Over 900 Refugees Forcibly Repatriated From Pakistan, Says Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees

In a statement on Saturday, the court said that this individual had been punished in the presence of local Taliban officials in Shahjoy district.

Since taking power in Afghanistan, the Taliban has resumed physical punishments such as flogging, amputation, and execution, publicly punishing many citizens in various provinces.

Human rights defenders and the international community have repeatedly urged the Taliban to halt physical punishments of the accused. However, the group’s officials have stated that they will continue with punishments according to "Islamic Sharia law”.

Quetta police confirmed that Akhundzada was a long-serving Imam at a local mosque and resided at his own house in the city, highlighting that non-citizens typically cannot own property in Pakistan.

Authorities are still investigating the motives and identifying the perpetrators behind the cleric’s assassination, as per Quetta police.

A police official noted that Akhundzada was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on Thursday night.

The incident occurred as Akhundzada was returning home from the mosque when several individuals on motorcycles opened fire and then fled the scene, leading to his death from a chest gunshot wound.

For 15 years, Akhundzada served as the imam of a mosque in Quetta's Kali area, according to police records.

Taliban’s spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid issued a statement on the social media platform X, expressing condolences over Akhundzada's death, on Friday.

However, Taliban spokespersons and officials have not provided details on the exact circumstances or identities of those involved in Akhundzada's killing.

When BBC Urdu inquired about Akhundzada's connections to the Afghan Taliban, Abdul Hai Baluch, a spokesperson for Quetta police, claimed ignorance on the subject.

Afghanistan National Television, controlled by the Taliban, broadcast a statement condemning the assassination as a "major crime," but no group or individual has yet claimed responsibility for this act.

State television described Akhundzada as a member of the Taliban’s Supervisory Commission and a teacher at a jihadist school in Kandahar, although sources reported to Afghanistan International that he was a trusted advisor to the Taliban leader. He had been a senior member of the Quetta Shura and was involved in establishing religious schools in Pakistan.

After the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021, they transformed the Kandahar Mechanical Institute into a jihadist school, placing Mullah Mohammad Omar Akhundzada in charge. This school is located next to the Mandigak Palace, reportedly used by the Taliban leader as his office.

Sources noted that Hibatullah Akhundzada typically started his meetings with recitations from the Quran by Akhundzada, underscoring his significant role within the group.

According to Haalvsh, the prisoners were arrested in 2019 on charges related to drug trafficking and were later sentenced to death by a court.

The executed individuals have been identified by the organisation as Zaman Taheri, Salam Taheri, Gholam Qader Samani, and Ebrahim Norzehi. Notably, Zaman Taheri and Salam Taheri were brothers.

Sources referenced by Haalvsh indicated that the prisoners were moved from a general ward dealing with drug crimes to solitary confinement in Vakilabad Prison on Wednesday, with their executions carried out at dawn the following day.

Additional details regarding these individuals have not been disclosed.

As of now, Iranian officials have not commented on the executions.

Historically, the Islamic Republic has executed several Afghan prisoners for drug-related offences and other crimes.

Haalvsh also reported last Monday that another Afghan prisoner was executed at the same facility for drug-related offences.

Sasanian emphasised that all necessary infrastructure for this project has been established at various border points between the two countries.

On Friday, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported that Sasanian called the sealing of the border strip between Iran and Afghanistan as one of Iran's most significant projects. According to statements from this Iranian official, the project is being executed by engineers from Iran’s Army’s Ground Forces.

IRNA's report outlined that this project extends from the Dogharon border to Khaf city, with the project including a four-metre-high wall and fencing on its upper part.

In February 2024, Kioumars Heydari, the commander of the Iranian Army’s Ground Forces, had stated that the presence of the army at the borders is not indicative of insecurity; rather, it signifies military preparedness.

Previously, Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson, had remarked that the sealing of the Afghanistan-Iran border should be achieved through agreement.

Since the Taliban took over power in 2021, there have been multiple clashes between the group's forces and Iranian border guards.

According to sources, Akhundzada had travelled to a village in Quetta, Pakistan, to visit his family during the Eid al-Fitr days, where he was killed by unknown individuals.

Mujahid expressed condolences on Akhundzada's death in a note posted on X social media platform on Friday.

The Taliban spokesperson and other officials of the group have not provided any explanation regarding how he was killed or by whom.

The Taliban have condemned the killing of Omar Jan Akhundzada and labelled his death a "big crime”.

So far, no individual or group has claimed responsibility for his killing.

Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA), under Taliban control, reported that Akhundzada was a member of the Taliban's oversight office and a teacher at a jihadist school in Kandahar.

However, sources from Kandahar told Afghanistan International that he was an advisor to Hibatullah Akhundzada, leader of the group. According to sources, he led a Taliban jihadist school in Kandahar.

Sources said that this Taliban official was killed in Quetta by unidentified individuals on Thursday evening.