On Sunday, the Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) reported the killing of a Taliban "armed preacher" and injuries to two other members of the group in an attack on Taliban’s propagation of virtue and prevention vice office in Pul Khumri, Baghlan.
The front stated that it attacked in retaliation to the Taliban administration's harassment and discrimination against women.
Taliban’s office for the propagation of virtue and prevention of vice is located in the building of the former provincial directorate of women's affairs in Baghlan province.
Following the takeover of power in 2021, the group replaced the Ministry of Women’s Affairs with the Ministry of Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.
The recent detention of women by the Taliban for not wearing the group’s desired hijab has sparked significant domestic and international condemnation.
Diplomatic sources informed Afghanistan International that Pakistani and Iranian officials are scheduled to hold a meeting in Islamabad on Sunday.
According to sources, both Islamabad and Tehran are worried about Afghan soil being used against their countries.
Sources told Afghanistan International that a high-ranking Iranian delegation headed by Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Iran’s special representative for Afghanistan, is set to arrive in Islamabad on Sunday.
According to sources, a delegation of three to four individuals, crucial in shaping Iran's policy towards Afghanistan, is scheduled to meet Asif Durrani, Pakistan's special representative for Afghanistan affairs, and Jalil Abbas Jilani, the interim foreign minister of Pakistan.
Diplomatic sources said that Pakistan and Iran are currently facing a similar situation regarding Afghanistan; although both countries have relatively good relations with the Taliban, however, they have reservations about Afghan soil being used against their countries.
Iranian officials said that Jaish ul-Adl used Tajik attackers in the recent deadly attack in Kerman. According to these officials, the perpetrators of this attack had entered Iran through Nimroz province of Afghanistan.
Sources said that Jaish ul-Adl and other opposition groups of the Iranian government are using Afghan soil. According to them, following the attack in Kerman city of Iran, Qomi had a meeting with Abdul Kabir, deputy prime minister of the Taliban.
Sources indicate that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), labeled as a terrorist group by Islamabad, is active in Afghanistan. With the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan, the activities of the Pakistani Taliban have escalated.
Sources said that the investigation into the attacks within Pakistan reveals that the attackers and the weapons employed can be traced back to Afghanistan.
The surge in violence in Pakistan has adversely affected Islamabad's relations with the Taliban in Kabul. Pakistani officials stated that the Taliban have taken no action to curb the activities of the Pakistani Taliban, including their attacks within Pakistan.
On the other hand, Islamabad has forcibly deported hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants from Pakistan, accusing Afghan nationals of being involved in recent acts of violence.
The Taliban in Afghanistan say that TTP is Pakistan's internal problem and has nothing to do with the group.
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.