Taliban Intelligence Arrests Former Afghan Government Employee & Brother in Kabul

The majority of these attacks targeted Chinese citizens.

The report highlights an incident in the Sindh province where Chinese and Japanese nationals were targeted, resulting in the deaths of 10 people, including five foreigners and five Pakistanis.

The report also details two attacks in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, once again targeting Chinese nationals. These attacks claimed the lives of 17 Chinese citizens, two Pakistani security personnel, and 19 locals.

Additionally, the report mentions four attacks in the Balochistan province, which also targeted Chinese nationals, leaving three people injured.

Pakistan has reported a significant increase in violence since the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan.

Various insurgent groups in Pakistan have been involved in attacks against security forces and foreign nationals, particularly Chinese citizens and interests. The most significant threat to Pakistan comes from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), whose leadership is believed to be based in Afghanistan, according to Pakistani officials.

The TTP, along with several Islamist groups in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, occasionally targets foreign nationals. Similar to the Afghan Taliban, the TTP seeks to establish and enforce Islamic Sharia law according to its interpretation of Islam. Meanwhile, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group fighting for the independence of Balochistan from Pakistan, has also intensified its attacks in recent times.

The incident occurred on Monday, following the recent implementation of the Taliban's new law on the propagation of virtue and prevention of vice.

The women visited the market to purchase essential items. According to sources, they were released from the custody after locals intervened.

Under the new Taliban law, women are prohibited from leaving their homes without a male guardian and must cover themselves fully when they do go out. Additionally, women's voices have been banned in public spaces.

Human rights organisations have warned that the enforcement of this law will severely restrict and confine the lives of Afghan women.
Previously, the Taliban dismissed concerns that this new law would lead to an increase in violence against women.

Bakhtar News Agency reported on Monday that the curriculum will be reviewed from a religious perspective.

The Taliban have not released specific details regarding the changes they intend to implement in the natural sciences textbooks.

Abdul Rauf Farahi, the head of curriculum development at the Ministry of Higher Education, stated, "New global experiences and advancements will be incorporated into the curriculum in the light of the teachings of Islam."

The review process will involve professors from the Faculty of Education, members of the National Curriculum Commission, and professional representatives from relevant departments, who will work on the curriculum over five days.

The review of natural sciences comes after the Taliban's Minister of Higher Education previously announced that the curriculum of over 70 faculties had been reviewed.

Following this, reports surfaced indicating a reduction in the scientific content of university curricula and an increase in religious content.

Recently, credible sources within the Ministry of Higher Education told Afghanistan International that the Taliban has reduced the teaching hours of core subjects in faculties and tripled the hours allocated to Islamic Culture courses.

Photos received show the bodies of at least eight individuals lying on the ground. A source within the Taliban confirmed that 12 people have been killed.

A video showing the dismembered body of the suicide bomber has been obtained by Afghanistan International.

Abdul Mateen Qani, spokesperson for the Taliban's Ministry of Interior, confirmed the explosion in Darulaman, Kabul, but did not provide further details about the nature of the explosion or the number of casualties.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the incident.

Local residents informed Afghanistan International at around 4:15pm local time that they heard the explosion on the street leading to the Darulaman Palace in Kabul's sixth district.
The explosion occurred as staff from the Directorate of Monitoring and Enforcement of Taliban Decrees were leaving work and heading home.

Muttaqi, who made a stop in Türkiye on his return from Cameroon to Kabul, was reportedly met with a cold and indifferent reception by Turkish officials.

Diplomatic sources confirm that despite keeping its embassy open in Kabul, Türkiye is not keen on expanding relations with the Taliban, describing the interaction as one of "necessity”.

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not provided any explanation for Hakan Fidan's refusal to meet Amir Khan Muttaqi.

Sources indicated that during his visit to Istanbul, the Taliban’s Foreign Minister only had brief and informal meetings with lower-level officials.

After being excluded from the group photo at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting and having the Taliban flag omitted, Muttaqi visited the Afghan consulate in Istanbul upon his return to Kabul.

Reports suggest that Muttaqi visited a few mosques in Türkiye as a tourist and met with staff at the Afghan consulate in Istanbul.
Three years after the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, no country, including Türkiye, has officially recognised the group's rule. However, diplomatic missions from both sides remain open and continue to engage with one another.