Taliban Arrests Journalist In Parwan Province

Jun 15, 2024, 10:11 GMT+1

Sources told Afghanistan International that Taliban intelligence in Parwan province has arrested Abdullah Danish, a former journalist for Maarif TV.

According to sources, Danish was arrested on Thursday evening, in the Bagrami district.

Sources said that after the arrest, Taliban intelligence members transferred this journalist to an unknown location.

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Uzbekistan & Pakistan To Review Termez-Mazar-i-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar Railway Project

Jun 14, 2024, 14:56 GMT+1

Ilhom Mahkamov, Uzbekistan's Minister of Transport, met Ahmed Farooq, Pakistan's Ambassador to Uzbekistan, to discuss the Termez-Mazar-i-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway project.

This transportation corridor is expected to connect Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Russia with India and Europe.

On Friday, Trend News reported that the Uzbek Transport Minister emphasised on the development of cooperation between the two countries in the field of transportation during his meeting with the Pakistani ambassador and agreed to further discuss and review the project.

In February 2021, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and Afghanistan signed a roadmap for the construction of the Termez-Mazar-i-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway.

Following the agreement on this project by the three countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the previous Afghan government announced that the Asian Development Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, the US Embassy in Uzbekistan, and several other organisations had expressed their readiness to finance the project.

According to the project's roadmap, the 650-kilometre railway line will connect Termez, Mazar-i-Sharif, Kabul, and Peshawar.

IOC Doesn’t Allow Taliban Presence At Paris 2024 Olympics

Jun 14, 2024, 14:01 GMT+1

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that no Taliban officials will be permitted to attend the Paris 2024 Olympics.

A spokesperson for the committee stated that Afghanistan will participate with a team comprising three women and three men, emphasising on gender equality.

During a press conference on Thursday, Mark Adams, the IOC spokesperson said that the formation of a gender-equal team sends a message to Afghanistan, where under the Taliban rule, women and girls' access to sports, gyms, and fitness centres has been restricted.

Adams mentioned that the IOC recognises the President of the Afghan National Olympic Committee, whose Secretary-General is currently in exile.

The IOC spokesperson added, "We have been working with the NOC president and the secretary general, who we recognise in exile, over some time".

He emphasised that there will be no place for Taliban officials in Paris. No official representatives of the Taliban government will be accredited to attend the 2024 Olympic Games.

Recently, the committee stated that it is in negotiations with the Afghan National Committee and sports officials to remove the current restrictions on women's and girls' sports in Afghanistan.

Male athletes are set to compete in track and field, swimming, and judo, while Afghan female athletes will participate in track and field and cycling competitions.

Iranian Presidential Candidate Promises Sealing Border With Afghanistan, If Elected

Jun 14, 2024, 11:33 GMT+1

Massoud Pezeshkian, a presidential candidate in Iran, says he will seal the border with Afghanistan, if elected.

This reformist candidate stated that Western countries should take responsibility for their actions in Afghanistan, which led to the migration of millions of Afghans.

He said that the people of Iran have no reason to "bear the costs of others' wrong policies”.

On Thursday, June 13, Pezeshkian outlined his plans regarding Afghan migrants in Iran in response to a question from a user on X social media platform.

He emphasised that if he wins the presidential election, he will implement three measures concerning Afghan migrants simultaneously.

He stated that his potential government would completely seal the borders, organise the migrants, and negotiate with European countries regarding the acceptance of some Afghan refugees currently in Iran.

Pezeshkian is one of six candidates in the fourteenth presidential election in Iran. He is the only candidate from the reformist faction in Iran.

This Iranian candidate wrote that to prevent the influx of migrants into Iran, he would completely seal the borders. He acknowledged that although Afghans have played a significant role in Iran's economy and made sacrifices for the Islamic Republic of Iran during the "imposed war," they need to be organised.

The Iranian Ministry of Interior has said that approximately five million Afghans live in the country.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of Parliament and another presidential candidate, also stated that if elected, he would seal the country's border with Afghanistan and expel foreign nationals.

One Taliban Member Killed In Kabul, Claims AFF

Jun 14, 2024, 09:54 GMT+1

At least three sources from Kabul confirmed to Afghanistan International that an explosion occurred around 8PM on Wednesday, June 12, at the Tahia-e Maskan neighbourhood of Kabul.

The Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that one Taliban member was killed and another was injured in the incident.

Residents near the explosion site, located in the 4th district of Kabul, confirmed the incident to Afghanistan International. The Taliban has not yet commented in this regard.

AFF is one of the Taliban’s opposition groups, primarily composed of former government military personnel.

On Monday, June 10, AFF also reported a guerrilla attack on a Taliban checkpoint in Darulaman area of Kabul. The front claimed that three Taliban members were killed and one was injured in the attack.

Ariana News Anchor Assaulted by Alleged Taliban Members

Jun 14, 2024, 09:28 GMT+1

Abdul Aziz Sakhizada, an Ariana News anchor, reported on Thursday that he was beaten up by individuals who identified themselves as members of the Taliban.

Sakhizada wrote in a note on Facebook that there were two attackers. The Taliban is yet to comment on the incident.

Mujeeb Bahir, the head of Ariana News, responded to a question from Afghanistan International by stating that he was unaware of the incident.

Ariana News is a private news network based in Kabul that has continued to operate under Taliban conditions and restrictions since their takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.