Taliban Praises Russia's Review To Delist It As Terrorist Organisation

According to the ministry, combating terrorism, extremism, separatism, and drug trafficking are among the focal points of this two-day meeting.

Kazakhstan's media reported that Iran would join this meeting for the first time as a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

The Islamic Republic News Agency also reported that Ali Akbar Ahmadian, the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, departed for Astana on Tuesday morning, at the invitation of his Kazakh counterpart to participate in the meeting of the secretaries of the National Security Councils of the SCO member countries.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, observer countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Mongolia, and Belarus were invited as guests to this meeting.

Aibek Smadiyarov, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, stated that as part of this meeting, discussions are expected on pressing international issues within the responsibility zone of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, including joint combat against terrorism, separatism, and extremism, illicit drug, and psychotropic substances trafficking.

Smadiyarov mentioned that fighting transnational organised crime, cooperation in international information security, and further interaction with the United Nations and regional security organisations like the Collective Security Treaty Organisation will be among the topics discussed at the meeting.

He added that at the end of this meeting, it is expected that the national security advisors of the SCO member countries will sign a document regarding joint approaches to further develop multilateral cooperation and focus on regional and international security.

In an interview with Afghanistan International, he stated that the Taliban only accept their own members and view others as either submissive or as having fled the country.

Speaking to Afghanistan International, he mentioned that the Taliban will not change and will remain as they are, considering the stance of this group's officials as "unpleasant”.

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar's son explained the recent conflicts between the Taliban and the leader of the Islamic Party, elucidating why Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, who had previously supported some of the Taliban's political positions, is now not favouring the group.

Hekmatyar added, "ISIS says only their way is right and principled. Anyone who follows my path is a heaven-dweller, and anyone who doesn't follow me is a hell-dweller. They have declared war against everyone."

The son of the former jihadi leader stated that the Taliban "call only themselves Muslims and consider others to be in error”.

Habib-ur-Rahman Hekmatyar has made harsh criticisms against the Taliban following the eviction of his father, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, from his residence by the Taliban's orders.

The Taliban claimed that the residence of the Islamic Party's leader was built on government land and he was not entitled to it.

Meanwhile, Zamir Kabulov, Russia's special representative for Afghanistan, has said that Moscow regularly cooperates with the Taliban in counterterrorism efforts.

According to TASS, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that the Ministry of Justice, Foreign Ministry, and other relevant agencies of the Russian government are actively examining the removal of Taliban from the list of terrorist organisations.

However, the ultimate decision on this matter will be made by the leadership of Russia.

Despite being classified as a banned terrorist organisation in Russia, Moscow maintains good relations with the Taliban and extends invitations to its officials to visit the country.

Kabulov told TASS news agency that the Taliban has been invited to attend the World Islamic Conference in Kazan city of Russia on May 14, 2024.

Russia is concerned about the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, which, according to Moscow, could threaten the security of Central Asian countries.

Previously, reports had been published regarding Russia's cooperation with the Taliban to combat ISIS, a group that carried out a bloody attack in Russia last week.

In a statement posted on X social media platform on Monday, the NRF reported that the attack occurred at 8:30pm in the ninth police district of Kabul city.

The Front accused Taliban members stationed at the checkpoint of consistent harassment and intimidation of local residents and passersby along the route.

Over the past few weeks, the NRF has consistently reported carrying out attacks on Taliban checkpoints and bases not only in Kabul, but also in several other provinces.

Despite these reports, the Taliban has not reacted to the claims made by the NRF.

These sources, on condition of anonymity, said that the girl "has been returned home," and investigations into the perpetrators of her abduction are ongoing.

On March 28, sources from Ghor province informed Afghanistan International that local Taliban officials forcibly took a 17-year-old girl from her home in Pasaband district and compelled her into a forced marriage with one of their members.

At least four separate sources from Ghor province confirmed that local Taliban officials in Noorak village of Pasaband district forcefully abducted a girl.

Sources sent a video to Afghanistan International and claimed that Khairullah Khairkhwa, the Pasaband district governor; Abdul Hamid Khalid, the police commander; Mohammad Moshfiq, the deputy intelligence officer, and Tohidi, the Taliban’s intelligence officer in Pasaband district, raided the house of this girl.

In the video sent by witnesses, a group of armed individuals can be seen taking a girl with them.

Sources allege that local Taliban officials forcibly married this young girl to an individual named Shah Wali, who is a member of the Taliban.

Following this report, Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson, confirmed that local Taliban officials intervened in a dispute between two families in the Pasaband district.

Mujahid stated that the incident was a dispute between two families over a bride's dowry.