Closure of Afghan Embassies in Europe Signals Ties With Taliban, Says Iranian Diplomat

The statement notes that representatives from various countries, organisations, and the Taliban will be invited. However, the Taliban’s Prime Minister's Office (ARG), in a post on the social media platform X, did not specify the meeting's location or timing.

Afghanistan International has learned that the meeting is likely to be held next month in Dubai. Sources describe this gathering as another effort to engage with the Taliban, which the group plans to push for its official recognition during the event. Pro-Taliban organisations are also said to be promoting related proposals.

The Taliban confirmed that Abdul Kabir, the group's Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs, and Roza Otunbayeva discussed the meeting at the Arg in Kabul on Wednesday. Otunbayeva emphasised on the need for significant action to eradicate poppy cultivation and promote alternative crops.

The statement also mentions that Otunbayeva recently visited southern Afghanistan to further discuss the matter with Abdul Kabir. She is expected to present UNAMA's quarterly report on Afghanistan to the UN Security Council.

During the meeting, Abdul Kabir claimed that the Taliban prohibits the cultivation or harvesting of drugs in Afghanistan. He called for international support in combating drug production and urged UNAMA to present the "facts and progress" in Afghanistan to the UN Security Council.

The Security Council is scheduled to meet in September, where a representative from the United Nations in Afghanistan will be present.

Gandapur said that even if the government does not grant permission, he will, as the Chief Minister, direct tribal elders to engage in talks with the Taliban.

On Thursday, during a meeting with tribal leaders and party representatives, Gandapur emphasised that peace in this province depends on a peaceful Afghanistan. He stressed on the need for a clear policy and timeline to eradicate militancy in the region.

Gandapur acknowledged that a provincial high-level committee meeting will soon be convened to begin peace talks with the Taliban. He added that no war can be won without the support of the people and the government must conduct military operations against militants in coordination with the people of the province.

He also highlighted the importance of consulting tribal communities on security issues and taking action to resolve them.

Gandapur who is a member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, criticised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's policies towards tribal areas and called the legal actions against PTI leaders unjust.

Earlier, on Thursday Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, stated in a press conference that the use of Afghan territory to promote terrorism against neighbouring countries is not just Pakistan's concern.

She added that Pakistan has provided evidence of terrorist group hideouts in Afghanistan.

The spokesperson further mentioned that recent UN reports have highlighted the activities of terrorist groups in Afghanistan and urged the Afghan Taliban to take action against them, ensuring these groups do not target Pakistan.

According to the sources, Germany has entered negotiations with the Taliban regarding the status of diplomats from the previous government.

Previously, a German media outlet revealed, based on official documents, that Germany’s Foreign Ministry accepted the Taliban's move to invalidate the services of Afghanistan’s embassy and consulate in Berlin and Bonn. The outlet reported that Berlin had communicated with the Taliban's foreign ministry in Kabul regarding this matter.

On July 30, the Taliban’s foreign ministry announced that the consular services of 14 Afghan missions that do not cooperate with the Taliban were no longer valid. This list includes the Afghan embassy in Berlin and the Afghan consulate in Bonn.

German media outlet Deutsche Welle reported that Germany’s Foreign Ministry, in an official notice to the acting foreign minister in Kabul, accepted that Afghan consular services would be limited to the Munich mission, which collaborates with the Taliban.

Although Germany does not officially recognise the Taliban, it appears to be under public pressure to deport Afghans with criminal records to Afghanistan, leading to a possible consular engagement with the Taliban.

During a press briefing on September 5, Baloch stated that Pakistan has repeatedly provided evidence of terrorist group hideouts in Afghanistan. She also highlighted recent UN reports that underscored the presence and activity of terrorist groups in the country.

Baloch urged the Taliban to take decisive action against these groups and ensure that they do not carry out attacks on Pakistan.

In response to comments from the Taliban’s Chief of Army Staff, Fasihuddin Fitrat, who claimed that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) controls areas within Pakistan and operates from there, Baloch reiterated Islamabad's stance. She noted that Pakistan has, on several occasions, shared evidence of terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan.

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, attacks by militant groups, particularly TTP, have surged in Pakistan.

Pakistani officials consistently claim that the Afghan Taliban provides refuge to TTP fighters, a charge the Afghan Taliban continues to deny.

Pakistan Supports Right To Education for Afghan Girls

In response to another question about the Taliban's recent restrictions on women and girls, the spokesperson for Pakistan’s foreign ministry said that Islamabad’s stance on the rights of women and girls, particularly their inherent right to education, is clear and consistent.

Baloch stated that Pakistan believes every man and woman has an inherent right to education in accordance with Islamic teachings.

She further emphasised that Islam guarantees equal access to education and other rights for women, including inheritance and public participation.

She concluded by stating that the Constitution of Pakistan enshrines these rights for women, expressing hope for similar protections for women across the region.

She added that Islam is a religion of equality and grants women the right to education, inheritance, and public participation. She emphasised that Islam guarantees women the right to a dignified life free from violence.

The Pakistani official also claimed that an increasing number of Afghan citizens are joining the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

On Thursday, during a press conference in Islamabad, Chaudhry emphasised that the fight against terrorism will continue until the last extremist has been eradicated.

He stated that in the past eight months, the military has conducted 32,173 intelligence-based operations against "terrorists," adding that only in the past month, 4,000 operations were organised against militants.

The military official reported that the army has been conducting 130 daily operations against terrorists over these eight months, resulting in the deaths of 193 soldiers.

Referencing the increased logistical and training support for terrorist groups in Afghanistan following the Taliban's rise to power, Chaudhry said that Taliban officials should not prioritise "terrorists" over the Pakistani government. He also warned that terrorist groups have gained access to weapons left behind by the US in Afghanistan.

He emphasised that Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban are engaged in dialogue and said that attempts to create division between the brotherly nations of Pakistan and Afghanistan will not succeed. He also highlighted Pakistan's long standing support for Afghanistan during challenging times.

In recent months, the Pakistan army has ramped up its operations against militants in border regions with Afghanistan. Pakistani officials claim that many deadly attacks in the country are planned by the TTP from Afghan soil.

Last week, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesperson urged the Afghan Taliban to hand over TTP members to the Pakistani government. However, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, in an interview with a Pakistani media outlet, stressed that the TTP is an internal matter for Pakistan and is unrelated to the Afghan Taliban.