Pakistan Rejects Senior Taliban Official’s Statement On Durand Line, Calls It Fanciful

The Taliban had previously asserted that Afghanistan does not pose a threat to any nation and questioned the necessity of such a plan.

In reaction to Iran's border closure initiative with Afghanistan, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid informed the press that any such measure should be founded on mutual agreement.

Mujahid further remarked that Afghanistan does not endanger the security of any nation, including Iran, and stated, "There is currently no need for such measures."

Countering the statements made by the Taliban spokesperson, the Iranian Army's Ground Forces commander said, "We have always respected the principle of good neighbourliness with all our geographical neighbours, and the Islamic Republic has never had the intention to threaten, invade, aggress upon, or occupy even an inch of neighbourly territories."

Heydari further mentioned, "It's a common practice for all countries to implement border closures according to their own strategies and plans, and no one has the right to question our actions near our border."

He underlined that it is the prerogative of the Islamic Republic to decide on measures for securing its borders and "thus, others cannot impose on us what actions we should take along our borders”.

The Ground Forces commander had previously announced that the initial phase of the Afghanistan-Iran border closure project, extending over 74 kilometres, is in progress.

Heydari has referred to this initiative as one of "Iran's most significant national projects”.

This military official from Iran disclosed that the initial phase of border sealing is being carried out through four construction operations, with fencing currently being erected and road construction set to commence subsequently.

Following the Taliban's ascension to power in Afghanistan, there have been multiple confrontations between Taliban forces and Iranian border guards in Iran's western regions.

Interviews with 745 women across Afghanistan's 34 provinces showed that nearly 67% view the recognition of the Taliban as a move that could exacerbate the women’s rights crisis and increase the risk that the group would reinforce and expand existing restrictions targeting women and girls.

According to the survey, 32% of respondents advocate for the Taliban's recognition only if all imposed restrictions on women are completely lifted.

The report details that 25% of the women are in favour of recognition after the removal of a quarter of the existing restrictions. However, 28% firmly believe that the Taliban should never be recognised under any conditions.

A separate survey conducted by UNAMA in July 2023 highlighted that an overwhelming 96% of women prefer that any recognition of the Taliban be contingent on significant improvements in the situation of women or not happen at all.

The United Nations has explicitly stated that the Taliban has introduced 50 laws targeting women's rights directly. Earlier women's protest groups claimed more than 80 such decrees issued by the Taliban.

The recent arbitrary detentions executed by the Taliban have instilled fear among women, many of whom now hesitate to leave their homes or venture onto the streets.

The study found that 57% of participants, accounting for more than half of the women surveyed, are afraid to exit their homes without a "mahram" (male family member), highlighting that each new Taliban decree exacerbates women's anxiety levels.

Remarkably, only 1% of the women surveyed believe they have a significant or complete influence on community-level decision-making.

The report further points out a drastic decline in women's participation in family decision-making, plummeting from 90% in 2023 to 32% by January 2024.

Afghan women have thus urged the international community against recognising the Taliban without first ensuring the removal of restrictions on women and girls. Additionally, the report notes women's expressed disillusionment with countries that pursue relations with the Taliban, disregarding the group's oppressive treatment of women.

Scheduled by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the second Doha meeting will take place on 18 and 19 February.

Similarly, the US Department of State has confirmed the participation of Thomas West and Rina Amiri as the American representatives.

The meeting is set to bring together special envoys from a range of countries and international organisations, focusing on the ongoing situation in Afghanistan.

The UN's earlier invitation to the Taliban has been met with caution, as the group awaits further details on the meeting's participants and objectives before confirming its attendance.

Acknowledging the critical role of Afghan women and civil society, the UN has extended invitations to their representatives for this meeting, though specifics on the invitees remain undisclosed.

Amidst these preparations, a wave of protest calls by Afghan citizens in various cities has emerged on social media, highlighting opposition to the Taliban's potential involvement in the meeting. Critics emphasise that the Taliban, facing allegations of severe human rights abuses and war crimes, should be addressed in international legal forums rather than political negotiations.

At the onset of this summit, leaders of the participating delegations engaged in discussions with the Kyrgyz President, as reported by media outlets in Kyrgyzstan and Russia.

Preliminary to the summit, there were strategic meetings among the security council secretaries and advisors from the countries involved.

Originating from a proposal by Tehran, this meeting marks the sixth iteration, taking place in different cities across the region. It serves as a platform for top security officials to deliberate on Afghanistan's pivotal security and political challenges and their broader impact on the region and its populace.

Details regarding the summit's discussions have been scant in media coverage.

According to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Ali Akbar Ahmadian, representing Ali Khamenei and acting as the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, articulated Iran's stance on the region's political and security matters. However, the report did not delve into the particulars of these positions.

RIA Novosti, a Russian news agency, earlier conveyed remarks by Nikolai Patrushev, the Russian Security Council's Secretary, indicating the presence of 20 terrorist groups with an estimated 23,000 militants in Afghanistan under the Taliban's dominion.

Patrushev highlighted the persistent issue of drug trafficking from Afghanistan to Central Asia, cautioning that narcotics, produced within Afghanistan, are expected to be smuggled from longstanding reserves to Central Asian territories shortly.

Voronkov, however, highlighted that ISIS remains a significant threat to international peace and security, particularly in areas of conflict.

In a report presented to the UN Security Council about ISIS activities in Afghanistan, Voronkov remarked, "According to reports, the Taliban's actions have impacted ISIS-K's ability to launch attacks inside Afghanistan."

Yet, it was also noted by UN experts that the Taliban continues its associations with the Al-Qaeda.

Despite these efforts, ISIS continues to launch attacks in Afghanistan, resulting in numerous casualties among Afghans, notably affecting the Hazara community in Kabul and Herat.

Voronkov pointed out the escalating threat of ISIS in the regions of West Africa and the Sahel, along with an increase in the group's assaults in its former bases in Iraq and Syria.

Natalia Gherman, Executive Director of the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee, mentioned that persistent challenges in the Middle East, as well as in Western and Central Asia, have spurred ISIS to reassert its presence in these areas.

UN experts last month indicated that despite defeats in Iraq in 2017 and Syria subsequently, ISIS still maintains a force of three to five thousand fighters in these nations. Although the frequency of attacks by the group in Iraq has lessened, their activities in Syria have surged since November.

Additionally, the head of the UN Office of Counterterrorism stated the presence of ISIS has diminished in countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt, and Mozambique.

He also elaborated on the international efforts to disrupt ISIS's financial networks, revealing that these measures have reduced the group's financial reserves to between $10 to $25 million from the several hundreds of millions it once had.

The Islamic State group, or ISIS, which branched off from Al-Qaeda over ten years ago, managed to attract substantial worldwide support and at one point controlled extensive territories in Iraq and Syria under the guise of the Islamic State.