Pakistan Ready To Engage In Preferential Trade With Afghanistan & Azerbaijan

May 11, 2024, 09:27 GMT+1

Shehbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, has announced that the country is prepared to engage in "preferential" trade discussions with Afghanistan and Azerbaijan.

During an economic conference, Sharif stated that talks with Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, and other interested nations regarding preferential trade agreements are ongoing.

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Group Member & Several Land Usurpers Killed In Nangarhar Protests, Says Taliban

May 10, 2024, 15:48 GMT+1

Arafat Muhajir, the Taliban's head of information and culture in Nangarhar province, claimed that during protests along the Torkham-Jalalabad route, one Taliban member and "some individuals who had usurped lands" had been killed.

However, protesters said that they possess legal documents and evidence.

According to some residents of Nangarhar province and Taliban officials, the protests began after the Taliban instructed residents to vacate their homes and areas, saying that these land parcels belonged to the government.

Taliban officials argued that these properties are state-owned lands seized from the people years ago. However, local residents claim that the rightful owners of these properties are Kuchis (tribals) who have legal documents.

Meanwhile, some demonstrators have alleged that the Taliban issued orders to demolish their personal homes. Protesters informed Afghanistan International that as a result of direct firing by the Taliban at the protesters, at least three people, including a woman, were killed, and four others were injured.

Now, Muhajir claims that after the group sought to reclaim state-owned lands from "land usurpers," they incited chaos, resulting in the death of one member of the group.

However, he has not provided any explanation regarding the identity of the group member who had been killed. This Taliban official confirmed that several "land usurpers" were also killed.

Nevertheless, no precise figures regarding the casualties from the protests have been provided. Earlier, the number of fatalities was reported to be three.

While the Taliban has been targeting these protesters, the group also killed at least two residents of Darayim and Argo districts in Badakhshan province last Friday and Saturday by gunfire. This led to unprecedented protests against the Taliban in Badakhshan. Taliban officials claimed that these two residents of Badakhshan were killed "for defending the forbidden poppy cultivation”.

This is happening at a time when, following the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, people are less inclined to protest to assert their rights.

Over the past nearly three years in Afghanistan, Taliban members have largely resorted to violence against protesters.

Poppy Eradication Operations Begin In Darayim & Argo Districts, Says Taliban

May 10, 2024, 12:51 GMT+1

Noorullah Nazari, the Taliban’s spokesperson for the group's army unit in Badakhshan, announced the commencement of the poppy eradication operation in Darayim and Argo districts.

Nazari emphasised that this operation will be conducted by army units in collaboration with local people.

The Bakhtar news agency, under Taliban control, has also released a picture of the poppy eradication operation in Badakhshan.

This news comes amidst mass anti-Taliban demonstrations in Darayim and Argo districts. Residents of Badakhshan have reported the deployment of hundreds of Taliban fighters, armed with both light and heavy weaponry, to these districts.

Take Action Against TTP Instead of Making Irresponsible Statements, Islamabad Raps Taliban

May 10, 2024, 11:37 GMT+1

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry dismissed Taliban's claim about ISIS activities in Pakistani territory and termed the statement as irresponsible on Thursday.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, Pakistan foreign ministry's spokesperson, stated that the Taliban should take effective action against terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan instead of making such irresponsible claims.

Recently, Pakistan and the Taliban have exchanged mutual accusations of supporting militant groups.

On Tuesday, the Pakistani army announced that a suicide attack targeting five Chinese engineers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was planned by an Afghan.

However, the Taliban's defence ministry spokesperson, Enayatullah Khwarizmi, in a statement on Wednesday called the Pakistani army's claim as "irresponsible and far from reality," attributing it to the "weakness of Pakistan's security organs”.

In this statement, Khwarizmi for the first time accused the Pakistani government of supporting ISIS, stating that "ISIS has entered Afghanistan from Pakistani soil and has been using Pakistani soil against us”.

However, on Thursday, the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan refuted the Taliban’s claim calling it baseless and irresponsible.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch reiterated Pakistan's position, stating that there is sufficient evidence linking recent terrorist incidents in Pakistan to the presence of quasi-militants in Afghanistan.

She added, "We have found evidence indicating that the attack in Besham [on the Chinese engineers] is linked to terrorists currently living in Afghanistan."

Baloch reiterated the Pakistani army's statements, saying that the planning of this terrorist attack took place in Afghanistan, and the terrorists and their facilitators were controlled from Afghanistan.

She once again urged the Taliban to take effective action against terrorist groups.

Following the increase in insecurity in Pakistan, the country has repeatedly accused the Taliban of harbouring militant groups, while the Taliban has consistently denied these allegations.

Earlier, Pakistan's special representative highlighted a 65% increase in Pakistani Taliban attacks and a 500% increase in suicide attacks in the country, stating that "Afghan citizens" are involved in many of the suicide attacks in Pakistan.

Tajikistan Continues Fighting Extremism & Terrorism, Told Tajik President To Putin

May 10, 2024, 10:35 GMT+1

Emomali Rahmon, the President of Tajikistan, emphasized in a meeting with Vladimir Putin, his Russian counterpart in Moscow, that terrorism is a global problem.

He said that Tajikistan has been combating extremism and terrorism for over 30 years and will continue this fight.

Rahmon visited Moscow to participate in the Victory Day parade, commemorating the 71st anniversary of the former Soviet Union's victory in World War II.

During the sidelines of this ceremony, Putin and Rahmon held a separate meeting on Thursday at the Kremlin, focusing on counterterrorism efforts and bilateral cooperation.

Both leaders reaffirmed their dedication to combatting terrorism.

Russia's special security services detained four Tajik citizens on charges of direct involvement in the shooting at the Crocus Hall on the outskirts of Moscow.

Additionally, several other Tajik citizens have been arrested in Moscow for alleged collaboration with these individuals. The attack, which occurred on March 22nd, resulted in the deaths of at least 144 people.

According to the Kremlin statement released on Friday, Rahmon told Putin, that he has consistently voiced from the United Nations podium his opposition to double standards in combating terrorism and extremism.

Addressing the attack on the Crocus Hall in Moscow, the President of Tajikistan labeled it a "tragedy" and stressed, terrorism has no nationality, religion, or homeland, and it requires collective action from all.

Furthermore, he declared that Tajikistan's intelligence and military services remain actively involved in the fight against terrorism.

In his discussions with Putin, Rahmon characterized Russia as a "strategic partner and ally" of Tajikistan, underscoring that this stance remains steadfast and immutable.

He also discussed cooperation between Tajikistan and Russia, emphasizing the importance of a joint effort in combating global challenges and threats.

Putin also welcomed Rahmon's stance on cooperation with Russia, highlighting that their special services actively collaborate to mitigate threats, as terrorism poses a danger to all nations, including Russia and Tajikistan.

Three Dead After Taliban Members Shoot At Demonstrators At Rally in Nangarhar

May 10, 2024, 09:28 GMT+1

Local sources told Afghanistan International that the Taliban opened fire at demonstrators in the Barikab area along the Torkham-Jalalabad route, resulting in the deaths of three individuals, including a woman, and left four others injured.

A local source reported to the Pashto section of Afghanistan International that the Taliban had been shooting at ordinary people.

Videos received by Afghanistan International show that the main Jalalabad road has been closed due to the protests, and gunfire could be heard in the area.

The Taliban have not yet commented on these protests. The protests started after the Taliban told residents to leave their homes and land, claiming that the land belongs to the government; however, locals say that they had purchased the land, and the Taliban members are forcibly taking it from them.