CPJ Calls for Reversal of Taliban’s Decision To Restrict Facebook

Dujarric refrained from providing specific details, but assured that any developments in this regard would be communicated promptly.

This announcement came during a press conference in response to Mariam Rahmati, a journalist with Afghanistan International, who questioned whether a particular timeline had been established for nominating a Special Representative for Afghanistan.

Dujarric clarified that there is currently no definitive timeline for naming the United Nations Special Representative to Afghanistan.

The process of appointing a Special Representative for Afghanistan has been ongoing for several months. The appointment faces opposition from the Taliban, and countries with close ties to the group, including China, Russia, and Iran, who have indicated that their support for a UN representative's appointment hinges on the Taliban's approval.

According to them, police officers in civilian attire detain Afghan migrants in public areas.

Some migrants in a note sent to Afghanistan International said that police disregard legal documents like passports, visas, and residence cards when detaining Afghan migrants.

In a video sent to Afghanistan International, one of the migrants who had been detained stated that he possessed a passport and visa, yet the Iranian police detained and expelled him.

In the video, it is evident that the police transport migrants using a van and detain them in a room.

Afghan migrants are complaining about the forced expulsion from Iran, where hundreds of Afghans are detained and expelled daily.

The Iranian authorities have reiterated their commitment to seriously executing the plan to expel Afghan migrants from Iran.

Nevertheless, in the past year, both Pakistan and Iran have forcibly expelled tens of thousands of Afghan migrants. This action by Afghanistan's neighbouring countries has provoked strong reactions from the international community.

On Sunday, on the eve of Eid al-Fitr, this ministry sent this letter to the clerics.

This letter, a copy of which has also been sent to the Pashto section of Afghanistan International, was signed by Maulawi Mohammad Nabi Mohammadi, the head of administrative coordination at the Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs and was sent to the provinces with an emphasis on its implementation.

It has been stated in this letter, "Mosque clerics should inform people to stay away from anti-regime (Taliban) gatherings and propaganda, as well as factors that disrupt security."

The Ministry of Hajj asked the clerics all over Afghanistan to prepare for the Eid al-Fitr ceremony according to the date of Eid announcement.

After the announcement of the Eid day, the Eid al-Fitr prayer will be held simultaneously throughout the country at 07:30 am. The ministry emphasised that the Eid message of Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the group, should be given to the people during the Eid prayer.

In this statement, people have also been asked to refrain from using firecrackers during Eid days.

For the first time, a Taliban’s security entity has verified the recruitment operations of ISIS.

The document expresses concerns that ISIS, using different names, might enlist former Taliban members in Maidan Wardak who abandoned their posts following internal purification efforts, aiming to turn them against the Taliban government for intelligence purposes.

It's noteworthy that the Taliban refer to ISIS as "Khawarij".

The report also discusses the potential for ISIS to infiltrate Taliban ranks, posing a direct threat to Taliban officials through collaborative schemes.

According to the intelligence report, proactive intelligence measures have been initiated across Maidan Wardak's districts to counter ISIS' agenda, which contradicts Sharia law.

Emphasis was placed on seeking support from local mosque imams during these operations.

It also specified that operational duties in Nerkh district were assigned to Mawlawi Wakil, who was tragically killed by ISIS in his own village.

Maidan Wardak's intelligence directorate has made an appeal to Kabul's Directorate 074 for enhanced security measures to protect Taliban operatives in the area.

Additionally, a communication sent to the inhabitants of Syed Abad district contained contact details of Taliban intelligence officers, urging the community to report any activities deemed un-Islamic, suspicious, or illegal to safeguard the Taliban government's stability.

Despite Taliban claims of having subdued ISIS in Afghanistan, the threat posed by ISIS remains significant, particularly challenging the Taliban's intelligence operations.

The severity of the threat was underscored following a devastating ISIS suicide bombing at the New Kabul Bank branch in Kandahar, highlighting concerns over ISIS' potential to infiltrate and undermine the Taliban from within.

Badr specified that these detainees are citizens from a variety of countries, notably those neighbouring Afghanistan, and have been incarcerated on allegations of serious criminal activities, including murder.

Reports emerging on Sunday highlighted that these foreign nationals are distributed across several detention facilities within Afghanistan.

In a previous interview with TOLOnews, Badr had disclosed the detention of 25 foreign nationals in the custody of the Taliban.

Following their ascent to power in Afghanistan, the Taliban had initially released all inmates. However, they subsequently declared that over 19,000 individuals have been taken into custody over the past 30 months, reflecting a significant increase in arrests.

The announcement regarding the foreign prisoners aligns with ongoing criticisms directed at the Taliban for allegedly arresting and mistreating protestors and adversaries within the country.

Moreover, there have been allegations suggesting the Taliban's involvement in the torture and execution of Afghan nationals through makeshift "field courts," though the exact figures of such incidents remain undetermined.