Taliban Helicopter Crash Results in Multiple Deaths & Injuries
Sources told Afghanistan International that a Taliban helicopter crashed into the Firozkoh-Harirud river, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries.
Sources told Afghanistan International that a Taliban helicopter crashed into the Firozkoh-Harirud river, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries.
The helicopter was reportedly on the way to Ghor province to rescue two people who had drowned in the river. The Taliban are currently "gathering information about this incident" and have not yet made an official comment.
Local sources confirmed to Afghanistan International that several deceased and injured individuals have been transported to the hospital in Ghor following the crash.
The helicopter went down near the office of the Taliban’s governor in Ghor. Images obtained by Afghanistan International show the wreckage of the helicopter near the riverbank, with people gathered around it.
Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Afghanistan, confirmed that he had held discussions with several Afghan activists in Oslo.
However, he did not provide more details about this two-day meeting.
Bennett said that Afghan women activists at the meeting once again inspired him.
The meeting was hosted by the Human Rights Research League (HRRL) in Oslo.
In a note on X, the Human Rights Research League wrote that Bennett and several Norway-based Afghans and civil society activists discussed women's rights and accountability processes for rights abuse.
According to this note, in this meeting the environmental impacts of war on children and future generations, the ongoing need for humanitarian aid, and the increase in protection opportunities for at-risk Afghans were also discussed.
The centre stated that recommendations were made at the meeting to prevent the normalisation of relations with the Taliban without demonstrable changes.
According to the HRRL, the upcoming Doha meeting and Richard Bennett's future report were also among the topics discussed.
On Tuesday, sources told Afghanistan International that a meeting between representatives of Afghan civil society and members of the Taliban was underway in Norway.
These sources said that the meeting was held at the invitation of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and added that the two sides were discussing the human rights situation and the future of Afghanistan.
It was also reported that the representatives were discussing political dialogue and economic empowerment.
The news sparked criticism from some Afghan activists and citizens who oppose the normalisation of relations with the Taliban.
A group of Afghan women activists also protested outside the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In response to these criticisms, the HRRL refuted the Taliban official’s meeting with Bennett.
The center wrote that two separate meetings were held in Oslo, and Bennett, at the invitation of the centre, met only with Afghan activists residing in Norway.
The center added that the representatives who came from Kabul to Norway were neither invited by the centre nor did they have a meeting with the UN Human Rights Rapporteur.
Earlier, our sources said that members and supporters of the Taliban who travelled from Kabul to Norway to attend a meeting included Nazar Mohammad Mutmaeen, Qazi Saeed Moshk Alam, Matiullah Mohammadi, Jafar Mahdavi, Saleh Mazari, Sayed Younis Agha, Hadid Zakir, and Faiz Zaland.
The Taliban's Supreme Court announced that an individual had been publicly flogged in Kabul on charges of "sodomy”.
In a statement on Tuesday, the court mentioned that the individual was sentenced to 39 lashes and two years of imprisonment.
The Taliban stated that the physical punishment of the accused was carried out following confirmation by the first district court of Kabul.
The Taliban publicly punishes several citizens weekly on various charges.
Human rights advocates and the international community have repeatedly urged Taliban leaders to stop public and physical punishments of the accused. However, the group claims it punishes citizens according to "Islamic laws”.
Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Iran's Foreign Minister, during a meeting with Roza Otunbayeva, the UN Special Representative for Afghanistan, said that Iran is closely monitoring the situation in Afghanistan.
Amir-Abdollahian, during this meeting on Monday, stated that the complexity of Afghanistan's problems requires diverse and multilayered solutions.
He did not elaborate on the complexity of the situation in Afghanistan but criticised what he called "targeted US interference in Afghanistan's internal affairs," which, according to him, would further complicate the situation.
Both the US and Iran emphasise on the formation of an inclusive government with the participation of all ethnic and political factions in Afghanistan. However, Tehran does not support the broad global sanctions against the Taliban or the Western countries' emphasis on human rights observance by the Taliban.
Iran seeks to address the Taliban government's issues, including its legitimacy crisis and tense relations with the world, through the diplomatic efforts of influential neighbouring and regional countries.
According to a statement from Iran's Foreign Ministry, Amir-Abdollahian expressed his support for an "initiative of Afghanistan's neighbours to help solve the country's problems”.
Otunbayeva also provided explanations during this meeting about the third round of the Doha talks on Afghanistan. The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that the UN special representative emphasised on the coordination of regional countries regarding Afghanistan and welcomed Tehran's continued efforts within the framework of the neighbours’ meetings.
According to news received by Afghanistan International, a meeting is currently taking place in Norway between representatives of the Afghan civil society and members of the Taliban.
This meeting is being held at the invitation of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Our sources said that the two sides are discussing the human rights situation in the country and the future of Afghanistan.
It has also been reported that the representatives are discussing political dialogue and economic empowerment.
Sources said that Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Afghanistan, is also present in Oslo and has had discussions with various Afghan groups.
It has been said that the Taliban members and supporters who have traveled from Kabul to attend this meeting include Nazar Mohammad Mutmaeen, Qazi Saeed Moshk Alam, Matiullah Mohammadi, Jafar Mahdavi, Saleh Mazari, Sayed Younis Agha, Hadid Zakir, and Faiz Zaland.
Additionally, the representatives of Afghan civil society in these discussions are: Kawun Kakar, Asila Wardak, Momina Yari, Haris Sayghani, Abdul Qayyum Sajadi, General Ansari, Angela Ahmadi, Amin Karim and Qahramana Kakar, Faiz Mohammad Osmani, and Fatima Gailani.
Local sources said that the Taliban have detained several groups of protesters in Argo and transferred them by helicopter to Faizabad, the capital of Badakhshan.
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.