Taliban Seizes Mobile Phones in Wake of Mazar-i-Sharif Blast

During his interview with Afghanistan International’s Aref Yaqubi, Schmitt noted that the strategic Bagram Air Base, which was once a prominent US military site in Afghanistan, is now under China's radar.

Reflecting on the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, Schmitt labelled it as disastrous, pointing out its global repercussions. He criticised the Biden administration for its handling of the withdrawal, terming it weak and poorly executed.

Schmitt also drew attention to the military equipment left by the US forces, which he claims are now being used for wrong purposes. He underscored the need for America to address these issues, emphasising discussions on human rights, women's rights, and freedom of expression in Afghanistan.

Despite his concerns about China's role in Afghanistan, Schmitt doubts that Americans would support another military intervention there.

Looking forward to the US presidential election, Schmitt voiced his support for Donald Trump, citing Trump's vision for a powerful America and his decisiveness as the deciding factors. He believes other world leaders like Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin also recognise and respect Trump’s vision.

The Taliban convoy was allegedly targeting girls and detaining them in the Panjsad Family neighbourhood.

According to the AFF, the attack resulted in three Taliban members being killed and two others being injured. Two Taliban ranger vehicles also suffered partial damage.

The Taliban is yet to comment on the incident.

Local sources reported hearing an explosion around 7am on Thursday, in the vicinity of the Panjsad Family intersection, located in Kabul's Police District 15.

The AFF had previously issued a letter from a fighter addressing the women of Afghanistan, condemning the Taliban's arrest of young women for alleged dress code violations. The fighter pledged to stand for women's rights, deeming them as the true owners of Kabul.

This attack comes amidst a new surge of arrests by the Taliban targeting girls and women for “improper hijab”, which has sparked considerable backlash. A Taliban spokesperson claimed these women were briefly detained for dress code violations and subsequently, released.

Reports have also surfaced alleging the Taliban's torture of detained girls and their family members.

Salimi pointed out that the bulk of these investments are centred in Mashhad, largely due to its proximity to the Iran-Afghanistan border.

During his discussion with the Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA) on Wednesday, he emphasised on the unique advantages which Afghan businesses offer in Iran, particularly their in-depth understanding of the market and tailored production and export strategies.

He specified that Afghan investors are predominantly engaged in packaging goods in high demand in Afghanistan, such as dried fruits, dried vegetables, and legumes.

Salimi estimated the total foreign investment in Iran for the current year at four billion dollars, with Afghan investors contributing around 15 percent. Of the approximately 700 foreign-invested projects in Iran, Afghan investors manage 150.

Additionally, Salimi noted a surge in truck traffic at the Dogharoun border crossing, where operational hours have been extended from 8 to 16 hours daily. He also confirmed that Afghan investors in Iran possess the necessary residency and work permits.

The incident involved an attempted grenade attack on a Taliban police vehicle. The explosion took place on Wednesday in the Darb-e Khosh area of Herat.

Insaf further added that while the grenade missed its intended target, it caused injuries to civilians who were present in the vicinity.

Following the incident, authorities arrested one individual who is suspected of being involved in the attack.

He asserts that all are held for criminal offenses, denying the presence of any political prisoners.

During an interview with Taliban-controlled Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA), Badr acknowledged a few foreign prisoners without specifying their numbers. He also noted that 9,000 female police officers are employed in these prisons.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) indicated in June 2023 that around 15,000 individuals were imprisoned by the Taliban. UNAMA's report detailed instances of torture, including electric shocks, inflicted by the Taliban.

A subsequent UNAMA report in September raised concerns over torture in facilities managed by the Taliban's intelligence agency and interior ministry. Despite documented cases of torture, Badr refuted these claims.

Human rights groups have criticized the Taliban's prison system, highlighting detainees' lack of access to fair trials and legal representation.

After declaring a general amnesty in 2021, the Taliban have continued arresting former government staff, military personnel, women's rights activists, journalists, and university professors on various allegations.