Kabul University Attack Operative Involved In Kerman Terrorist Attacks

The ministry revealed that Mohammad Adel Aref, alias Aref Panjshiri, implicated in the 2020 Kabul University attack, had infiltrated Tehran and was under surveillance.

A Friday statement from the ministry detailed the arrest of numerous individuals linked to the Kerman attack, among them were key ISIS members. The ministry noted the arrest of foreign nationals, although their specific nationalities remain undisclosed.

Death of two ISIS members

The Intelligence Ministry reported that two ISIS members, intent on executing further operations post the lethal Kerman blasts, were encircled and neutralised by Iranian security forces in Kerman. Identified as foreigners, these individuals had plotted a dual-phase assault, initially targeting a law enforcement facility followed by an explosive trap for backup forces.

Detention of ISIS members

Details on some of the apprehended ISIS-Khorasan key members were provided. Mohammad Imran Tanveer, known as Abu Imran and a bomb-making expert, joined ISIS around eight years ago. Having operated in various countries, he ascended to a leadership position in ISIS.

Another captured individual, Mahtab (male), had infiltrated Iran under the guise of a labourer.

A senior ISIS-Khorasan figure, alongside four team members, was also apprehended. This individual, unnamed in the statement, served as a primary link to Abdul Hakim Towhidi, the ISIS operations lead.

The ministry also announced the detention of a fourth person planning a terrorist act near a shrine in the outskirts of Mashhad. Details about this individual were not disclosed.

However, the ministry's prime target, Mohammad Adel Aref, alias Aref Panjshiri, remains at large. Aref, directly linked to Abdul Hakim Towhidi, was previously imprisoned in Bagram for orchestrating a suicide attack at Kabul University, but was released and returned to criminal activities. Several of Aref's associates, all ISIS members, have been located and detained, with ongoing efforts to capture Aref.

Traders said that Chaman, Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Angoor Ada and Kharlachi border crossings are currently closed.

Junaid Ismail Makda, the head of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI), expressed concern, stating that the closure of these crossings will cause significant losses to the traders.

He emphasised that traders are worried about the perishable goods ferried by trucks due to the ongoing situation.

He emphasised that the current circumstance is affecting bilateral trade and also highlighted the uncertainty stemming from the cessation of trade with Central Asian states due to the closure of key border crossing points.

Ismail said that if the closure of these five crossings persists, Pakistan's economic stability will encounter a significant challenge. Urging the responsible authorities, he called for a swift resolution of this issue, stressing on the potential risk to trade relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Torkham crossing was closed to trucks on January 13.

Taliban officials said that this key crossing was closed due to a disagreement over the visas and passports of Afghan drivers.

The Taliban-controlled Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA) reported, citing Noor Mohammad Hanif, the Taliban's head of the information and culture administration in Nangarhar, that Torkham border crossing was closed for transit by Pakistan.

He stated that in response to Pakistan's actions, the Taliban is now requesting passports and visas from Pakistani truck drivers.

Now, a week after this event, Ismail Makda says that not only the Torkham crossing is closed, but Chaman, Ghulam Khan, Angoor Ada and Kharlachi crossings are also closed to trucks.

The message refers to ongoing protests against Taliban policies and orders the group's forces to quell these dissentions.

Mullah Hibatullah stressed the importance of unity within the group, asserting that internal discord could lead to the collapse of the Taliban regime. He advised members and supportive clerics to avoid discussing divisive issues.

The exact date and location of this speech are not confirmed. This audio was shared on social media by Hedayatullah Hedayat, deputy of the Taliban-controlled national radio and television, who claimed it was from a recent Wednesday.

Several Afghan media outlets have also broadcast excerpts from this message.

In the recording, Mullah Hibatullah states, "No one should ignore the Emirate's [Taliban's] decrees. Opposition to these decrees must not be permitted." He encouraged Taliban members to highlight only the positive aspects of the group's orders and directives, cautioning that negative aspects could be exploited by adversaries.

He specifically prohibited the public expression of criticism against Taliban policies, instructing, "If there are objections to the Emirate, avoid publicly discussing the Emirate's faults."

There have been prior reports of internal disagreements among senior Taliban officials over policies such as the ban on girls' education, which has further isolated the regime. Notably, certain high-ranking Taliban figures have reportedly challenged these policies.

Hibatullah Akhundzada also referred to Western support for a democratically elected government in Afghanistan, criticising such influences. He asserted that the world attempts to turn people against Sharia by promoting democracy and stressed that the group members should advocate for Sharia, as Western influence has corrupted people's minds for the past century.

He reaffirmed his belief that all decisions and actions of the Taliban are beneficial to the Afghan populace.

During his visit to Islamabad, Qomi stated that the stability and security of the broader region is closely tied to the situation in Afghanistan.

Qomi led a delegation to Pakistan this week and met Pakistan's Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani and Special Representative for Afghanistan Asif Durrani. As the head of Iran's embassy in Kabul, Qomi spoke about these discussions, emphasising on the need for actionable regional cooperation.

He confirmed the agreement to form a regional contact group, urging countries with a stake in Afghanistan to play a more proactive role in improving the country's conditions.

At the latest Moscow Format meeting in October, Iran proposed establishing this contact group. In an interview with IRIB News Agency, Qomi addressed the misuse of Afghanistan's geographic location by external forces, advocating for regional collaborations to aid Afghanistan.

India, aligning with Iran's proposal, has also shown support for the contact group. Regional countries continue to express their concerns about terrorist organisations operating in Afghanistan and are concurrently working to encourage the Taliban towards forming an inclusive government with other political entities.

In a statement to Afghanistan International, Zadran dismissed reports from some media outlets linked to Pakistan, which suggested that the Taliban had delegated the security of provinces bordering Iran to Jaish al-Adl, as unfounded.

Zadran's comments were a direct response to assertions by Pakistani journalist Hamed Mir. In a social media post, Mir claimed, "The Afghan Taliban and Jaish al-Adl are closely allied." He alleged that the Taliban had assigned the responsibility for Nimroz, Farah, and Herat provinces in Afghanistan to Jaish al-Adl.

Mir also insinuated that Jaish al-Adl plays a role in assaults against Pakistani security forces.

'Jomhuri-e Eslami', an Iranian newspaper, previously published an article alleging that Jaish al-Adl had established bases in Afghanistan with the Taliban's support. The paper suggested that with the Taliban's "logistical and political backing," it was foreseeable that Jaish al-Adl would initiate hostile actions.

In another piece, 'Jomhuri-e Eslami' claimed that the Taliban had designated three Iranian separatists as security chiefs in the provinces adjoining Iran. These officials were named as Mawlawi Towhidi in Herat, Ziaei in Farah, and Abdul Malik Malazadeh in Nimroz.

Mohammad Hossein Jafarian, a prominent Iranian journalist, in an exclusive interview with Afghanistan International, reiterated similar allegations.