China Not Seeking Sphere Of Influence In Afghanistan, Says Country’s Special Envoy

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, 17 November, Goodarzi highlighted that many Iranians are unaware of the serious repercussions involved in facilitating access to these services for undocumented migrants.

Goodarzi explained that some individuals, either knowingly or unknowingly, are registering SIM cards and bank accounts in their own names, which are then handed over to Afghan migrants who lack legal residency status in Iran. He stressed that any crimes committed through these accounts or SIM cards would legally implicate the Iranians who have facilitated their use.

Describing the practice as a "serious offence," Goodarzi also revealed that the rental of SIM cards, bank accounts, and cryptocurrency exchange accounts to Afghan migrants has been a contributing factor to a number of cybercrimes in the past. He pointed to the rise of a black market in Iran, where SIM cards and bank accounts are provided to migrants, often through fraudulent registration under false identities.

Afghan migrants, particularly those without long-term residency permits, face significant challenges in obtaining mobile SIM cards and opening bank accounts in Iran. According to Goodarzi, only a small number of Afghan migrants with permanent residency are eligible for such services.

The police chief called for stricter enforcement measures to combat the growing black market and to safeguard both the Iranian financial system and the integrity of personal data.

This latest directive follows similar restrictions previously enforced in other provinces across Afghanistan.

On Sunday, the Afghanistan Journalists Support Organisation (AJSO) issued a statement, citing local sources in Herat, to announce the new media restriction. The organisation expressed deep concern over the Taliban's increasing crackdown on press freedom, noting that such measures not only stifle media independence but also violate the fundamental rights of Afghan citizens.

In its statement, the AJSO called on international institutions and freedom of expression advocacy groups to take decisive action to address the deteriorating media situation in Afghanistan. The organisation also urged the Taliban to respect media freedom and create a safer environment for journalists to carry out their work without fear of reprisal.

This restriction on media freedom comes amid a broader pattern of increasing censorship by the Taliban. In recent months, similar bans have been imposed in multiple provinces, including Nangarhar, where officials have prohibited the publication of images of living beings, including photographs and videos. These actions are part of a wider trend of mounting media restrictions that have severely limited press freedom throughout the country.

The ongoing closure of schools and universities for girls has left many feeling that their futures are being wasted, with activists calling for the immediate reopening of educational institutions.

International Students' Day, celebrated annually on November 17, honours the rights and achievements of students around the world. The day serves as a reminder of the importance of education and its role in shaping the future of individuals and societies. For millions of Afghan girls, however, it underscores a grim reality, as they remain excluded from education under the Taliban regime.

For over three years, the Taliban has barred girls from attending school beyond grade six, disregarding repeated international calls to reopen educational institutions. Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where girls' education is entirely restricted.

According to UNESCO, approximately 2.5 million girls in Afghanistan are currently denied access to education. This prohibition not only deprives them of learning opportunities but also takes a severe toll on their mental and emotional well-being. A report by the UN Refugee Agency, published in October, revealed that the restrictions have led to a significant rise in mental health issues, with depression, anxiety, and despair increasing by up to 50% among Afghan women over the past year.

Mohadesa, a young Afghan girl deprived of education, told Afghanistan International: "Imagining that I can no longer study is unacceptable. I feel like I can no longer live. It’s painful to see all your dreams destroyed." Mohadesa, who graduated from high school in 2021 and was admitted to Kabul University to study computer science, had her future plans shattered when the Taliban returned to power.

She emphasised the urgent need for the Taliban to ease restrictions on women and reopen schools and universities for girls, asserting that her generation's potential should not be wasted.

In addition to concerns over the ban itself, there are growing worries about the content of the Taliban's curriculum. Education activist Parasto Hakim has raised alarm over the nature of the education being provided to boys in Taliban-run schools. She warned, "The reopening of schools under the Taliban means providing an education that teaches boys fundamentalism. Taliban schools are not only religious centres but also environments for brainwashing and promoting terrorism."

Hakim also pointed out the broader social consequences of the ban on girls' education, including forced marriages, increased poverty, unemployment, migration, and the absence of skilled professionals in Afghanistan’s future workforce. These issues are compounded by the lack of access to education, which traps many young women in cycles of poverty and vulnerability.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has voiced similar concerns, stressing that the ongoing denial of education for Afghan girls exposes them to heightened risks, including early marriage and long-term social and economic disadvantages.

Speaking at the conclusion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru, Trudeau responded to inquiries regarding Lavey’s detention, stating, "I can assure you that, first and foremost, the Government of Canada is taking this situation very, very seriously." However, he declined to provide further details on the matter.

According to Canadian news outlet CTV News, Lavery was detained at Kabul’s airport on Monday after arriving in Afghanistan. Lavery, who has traveled to Afghanistan multiple times, provides advisory services through his private security firm based in Kabul.

A source informed CTV News that the Taliban had been aware of Lavery’s presence and activities in the country for several years.

Global Affairs Canada, which manages the country's diplomatic and consular affairs, confirmed it is monitoring the situation closely, noting that Canadian officials are aware of "an incident involving a Canadian citizen in Afghanistan."

Lavery was the last Canadian left at Kabul’s airport during the chaotic evacuation in August 2021. During that operation, Lavery helped evacuate over 100 Afghan nationals from the capital.

The movement, which protests the Taliban's oppressive policies toward women, argues that "Taliban lobbyists" are actively working to normalize and legitimize the regime's self-declared government.

In a statement released on Sunday, November 17, the activists questioned the effectiveness of continued international engagement with the Taliban, urging the United Nations (UN) and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) to address the risks posed by such diplomacy. "What guarantees exist that increased engagement will not lead to further deterioration of the situation and embolden the Taliban even more?" the statement read.

The Purple Saturdays Movement warned that any recognition of the Taliban’s self-proclaimed government would have catastrophic and irreversible consequences. The group argued that such recognition not only fails to deter human rights abuses in Afghanistan, particularly against women, but also risks strengthening extremist forces that could further destabilize the region and increase international terrorism.

The movement advocates for a policy of isolation and sustained, targeted pressure on the Taliban to ensure that the rights of Afghan women and girls are prioritized. Members of the Purple Saturdays Movement have consistently raised their voices against the Taliban’s restrictions on women's rights, demanding international action to protect freedoms and ensure the education of Afghan women and girls.