US State Department Official Visits Doha & Islamabad To Discuss Afghanistan

Zhumangarin stated that Kazakhstan will also collaborate in connecting Afghan schools to the internet and ensure that all children have access to education.

The Taliban's Ministry of Commerce and Industry reported on Friday about a meeting between the group and officials from Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan in Kabul.

The ministry, without providing further details, mentioned that discussions in the meeting focused on connecting North Asia to South Asia and reducing transit and transportation costs.

Zhumangarin expressed during the meeting, "We are eager to share our experiences with our Afghan partners."

Both sides also discussed increasing internet speed in Afghanistan from 60 to 100 gigabits per second.

Additionally, during the official visit of the Kazakh delegation to Afghanistan, 35 Kazakh companies showcased their products and services at the Kazakhstan-Afghanistan Trade Expo in Kabul.

The assault resulted in the deaths of three Taliban members and injuries to another. Additionally, two Taliban military vehicles were reportedly destroyed in the attack.

The AFF released a video showcasing the assault, describing it as a "targeted and precise operational attack" on a Taliban outpost located in Kabul’s 11th district. The Front alleges that this newly established outpost was actively involved in scrutinising, detaining, and harassing locals, particularly young people from North Kabul and Panjshir, and was also used for imprisoning them.

Further details provided by the AFF state that the Taliban utilised this outpost to conduct raids on homes in Khair Khana area without prior notice.

With an increase in attacks over recent months, the AFF has expressed concerns about the deteriorating human rights situation in Afghanistan. The group is calling for an international humanitarian intervention to assist the Afghan people.

The ministry stated that discussions focused on connecting North Asia to South Asia, reducing transit costs, and improving transportation.

While details of these discussions remain undisclosed, the Taliban's Ministry of Commerce has announced an agreement to establish a joint technical committee for ongoing discussions between the Taliban, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan.

The Taliban’s Minister of Commerce, the Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, and the Deputy Prime Minister of Turkmenistan were present at the meeting.

Prior to this gathering, Taliban officials engaged in bilateral discussions with delegations from Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, focusing on economic relations.

The launch of a large joint logistics centre in Turghondi, the development of Afghanistan's railway infrastructure, facilitation of oil and gas transfer from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan, resolution of quarantine issues for Afghan exports and transit goods, development of banking relations, and the exportation of Afghan minerals, were among topics discussed between the Taliban Minister of Commerce and Mammetkhan Chakyyev, Deputy Prime Minister of Turkmenistan.

In another meeting, the Minister of Industry and Trade of the Taliban spoke with Serik Zhumangarin, Deputy Prime Minister, regarding mineral extraction in Afghanistan.

Despite this, no country has officially recognised the Taliban till date, although some nations in the Middle East maintain economic relations with them.

Since taking over power, the Taliban have repeatedly asked countries to invest in Afghanistan, especially in mining sector.

He mentioned that international terrorist groups take refuge in Afghanistan due to the unstable and ambiguous political situation in the country.

Speaking on Friday at the defence ministers' meeting of the SCO in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, he criticised the United States’ efforts to regain power in Central and South Asia after withdrawing from Afghanistan.

The presence and establishment of extremist groups in Afghanistan and the increase in attacks by these groups, especially ISIS, have created serious security concerns for the Central Asian countries.

The Russian defence minister regarded the establishment of US military infrastructure in the region as a direct threat to the stability of the SCO.

He emphasised that these objectives should be recognised as direct threats to the organisation's stability.

According to him, the United States is attempting to impose a new security system in the Asia-Pacific region.

Shoigu, in his address, urged participants to safeguard the stability of the organisation against "destructive external influences”.

He specifically referred to the efforts of "colour revolutions" and advocated for the establishment of a system where the security of all Eurasian countries is equally assured.

Sources informed Afghanistan International that during this attack, the younger sister of the former officer was killed due to the Taliban gunfire, while his mother sustained severe injuries.

According to the sources, the former security forces member had served in the previous government as a member of the popular uprising forces and sought refuge in Iran following the Taliban's takeover of power. Recently, he was expelled from Iran and returned to Afghanistan.

Based on information provided by these sources, Taliban fighters targeted the former security forces member's home in the Dasht-e Qala district of Takhar with the intention to kill him.

The sources further stated that although the former security forces member escaped unharmed, his sister fell victim to the Taliban gunfire, and his mother suffered severe injuries.

As of now, Taliban officials have made no comment on the matter.