Uzbek President Asks Putin To Participate In Afghan-Trans Railway Project

Eyewitnesses said that the Taliban forced the two individuals to lie on the ground and shot eight bullets at each individual through their spine.

They stated that the Taliban forces executed these two individuals at the football field in Ali Baba village in the capital of Ghazni province while imposing strict security measures. According to them, the people who gathered in the field passed through several security checkpoints, and "dozens of Taliban members" were standing in each row among the people in the stadium.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court of the Taliban announced that with the approval of Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the group, two men were executed on charges of murder at a stadium in Ghazni.

The Taliban court disclosed the identities of the individuals as Sayed Jamal and Gul Khan.

The Taliban claimed that Sayed Jamal had killed a person named Amir Mohammad seven years ago, and Gul Khan had killed a person named Mohammad Qasim five years ago in Ghazni province. According to the Taliban, both murders were carried out with a knife.

In the statement by the Taliban, it has been stated that the death sentence of these two defendants was confirmed by the preliminary, intermediate, and final courts of the Taliban, and then Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of this group, reviewed and confirmed this sentence.

The execution took place despite concerns raised by human rights institutions which state that the Taliban courts do not adhere to fair trial standards.

In a research report, the human rights organisation, Rawadari highlighted issues such as discriminatory decisions, instances of torture, coerced confessions from the accused, lack of independence and impartiality, and violations of the principle of acquittal within Taliban courts.

The Taliban in Ghazni province urged residents to gather at the Ali Baba village football stadium to witness the execution of these two men.

As per the Taliban's announcement, several high-ranking officials of the group, including judges, had travelled to Ghazni to be present for the execution.

They underscored that a comprehensive resolution to Afghanistan's enduring crisis necessitates the active participation of all stakeholders.

The joint statement issued by the National Resistance Front, Islamic Unity Party, Afghanistan Freedom Front, and various Afghan women's protest movements, lamented the Doha meeting's failure to delve into Afghanistan's profound, decades-long issues.

They pointed out that the meeting neglected critical concerns such as human rights, poverty, gender discrimination, and the plight of forced migrants, accusing the Taliban of flouting fundamental human and civil rights.

Addressing UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the special representatives who participated in the Doha meeting, these groups emphasised on Afghanistan's core challenge: reclaiming the citizens' rights to self-determination and human rights, which they claim have been seized by "the clutches of terrorism.”

Released by the National Resistance Front on Wednesday, their statement highlighted the necessity for the UN's acknowledgment that resolving Afghanistan's crisis demands constructive dialogues with all parties involved.

They also criticised the second Doha meeting for its exclusion of Afghan political and societal representatives, which they believe is a critical given the country's diverse ethnic and cultural fabric.

Furthermore, the National Resistance Front and women's protest groups urged the UN Secretary-General to appoint a special representative focused on fostering a democratic, people-centred political framework reflective of the Afghan populace's aspirations. They advocated for a nominee well-versed in Afghan affairs, adhering to neutrality, and capable of independent action in their mandate.

The statement also warned that an exclusive reliance on the Taliban for addressing the current crisis, the appointment of a new UN special representative, and governance could stymie the political process, thereby broadening the range of alternative solutions outside the conventional political discourse.

Despite the Taliban's formal invitation to the Doha conference by the United Nations, the meeting conspicuously lacked participation from any Taliban opposition groups, with the exception of five civil society members, during its proceedings on February 18 and 19.

This statement came in response to Taliban’s Deputy Foreign Minister’s comments regarding the Durand Line.

Afghanistan is the only country in the world that does not recognise its border with Pakistan. Abbas Stanikzai, Taliban’s deputy foreign minister, had said that the Taliban does not recognise the Durand Line as the official border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, like the previous governments.

In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan called Abbas Stanikzai’s statements "self-serving and fanciful".

However, Stanikzai’s statement had been welcomed by Hanif Atmar, the former foreign minister of Afghanistan. On February 17, Atmar wrote on X social media platform that despite the differences with the Taliban, he agrees with the statements of this Taliban official and that Stanikzai is not alone in his national stance.

18,000 Special Immigrant Visas

Meanwhile, on another issue, Miller told Marzia Hosseini, a reporter of Afghanistan International, that last year the US government approved more than 18,000 Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) to Afghan applicants outside the US.

He said that this number has been the highest in any single year.

The spokesperson of the State Department once again asked the US Congress to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act.

Qomi highlighted that during the discussions in Doha, UN Secretary-General António Guterres acknowledged the critical role of regional nations in addressing Afghan matters.

In an interview with the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on Wednesday, Kazemi Qomi, who also serves as the Islamic Republic's ambassador in Kabul, elaborated on the qualifications for the new UN envoy.

He underscored the necessity for the appointee to originate from an area deeply connected and cooperative with Afghanistan, reflecting a consensus on the importance of regional engagement in Guterres' summarisation of the meeting.

Iran's special representative stressed on the pivotal role of neighbouring countries in fostering stability and security within Afghanistan.

He noted the Doha meeting's efforts to galvanise international support for the UN's regional initiative, tackling critical issues such as terrorism, migration, narcotics, border security, and the pursuit of a political consensus.

The Doha conference which concluded on Monday, did not see the participation of Taliban representatives and witnessed Iranian and Russian delegates abstaining from meeting with Afghan civil society and women's groups at the Taliban's behest.

Previously criticised by Iran's national broadcaster as "fruitless," the Doha meeting was defended by Secretary-General Guterres, who argued that the Taliban's non-participation did not detract from the meeting's efficacy, asserting the productive nature of the discussions held.

Zakharova called the two-day United Nations meeting on Afghanistan in Doha a "failure”.

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson added that no decision was made regarding the previously announced UN plans to establish a special envoy post and a "small contact group" for Afghanistan.

She emphasised that such an issue was placed on the agenda without proper explanation.

Zakharova added that the inclusion of extra-regional parties is only possible on the condition that the USA and NATO take primary responsibility for the current situation in Afghanistan and the country's post-war reconstruction and return the frozen assets to Kabul.

The spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the Russian delegation conducted numerous discussions with representatives from China, Iran, and Pakistan on the sidelines of the Doha meeting, emphasising Russia's solidarity in strengthening regional cooperation.

Zakharova added that the Russian side refrained from contacting Afghan representatives at this meeting as a sign of solidarity.

The second United Nations meeting on Afghanistan was held on Sunday and Monday, hosted by Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in Qatar.

Russian and Iranian special representatives refrained from meeting with five representatives of the Afghan civil society at the Doha meeting upon the request of the Taliban's Foreign Ministry.