Taliban’s ‘Pashtunism & Discrimination’ Will Destroy It, Says Group Commander

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.

Lifting Of Sanctions To Be Discussed In Doha Meeting, Claims Taliban Official

Jun 28, 2024, 13:58 GMT+1

Zakir Jalali, a senior official from the Taliban's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that the upcoming Doha meeting is expected to address the lifting of sanctions imposed by the West on the group.

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.

Doha Meeting's Success Hinges On Cooperation Between Taliban & World, Says Russian Envoy

Jun 28, 2024, 12:44 GMT+1

Zamir Kabulov, the Russian special representative for Afghanistan, stated that the third Doha meeting will be successful if it facilitates cooperation between the international community and the Taliban.

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.

National Resistance Front Commander Killed In Battle With Taliban

Jun 28, 2024, 11:26 GMT+1

Sources from the National Resistance Front (NRF) confirmed to Afghanistan International that Abdul Samad Kohgaday, also known as Commander Hamza, a commander of the NRF, was killed in a battle with 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.

China to Continue Addressing Afghanistan's Issues, Says President Xi Jinping

Jun 28, 2024, 10:23 GMT+1

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China will continue to play its role in addressing issues related to Afghanistan.

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”.

Afghanistan’s Religious Minorities Face Violence, Discrimination, Says US State Department

Jun 28, 2024, 09:35 GMT+1

The US State Department released its annual report on "International Religious Freedom" on Wednesday, stating that religious minorities in Afghanistan faced violent attacks and widespread discrimination last year.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, while presenting the department's annual report, said that millions of people worldwide do not enjoy religious freedoms.

The report emphasises that over the past year, the Taliban has not protected places of worship in Afghanistan.

The US State Department's annual report mentions the declining population of Sikhs and Hindus, attacks on Shia places of worship, and assaults on Hazaras.

Referring to the killing of a Salafi cleric in February 2023 in Kapisa province, the report notes that thousands of Salafi followers have left Afghanistan since the Taliban took control.

The report cites sources indicating that the killing, torture, and forced displacement of Hazaras by the Taliban, as well as the seizure of their land and homes, have occurred in Bamiyan, Daikundi, Maidan Wardak, Baghlan, Balkh, Kunduz, Badakhshan, Herat, Ghazni, Sar-e Pul, Kandahar, Uruzgan, Takhar, and Samangan.

The report states that Sikhs and Hindus are concerned about their safety under the Taliban rule in Afghanistan and fear torture if they file a complaint in court.

According to the US State Department, more than 900 Sikh and Hindu citizens have left Afghanistan since the Taliban's takeover, with only six remaining to protect their sacred sites and books.

The report quotes a Christian rights organisation as stating, "The Taliban are striving for the complete eradication of Christianity or any other religious minority from the country."
Referring to the ban on the teaching of Shia jurisprudence in all schools, the report notes that no Shia clerics have participated in the country's religious councils.

The report also mentions that in July 2023, the Taliban banned the celebration of Eid al-Ghadir in Kabul, Balkh, Herat, and Daikundi provinces.

The US State Department report states, "In addition to religious issues, the Taliban have prepared an extremist violent curriculum for schools, which includes military training."

The report, referring to suicide attacks on worshippers in Baghlan in October 2023, an attack on a sports club in a Hazara-majority area of Kabul in November, and a bombing on a bus carrying Hazaras in Kabul on November 8, states that systematic attacks against Hazaras have not ceased.

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