Taliban Flogs Individual In Paktika For Using Drugs

May 28, 2024, 09:31 GMT+1

The Taliban’s Supreme Court announced on Tuesday, that an individual has been flogged in Paktika province on charges of "moral corruption" and drug use.

The Taliban punished this individual with 21 lashes.

According to the Taliban’s Supreme Court's press release, this individual was punished on Monday in the Urgun district of Paktika province.

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Moscow Invites Taliban To St Petersburg International Economic Forum

May 27, 2024, 17:30 GMT+1

Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, has said that Moscow has invited the Taliban to participate in the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.

Kabulov stated that an invitation to the meeting has been sent to the Taliban. According to him, the Taliban are interested in buying oil and other goods from Russia.

In response to a question from the TASS news agency about what Russia will discuss with Taliban representatives at the meeting, the Russian diplomat said there are many promising areas for cooperation.

In another report, TASS quoted Zamir Kabulov as saying that Russia's Ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs have informed Vladmir Putin that the Taliban can be removed from the list of banned organisations.

The Russian special envoy for Afghanistan, who has always sought to expand Russia's relations with the Taliban, previously stated that "the Taliban are no longer enemies of Russia”.

In the past nearly three years, Kabulov has played an important role in facilitating relations between Russia and the Taliban. He previously stated that the Taliban trust Russia as the successor to the former Soviet Union.

Proposal to Remove Taliban from Banned Organisations List Submitted to Putin, Says Kabulov

May 27, 2024, 14:41 GMT+1

Zamir Kabulov, Russia's Special Envoy for Afghanistan said that the proposal to remove the Taliban from Russia's list of banned organisations has been submitted to Vladimir Putin, the president of the country for a final decision.

Kabulov stated that there are still some issues regarding the Taliban that need to be resolved before a decision can be made.

In a report published by TASS news agency on Monday, Russia's special envoy for Afghanistan, told the media outlet that Russia's Ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs have informed President Putin that the Taliban can be removed from the list of banned organisations.

Kabulov mentioned that the possibility of Russia recognising the Taliban government is now much higher than when the Taliban first took over the power.

Last week, he also told TASS that the Taliban are "no longer enemies of Russia”. He added that while the Taliban might not be Russia's number one friends, they are not enemies either.

Since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan, Kabulov has consistently had an optimistic view of the group and has worked to strengthen the relationship between Russia and the Taliban.

In his interview with TASS last week, Kabulov said there are "certain political restrictions," but the relationship between Russia and the Taliban is "growing”.

In the past three years, Kabulov has played a significant role in facilitating relations between Russia and the Taliban. He previously stated that the Taliban trust Russia as the successor to the former Soviet Union.

Third Doha Meeting Repetition of Failed Bonn Experience, Says Hezb-e Islami Leader

May 27, 2024, 13:52 GMT+1

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the leader of Hezb-e Islami party of Afghanistan, called the third Doha meeting a "repetition of the failed Bonn experience”.

Hekmatyar said that the goal of this meeting is to appoint another Lakhdar Brahimi and Benon Sevan to create consensus among the countries involved in Afghan affairs.

He claimed that the new UN special representative for Afghanistan will be someone approved by the United States.

Benon Sevan and Lakhdar Brahimi were special representatives of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan during the transition from the first Taliban government to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

These two prominent UN diplomats played significant roles in the Bonn Conference and the political developments in Afghanistan in 2001 and thereafter.

The Bonn Conference refers to more than a week of discussions in December 2001 between Afghan politicians and representatives from regional and global countries in Bonn, Germany. Participants of the Bonn Conference signed a two-phase agreement that laid the foundation for the creation of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban regime.

The Taliban and Hezb-e Islami, led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, did not play an influential role in the Bonn Conference.

The third Doha meeting, with the presence of special representatives of countries for Afghanistan, is scheduled for June 30 and July 1.

The United Nations has stated that the goal of this meeting is to increase international engagement with Afghanistan in a "coherent and structured" manner.

Taliban officials previously told Afghanistan International that the group has set six conditions for participating in the third Doha meeting.

According to these sources, one of the conditions is to grant Afghanistan's seat at the UN to the Taliban.

Taliban sources, who wished to remain anonymous, told Afghanistan International that the second condition is the UN withdrawing its special representative for Afghanistan.

The third condition is consulting the Taliban on the agenda and composition of the third Doha meeting.

A diplomatic source also told Afghanistan International that the Taliban strongly opposes the participation of representatives from Afghan civil society and political groups in the third Doha meeting.

According to sources within the Taliban, the group also informed the UN and Qatari delegations in Kabul that issues such as girls' education, women's employment, and the formation of an inclusive government should not be on the agenda for the third Doha meeting.

Taliban's Passport Chief Detained On Group’s Leader’s Order

May 27, 2024, 12:20 GMT+1

Sources informed Afghanistan International that Abdul Karim Hasib, the Taliban's General Director of Passports, has been detained since Thursday, by the order of Hibatullah Akhundzada.

Abdul Matin Qane, the Taliban's Ministry of Interior spokesperson, confirmed that Hasib was summoned to Kandahar in relation to the Nangarhar protests.

On Monday, Qane posted on the social media platform X that Hasib was called to Kandarhar to provide explanations concerning the protests in Nangarhar.

Local residents in the Barikab area of Nangarhar province protested over a land dispute with the Taliban, leading to the blockade of the Torkham-Jalalabad road. The Taliban's response escalated the situation into violence, resulting in at least three fatalities.

Qane also noted that in addition to Hasib, several officials from the Ministries of Interior and Defence were summoned to Kandahar regarding the protests.

According to Qane, the operations at the General Directorate of Passports are continuing normally in Hasib's absence, and there are no concerns within the department.

However, Afghanistan International sources claim there are deeper disagreements between the Taliban leadership and Abdul Karim Hasib after the Nangarhar protests, which led to his detention.

The sources suggested that financial disputes have arisen between Hasib and the Taliban leadership, who have accused him of corruption.

Afghan-Pak Kharlachi Border Crossing Reopens After Six Days

May 26, 2024, 13:50 GMT+1

The Kharlachi border crossing located in the Dand Wa Patan district of Paktia, Afghanistan, has reopened after a six-day closure due to clashes between Taliban forces and Pakistani border guards.

The conflict, which lasted five days, was resolved last week through the mediation of local elders and officials from both sides. The initiation of the skirmish was attributed to the construction of a checkpoint by Pakistani forces at the zero point on the border.

Haji Raouf, a member of the local jirga involved in resolving the conflict, confirmed that the Kharlachi border crossing resumed normal commercial activities on Friday, 24 May.

During the clashes, local residents sent videos to Afghanistan International showing significant damage to shops and residential structures in the Dand Patan district market.

The Kharlachi border gate is one of the 18 official crossings between Afghanistan and Pakistan, facilitating the daily passage of approximately 100 to 150 lorries. Transit trade at this crossing operates under a bilateral agreement signed in 2010.

The recent closure led to substantial financial losses for both Afghan and Pakistani merchants, many of whom depend on the steady flow of commercial goods across the border.