8 Family Members Die in Sheberghan-Maimana Highway Accident

According to local residents, on Saturday night, the Taliban defaced the statue of Mazari with a drill and then covered it with plaster.

Residents told Afghanistan International that on Sunday, the presence of Taliban members at the Pul-e Sokhta square was higher than usual, preventing people from taking photos of the damaged statue.

Witnesses said that on Saturday night, Taliban members struck the face of Abdul Ali Mazari’s statue with a drill and nails, causing damage to it.

They added that another group of Taliban members then attempted to cover the damaged part of the statue with plaster.

Locals say that some other statues at the Pul-e Sokhta intersection have been destroyed too.

The Taliban has not yet commented in this regard.

In a similar move in November 2021, the Taliban destroyed Abdul Ali Mazari’s statue in Bamiyan province and replaced it with a stone plaque bearing verses from the Quran.

Abdul Ali Mazari was the former leader of Hezb-e Wahdat party who was imprisoned and subsequently killed during the Taliban’s first reign in the 1995. The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan had given him the title of “Martyr of National Unity”.

In another incident on Saturday, July 6, the Taliban destroyed the image of Amanullah Khan, a former king of Afghanistan, in Torkham, Nangarhar province, and replaced it with their flag.

The UNHCR and Pakistani officials confirmed that Grandi is visiting Pakistan to discuss the challenges faced by Afghan refugees.

The senior UN official's visit coincides with the Pakistani government's decision of the second phase of the mass deportation of Afghan refugees from the country.

During his visit, Grandi is expected to meet with Pakistani officials and Afghan refugees to discuss their issues and plans for their return to Afghanistan.

Grandi is anticipated to meet Afghan refugees in Peshawar on Monday before travelling to Islamabad.

Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA), under Taliban control, has quoted Taliban officials describing Grandi's visit to Pakistan as "important" for resolving Afghan refugee issues.

Recent reports indicate that the second phase of deporting undocumented Afghan refugees from Pakistan has begun. According to these reports, around 800,000 Afghan refugees are expected to be returned to Afghanistan in this phase.

The UN Refugee Agency has expressed concern about the deportation of undocumented refugees, particularly Afghans. Meanwhile, Pakistani officials have accused some Afghan citizens of being involved in "violent incidents" in Pakistan, emphasising the need for the deportation plan. The Taliban have denied Afghan involvement in violent incidents in Pakistan.

According to Pakistani officials, over 500,000 Afghans were deported from Pakistan in the first phase of the Afghan refugee deportation.

During the Organisation of Turkic States meeting in Azerbaijan, Mirziyoyev called for the release of Afghanistan's frozen assets.

The Organisation of Turkic States includes Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan.

According to TASS news agency, Mirziyoyev mentioned that, unfortunately, due to the intensification of wars and conflicts in other parts of the world, Afghanistan, their neighbour where millions of Turkic people live, has fallen out of the global community's attention.

He stated that the return of Afghanistan's frozen assets would help improve the situation in the country.

Mirziyoyev proposed that a common and unified approach towards Afghanistan be placed on the agenda of the foreign ministers of the Organisation of Turkic States.

Like other countries, Uzbekistan does not recognise the Taliban, but it maintains relatively close relations with the group.

The President of Uzbekistan added that his country will continue to provide necessary assistance to the people of Afghanistan.

The ministry stated that during these two days, a section of the Kabul-Kandahar highway will undergo asphalting. In a press release issued on Sunday, the Ministry of Public Works mentioned that the Sheikhabad bridge area in Saydabad district of Maidan Wardak province will be under maintenance.

The press release urged cargo and passenger vehicle drivers to use the Kabul-Logar route until the Kabul-Kandahar highway is reopened.

The Kabul-Kandahar highway was constructed with international assistance during the presidency of Hamid Karzai in early 2000s. However, a significant portion of this route has been destroyed due to the war in recent years.

The Taliban have been accused of destroying this road and its bridges during the insurgency against the previous republic order and the international forces.

According to witnesses, at least five Taliban members were injured in the incident. The Taliban stated they have killed one ISIS member.

Locals reported that the confrontation began when Taliban forces, dispatched to the area for inspection, clashed with ISIS members in a house in Momand Dara.

According to the sources, ISIS members first threw a grenade at the Taliban, resulting in injuries to at least five Taliban members. The Taliban transported the injured to a clinic in the Shinwar district.

Residents said the Taliban then intensified their attacks on the house, and the clashes continued for about an hour, eventually leading to the house being completely destroyed. Based on information from locals, the Taliban have currently surrounded the area, and sporadic gunfire can be heard in the vicinity.

Meanwhile, Al Mirsad, a website affiliated with Taliban intelligence, reported that in an operation by the group in Momand Dara district, an ISIS member named Zakirullah, known as Abu Shir, was killed. According to Al Mirsad, Abu Shir was the ISIS military commander in the Achin district of Nangarhar.