Taliban Detains Several Employees of Former Afghan Foreign Ministry, Say Sources

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.

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.