categorising it as “terrorist.” Former Iranian ambassador Mohammad Reza Bahrami pointed out this omission, suggesting it carried significant implications.

Responding to Bahrami's remarks on social media, Jalali argued that Bahrami, with his diplomatic background in Afghanistan, should have a "more precise understanding" of such matters.

This stance contrasts with the Taliban's recent condemnation of the killing of six Hazara citizens in Herat, which they explicitly called an act of “terrorism.” The Taliban's Ministry of Interior identified the victims as "innocent compatriots" and attributed the attack to unknown individuals.

The ISIS group claimed responsibility for the Kerman explosions, stating that two of its suicide bombers were involved. Historically, the Taliban itself has conducted numerous deadly suicide attacks across Afghanistan.

Following a Taliban governor's death in an ISIS suicide attack in March 2023, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid described the event as an act by “enemies of Islam.”

The council, representing the Shia community, has presented over 20 demands to the Taliban, including the official recognition of the Shia Jafari school and upholding the personal status law for Afghan Shias.

Despite several meetings with Taliban officials since the group's takeover in August 2021, there has been no clear response to these demands. The Taliban's latest stance, according to sources, suggests that the decision lies with Mullah Hibatullah. However, attempts to secure a meeting with him have been unsuccessful.

The council has been actively seeking to address issues facing Shias, particularly the reopening of girls' schools and political representation. However, their demands have largely been unmet, with the Taliban nullifying the personal status law and imposing restrictions on Shiite ceremonies.

Maulawi Abdul Kabir, the Taliban’s Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs, has met with the council members, promising to address their concerns. Yet, despite these assurances, tangible results have not materialized.

Furthermore, the current Taliban cabinet lacks representation from Shiite or Hazara communities. In 2021, the Taliban formed a commission for Shia members to address their demands, but the council criticized the move for not including Shia scholars.

Despite challenges, including a Taliban attack on a Shia Ulema Council gathering in Kabul in May 2022, the council has expressed support for the Taliban government, with deputy Mohammad Akbari pledging allegiance to the group.

Mujahid said that the group's actions align with legal standards and adhere to the principles of Islamic Sharia.

Previously, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) urged the Taliban to cease the "arbitrary arrests" of advocates of girls' education. UNAMA emphasised that rights to family, lawyers, care, fair trial must be upheld.

During the past two and a half years, the Taliban has detained numerous journalists, civil activists, and advocates for girls' education.

UNAMA specifically mentioned Ahmad Fahim Azimi and Sadiqullah Afghan, both education activists, as well as Munizha Sediqi, a women's rights activist. The organisation expressed deep concern regarding their current situations.

In response to this request, Zabihullah Mujahid said, "Be assured that no one will be detained arbitrarily, and no individual will be detained without precise and comprehensive information."

He emphasised, "If an individual has been arrested through legal channels, it is the judiciary that has exercised its authority in accordance with the law."

These statements are issued while human rights institutions have previously expressed concern about the collapse of Afghanistan's judicial system and the legal vacuum in the country.

Following the takeover of power in August 2021, the Taliban nullified constitution of Afghanistan. The group has not succeeded in introducing a new constitution yet.