Afghan Activists & Taliban Representatives Meet In Norway

An informed source said that the Taliban members have arrested at least 22 protesters in the village of Barlas.

The Taliban in Badakhshan confirmed the arrest of several protesters but did not comment on the number of detainees.

The Taliban stated that these protesters demonstrated against the eradication of poppy cultivation and were detained after the protests turned violent and the Taliban members had to shoot at the protesters.

This protest occurred on Monday in continuation of the eradication of poppy fields in Badakhshan.

The Taliban's Chief of Staff has stated that the eradication of poppies will continue despite local dissatisfaction and protests in Badakhshan.

The message, disseminated on behalf of the "people of Argo district”, states, "Join the public protests from near and far to dismantle the palace of tyranny and fanaticism."

The resurgence of protests in Argo reflects the ongoing dissatisfaction with the Taliban's response to the community's demands.

Protesters have highlighted three key demands: the expulsion of non-native Taliban forces from Badakhshan, alternatives to opium cultivation, and justice for the victims of violence.

Sources in Badakhshan reported that two Taliban helicopters had also been deployed to suppress the demonstrators in Barlas village, Argo district.

Local reports indicated that after Taliban forces shot at protesters, at least two individuals had been killed and nine people were injuried.

Additionally, sources from Argo district informed Afghanistan International that residents from surrounding areas are converging on Barlas village, leading to an increase in the number of protesters.

Simultaneously, residents of Faizabad reported that Taliban forces have been mobilised from their city towards Argo.

The Taliban has not yet issued any response to this assertion by the National Resistance Front.

The group, led by Ahmad Massoud, detailed that their forces launched an assault on Taliban military positions in District 11 of Herat city at 8:20pm on Sunday.

The statement revealed that Mawlawi Noorullah Hanza from Ghor province was among those killed in the incident.

The statement further noted that early on Sunday, the Resistance forces targeted a Taliban base in the Tulk district of Herat province. This attack resulted in the death of an individual under the command of Mawlawi Abdul Rahman, the Taliban police commander for the Obe district in Herat.

The Front revealed that it had targeted a Taliban checkpoint and a patrol vehicle within the city.

The assaults were detailed in a post on the X social platform, specifying locations. The Taliban checkpoint was located at the Kart-e Sakhi mountain pass, and the patrol vehicle had been targeted in the Nasaji area of Kabul's 8th security district.

So far, the Taliban have not issued any statements regarding these latest attacks by the National Resistance Front.

These incidents are part of a series of guerrilla operations carried out by the National Resistance Front against the Taliban in Kabul over the past two days.

According to the ministry, 1,759 migrants returned from Iran and 349 from Pakistan.

The statement released on Sunday noted that these migrants crossed back into Afghanistan through the Towrgondi and Islam Qala border crossings.

Despite international human rights organisations calling for a cessation of expulsions, Tehran and Islamabad continue to detain, expel, and apply pressure on Afghan migrants.