CPJ Calls For Immediate Release Of Afghan Journalists From Taliban’s Detention In Khost

Tashkent aims to connect Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Pakistan through this initiative to bolster trade in Central Asia.

Transport ministers from these countries met on Tuesday, in Termez, Uzbekistan, to discuss this trade corridor.

According to a statement from Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Transport, participants in the meeting discussed connecting Central Asia and the South Asian countries through the development of a multi-modal transportation corridor to increase Uzbekistan's transit capacity.

This initiative includes plans to enhance transportation, as well as the analysis of transit shipments, digitising documents, and simplifying transit processes between countries.

In November 2023, during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Transport Ministers’ Meeting in Tashkent, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan signed a memorandum to establish this corridor.

Uzbekistan reported a significant increase in cargo transportation through Afghanistan since 2021. According to their statistics, transit cargo volume reached 675,000 tonnes in 2022 and one million tonnes in 2023.

Uzbek authorities express hope that this volume will increase in 2024.

The proposal for a new transportation corridor comes as Uzbekistan, with this ambitious initiative, seeks to diversify its trade routes, upgrade transportation infrastructure, and reduce reliance on Russia.

Sources said that these detentions have caused deep concern and fear among the ministry's staff.

It is said that among the detainees is Sayed Nabi Nabil, a former advisor of the Afghanistan embassy in Saudi Arabia. Some users on social networks have introduced him as a member of the Jamiat-e-Islami Party led by Salahuddin Rabbani.

Sources told Afghanistan International that some employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, especially non-Pashtuns, are concerned about their detention for ethnic reasons.

So far, there are no details available about the reason for the detention of these employees.

Baradar described the evolving relationship between the Taliban and the Islamic Republic as "improved and positive”, noting that the water transfer could help resolve many bilateral issues.

The meeting, held on Thursday, included the presence of the Taliban's Ministers of Energy and Water, Information and Culture, Agriculture and Livestock, and their ambassador in Tehran, as reported by Mullah Baradar's press office.

The discussions centered on enhancing political, economic, trade, and transit relations, as well as broadening bilateral cooperation across various sectors.

Baradar emphasised on the need for continued collaboration between the Taliban and the Islamic Republic to foster these improvements.

He highlighted that this year's high rainfall had helped channel water from the Helmand River into Nimroz Province and onward to Iran, which he believes will alleviate some challenges faced by both nations. Baradar also urged Iran to facilitate the transit of Afghan goods to European markets more effectively.

In response, Kazemi Qomi expressed satisfaction with Helmand River water reaching Sistan and reaffirmed Iran's commitment to collaborate with Afghanistan on resolving issues related to banking for traders, environmental protection, agricultural development, and the enhancement of trade and transit routes through Iran.

Furthermore, Baradar called on the Islamic Republic to stop the forced deportation of Afghan migrants, advocating for better coordination on this matter between the two governments. Additionally, the head of Iran's Environmental Protection Organisation reported that approximately 50 to 60 million cubic metres of water have been released from the Helmand River under Iran's water rights, with expectations for this amount to increase following ongoing negotiations.

The organisation has pointed out severe repression and violations suffered by the Afghan people, with a particular emphasis on violence and discrimination against ethnic groups, notably the Hazaras.

Released on Tuesday, April 23, the report also mentioned the Taliban's policies targeting women and girls, to eradicate their presence from social spheres.

This report coincides with the release of the US State Department's report on human rights in Afghanistan and other countries. The State Department report highlighted sexual violence, the marginalisation of women from public life, and condemned the Taliban for their brutality in prisons, including killings and torture.

In its report, Amnesty International stated that people's freedoms have been severely compromised. The organisation added that if anyone criticises the Taliban, they will face forced disappearance, arbitrary detention, self-detention, torture, and various abuses.

The report by Amnesty International refers to cases of detention and torture of individuals previously highlighted by the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan.

The organisation said that the Taliban has not conducted any investigation into allegations of torture of individuals.

Ethnic and Religious Discrimination

In addition to curtailing freedom of speech, religious minorities in Afghanistan have suffered under the Taliban rule. Amnesty International's report highlights the further marginalisation and discrimination faced by ethnic groups and religious minorities.

The report underscores that Uzbeks, Hazaras, Tajiks, and Turkmen communities are experiencing heightened marginalisation, and often forcibly displaced from their homes and lands.

Furthermore, Taliban officials have consistently favoured tribal communities, predominantly Pashtuns, in disputes over land and livestock, particularly in conflicts involving Hazaras.

Hazaras have been compelled by the Taliban to compensate tribals for missing livestock dating back to 20 years ago.

Additionally, the report documents targeted attacks on Hazara individuals, including the killing of men from this ethnic group in the Uruzgan province.

Non-Afghan Casualties

Taliban officials have repeatedly claimed that security has returned to Afghanistan for the people and foreign officials. However, Amnesty International says that civilian casualties continue despite the end of armed conflict.

Quoting United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), after the Taliban's return to power in 2021, more than 3,500 people were killed and injured in Afghanistan. Most of the casualties were caused by ISIS attacks in Afghanistan. This is while the Taliban has repeatedly downplayed the threat of ISIS.

The Taliban has not reacted to the reports by the US State Department and Amnesty International. However, prior to this, officials and spokespersons of the group had refuted human rights violations, especially women's rights violations, in Afghanistan.

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.