Former Security Forces Member Killed In Kandahar

Sources told Afghanistan International that under the pretext of ensuring security, Taliban fighters have also blocked all roads in western Kabul.

The sources stated that the telecommunication networks in Kabul were cut off on Tuesday morning.

Afghanistan International's sources indicated that the Taliban, in addition to cutting communication networks, have prohibited residents of western Kabul from moving around the Shia neighbourhoods.

According to the sources, there is a significant presence of Taliban fighters in western Kabul.

In previous years, the Taliban had also cut off telecommunication networks in several Afghan cities on the occasion of Ashura.

The Taliban have not officially commented on the shutdown of telecommunication networks and the internet in Afghanistan.

The ministry stated that since the implementation of the plan to deport Afghan migrants began, more than 653,000 Afghans have been repatriated to their country.

Pakistani media reported that from July 3 to July 15, 7,126 men, 4,926 women, and 3,675 Afghan children have been deported from Pakistan.

According to the media reports, these migrants were returned to Afghanistan using 510 vehicles.

The programme to deport Afghan migrants from Pakistan started in October 2023.

Recently, Pakistan extended the validity of Afghan Proof of Registration (PoR) cards for one year, but the deportation of migrants without residence documents continues.

The Taliban police command in Badghis and local residents have confirmed that the explosion was caused by a grenade.

However, the Taliban have stated that no one was harmed in the incident.

Local sources told Afghanistan International on Monday morning that they heard an explosion in Qala-e-Naw, the capital of Badghis.

Hours after the explosion, NRF, led by Ahmad Massoud, released a statement claiming responsibility for the incident.

The front claims that in their guerrilla attack, four Taliban members, including a local official, were killed and two other Taliban members were injured.

NRF also claimed that this was the second attack against the Taliban in Badghis province in the past 12 hours. They added that on Sunday night, their forces attacked the Taliban in the Bala Murghab district of the province, resulting in the deaths of two Taliban members and the injury of two others.

Independent sources and the Taliban have not yet confirmed the attack in Bala Murghab.

NRF stated that their forces were not harmed in these attacks.

According to the organisation, over 67% of births in Afghanistan are attended by a skilled health professional.

UNICEF said that giving birth outside of healthcare facilities and without the assistance of skilled healthcare providers puts pregnant women's lives at serious risk.

In a report, the organisation shared the story of Fahima, a midwife in Mazar-i-Sharif, who emphasised that pregnant women should meet with a skilled doctor at least four times before giving birth, but only one-third of women in Afghanistan do this.

Fahima told UNICEF that many pregnant women do not know how to provide themselves with healthy meals during pregnancy.

Previously, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had reported that every day, 24 mothers and 167 children in Afghanistan die from preventable diseases related to pregnancy and childbirth.

The United Nations has also described Afghanistan as one of the worst countries for maternal mortality rates during childbirth.

According to statistics released by WHO in December 2023, since 2017, 638 women in Afghanistan die annually per 100,000 live births.

Mujahid later deleted the news of Hibatullah's meeting with these officials, who had at times criticised the group's general policies.

He did not provide any explanation for deleting this post.

The Taliban’s spokesperson had announced that Hibatullah met Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Interior Minister; Yaqoob Mujahid, the Defence Minister; and Abdul Haq Wasiq, General Director of Intelligence, in Kandahar city.

During this meeting, "the heads of security organs presented their progress and activities to the leadership”.

The meetings and sessions of the Taliban leader have been closely watched by observers and the media, given the multiple reports of internal disagreements over the implementation of the Taliban's general policies.

Among the senior Taliban officials, Haqqani and Yaqoob have criticised the government's policies on several occasions.

Yaqoob had told Taliban members in Kabul not to blindly follow anyone’s orders.

He had previously said that arrogance and pride should be set aside, and legitimate demands of the people should be met.

Haqqani had complained about the "monopoly of power" within the Taliban government, saying such behaviour is unacceptable.

Furthermore, at a ceremony marking the second anniversary of the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, the Taliban’s Interior Minister acknowledged that there are differences of opinion among Taliban leaders on how to resolve "problems”.

However, Haqqani immediately emphasised that "the common goal of all is a stable and united Afghanistan”.

The Brookings Institution, a US research institute, had reported that there are serious disagreements among Taliban leaders regarding the group's policies. The report stated that Mullah Hibatullah, the Taliban leader, is stubborn and uncompromising, while Yaqoob is pragmatic and easier for the West to work with.

Nevertheless, following speculations about internal disagreements within the Taliban, the group officials have consistently emphasised unity among the group.

The Taliban Foreign Minister said in a meeting with the group’s spokespersons and supporters in Kabul on Sunday that disagreement and disrupting unity could lead to the downfall and deviation of the regime.