Muttaqi Hopes TAPI Gas Pipeline Extension in Afghanistan Will Begin Soon

During a call with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), he mentioned that they are working on a sustainable solution for Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

On Thursday, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the phone conversation between Ishaq Dar, Pakistan's Foreign Minister, and Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan stated that the two sides discussed issues related to the cooperation between Pakistan and the UNHCR.

Dar said that "the recent attacks and violent demonstration (by Afghani diaspora) against Pakistan's diplomatic missions in Frankfurt, London, and Brussels” were also discussed with Grandi.

On July 20, a group of angry protestors entered the premises of the Pakistani Consulate in Frankfurt and took down the country's flag. According to reports, this incident occurred on the sidelines of a demonstration in support of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) in Pakistan and in protest against the killing of Gilaman Waziri, a member of this movement.

Pakistani citizens were also involved in this protest. On July 21, Pakistan's Information and Broadcasting Minister announced that the identification cards and passports of Pakistani citizens involved in the attack on the consulate in Frankfurt, Germany, would be blocked.

Following the attack, Pakistan summoned the German ambassador. The spokesperson of the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Berlin has committed to punishing the perpetrators of the attack.

Earlier, following the death of Gilaman Waziri, several PTM supporters also stormed the Pakistani embassy in London.

Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the High Commissioner for Refugees has appreciated the recent decision by the Pakistani government to extend the validity of refugee registration cards.

The two sides agreed to continue their cooperation to advance Pakistan-UNHCR collaboration and to find sustainable solutions for the Afghan refugee issue.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees visited Pakistan earlier this month to review the situation of Afghan refugees. After talks with Pakistani officials, he announced the agreement to extend the residency cards for Afghan refugees.

Hanafi added that "the Taliban leadership fully supports the One China Policy and its proposed major projects”.

He expressed hope that the Wakhan Corridor will play an important role in developing economic relations between Afghanistan and China.

The One China Policy is a principle established by the Chinese government, declaring that there is only one country named China and that Taiwan is an inseparable part of it. This policy rejects the recognition of Taiwan as an independent country and asserts that the People's Republic of China is the only legitimate government of China.

The United States recognises the People's Republic of China as the legitimate government of China and does not support Taiwan's formal independence. However, Washington does not formally consider Taiwan a part of China and has urged Beijing not to annex Taiwan by military force, but to resolve its differences with Taipei peacefully.

The Deputy Prime Minister of the Taliban’s support for China's projects refers to the "Belt and Road Initiative," which includes a network of infrastructure projects aimed at improving trade and investment in over 60 countries across Asia, Europe, and Africa.

In a statement, the Taliban announced that Hanafi, in a meeting with Li Qun, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of China, said that Afghanistan has a historic and close relationship with China, and China has remained a good friend to Afghanistan throughout history.

Hanafi thanked China as an important economic and political partner and stated that "China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, should continue to support Afghanistan's position on the international stage”.

He expressed hope that the Wakhan Corridor will play an important role in developing economic relations between Afghanistan and China. The Deputy Prime Minister of the Taliban welcomed the start of the Aynak copper project and expressed hope that extraction activities would begin as soon as possible.

The Taliban official emphasised that neighbouring countries, including China and all other countries, can rest assured that the Taliban will never allow Afghanistan's territory to be used against them.

According to the Taliban, the Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of China emphasised on the protection of historical artefacts at Aynak copper area and expressed hope that "the Taliban regime remains stable”.

He came to Kabul for the inauguration of the Aynak copper road and to meet with Taliban officials.

Shojai reported that the border guards of the country have been equipped with electronic and optical equipment for better monitoring of the area.

Khorasan Razavi province shares approximately 302 kilometres of border with Afghanistan to the east.

Shojai also reported that since the beginning of this year, 160,000 litres of smuggled fuel have been discovered at the borders of this province.

The border guards of the Islamic Republic of Iran have repeatedly reported the discovery of drugs at the Afghanistan border over the past three years.

Eskandar Momeni, Secretary General of Drug Control Headquarters, requested in May 2023 from Roza Otunbayeva, the UN Special Representative for Afghanistan, to consider drug trafficking as a serious threat.

Momeni said that there has been no decrease in the production, growth, and trafficking of drugs in Afghanistan.

Residents claim that this cleric's murder is part of a series of "serial murders" in Khas Uruzgan district of Uruzgan province.

On July 20, local sources informed Afghanistan International that unknown individuals had stabbed Rustam Rahimi, a mosque mullah, to death in Khas Uruzgan district. Rahimi was killed inside the mosque.

Sources said that in recent days, the Taliban have continuously summoned residents of the Shashpar area and even detained some for questioning. According to the sources, some detainees were released after interrogation, but about 43 individuals, arrested on Tuesday and Wednesday, remain in custody.

Sources added that on Thursday, July 25, the Taliban also detained more residents from the area for interrogation.

Several sources confirmed to Afghanistan International that Rahimi's wife was the first person to enter the mosque after the attack and witnessed the assailants.

According to sources, Rahimi's wife reported that the attackers were from "Pashtun" ethnicity, but the Taliban members did not accept her testimony, insisting that since she is a woman, another woman's testimony is needed to corroborate her statement.

Sources stated that Taliban officials are trying to blame the murder of the Shia cleric on the Hazaras living in the area. They added that the group is attempting to pressure Rahimi's family into testifying against the Hazaras.

Last year, United Nations mission in Afghanistan confirmed ongoing violence and killings against Hazaras in Khas Uruzgan district.

Earlier, residents of the Shashpar area reported that Rahimi's murder was the 21st murder in the area over the past three years. Residents accuse the Taliban of being involved in the systematic killing of Hazaras.

Last year, local sources from Uruzgan province told Afghanistan International that in the past two years, 14 residents of the Joy Now village (Shashpar) in Khas Uruzgan district were "systematically and deliberately" killed.

Haqqani noted that the Taliban's Ministry of Interior is actively working to professionally train these forces.

According to a note by Abdul Mateen Qani, the spokesperson for the Taliban's Ministry of Interior on X, Haqqani described the police forces as a "major factor" in ensuring security during a meeting in Kabul.

Over nearly three years, the Taliban government has dismissed many military personnel and employees from the previous government from state institutions.
On Tuesday, during a speech at the "National Labour Conference," Haqqani expressed concern about the dismissal of previous government employees by the Taliban.

The Taliban's Minister of Interior stated, "We should not dismiss others from work and replace them with ourselves."