Taliban-Iran Engagement Is Mutually Beneficial, Says Group’s Deputy Foreign Minister

Mohammadi, who resides in Germany and was in Iran for business, has been denied departure on two separate attempts to return to Germany.

The reasons for the imposition of the travel ban remain undisclosed, as Iranian authorities are yet to make a statement on the matter.

This incident occurs amidst the backdrop of Iran's close ties with the Taliban, highlighted by the transfer of control of the Afghan embassy in Tehran to the group.

The front stated that four Taliban members had been killed and three others were injured in this operation.

The Afghanistan Freedom Front declared on Sunday that its guerrillas launched "an operation" against the Taliban’s center.

AFF reported that Taliban forces stationed at this station had harassed and tormented the local people by conducting search operations at homes over the past week.

Over the past recent months, the front has repeatedly attacked Taliban bases and outposts, killing several members of the Taliban forces.

The Taliban’s Ministry of Interior stated that these individuals had been imprisoned at Guantanamo for 14 years.

Abdul Matin Qane, a spokesperson for the Taliban Ministry of Interior, announced on Sunday that these two individuals had also been "under surveillance" in Oman for seven years.

Prisoner Identities

According to the spokesperson for the Taliban’s Ministry of Interior, Mullah Abdul Ghafar Saber is from Logar province. He was arrested by American soldiers in May 2002 and transferred from Bagram to Guantanamo four months later.

It has been reported that Saber was transferred from Guantanamo to Oman in January 2017 and was under surveillance in this country without travel permission for seven years.

Qane stated that the return of these two individuals was the result of the Taliban's efforts.

According to information released by the Taliban’s Ministry of Interior, the second individual, Abdul Karim, is a native of the Tanai district in Khost province. This Taliban member had been arrested by Pakistani security forces in August 2002 and handed over to the Americans after several months.

Abdul Karim was transferred to Guantanamo prison in early 2003 and, after 14 years, was released from this prison and transferred to Oman. Abdul Karim, too, has been "under surveillance" in Oman without travel permission for the past seven years.

Following the international coalition's attack on Afghanistan led by the USA in October 2001, many Taliban members were arrested and transferred to Guantanamo prison.

Since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban have consistently released news about the release of their members from American prisons.

The group previously announced the release of Bashar Noorzai, a major drug trafficker and a figure close to the Taliban leadership, from a prison in the USA.

Earlier, Asadullah Haroon, a Taliban member, was also released from Guantanamo prison after 15 years.

The Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA) quoted Shuja, as stating that these individuals lacked a valid residence permit.

In a report on Saturday, ILNA wrote that these immigrants were deported through the Dogharoun border and handed over to the Taliban representative.

The border guard commander of Khorasan Razavi province emphasised that Afghans are required to enter Iran through official and legal entry points. Otherwise, decisive measures will be taken against those who attempt unauthorised entry.

Aiki said that there are challenges that not only Tajikistan, but most of the countries are facing.

He added that Japan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are collectively working on the successful implementation of various projects in Tajikistan, including the "border management" project, with support from the government of Tajikistan.

According to the Japanese diplomat, the objective of this project extends beyond fortifying the secure and open borders between Tajikistan and Afghanistan; it also emphasises on promoting cross-border trade.

According to the UNDP, the "Border Management" project was initiated in 2015, and the third phase commenced in 2023, with an extension planned until 2025.

UNDP added that the training programmes for border guards and customs officers of Tajikistan have proven to be instrumental.

UNDP said that it aims to expand national capacities in preventing extremism in Central Asia with financial support from the Japanese government.