Taliban Says Over 10,000 Afghan Refugees Expelled From Iran & Pakistan

CNN reported that multiple US security officials believe that the withdrawal from Afghanistan has reduced the country's ability to gather intelligence on terrorism threats in Afghanistan.

Earlier, the New York Post, citing informed sources, reported that six Tajik citizens were arrested in three US cities on charges of membership in ISIS-K.

US intelligence officials are keenly aware of the intelligence-gathering gaps in Afghanistan, where ISIS-Khorasan is said to be based.

According to CNN, US officials believe that instead of training and field operations, ISIS-K is trying to radicalise and inspire attackers.

CNN did not name these US officials.

The US officials and analysts closely monitoring Islamist terrorist groups say that ISIS-K has significantly increased its online propaganda capabilities.

According to terrorism experts, citizens of Tajikistan, one of the poorest countries in the world with a population facing severe religious repression, are more vulnerable to recruitment by ISIS.

Colin Clarke, a researcher who specialises in terrorism, said that ISIS is strengthening its propaganda to reach "diasporas currently in Europe, North America, and the region and Central Asia, and is trying to encourage people to carry out attacks”.

Two US officials also said that immigration and intelligence officials are appropriately monitoring anyone traveling from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan to the United States.

Vahidi stated that "all unauthorised foreigners must be returned to their countries," and those who do not create obstacles by their presence should be organised and monitored.

Iranian media reported on Friday, that Vahidi, on the sidelines of a meeting in Fars province, said, "We cannot accept unauthorised foreigners, and the acceptance cap for foreigners is a specific number based on labour market needs and the job atlas."

Iranian media and officials of the Islamic Republic primarily use the term "unauthorised foreigners" to refer to Afghan migrants in Iran.

This is not the first time Iran's Interior Minister has warned about the expulsion of Afghan migrants.

Last month, he had stated that in the past year, 1.3 million "illegal" migrants were expelled from Iran.

He added that Iran will not accept new foreigners, and all "unauthorised" foreigners must leave the country.

Following the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, a significant number of people fled to other countries, including Iran.

The Islamic Republic of Iran detains thousands of Afghan migrants every week and deports them back to Afghanistan.

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.

Taliban officials have not yet commented in this regard.

According to sources, this local journalist previously worked for the private Mitra TV and the state-run Maarif TV network.

The Taliban had previously arrested several journalists in Parwan province.

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.

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.