Pakistan's Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Party Leader Links Election Defeat To Taliban Support

Andrei Serdyukov, Chief of CSTO Joint Staff, added that the training camps of these groups have expanded in northern Afghanistan.

The Russian news agency, TASS, reported that Serdyukov made these remarks during a press conference on Wednesday.

"The main threat to the stability in Central Asia comes from international terrorist and extremist organisations, namely the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda and others," Serdyukov said.

He also added that in particular, an increase in the number of fighters of ISIS and TTP has been recorded near the southern border of Tajikistan.

According to him, the increase in the flow of immigration due to the suppression of ethnic and religious minorities along with the economic crisis in Afghanistan may contribute to the deterioration of the situation.

This CSTO official also stated that uncontrolled drug trafficking and illegal distribution of weapons had a negative impact on the crime situation in the region.

Recently, the United Nations Security Council had published a report which stated that the Taliban's relationship with Al-Qaeda is still close. It stated that Al-Qaeda has established four bases in Ghazni, Laghman, Parwan and Uruzgan provinces.

This report was denied by the Taliban.

The Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) is a military alliance comprising six member countries: Russia, Tajikistan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. It was established in 1992, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Hassan Kazemi Qomi, while not providing specifics about these conditions, highlighted that dialogue with the Taliban could facilitate the achievement of peace in Afghanistan.

He noted on the social media platform X on Wednesday, "Should the approach of the regional contact group be embraced by others and engagement with the Taliban pursued, we anticipate encountering a stable Afghanistan."

Kazemi Qomi underlined the importance of determining the seriousness with which the objectives of the Doha meeting are regarded. He articulated that the conference offers an excellent chance to establish a just route for interactions with the Taliban.

The Taliban had previously expressed opposition to the appointment of the UN's new representative for Afghanistan, advocating for a "meaningful" role in the Doha discussions. They have indicated that their decision to participate will depend on further clarifications about the meeting provided by the UN, which is organising the event.

The Taliban had sought his extradition from the Iranian authorities to bring him back to Afghanistan.

Mohammadi shared in his communication that he is expected to reach his residence in Germany by Wednesday. He showed appreciation for the support from the public and the media's attention to his travel restrictions. However, Mohammadi noted his current unpreparedness for extensive dialogue owing to the prevailing conditions.

Previously, Mohammadi disclosed to Afghanistan International that he was under a travel ban by the Iranian government, which had twice thwarted his attempts to depart for Germany.

Residing in Germany, Mohammadi explained that his business endeavours were the reason behind his visit to Iran.

Jalali highlighted the group's intention to secure "responsible representation" at international forums.

Ahead of the Doha meeting, the Taliban expressed opposition to the appointment of a new UN envoy for Afghanistan, advocating for a "meaningful" involvement of their delegates.

Jalali, on Wednesday, shared via the X social media platform that the Taliban is in favour of "meaningful" and continuous participation in dialogues with the United Nations, aiming for the initiation of "high-level and transparent" conversations between the two parties.

According to the Taliban's Foreign Ministry advisor, the Doha meeting presents a valuable chance, assuming proper management.

With the UN's Afghanistan-focused meeting in Qatar drawing near, Feridun Sinirlioğlu, the Special Coordinator for Afghanistan from the UN, has had two meetings with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Foreign Minister of the Taliban.

Scheduled by the UN Secretary-General, this meeting anticipates attendance from representatives across 20 countries. Yet, specifics regarding the involvement of women and Taliban opponents remain unclear.

Dujarric added that ethnic and religious minorities appear to be disproportionately impacted by the Taliban’s crackdown.

During the press conference on Monday, he stated that UNAMA is looking into the allegations of ill treatment and incommunicado detention of women.

Previously, on January 22, UNAMA reported that the Taliban detained women and girls, predominately from Hazara-dominated areas in Dashte Barchi in western Kabul, and some from the Khair Khana area of Kabul, where most residents are Tajiks.

This UN official added that the isolation of women provides the environment for men “to enforce repressive oppression at home”.

In 2022, the Taliban ordered women to wear loose and long black clothes, preferably a burqa. The group warned that if they do not comply with the hijab rule, they will be punished, and their relatives will be imprisoned.

Earlier, the UNAMA in Kabul called the arbitrary detention and violence against Afghan women humiliating and dangerous.

Meanwhile, according to information shared with Afghanistan International, the Office of the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Afghanistan, as well as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have initiated investigations to determine the reasons behind the Taliban's detention of the girls and the methods employed in the process.