AFF Claims to Kill Two Taliban Members In Baghlan
The Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF), composed of ex-Afghan government security personnel, claimed responsibility for a guerrilla attack on a Taliban outpost in Baghlan province's Kiligai district.
The Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF), composed of ex-Afghan government security personnel, claimed responsibility for a guerrilla attack on a Taliban outpost in Baghlan province's Kiligai district.
According to AFF, the assault, which occurred Friday night, resulted in two Taliban fatalities and four injuries.
AFF circulated a video on the X social media platform to substantiate their claim. However, independent sources have yet to verify the attack and the reported casualties. As of now, Taliban officials have not released any official statements regarding the incident.
Over the past two years, AFF has actively engaged in armed resistance against the Taliban, launching various attacks across Afghanistan.
Khairullah Khairkhwa, Taliban’s Minister of Information and Culture, has said that the countries advocating for "inclusive government" in Afghanistan aim to appoint their "spies" and "accomplices".
According to Bakhtar news agency, controlled by the Taliban, Khairkhwa during a meeting in Kabul on Saturday said that the Taliban government is inclusive.
Following the takeover of power by the Taliban in August 2021, the international community has repeatedly emphasised on the formation of an inclusive government with the presence of all ethnic groups and political factions in Afghanistan.
The formation of an inclusive government is regarded as a key prerequisite by regional and global nations for the recognition of the Taliban.
Even Iran, which has close relations with the Taliban, has clearly stated that it will not recognise the Taliban until an inclusive government is formed in Afghanistan.
While Taliban officials have consistently stated that their government is inclusive and doesn’t require alterations, critics say that the majority of the Taliban cabinet members are predominantly Pashtuns and Sunnis.
Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, the Taliban's Minister for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, has accused the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) of issuing "one-sided and unrealistic" reports.
Speaking at a Kabul gathering, Hanafi demanded that UNAMA share its reports with the ministry before releasing them to the public.
UNAMA's recent report highlighted the Taliban's arbitrary detentions of a significant number of women in Kabul and Daikundi for not adhering to their enforced hijab rules. The report also raised concerns over alleged monetary demands for the release of detained girls.
The state-run Bakhtar News Agency conveyed Hanafi's call during the meeting for UNAMA to avoid publishing biased reports. Taliban’s spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid has previously denied claims of arbitrary detentions, asserting that their actions are lawful and adhere to Islamic Sharia.
As of now, UNAMA has not responded to these Taliban statements.
Advocates for freedom of expression have reported severe censorship imposed by the Taliban on Afghan media. Social media users have expressed concerns that such censorship is now extending to international bodies like the UN.
Since August 2021, one of UNAMA's key roles in Afghanistan has been managing humanitarian assistance and monitoring human rights conditions. However, it faces criticism for allegedly underreporting human rights violations by the Taliban, with activists accusing it of downplaying the Taliban's breach of human rights and promoting international engagement with the group.
Sources at Pakistan's Customs Department report that both Pakistan and the Taliban have enforced a ban on truck movements at the Torkham border crossing.
Initially, Pakistan restricted the entry of trucks with drivers lacking passports. Following this, the Taliban reciprocated by denying entry to Pakistani trucks into Afghanistan.
This mutual restriction has created significant disruptions along this vital trade route. According to sources, a lengthy queue of trucks has formed on both sides of the Torkham crossing since Saturday morning.
Local sources provided images to Afghanistan International showcasing trucks lined up and awaiting passage via the border.
Neither the Taliban nor Pakistani officials have yet made any public statements regarding the restriction on truck movements at Torkham.
Customs sources in Pakistan informed Afghanistan International that Pakistan required commercial vehicle drivers to have visas last year. However, drivers encountered difficulties in obtaining these visas. Following the ineffectiveness of the visa requirement, Pakistan imposed a new rule necessitating a "valid passport" for Afghan drivers. Yet, many of these drivers reportedly do not possess valid passports.
The Torkham border has experienced several closures since the Taliban's ascent to power. The most recent closure happened last month, reportedly after Taliban forces opposed the erection of a sign at the border's entrance, prompting Pakistani border guards to shut it down.
These closures have reportedly caused substantial financial losses to both Afghan and Pakistani traders.
Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA), controlled by the Taliban, reported that China expressed readiness to cooperate in eradicating polio in Afghanistan.
The media outlet mentioned that Li Ming, Deputy Director-General of the China International Development Cooperation Agency, discussed this matter during a meeting with Bilal Karimi, Taliban ambassador in Beijing.
According to RTA, Ming also spoke about China's cooperation with "Afghan immigrants".
Currently, Afghanistan and Pakistan stand as the only two countries in the world yet to eliminate polio.
The World Health Organisation has previously warned that the forced repatriation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan and the massive population movements could heighten the risk of polio spreading in Afghanistan.
Afghan citizens have expressed their concerns regarding the two explosions that occurred on Thursday and resulted in civilian casualties in Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif.
Tamim Asey, a former Deputy Minister of Defence, strongly criticised the Taliban's intelligence services.
He stated, "Rather than ensuring security, they are occupied with harassing innocent people." Asey also remarked that the Taliban's intelligence directorate has been unsuccessful in ensuring safety, and instead has been concentrating on arresting Afghan women and girls.
The Afghanistan Freedom Front, responding to the Western Kabul attack, condemned international and regional terrorist groups for perpetuating "the brutal slaughter of the Afghan people in collusion with the Taliban”.
The National Resistance Council for the Salvation of Afghanistan highlighted that the explosions in Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif starkly contradict the Taliban's security assurances, calling their claims a “lie”.
Former Foreign Minister Hanif Atmar described the attacks as politically motivated violence against innocent civilians not involved in any conflict. He urged the Afghan population and the international community to unite against this grievous crime and hold those responsible accountable.
Bismillah Taban, a former security official, alleged that the Taliban orchestrated attacks on civilians to distract public attention from their ongoing abduction and hostage-taking of women.
Aref Rahmani, a former member of the Afghan Parliament, characterised these recent attacks as an ongoing massacre of the Hazara community.
The explosions in Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif on Thursday have brought forth intense scrutiny. The Taliban police spokesperson in Kabul reported at least two fatalities and twelve injuries in the Dasht-e Barchi area. The state-controlled television, quoting Khalid Zadran, attributed the Kabul explosion to a hand grenade. However, eyewitness accounts provided to Afghanistan International suggest a higher casualty count than the Taliban's official figures.
As of now, the Taliban has not commented on the Mazar-i-Sharif explosion, and no group has yet claimed responsibility for either of the attacks.