Non-Pashtun Taliban Members Warn of Split Up If Insults Against Tajik Commander Continue

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

However, Pakistani authorities have not disclosed further details regarding preferential trade with Afghanistan and Azerbaijan.

The official also highlighted the benefits of the country's trade with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan through Afghanistan. Additionally, the Prime Minister stressed on the urgent need for measures to enhance the competitiveness of Pakistani products in order to expand export markets.

Dawn, a Pakistani newspaper, reported that the completion of a free trade agreement with Gulf states was also deliberated at this conference.

Furthermore, there was emphasis on the "close monitoring" of transit trade with Afghanistan.

The Pakistani Prime Minister has called for the development and implementation of a comprehensive strategy to assess the performance of customs officials.

This development comes while reports indicate a decline in trade relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan ever since the Taliban took over power in the country.

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.

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.

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.

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.