Taliban’s Minister of Energy Asks Chinese Firm to Accelerate Aynak Mine Extraction Process

Following the publication of The New York Times report on Sirajuddin Haqqani, Nazary accused some Western media of "normalising" the Taliban.

Nazary wrote in a note on Friday, October 25, in response to The New York Times article about Sirajuddin Haqqani, that Afghanistan has now become a centre for international terrorism. He clarified that gender and ethnic apartheid is rampant in the country "under the rule of an oppressive group”.

"It is shameful to see attempts to downplay the Taliban's crimes or encourage more engagement with them," said the head of the National Resistance Front's foreign relations. “These efforts are doomed to failure,” he added.

Nazary said that the next administration of the United States of America should follow a new path. He called on the US authorities to stop the false propaganda and base their policy on the "brutal reality of the Taliban's rule".

The New York Times wrote on Thursday, October 24, that Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban's interior minister, is the only dissident voice within the group. The newspaper added that Haqqani, who is dissatisfied with Hibatullah Akhundzada's orders, has diplomatic relations with some European countries, the Persian Gulf, Russia and China.

The New York Times interview with Sirajuddin Haqqani has provoked many reactions. In this interview, the media outlet has showcased how Sirajuddin Haqqani went from being a commander to an important member of the Taliban group.

Meanwhile, Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US envoy for Afghanistan reconciliation, said on Thursday that the US approach to the Taliban's "moderate leaders" such as Siraj Haqqani, Abdul Ghani Baradar and Yaqoob Mujahid should be based on foresight. He advised Washington not to be "influenced by the past and the desire for revenge" in dealing with these Taliban officials.

Diplomatic sources confirm that in the latest case, Germany has asked the former Afghan ambassador in Berlin and the consul general in Bonn to end their work soon.

These sources said that the ambassador and the consul general have been discussing with German officials for the past two months and justifying the continuation of their mission within the framework of the credentials of the republican government. However, according to reliable sources, Germany has said that their presence without relations with Kabul is not beneficial.

The sources added that other countries have also increased pressure on Afghan ambassadors over the past month, sending a message to "engage with the Taliban, or end your diplomatic mission”.

This has prompted protests from the ambassadors of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and according to sources, they have reminded the host countries that engagement with the Taliban means recognition of the group.

In another case, a diplomatic source confirmed that Sweden recently did not renew the diplomatic card of the Afghan ambassador in Stockholm and asked him to leave the country.

Sources added that after Britain and Norway, a number of Afghan embassies controlled by diplomats of the former republican government may soon be closed under pressure from the host country or handed over to people loyal to the Taliban.

These restrictions have seriously hindered the provision of essential services to those in need. In a new report on Thursday, OCHA said that in addition to the Taliban's restrictions, a lack of funds is also an obstacle to the process of providing aid to the needy in Afghanistan.

More than 70 of these restrictions have directly impacted women's role in the distribution of humanitarian aid and prevented them from actively participating in the process. The report said that the Taliban imposed nearly 100 new restrictions in 2024, six of which specifically targeted female participation (including requirements such as adherence to hijab, restrictions on women working in the field and salary reductions for female government employees).

OCHA stressed that the Taliban's strict laws for the promotion of virtue and the prevention of vice have intensified restrictions on Afghan women in humanitarian activities, which has led to a decrease in the process of delivering aid.

OCHA has announced that due to a lack of funds, 3.7 million people in Afghanistan have been deprived of basic services such as health and social services. OCHA warned that without financial support, people in need in remote areas of Afghanistan will be deprived of access to vital assistance.

OCHA also announced that in 2024, about 23.7 million people in Afghanistan will be in need of humanitarian assistance, of which 17 million are prioritised. The agency has requested a budget of 3.06 billion euros for these individuals, but so far only 31.4 percent of it has been funded.

After the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, the country became one of the most critical regions in the world in terms of humanitarian needs. Following the fall of the previous government and the cessation of international aid, millions of people were severely deprived of basic services and rights. This situation particularly affected women and children, depriving them of access to education, health and other essential services.

By imposing strict laws, the Taliban has not only restricted women's participation in humanitarian activities, but has also affected the provision of aid to all groups. In this regard, international institutions are under pressure to seek solutions to meet humanitarian needs in Afghanistan despite security and political challenges.

"China will provide Afghanistan with zero percent tariffs for 100 percent tariff lines," Zhao Xing wrote on social media platform X on Thursday.

China has sought to expand its ties with the Taliban since the group took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, but like all countries, it has refused to formally recognise the group's government.

Under Taliban control, Afghanistan offers abundant mineral resources to Chinese companies.

Meanwhile, the sale of Afghanistan's lithium, copper and iron reserves to the world's largest commodity buyer will help the Taliban bolster its weak economy and provide a much-needed revenue stream.

Late Thursday, China's ambassador to Afghanistan, Zhao Xing, posted a photo of his meeting with Abdul Kabir, the Taliban's deputy prime minister, on his official X account, saying, "China will provide zero percent tariffs to Afghanistan for 100 percent tariff lines."

According to Chinese customs data, Afghanistan exported $64 million worth of goods to China last year, nearly 90 percent of which was pine nuts. The Taliban has said that they are looking to attract foreign investors willing to help diversify Afghanistan's economy and exploit the country's mineral wealth.

Afghanistan did not export any goods to China last year, but since his appointment last September, China's ambassador to Kabul has regularly posted photos of meetings with Taliban officials in charge of mining, oil, trade and regional communications.

Several Chinese companies operate in Afghanistan, including China Metallurgical Co. Ltd. which has held talks with the Taliban government about a large copper mine in Logar.

At a September summit in Beijing attended by more than 50 African leaders, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that goods entering his country's $19 trillion economy from "less developed countries that have diplomatic relations with China" from December 1 would not be subject to import tariffs.

The Taliban's embassy in China has not commented on the Chinese ambassador's remarks in Kabul.

Last October, Afghanistan's acting commerce minister told Reuters that the Taliban wanted to formally join China's Belt and Road Infrastructure Initiative.

The Taliban has also called on China to allow the group to be part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a $62 billion connectivity project that connects China's resource-rich Xinjiang region to Pakistan's Gwadar port.

The Taliban intelligence agency had arrested Wafa more than three months ago for no apparent reason.

Wafa's family allege that he was tortured by the Taliban intelligence officials.

Meanwhile, a source from Nangarhar National Radio and Television told Afghanistan International's Pashto section that Aziz Ahmad Wafa had been dismissed from his job by the TV department.

In the past four months, the Taliban has arrested about nine journalists without clear reasons and then released some while others are still in the group's custody.

The Taliban's arbitrary detention and torture of journalists has repeatedly drawn widespread reactions from human rights organisations.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has said that journalists in Afghanistan continue to face arbitrary arrests.