Ceasefire Reached Between Taliban & Pakistani Forces In Paktia After Five Days Of Clashes

While specific details of the talks were not disclosed, Overchuk confirmed Moscow's readiness to engage in the project.

Speaking at the Russia-Islamic World Economic Forum in Kazan, he noted that the Afghan-Trans railway project is currently undergoing thorough evaluation. Overchuk underscored Russia's preparedness and capability to contribute to this significant infrastructure venture.

Approximately a week prior, the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry shared news of a meeting in Kabul between Amir Khan Muttaqi, the group’s Foreign Minister, and Ilkhom Makkamov, Uzbekistan's Minister of Transport. During this meeting, it was mentioned that a technical team of engineers had been dispatched to Kabul to assess the Afghan-Trans railway project, with practical implementation expected to commence shortly.

The project, a collaborative initiative among Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan, aims to link Uzbekistan’s railway network with Pakistan’s through Afghanistan.

Photographs from the recent floods depict that the waters have inundated the protected vicinity of this Afghan architectural gem. It is reported that the water level reached up to ten metres near the 64-metre-high minaret.

Erected in the late 12th century adorned with Quranic verses on baked bricks, the Minaret of Jam is a recognised masterpiece of the Ghorid civilisation and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2002. Nevertheless, inadequate maintenance over the past two decades has repeatedly triggered alerts about the potential collapse of the structure.

Flood Damage and Casualties in Ghor

Taliban officials in Ghor have disclosed that the latest floods have resulted in at least 50 fatalities within the area. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reported that thousands of homes were obliterated by the floods last Friday in Ghor, situated in central Afghanistan.

UNICEF has also noted that approximately 20,000 individuals in northern Afghanistan have been rendered homeless by the recent floods. The organisation is actively supporting the affected, particularly children, who are suffering severe adversities.

The United Nations recognises Afghanistan as one of the nations most susceptible to the impacts of climate change globally.

Per the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index, which assesses countries based on their vulnerability and readiness for climate change, Afghanistan ranks as the sixth most vulnerable and least prepared country in the world to handle the effects of climate change.

NRF stated that the attack occurred near the Taliban's security command in Takhar on Saturday afternoon. According to their social media post on X, the attack took place at 2:45 PM, just 20 meters from the Taliban's security headquarters in Takhar.

NRF added that neither their forces nor any civilians were harmed in the incident. They also reported that one Taliban vehicle and several firearms were destroyed in the attack.

The Taliban have not yet responded to these claims by the National Resistance Front.

Alokozai added that if this issue is not resolved, the supply of aircraft fuel in Afghanistan will face serious problems.

He also stated that there is no alternative source for supplying such fuel to the Afghan market in the region.

Afghanistan have been importing two to three thousand tankers of TC-1 from Turkmenistan every month, with airlines like Ariana and Kam Air being the primary consumers.

According to Alokozai, the contracting companies have transferred the payment for the fuel to Turkmenistan, but this country is not willing to continue its exports to Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, this member of the Chamber of Commerce mentioned that the contracting company, to avoid delays in the process of transporting pilgrims, has purchased some fuel from Belarus at a high price, but Belarus is also not ready to continue exporting TC-1 fuel to Afghanistan.

Agence France-Presse (AFP) also reported, citing its sources, that three other injured individuals are citizens of Norway, Australia, and Lithuania.

The Taliban have stated that four people have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in this attack.

The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the consular emergency unit has been fully mobilised to assist the victims and their families.

Sánchez wrote on X social media platform that he was overwhelmed by the news of the death of Spanish tourists in Afghanistan. Expressing his condolences to the families of the victims, he said that he is monitoring the situation.

Reaction of United States & European Union

The European Union and the US Special Representative for Afghanistan condemned the attack in separate statements.

Tom West, the US Special Representative for Afghanistan, expressed condolences to the families of the victims on his X account and stated that violence is not an answer.

The European Union also expressed condolences to the families of the victims and the injured in a statement on Friday.

A spokesman for the Taliban's Ministry of Interior announced that in this attack, three foreign citizens and one Afghan had been killed, and seven others, including four foreign nationals, were injured.

There is no immediate indication of the cause of the attack, and no group has claimed responsibility for it.

Bamiyan is the site of the remains of two giant Buddha statues that were blown up by the Taliban during their previous rule in 2001.

Since taking control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban have promised to improve security and encourage more foreign tourists to visit the country, aiming to turn the ruins of the Buddha statues into a source of revenue.

The shooting on Friday is one of the most serious attacks on foreign citizens since the withdrawal of foreign forces and the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan.

Previously, ISIS claimed responsibility for the deadly attack on Chinese citizens in a hotel in Kabul in 2022.