Former Afghan Soldier Detained by Taliban After Deportation from Iran, Claims Wife

In a statement released on Monday, Hengaw noted a significant rise in anti-Afghan racism within the country, both at the governmental and social levels.

The organisation labelled the deportation of Afghan migrants and the imposition of residency restrictions as "apartheid," urging both Iranian and international human rights and civil society organisations to address this issue.

The statement highlighted the recent arrest of Kobra Gholami, stating, "Kobra Gholami was threatened with deportation to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan for not complying with compulsory hijab laws, which exemplifies the severe injustice faced by Afghan migrants."

Hengaw expressed deep concern over the worsening human rights situation for Afghans under Taliban rule and the rising social hostility towards Afghan migrants in Iran. The statement also pointed out that despite having lived and worked in Iran for years, many Afghan migrants are denied residency permits in numerous provinces. Hengaw cautioned that the continuation of these practices could result in a humanitarian crisis.

The organisation also reported that at least 25 Afghan prisoners have been executed in Iranian prisons over the past seven months. Following the Taliban's seizure of Kabul in August 2021, a considerable number of Afghan citizens sought refuge in Iran. Experts note that this migration was driven by multiple factors, including fear of Taliban reprisals, economic hardships, and the pursuit of educational opportunities for girls.

During the session, OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha reviewed the organisation's initiatives and efforts related to the situation in Afghanistan.

In his remarks, Taha also discussed broader issues such as peace, security, stability, and development within OIC member states, as well as the protection of Muslim communities and minority rights.

The situation in Jammu and Kashmir was also a point of discussion.

While the OIC's official statement provided limited details on the specifics of the meeting, the organisation has consistently advocated for the rights of Afghan women and girls, particularly emphasising on their access to education and employment.

Earlier this year, the OIC's Deputy and Special Representative for Afghanistan visited the country and highlighted the necessity of educational opportunities for girls during discussions with Taliban officials.

Kabir also encouraged Western countries to reopen their embassies in Kabul, emphasising on the importance of addressing Afghan matters from within the country.

Kabir, who was in Qatar for the funeral of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas' Political Bureau, met with several Western ambassadors in Doha on Sunday evening.

According to a statement released by Hamidullah Fitrat, the Taliban's deputy spokesperson, the meeting included representatives from the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Canada, Italy, Australia, and South Korea.

The statement highlighted that Kabir assured the Western diplomats of the prevailing security and stability in Afghanistan.

Since the Taliban's rise to power in August 2021, Western embassies in Kabul have been closed, with their diplomatic functions typically being managed from Doha, Qatar. Taliban officials have consistently called for these embassies to be reopened in Kabul to facilitate direct engagement.

Fitrat explained on Sunday that the committee's mandate includes providing essential services, as well as both religious and modern education, to the residents of these regions.

The committee is chaired by Noorullah Noori, the Taliban's Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs, and comprises deputy directors from border provinces, district governors, and representatives from the Ministry of Defence in the border districts.

The Taliban's initiative aims to deliver not only basic services, but also telecommunications, infrastructure development, and access to clean drinking water for the border communities. The group's leadership has instructed the Taliban's Ministry of Finance to ensure the necessary funding is allocated for the committee's activities.

This committee's formation follows an earlier announcement from Pakistan during the Taliban's initial period in power, indicating an agreement to create a committee to address border issues.

The practical implementation of this project is expected to commence soon. Mahmoudi stated that the project could generate an annual revenue of $65 million for the Taliban administration.

During a presentation on Saturday of the ministry's annual achievements, Mahmoudi said, "We are in contact with the World Bank, agreements have been reached on their part, and [the project] will soon begin, with completion expected by 2026."

He emphasised that once the project is operational, the transit of electricity to Pakistan will generate $65 million annually.

Last year in March, the World Bank announced that construction on the CASA-1000 power transmission line would resume in Afghanistan, following requests from the participating countries, including Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan.

As per the World Bank's guidelines, all payments related to the construction of the CASA-1000 project will be managed outside of Afghanistan, bypassing the Taliban's administrative control.
Although the project faced delays after the Taliban's rise to power, the World Bank disclosed late last year that the available $110 million for the project would be utilised.

The CASA-1000 project is designed to transmit electricity from Central Asia to South Asia. It was officially inaugurated in 2016 in Tajikistan, with leaders from the region in attendance. The original completion date was set for March 2022.

The transmission line, with a capacity of 500 kilowatts, will traverse seven Afghan provinces before reaching Pakistan.

Additionally, Mahmoudi highlighted that the Taliban's Ministry of Energy is investing in natural and renewable energy production in Afghanistan's warmer regions, such as Farah and Paktika. He mentioned that three contracts have been signed with a private company, but he did not disclose further details about these projects or the contracting entity.