Haqqani Calls For Unity Among Taliban Amid Concerns Regarding Power Distribution

According to the IOM, approximately one million of these Afghans have sought asylum in European countries, while 85% have migrated to neighbouring nations.

On February 29, 2020, the United States signed a peace agreement with the Taliban in Doha, Qatar. Critics argue that this agreement paved the way for the collapse of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban's subsequent takeover of Kabul.

In a recent report, the IOM highlighted that since the Taliban assumed power in August 2021, Afghanistan has experienced significant economic inflation, with over half the population living in poverty.

The report indicates that around 70% of Afghans migrating to Iran cite a lack of job opportunities as their primary reason for leaving. The IOM also noted a substantial number of returnees from Iran, with nearly one million Afghans returning to their homeland in 2023, 70% of whom lacked residency documents.

The IOM stressed that many Afghan citizens, facing challenges in obtaining passports and visas, resort to illegal means of migration, often paying human traffickers to cross borders.

The report emphasises the increased risk of human rights violations for Afghans without travel documents, both at border crossings and in neighbouring countries. The IOM noted that these individuals frequently endure "cruel, inhuman, and degrading" treatment.

In light of these issues, the IOM has called on countries to suspend the deportation of Afghan migrants until conditions for a "safe, dignified, and voluntary" return are established.

This appeal comes as Pakistan and Iran have intensified the deportation of undocumented Afghan migrants in recent months. According to data from the Taliban's Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, over a thousand Afghan migrants are expelled daily from these two countries.

He expressed this after meeting with Abdul Kabir, the Taliban's deputy prime minister.

Mousavi highlighted the presence of numerous "internal and external challenging factors" in both Iran and Afghanistan.

Despite these complexities, Mousavi emphasised in a post on the social media platform X that both the Taliban and the Islamic Republic of Iran view their relationship as having "strategic importance" at the "highest levels."

The Iranian diplomat pointed out various challenging factors that could have a "destructive impact" on the relations between Iran and the Taliban.

Although the Islamic Republic, like other nations, does not officially recognise the Taliban government, it continues to maintain close ties with the group.

The meeting between the Taliban's deputy prime minister and the Iranian Foreign Ministry aide took place on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony for Iran's new president, Masoud Pezeshkian.

On Thursday, Abdul Kabir travelled from Iran to Qatar to attend the funeral of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas's political bureau, who was assassinated in Tehran.

Despite possessing valid residency documents, Gholami was summoned to the passport office and subsequently deported to Afghanistan on Thursday.

Her friends and supporters claim the expulsion was without legal basis.

Reports indicate that Gholami received several text messages warning her about her hijab before being called to the passport office. Upon arrival, she was detained by the Iranian police and deported within hours, without the opportunity to communicate with her family.

The incident has sparked an outcry on social media, where users launched a campaign with the hashtag "#BringKobraBack," expressing concern for her well-being and urging her return to Iran.

Shima Va’ezi, an Iranian social media user, highlighted Gholami's sudden deportation on social media platform X, noting, "Kobra is now on the bus and hasn't been able to speak or say goodbye to her family and loved ones. She had all the necessary residency documents and was pursuing a master's degree at Al-Zahra University."

Gholami has previously been an outspoken critic of the treatment of Afghan migrant women in Iran. She addressed these issues at the sixth Social-Cultural Research Conference in Iran last year, where she presented on "Afghan Migrant Women in the Cycle of Oppression" during a panel on "Femininity and Social-Cultural Transformation."

Patel characterised ISIS as an "international terrorist network" capable of executing attacks worldwide.

He emphasised on the consistent efforts of the US to ensure that Afghanistan does not become a base for terrorist activities against the United States and its allies.

Responding to a question from a Pakistani journalist regarding a United Nations report on the resurgence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, Patel underscored the ongoing collaboration between the US and its international and regional partners to combat terrorism.

The United Nations Security Council had previously reported a notable increase in terrorist attacks in Pakistan, raising concerns among member states about the threat posed by terrorist groups originating from Afghanistan. The council noted enhanced cooperation between the Afghan Taliban and Pakistani Taliban, including the sharing of manpower and training facilities.

In a report from late July, the UN monitoring team on ISIS, al-Qaeda, and the Taliban identified the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as the "largest terrorist group in Afghanistan”.

In the announcement, Hadad-Zervos outlined his priorities, which include the provision of essential services and the strengthening of small and medium-sized enterprises.

These initiatives are central to his strategy for Afghanistan's economic and social development.

Hadad-Zervos succeeds Melinda Good, who previously held the position. Since the Taliban takeover in 2021, the World Bank has committed over $1.7 billion in aid to Afghanistan, aimed at stabilising the country's economy and supporting its people.

The new director emphasised that one of his primary focuses will be to support critical sectors such as healthcare, food security, livelihoods, and education, with a particular emphasis on ensuring that women and girls benefit from these programs.
Hadad-Zervos, a US citizen, has been with the World Bank since 1996. He has previously served as Country Director for the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, bringing extensive experience to his new role in Afghanistan.