Afghan People Facing Severe Repression, Reports Amnesty International

Durrani highlighted that attacks by the Pakistani Taliban have surged by 65%, with suicide attacks rising by 500% in Pakistan.

According to Dawn newspaper, Pakistan's special representative expressed serious concerns over the escalation of attacks by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from Afghanistan, particularly noting the involvement of Afghan nationals in these attacks.

Speaking at a one-day international conference titled "Pakistan in the Emerging Geopolitical Landscape," jointly organised by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad and the German Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Durrani underscored that Pakistan has been suffering from developments in Afghanistan since the Soviet Union's invasion.

The Pakistani official emphasised that the post-September 11 world order has had a detrimental impact on Pakistan, stating, "Apart from losing 80,000 citizens’ lives, including 8,000 law enforcement agency personnel, the country’s economic opportunity cost is estimated at $150 billion."

Durrani further remarked that Afghanistan has become a "permanent fixture" in Pakistan's regional landscape for over four decades.

Regarding Pakistan's future prospects in the regional context, he said that while "our eastern neighbour (India) is likely to continue to pursue its anti-Pakistani policies, the western border poses an avoidable irritant in the short to medium term”.

He said that Pakistan has suffered more from Afghanistan than in its three wars with India.

However, Durrani said that with deft diplomacy, Pakistan can overcome its problems with Afghanistan, including the challenge of the TTP.

Throughout the two decades of international forces' presence in Afghanistan, Pakistan's backing of the Taliban played a pivotal role in the group's resurgence to power.

Islamabad anticipated that the return of the Taliban to power would lead to a reduction in violence from the Pakistani Taliban and other insurgent factions within its borders. Pakistan especially relied on the support and companionship of the Afghan Taliban.

However, the events of the past two and a half years have revealed that Pakistan's expectation of cooperation with the Afghan Taliban was wrong and the Afghan Taliban are not inclined to abandon their ally, the Pakistani Taliban, anytime soon.

AFF has called for an international conference to decide on the future of Afghanistan.

This marks the first instance where a political and military group opposing the Taliban has advocated for renewed military intervention akin to the US invasion in 2001, following the collapse of the previous Afghan government.

Humanitarian intervention refers to the governments taking military action in other countries to halt humanitarian crises like genocide, disorder, and chaos. Typically, Western nations have cited this concept to justify military interventions, as in Kosovo in 1999 and Libya in 2011.

On Wednesday, the Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) reacted to the recent report by the US State Department on human rights violations in Afghanistan. The front posted on the X social media platform, stating that this report only scratches the surface of the horrific reality under the Taliban rule.

The front highlighted the presence of terrorist groups, widespread human rights violations, and organised crimes in Afghanistan, emphasising that the region and the world is facing a situation similar to situation before September 11, 2001.

The front emphasized, "All the necessary conditions have been met for humanitarian intervention by the international community in Afghanistan."

Furthermore, the front said that the Taliban's violation of widespread human rights has presented an opportunity for the world to "end the Taliban rule in Afghanistan through the mechanism of humanitarian intervention”.

The front insisted that the world should "facilitate a comprehensive international conference aimed at decision-making regarding the future of Afghanistan, engaging all internal, regional, and international stakeholders in the Afghan matter”.

The 28-article statement, released by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, highlights the shared concerns of Iran and Pakistan regarding security. Article 17 specifically labels "the presence of terrorist organisations in Afghanistan" as a serious threat.

The document advocates for broader participation from all Afghan societal segments in key decision-making to bolster peace and stability in the region. Furthermore, it reaffirms the commitment of both nations to foster the development of Afghanistan as a stable, independent nation, devoid of terrorism and narcotics trafficking threats.

President Raisi and Prime Minister Sharif emphasised on the necessity of synchronised regional and international efforts to secure and stabilise the region. Their joint statement also addresses mutual engagement, trade, economic relations, counter-terrorism, geographic strategic importance, the Kashmir issue, prisoner exchanges, and the conflict between Hamas and Israel.

With the resurgence of the Taliban, the region has seen an uptick in security incidents, especially in states bordering Afghanistan. The Taliban have declared their intent not to allow Afghan soil to be used for activities against other countries.

Notably, ISIS-Khorasan and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan have been identified as significant threats to both Iran and Pakistan. Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Taliban of providing sanctuary and support to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan terrorist groups, urging the Taliban to take action against them—a claim the Taliban consistently refutes.

President Raisi’s visit also included stops in Lahore and Karachi, where he engaged with Pakistani officials. Following his visit to Pakistan, he travelled to Sri Lanka.

On Wednesday, the ministry stated that these refugees returned to Afghanistan through the Spin Boldak border crossing.

According to the ministry's statement, 998 of these refugees belonged to 191 families, while three others were individuals who were released from Pakistani prisons and then expelled.

The Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation mentioned that it provided a cash assistance of 10,000 Afghanis to each family.

According to the statement, the deported refugees were referred to the offices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organisation for Migration to receive further assistance.

The Pakistani government forcibly expels hundreds of refugees from its camps on a daily basis. The expulsion of refugees has faced international community backlash, but the Pakistani government has neglected these concerns.

The US State Department said that any significant step towards normalising relations with the Taliban is contingent upon a profound change in the group's behaviour.

A State Department spokesperson made these remarks in response to a question from Aref Yaqubi, a reporter of Afghanistan International, regarding what practical steps the US is taking in response to the Taliban's treatment of imprisoned women and serious human rights violations.

The department, in its annual report on the status of women in Afghanistan released on Monday, noted that the Taliban's decrees have effectively marginalised women from the public sphere.

The report underscores widespread violations of women's rights and instances of sexual violence perpetrated against them. It reveals that 16 out of 90 imprisoned women in Jowzjan, Farah, and Samangan provinces have reported pregnancies resulting from rape by Taliban members. Additionally, the report indicates that the Taliban has executed at least four women in Samangan after repeated instances of rape.

Regarding potential action in response to this report, the US State Department did not provide specifics. However, it reaffirmed the US government's commitment to supporting the rights of Afghan women and girls. It aims to enhance economic opportunities for Afghan women through increased access to opportunities both within Afghanistan and in third countries.

The department emphasised on the US government's support for Afghan women's participation in the country's economy as a means to promote gender equality and foster economic growth.

Furthermore, the department highlighted its efforts to assist Afghan women and girls through various means, including facilitating access to higher education opportunities via scholarships and financial aid. It also mentioned providing skills training for continued education, both domestically and internationally, to empower Afghan women and girls.

Sanctions on Taliban Officials

The State Department also mentioned that, in response to the Taliban's restrictions on women, it took action in February 2023 by imposing visa restrictions on certain current and former Taliban officials, as well as individuals involved in suppressing Afghan women and girls' access to education and employment opportunities within non-governmental organisations.

Furthermore, on December 8 2023, the US Treasury Department sanctioned two Taliban members due to their involvement in severe human rights violations, notably the obstruction of girls' access to secondary education.

Khalid Hanafi, the Taliban's Minister of Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, was among those sanctioned for his participation in human rights abuses, including murder, abduction, flogging, and physical assault against Afghan citizens, including women and girls.

Additionally, the department stated that Farid-ud-Din Mahmood, the head of the TAliban’s Academy of Sciences, faced sanctions for his role in serious human rights violations associated with the publication, and enforcement of measures aimed at restricting education for all Afghan women and girls based solely on their gender.