Taliban Kills Former Afghan Special Forces Member, Claim Sources

He stated that the area has been surrounded by the group’s forces and investigation into the causes of the explosion is underway.

There are no further details available regarding the incident.

Earlier, there has been reports about the presence of ISIS in parts of Kunar province.

On January 5, sources had told Afghanistan International that ISIS fighters beheaded a man accused of spying for the Taliban in Chawkay district of Kunar province.

The Ministry of Higher Education of the Taliban announced the commencement of this "annual exam" on Saturday, which is scheduled to continue until Thursday, January 25.

Neda Mohammad Nadeem, the Taliban's Minister of Higher Education, visited the exam center in Balkh province on the first day of the exams, as reported by the ministry.

These examinations are being held at a time when the Taliban has, for the past two years, barred girls from participating in university entrance exams. Since their return to power, the group has imposed restrictions on education for girls above the sixth grade and has closed universities to female students.

Human Rights Watch has observed a marked decline in the quality of education in boys' schools under Taliban rule. The organization also noted an increase in the punishment of boys in schools within the current regime in Afghanistan.

The state-run IRNA news agency indicated that discussions focused on sharing Iran's judicial experiences with the Taliban. The talks covered the fight against terrorism and takfiri groups, and the proposal to establish a joint judicial committee to tackle these issues. They also discussed matters concerning the transfer of convicts and extradition of criminals between the two countries.

This visit occurs amidst international criticism of Iran's judicial system, which has been under scrutiny for human rights violations.

Photographs from the meeting also show the presence of Hassan Kazmi Qomi, Iran's special representative for Afghanistan affairs.

Gharibabadi's trip to Kabul reportedly came at the invitation of the head of the Taliban's judicial council. The Taliban, however, have not yet issued any official statements regarding the visit of the Iranian judicial official.

On Saturday, Mujahid claimed that the existing Taliban government already incorporates diverse elements, thereby rendering it inclusive. He stated that the Taliban has successfully ended “instability" in Afghanistan.

Mujahid called on other countries to avoid meddling in Afghanistan's "internal affairs," asserting that the Taliban similarly respects the sovereignty of other nations and refrains from intervening in their internal policies.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, during his annual press conference in Moscow, recognized the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, led by Ahmad Massoud, active in the country's northern areas. Lavrov stressed the need for dialogue between this front and the Taliban, advocating for a bridging of differences.

Lavrov also acknowledged notable Afghan politicians like Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah, suggesting that the Taliban should broaden its governance by including varied political forces. He emphasized the importance of forming a government representative of all ethnic groups in Afghanistan, though he conceded that achieving such inclusivity would be challenging.

This is despite the fact that the Taliban has refrained from publicly disclosing the receipt of these USD 40 million packages since mid 2023, in order to avoid criticism.

In a report released on Friday, SIGAR cited information from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), revealing that the funds are deposited into a designated account at a private bank under the auspices of the United Nations. According to UNAMA, these funds do not flow into the central bank, which is under the Taliban's control.

However, critics say that the Taliban maintains involvement in the allocation and utilisation of these funds.

Michael Rubin, the senior researcher of the American Enterprise Institute, recently compared the situation in Afghanistan under Taliban control to North Korea, where it is difficult for institutions, including banks, to act independently.

In July 2023, a reliable source in the Taliban-controlled Central Bank of Afghanistan confirmed to Afghanistan International that USD 40 million humanitarian aid packages are being sent to Kabul, but the Taliban are no longer reporting it to the media.

The Central Bank of Afghanistan, under Taliban control, last publicly disclosed on May 14, 2023, that a humanitarian aid package worth USD 40 million had been delivered to Kabul.

The source further emphasised that foreign organisations and aid groups continue to channel the necessary funds into Afghanistan, and there has been no change in the process.