No Communication From Taliban Regarding Group’s Stance On Durand Line, Says Pak Official

A "supporter of the Islamic Republic" had thrown him off the bridge thinking he had insulted the Iranian flag.

Mohammadi's family members report that in the early hours of February 9, a member of the Basij threw Elias Mohammadi, who was cleaning the street, off the Niayesh bridge in Tehran. He lost his life due to the fall and vehicles crossing over him.

In the two weeks following the incident, the Iranian government has been silent about the killing of Mohammadi. However, Iranian social media users have launched a campaign for Mohammadi.

One of Mohammadi's relatives, who did not want to be named, told Afghanistan International that it took a week for the victim’s family to receive the body and transfer it to Herat.

According to the source, Mohammadi's body was buried on Saturday in his hometown in Obe district of Herat province.

Having arrived in Iran six years ago, Mohammadi was working at a fruit shop in Tehran's 5th district during the day. Additionally, he worked with a municipal contractor company, cleaning the streets of the Iranian capital during the night.

A colleague of Mohammadi told the Iranian media, "We were working with the municipal contractor, cleaning the walls of the overpass on the night of the accident. Unexpectedly, a car pulled up in front of us. He abruptly exited the vehicle and approached us. Without any warning, he engaged in a confrontation with our colleague (Elias) and subsequently threw him off the bridge. We rushed towards him to prevent his escape, but the assailant threatened us, warning that he would do the same to us if we followed him. He, then, fled in a car with his accomplices."

Witnesses have said that several cars passed over the body of victim, who was lying on the highway.

Iranian media said that the arrested killer is a 25-year-old young man with a bachelor's degree. According to some sources, he is a member of Basij, supporting the Islamic Republic of Iran.

He told the media, "I was passing that road when suddenly I saw the victim and his friends. I imagined that they were going to steal the flags that were raised on the side of the highway. The flags were raised on the occasion of Anniversary of the Iranian Revolution, and I thought that the victim intended to insult the flags and wanted to destroy them."

He confirmed that he had reported to the police before attacking Elias Mohammadi, however, he said, "I could not sit still, got out of the car, and after fighting with the victim, I pushed him, and he fell down and died.”

Despite announcing the identity and nationality of the victim, the Taliban and the Afghan embassy in Tehran, which is under the control of the group, have not reacted to the news.

The NRF asked the United Nations to give the front an opportunity to present its concerns, suggestions and practical alternatives.

In its statement, the front emphasised that not listening to the majority of the oppressed Afghan people “will doom the United Nations plan to fail from the outset.”

The statement quoted Ahmad Massoud, the leader of NRF as saying, "All voices must be heard, not just those of the Taliban which comes with threats, intolerance, and violence.”

The Front stated that while it respects the right of the United Nations to discuss ways to help Afghanistan, the future of this country can only be decided by the people of Afghanistan, regardless of their ethnicity, gender, or religion.

NRF has welcomed the refusal of the United Nations to accept the "unreasonable" conditions of the Taliban to participate in the Doha meeting.

According to the front, until a framework of a level-playing field for fair political representation from Afghanistan is established in such meetings, the outcomes will continue to be questioned by the Afghan people.

NRF said that political forces are currently working on creating such a framework.

According to the statement, considering the views of all stakeholders, and prioritising the opinions of the political forces, women and the armed opposition of the Taliban, regarding establishing an inclusive government through democratic means, improving human rights, fighting against terrorism, and ending foreign geopolitical interventions in Afghanistan is necessary.

The front added that it welcomes the appointment of the United Nations Special Envoy for Afghanistan and at the same time, it expects that the process will be closely consulted with the opposition forces of the Taliban and other stakeholders.

A meeting convened by the Secretary General of the United Nations took place in Doha on February 18 and 19, where representatives from various countries were in attendance. The Taliban declined the invitation to participate, citing disagreement with the specified conditions. However, no invitations were extended to political opponents of the Taliban for this meeting.

He contended that the Taliban's propositions, which he described as aligned with "national interests," were unjustly disregarded by the United Nations.

The office of the Taliban's Prime Minister announced that Mawlawi Abdul Kabir shared these concerns during discussions with members of the Youth Council from 22 districts of Kabul.

The second Doha meeting, aimed at addressing Afghanistan's situation and hosted by the UN Secretary-General, drew representatives from more than 25 countries.

Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Foreign Minister of the Taliban, was initially slated to attend the meeting. However, his participation was ultimately revoked following UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' refusal to meet with him, thus barring the Taliban's senior diplomat from the event.

Despite the Taliban's insistence that no individual or group represent Afghanistan at this assembly, the United Nations did not accommodate this request. Instead, the UN invited a delegation comprising three women and two men from the Afghan civil society to partake in the discussions in Doha.

The organisation opposes all forms of execution as it violates the right to life. Amnesty International has described the Taliban's practice of public executions as a gross affront to human dignity.

The human rights organisation stated that the death penalty is a violation of international laws and standards and is intolerable.

Amnesty International has urged the Taliban to abolish the death penalty and other cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishments.

In a statement released on Friday, February 23, the organisation mentioned that public executions add to the inherent injustice of the death penalty and can only have an inhumane effect on the victim and a brutalising effect on those who witness the execution.

This statement was published a day after the Taliban's Supreme Court announced on Thursday, February 22, that two men were executed in a stadium in Ghazni province, with the approval of Hibatullah Akhundzada, the group's leader, on murder charges.

Eyewitnesses told Afghanistan International that the Taliban shot these two individuals at a stadium in the centre of Ghazni city.

Amnesty International supports the right to a fair trial for the accused and said that the violation of fair trial principles in Taliban courts is concerning.

The organisation stated that it is time for the international community and the United Nations to pressurise the Taliban for their blatant violation of human rights and ensure compliance with international laws in Afghanistan.

Previously, the United Nations had also opposed the death penalty and urged the Taliban to abolish execution sentences.

He added that the US is seeking a United Nations-led process to develop a roadmap for the full integration of Afghanistan into the international system.

West mentioned that the welfare of Afghans and the shared interests of the global community will guide this effort.

The US representative for Afghanistan wrote on X social media platform on Friday that there is a strong consensus on the collective benefits in Afghanistan.

West added that no country wants to see the emergence of a terrorism threat from Afghanistan and all desire the return of Afghan girls and women to schools, universities, and work.

The second Doha meeting on Afghanistan, hosted by António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, took place on February 18 and 19.

Following the meeting, the Secretary-General of the United Nations mentioned in a press conference that the situation of women in Afghanistan has worsened, the issue of combating terrorism sanctuaries remains unresolved, and an inclusive government has not been established.