Taliban Enforces Capital Punishment At Jowzjan Stadium

Kandahar National Television revealed a new policy which prohibits any human appearances on television broadcasts.

This directive comes close on the heels of a similar order issued by Mullah Shirin, the Taliban-appointed governor of Kandahar. He mandated that all government entities and local residents should avoid capturing and disseminating images or videos featuring living beings.

Further discussions with the Pashto section of Afghanistan International revealed that the Taliban's top leader has extended this ban to include video interviews with media outlets, indicating a significant shift in the group's media engagement strategy.

A reliable source disclosed, "Sheikh Sahib (Hibatullah Akhundzada) expresses frustration over the unnecessary media exposure and video interviews conducted by some ministers."

In response to these developments, it was noted that future media reports in Kandahar would exclude images and videos of living creatures.

Anonymous informants hinted at Akhundzada's intentions to implement these restrictions across additional provinces, signalling a broader enforcement of media control.

Afghanistan National Television in Kabul has reported unverified claims regarding the potential expansion of these image and video publication bans.

An impending meeting scheduled for next Tuesday between Taliban officials and media representatives is expected to clarify the scope of these new prohibitions.

Recent practices include publishing interviews with Taliban officials, such as Khalid Hanafi, the Minister of Vice and Virtue, in an audio format only, avoiding any visual content.

The group has also resorted to using archival images for publicising events, such as the Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi's visit to Turkmenistan, avoiding the release of current photos or videos.

Recalling their initial reign from 1996 to 2001, the Taliban had imposed a strict ban on photography, filming, and television viewing, categorising these activities, along with music and the depiction of living beings, as un-Islamic.

Despite these historical restrictions, since reclaiming power in August 2021, the Taliban has not reinstated a complete ban on visual media, utilising it instead for widespread propaganda dissemination.

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.