Taliban Will Not Permit Foreign Interference, Says Iranian Acting FM

Xing stated that the meeting focused on enhancing cooperation with Afghanistan. On Sunday, the ambassador wrote on the social media platform X: "Great pleasure to meet with DSRSG for Afghanistan Markus Potzel and exchange views on strengthening China and the United Nations' cooperation in Afghanistan and the third meeting of Special Envoys and Special Representatives on Afghanistan."

The Chinese ambassador had previously met and discussed the third Doha meeting with Tomas Niklasson, the European Union Special Representative for Afghanistan.

Earlier, a Taliban spokesperson confirmed to the media that their representatives will participate in the third Doha meeting.

The third Doha meeting, hosted by the United Nations, is expected to take place in Qatar on June 30 and July 1. Special representatives from regional and international players are expected to participate in the upcoming meeting.

China is one of the few countries that has established close relations with the Taliban following their takeover of power in Afghanistan, signing multiple agreements with the group in the country's mining sector.

The council called on political and military groups opposing the Taliban to unite in the fight against them. On Saturday, June 15, the NRCA stated that Afghanistan under Taliban rule lacks a legitimate and legal system.

According to the council, this year’s Eid al-Adha is celebrated while the Taliban have deprived women and girls of all basic human rights, especially the rights to education and work. The statement added that, in addition to depriving women and girls of their basic human rights, the Taliban have continued "killings, torture, and usurpation of people's property."

The council urged regional and global powers, which have so far engaged in one-sided interactions with the Taliban, to reconsider their approach. The NRCA warned countries currently signing various economic agreements with the Taliban that these contracts are illegal and illegitimate, and that the Taliban use the benefits from these contracts to promote violence and foster terrorism.

The council emphasised that stability and peace in Afghanistan can only be achieved through a government founded on public will and free, fair elections. The council also called on Afghanistan's neighbouring countries to refrain from forcibly expelling Afghan migrants and to wait until conditions for a peaceful and humane existence are established in Afghanistan.

Recently, Iran's ambassador in Kabul declared Afghanistan a part of the "axis of resistance" and mentioned that "martyrdom" forces from Afghanistan would go to Gaza if needed.

Al-Akhbar, a newspaper affiliated with Hezbollah in Lebanon, reported that Taliban leaders have promised Iranian officials to send fighters to Lebanon in support of Hezbollah against Israel.

Following Israel's military attack on the Gaza Strip, Hezbollah has clashed with the Israeli army, with the conflict intensifying in recent days. Like Hamas, Hezbollah is a militia group supported by Iran.

In recent months, Taliban leaders and Hamas have held several meetings, with the Taliban expressing support for Palestinian militant groups against Israel.

In February, Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Iran's special representative for Afghanistan, stated that although Afghanistan is not close to Gaza, it is part of the "axis of resistance."

Iran refers to groups it supports and others fighting against the Western coalition and Israel as the "axis of resistance."

Qomi's statements sparked widespread reactions in Afghanistan. On 8 February 2024, Al-Mirsad, a media outlet affiliated with Taliban intelligence agency, challenged Iran's regional policy, questioning why Iran does not order Hezbollah to fight directly against Israel "instead of killing Sunnis in Syria."

Husam Badran, a member of Hamas' political bureau, said in an interview with the Taliban-controlled Bakhtar News Agency in February that the Afghans’ jihad and the Taliban's victory in Afghanistan have been inspiring for Hamas.

The Taliban and Iran have maintained close relations, with Iranian and Taliban officials travelling between Kabul and Tehran numerous times over the past three years.

The Afghan Taliban and the Pakistani government had declared Sunday as Arafah and Monday as Eid.

Shahadat posted a video on the social platform X, stating that "thousands" of people performed the Eid prayer at the Islamic Party Grand Mosque. The images show a large number of worshipers engaged in prayer.

The Shahadat newspaper did not mention the exact location of the prayer, but some sources indicated that the mosque is located in the Shamshato Camp in Peshawar, Pakistan.

Unlike Saudi Arabia, the Taliban declared Sunday as Arafah and Monday as Eid. This decision has elicited numerous reactions from politicians and citizens on social networks.

The Taliban declared Monday as Eid, even though several senior officials of the group who are on pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia celebrated Eid on Sunday. Some users have pointed out this "contradiction" in the Taliban's announcement of the Eid day.

Mujahid stated that the composition of the delegation representing the group in Doha will be announced soon.

The third Doha meeting, hosted by the United Nations and attended by special representatives of countries on Afghan affairs, is scheduled to take place on June 30 and July 1.

Mujahid mentioned that the Taliban have discussed the agenda of the meeting with the United Nations and have deemed it beneficial for Afghanistan.

Previously, the Taliban had set conditions for participating in the third Doha meeting. These conditions included setting their desired agenda, granting the group Afghanistan's seat in the United Nations, and not inviting members of civil society to the meeting.

The Taliban also requested that the United Nations refrain from appointing a new special representative for Afghanistan.

It is not yet clear to what extent the United Nations has accepted the Taliban's conditions.