Taliban Claims Radio Free Europe Journalist Arrested for 'Blasphemy'

The protest has drawn significant attention both in traditional media and on social networks, with many expressing sympathy and support for the retirees, urging the Taliban to acknowledge and respect their rights.

Retirees shared their plight with Afghanistan International, revealing that after years of dedicated service, they now find themselves stripped of all legal entitlements. "With widespread poverty and unemployment in the country, we have no other means to support ourselves," one message read.

One retiree voiced his despair, stating, "I served this land for forty years. Now, as an old and disabled man, how can I provide for my family when there is no work available?" He added that many elderly employees and officials are in distress, uncertain about their future.

The protesters demanded that the Taliban adhere to national and international laws regarding their pensions. The pensions for these retired government employees have been unpaid since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021.

In a recent move, Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban's leader, issued a directive to all military and civilian government offices to cease deductions for retirement contributions, effectively eliminating the pension system in the country.

It is reported that Afghanistan employs over 400,000 civilians and about 148,000 military retirees. According to media sources, the required budget to pay the annual pensions of these 148,000 retirees exceeds 12.5 billion Afghanis, equivalent to approximately 175 million dollars.

On Thursday, AGT labeled these officials as "masked terrorists”.

The disclosed list includes notable figures such as Mawlawi Abdullah Ghaznavi, the Chief of Staff of the Taliban's intelligence chief; Dr Bashir, Director of Counterintelligence; Hafizullah Gohar, Head of Border and Foreign Intelligence; Mawlawi Mustaqim Rahib, Head of Intelligence at the Ministry of Defence; and Mufti Abdul Hadi, Head of Taliban’s Intelligence in Panjshir Province.

In its statement, AGT declared its intent, "We aim to mock and break the spell of oppression and the anti-national practices of the Taliban, and to boost the morale for resistance."

AGT criticises the Taliban for lacking legitimacy, education, and a national vision, stating that they are incapable of continuing the subjugation of Afghanistan's forty million people.

The Taliban is yet to respond to this latest exposé from AGT.

Additionally, under the leadership of Amrullah Saleh, the Afghanistan Green Trend has recently released significant information, including the leadership roster of the ministries of defence and interior, the fiscal year 1403 budget of the Ministry of Defence, and details about aircraft under Taliban control in Afghanistan.

Former members of the Afghan security forces and translators are included among these individuals.

On Tuesday, the British Parliament, for the third time, did not approve the deportation of asylum seekers to Rwanda and has called for four amendments to be made. Exempting former British partners in Afghanistan is one of the amendments British representatives are advocating for.

The proposal to exempt Afghan partners from deportation to Rwanda has been put forward by Des Browne, a former British Labour Defence Secretary.

With 275 votes in favour and 218 votes against, the British Parliament has agreed to enact this amendment.

This amendment is aimed at supporting Afghans who have previously served alongside British forces in Afghanistan and have subsequently entered UK through illegal means following the Taliban's takeover of power.

The Pakistan Army's public relations office reported that these individuals were killed in a clash with the country’s security forces.

According to the statement, the incident took place in the Spinkai area of North Waziristan, and a significant number of weapons, ammunition, and explosives was recovered from these individuals.

The Pakistani army emphasised in its statement on the need for the Taliban to effectively manage its borders, urging them to fulfil their responsibilities in preventing terrorists from using Afghan territory against Pakistan.

Efforts to alleviate border tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban over the past three years have yielded no tangible results. Pakistan consistently accuses the Taliban of harbouring terrorist groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and of failing to take decisive action against them.

In response to these allegations, the Taliban says that the root causes of instability lie within Pakistan itself.

Furthermore, the Taliban refuses to acknowledge the legitimacy of the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, dismissing it as merely a hypothetical line.

The individual, who had been accused of “theft”, received 39 lashes.

The group has not disclosed the identity of this individual and stated that his sentence was carried out in Saydabad district of Maidan Wardak province.

The Taliban lashes a number of citizens each week on various charges.

In the past week, the group publicly flogged at least five individuals in the Zabul and Nangarhar provinces.

Human rights defenders and the international community have repeatedly urged Taliban leaders to cease physical punishments, but the group claims that it punishes accused citizens according to "Islamic laws”.