Countries Asking For Inclusive Governments Aims To Appoint Spies, Says Taliban Minister

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ali Maisam Nazary, head of the Foreign Relations of NRF, expressed eagerness to strengthen their ties with friends of Afghanistan in the international community, especially the United States.

In a social media post on Friday, Nazary acknowledged the political and moral support the Front has received from "good friends in the US Congress" since August 2021. He emphasised the Front's keenness to enhance relationships with international partners committed to supporting Afghanistan's democratic aspirations.

Earlier, Michael McCaul, Chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed interest in dialogue with key figures opposing the Taliban, including Ahmad Massoud, the leader of the National Resistance Front.

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.