1.3 Million "Illegal" Migrants Deported Last Year, Announces Iranian Interior Minister

This session, titled "Enhancing Unity and Solidarity through Dialogue for Sustainable Development," commenced on Wednesday in Banjul, the Gambian capital, attended by heads of states and foreign ministers.

The Secretary-General of the OIC stated on Thursday that the organisation continues its humanitarian engagement and constructive dialogue with the current Afghan authorities. He urged member countries to persist in their humanitarian efforts for Afghanistan through the Humanitarian Trust Fund, managed by the Islamic Development Bank.

Representing the Taliban were the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the head of international organisations within the ministry, confirming their participation was at the official invitation of the OIC.

This two-day session also featured discussions on various regional issues, including the situation in Gaza, the recognition of the Palestinian state, and conflicts in Yemen, Libya, and Sudan.

According to Afghanistan International sources, during this confrontation, Mullah Aziz and his family were detained, and four of his associates were injured.

The clash reportedly started on Friday following tensions between Pashtun and Tajik Taliban commanders over Mullah Aziz's attempt to construct a house in the Burka district. The confrontation escalated when Taliban forces halted the house's construction.

Mullah Aziz, also known as Haji Tariq, who serves as the Taliban security operations commander in Baghlan, was among those detained. Sources indicated that four individuals linked to Mullah Aziz were injured during the clash. Visual evidence from the scene shows gunfire.

An audio file obtained from Mullah Aziz criticised the treatment of Tajik Taliban members in Baghlan. In this audio, the local Taliban commander expressed, "The injustice currently happening in Baghlan did not exist during the United States' presence in Afghanistan." He highlighted that Taliban forces attacked his home, injuring two people, including his son, and accused Taliban officials of waging a jihad against Tajik mujahideen.

Sources within the Taliban disclosed that while some family members were released on Saturday, Mullah Aziz and five of his associates remain in detention.

Bolukian has called on the Taliban to enhance security and create economic opportunities in Afghanistan to facilitate the return of its citizens.

According to the IRIB news agency, Bolukian described Afghanistan as a "devastated and technologically backward country" and suggested that the Taliban could benefit from the skills of Afghan migrants currently in Iran to aid in Afghanistan’s reconstruction.

Since the Taliban's ascension to power in 2021, there has been a significant exodus of Afghans to neighboring countries, including Iran. However, Iran regularly detains and deports thousands of Afghan migrants back to Afghanistan each week.

During a meeting with Afghan migrants in Mashhad, Bolukian highlighted the impact of "illegal" Afghan migrants on Iran's resources, noting that their presence strains educational facilities for legal residents. He pointed out that Iran is unable to provide sufficient employment, university education, insurance, and healthcare services to all Afghans.

Bolukian’s comments come amid ongoing international aid, primarily from the United Nations, to support Iran in managing Afghan migrants. Despite this, Iranian authorities have expressed that this assistance is not enough to address the challenges posed by the influx.

The NRF confirmed that their forces suffered no casualties during the operation. There has been no comment from local Taliban officials regarding the incident.

The NRF, led by Ahmad Massoud and active since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, stated in their announcement that they continue to conduct targeted operations nationwide aimed at overthrowing the Taliban regime.

According to the NRF, their ongoing guerrilla attacks have so far resulted in numerous Taliban casualties.

Indian authorities revealed that over 25 kilogrammes of gold, valued at more than $2.2 million, was found in her possession at the Mumbai Airport.

In her resignation letter, shared on the social media platform X, Wardak did not explicitly address the gold smuggling allegations. However, she mentioned facing "personal attacks and defamation" over the past year, which significantly impacted her family.

Previously, The India Times reported that on April 25, Wardak attempted to smuggle 25 kilogrammes of gold from Dubai to India. Despite this, she was not arrested due to her diplomatic immunity.