Pakistan’s Defence Minister Supports Ban On Passport & Visa-Free Travel at Afghan Border

Khorasani stated, "This is not an Islamic Emirate, but rather an ethnic Emirate of the Kandahari and Zadran tribes."

According to him, the Taliban do not value people, especially women, "even as much as an animal”.

In a message sent to Afghanistan International on Friday, Khorasani added that the Taliban leadership lacks a fair perspective and that "power is monopolised by a specific circle."

He claims that Taliban officials deceive the public through the media and secretly mock the people, looking at them "with contempt”.

Khorasani described the Taliban's behaviour as "foolish" and said that continuing this trend will lead to the destruction of the "Emirate of Pashtuns”.

He justified his remarks by stating that he has personally witnessed the Taliban's behaviour.

Khorasani believes that the presence of Tajik and Uzbek Taliban representatives, including Qari Fasihuddin, is "symbolic" and that they "lack authority”.

This disgruntled Tajik-origin Taliban commander claimed that, according to his information, Qari Fasihuddin, the Taliban’s chief of staff, is forbidden to leave the country, and his orders are not enforceable in the Ministry of Defense.

According to him, what the Taliban preach "is not Islam but the ignorance of a group of ignorant Pashtun tribesmen”.

This is not the first time Abdul Hamid Khorasani has accused the Taliban of ethnic favouritism and harshly criticised the group.

In June 2023, he had said, "I am humiliated and insulted more under the Taliban's rule than I was under the previous government."

So far, Taliban officials have not responded to Khorasani's statements.

Jalali wrote on X social media platform that regional countries are advocating for the removal of banking sanctions on the Taliban.

On Friday, he wrote that it has been anticipated that discussions at the Doha meeting will focus on the "removal of unilateral and illegal sanctions”.

This Taliban official highlighted that the financial and banking sanctions have hindered trade development between Afghanistan and the region.

He views the third Doha meeting on Afghanistan as an opportunity for dialogue between the Taliban and Western countries regarding these sanctions.

Jalali noted that regional and trans-regional meetings have seen countries calling for the lifting of banking sanctions against Afghanistan. While he did not specify which countries, it appears he is referring to Russia, China, Uzbekistan, and Iran, which have previously urged the release of Afghanistan's frozen assets.

Addressing the widespread protests demanding the Taliban's exclusion from the Doha meeting, Jalali suggested that the West does not want to fall behind other players in engaging with the Taliban. He mentioned that understanding between the Taliban and regional countries is growing.

The Taliban's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that Zabihullah Mujahid, the group's spokesperson, will lead the Taliban delegation at the third Doha meeting.

Kabulov noted that constructive cooperation between the international community and the Taliban would help address the socio-economic challenges faced by the people of Afghanistan.

The third Doha meeting for Afghanistan is scheduled to be held on June 30 and July 1, hosted by the United Nations. Special representatives of various countries on Afghan affairs will attend this meeting.

The Taliban's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that Zabihullah Mujahid, the group's spokesperson, will lead the Taliban delegation at the third Doha meeting.

Kabulov told TASS news agency on Friday that he will meet with Taliban representatives on the sidelines of the Doha meeting.

Kabulov, who participated in the two previous Doha meetings for Afghanistan, had stated in April 2024 that the third Doha meeting would not yield results without the presence of the Taliban.

According to sources, Commander Hamza was ambushed by the Taliban in Kohgaday village, Nahrin District, Baghlan.

The source added that at least one of Commander Hamza's companions was also killed in the battle.

Both the Taliban and the National Resistance Front have yet to officially comment on the incident.

The Resistance News Agency, affiliated with the NRF, recently released a video on social media showing Abdul Samad Kohgaday in the mountains of his native place Nahrin. In the video, Commander Hamza emphasised on the continuation of resistance against the Taliban.

Speaking at a ceremony in Beijing on Friday, he reaffirmed China's commitment to promoting peace.

According to Chinese media outlets, Xi stated that Beijing will continue to play a constructive role in the Ukraine crisis, resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and addressing issues related to the Korean Peninsula, Iran, Myanmar, and Afghanistan.

Xi Jinping made these remarks at the 70th anniversary celebration of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in Beijing.

Although China, like other countries, does not recognise the Taliban, it maintains economic and diplomatic relations with the group and has handed over the Afghan embassy in Beijing to the Taliban.

Yue Xiaoyong, China's special envoy for Afghanistan, recently stated in an interview with Iranian media outlet IRNA that the international community should respect "the culture of the Afghans" and their "approach to handling internal affairs”.

This Chinese diplomat reiterated the importance of the international community refraining from any interference in Afghanistan's internal affairs, advising against "imposing external solutions to resolve Afghanistan's issues”.