National Resistance Front Welcomes US Congressional Leader's Call for Dialogue

During a meeting in Kabul with Zhao Xing, the Chinese ambassador, Muttaqi declared that Afghanistan is not engaged in war and therefore, does not need an "extra" UN representative.

The Taliban's Foreign Ministry had previously criticised the idea of appointing a UN special envoy for Afghanistan and called it as “unnecessary”.

This stance came after the adoption of a new resolution by the UN Security Council, which was passed with 13 affirmative votes, and abstentions from Russia and China, requesting the UN Secretary-General to nominate a special envoy for Afghanistan.

Abdul Qahar Balkhi, a spokesperson for the Taliban's Foreign Ministry, reported on Muttaqi's discussions with the Chinese ambassador, covering bilateral ties, regional concerns, and China's humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. Muttaqi positively evaluated the relationship with China and acknowledged Beijing's backing of the group in both regional and global arenas.

Balkhi noted that the Chinese ambassador called for a "long-term friendship with Afghanistan," grounded in the principles of Chinese foreign policy, and stressed on the importance of mutual benefits. The ambassador pledged 100 million Chinese yuan in aid to Afghan returnees.

China is among the few nations that have fostered close relations with the Taliban following their ascent to power, having signed various agreements in the Afghan mining sector.

The UK's Deputy Foreign Secretary had previously confirmed regular dialogues between British officials and the Taliban.

The Taliban’s statement also said that UK is aiming to resolve prevailing “misunderstandings”.

At the Sapidar Palace in Kabul on Thursday, Mullah Abdul Kabir, the Taliban's Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs, met Robert Dickson, the UK Chargé d'Affaires.

The Taliban's narrative of this engagement highlighted Mullah Abdul Kabir's portrayal of UK-Afghanistan relations as cordial, underscoring the Taliban's eagerness for constructive interactions with Britain.

In a statement, the Taliban said that Mullah Abdul Kabir urged the UK diplomat to accurately represent Afghanistan's situation to the global community and to maintain meaningful engagement with the Taliban.

The Taliban said that echoing these sentiments, the UK Chargé d'Affaires spoke of Britain's endeavours to integrate Afghanistan into the international arena. He stressed on the necessity of continuous political dialogue and contact for effective global involvement with Afghanistan.

In an exclusive interview with Aref Yaqubi of Afghanistan International, McCaul mentioned discussions with other groups advocating the end of the Taliban regime.

McCaul said, “We can try to change Taliban's behaviour, but we don’t want to bribe them. I would like to talk to the remaining active and living leaders of the Northern Alliance."

He added that the US wants to ensure that Afghanistan does not become a threat to the country and the Western world as it did in the past. McCaul emphasised that every possible tool would be used to achieve this goal.

McCaul expressed his desire for the swift end of the Taliban regime. He said that it’s tragic that most Afghans have to live under the Taliban’s cruel rule.

As Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, McCaul also advocated for women's rights in Afghanistan.

This seems to be the first time a US Congressional official has explicitly spoken about engaging with Taliban’s opponents.

Since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, at least two military fronts, Afghanistan Freedom Front and National Resistance Front, have been actively opposing the Taliban government. These fronts occasionally report guerrilla attacks against Taliban forces and outposts. However, anti-Taliban fronts are yet to secure any international support.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Meeting on Afghanistan

The House Foreign Affairs Committee held a bipartisan meeting on Thursday on Afghanistan, attended by both Republican and Democratic lawmakers.

US representatives in Afghan affairs and the Deputy Administrator for the US Agency for International Development answered lawmakers' questions during this meeting.

In the meeting, McCaul stated that the Taliban is a terrorist group, but the Biden administration is trying to remove them from the terror list.

McCaul mentioned that Afghan women are not allowed to leave their homes without men, and the Taliban has deprived girls of education. He also noted that the Taliban provides sanctuary to the al-Qaeda and that American equipment left in Afghanistan is now being sold to terrorist groups.

He revealed that Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s Interior Minister, had given refuge to Ayman al-Zawahiri, the former al-Qaeda leader.

Since January 1, UNAMA has observed hijab decree enforcement campaigns in Kabul and Daikundi provinces, conducted by the group’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice and the Taliban’s police.

According to UNAMA, in Kabul, numerous women and girls have been warned and detained. Similar detentions have been reported in Nili City, Daikundi province.

In a statement issued on Thursday, UNAMA stressed that the agency is investigating allegations of ill-treatment and incommunicado detention of detainees, from the religious and ethnic minority communities, who are seemingly disproportionately affected.

UNAMA stressed that to secure release, a male guardian (mahram) must sign a letter guaranteeing future compliance, failing which they face punishment. Reports of demands for payment in exchange for release are also being probed by UNAMA.

Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNAMA, stated, “Physical violence in enforcement measures is particularly demeaning and dangerous for Afghan women and girls.”

“Detentions create significant stigma, increasing risk for Afghan women and undermining public trust,” added Otunbayeva.

UNAMA expressed concerns that the ongoing crackdown is leading to greater isolation of Afghan women due to fear of arbitrary arrest and fostering an environment where men enforce repressive measures at home.

The mission has discussed these issues with the Taliban authorities, including the group’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, and has called for the immediate release of those detained.

UNAMA reminded the Taliban that Afghanistan remains a party to seven key international human rights instruments. United Nations Security Council Resolution 2681 (2023) also urged the group to reverse policies restricting women and girls' human rights and fundamental freedoms.

An eyewitness recounted how some people were assaulted and apprehended by the Taliban, who also seized their phones.

Another eyewitness expressed their inability to photograph or record the aftermath of the blast due to the Taliban's threats, stating, "I couldn’t take pictures or videos because of the threats from the Taliban."

The explosion occurred on Thursday afternoon in the Darwaze Balkh area of the city's District 4. As of now, details about the explosion's cause and possible casualties remain unknown.

This blast in Mazar-i-Sharif is one of three explosions reported in Afghan cities on the same day, with earlier incidents in Kabul's Khairkhana and Dasht-e Barchi areas.

Since their ascent to power in 2021, the Taliban have enforced stringent restrictions on public and media access to information. Officials from hospitals and health centres are refraining from releasing casualty data following such incidents, citing Taliban threats for withholding information.