Taliban Leader Prohibits Human Appearances On TV Broadcasts In Kandahar

Xiaoyong said that the United States should take responsibility for the reconstruction of Afghanistan, unfreeze Afghanistan’s assets and lift sanctions.

He also called for more humanitarian aid and moderate governance, along with providing educational opportunities for women and girls.

The Chinese envoy emphasised that his country is ready to work with the United Nations and regional partners, especially during the meeting of foreign ministers of Afghanistan's neighbouring countries, and other regional platforms to enhance engagement with the Taliban.

Xiaoyong said that the Doha meeting provides a platform to reflect all concerns about Afghanistan to ensure that the country does not become a hotbed of terrorist activities and that "it has inclusive institutions.”

The Doha meeting on Afghanistan was hosted by Antonio Guterres, the Secretary General of the United Nations, on February 18 and 19 with the participation of at least 25 countries and international organisations.

The representatives of the Taliban were not present in this meeting. However, five members of the civil society, including three women, were present on behalf of Afghanistan.

Amiri added that the representatives of the Afghan civil society also asked the world to consider the deteriorating situation of women in the country.

On her X social media platform, she wrote, "The meeting reinforced that the international community remains largely united and committed to supporting the Afghan people and their struggle for economic stability, security, and respect for their rights, particularly addressing the plight of Afghan women and girls.”

The Doha meeting on Afghanistan was hosted by Antonio Guterres, the Secretary General of the United Nations, on February 18 and 19.

Following this meeting, the Secretary-General of the United Nations said in a press conference that the condition of women in Afghanistan has deteriorated. Additionally, he highlighted that the matter of addressing terrorist sanctuaries remains unresolved, and there has been no establishment of an inclusive government in the country.

Thomas West, the US Special Representative for Afghanistan, was one of the other members of the US delegation at the Doha meeting.

After the meeting, he said that the United States called on the United Nations to provide a road map for Afghanistan's full integration into the international system.

He said that China backs Turkmenistan’s claim to hold the fifth meeting of the foreign ministers of Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries in 2024.

The Chinese special envoy wrote on X social media platform on Friday that they are enhancing their joint effort to help the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

The fourth meeting of the foreign ministers of Afghanistan's neighbouring countries had been held in Uzbekistan. Foreign ministers and representatives from Iran, China, Russia, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan attended the meeting.

One of the objectives of these meetings is to address and find solutions to Afghanistan's political challenges through diplomatic discussions among the neighbouring nations.

Achakzai criticised the description of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border as an "imaginary line" as nonsensical.

During a discussion on Friday, he labeled the boundary between Afghanistan and Pakistan as a formally recognised and official international border.

He further clarified that Pakistan harbours no disputes with the Taliban on this issue, remarking, "If anyone harbours the foolish illusion that this border is imaginary, it remains merely a dream."

Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, the Taliban's Deputy Foreign Minister, had previously declared the absence of an official border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, instead referred to the Durand Line as an "imaginary line”.

Stanikzai firmly stated the group's refusal to acknowledge the "imaginary" Durand Line as the legitimate frontier between the two nations.

Responding to Stanikzai's comments, Achakzai dismissed them as manipulative and possibly influenced by external forces such as India.

"The Taliban has not formally presented their stance on this issue to Pakistan. If Taliban figures like Stanikzai have made such statements, I personally suspect they might be instigated by India or other entities," stated Achakzai.

The Balochistan Information Minister underscored the Taliban's attempts to deflect public attention from the challenges of unemployment, poverty, and migration.

Achakzai suggested that some government’s politicians, driven by internal necessities and aiming to shift public focus from pressing domestic issues, may seek a scapegoat, thereby straining ties with neighbours. Thus, he interpreted a senior Taliban official's populist claims as an effort to shift public scrutiny toward Pakistan and rally support.

The designation of the border as "imaginary" gained traction during Hamid Karzai's presidency when he instructed government bodies to refer to the Durand Line as such.

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.