Taliban Minister Calls On Iranian Government To End Persecution Of Afghan Refugees

Muqtada was removed following reports that he had forcibly married a young female inmate.

Local sources in Nangarhar informed Afghanistan International on Sunday, 24 November, that Muqtada had coerced a young woman, who was imprisoned on charges of “running away from home,” into marriage. The woman had allegedly fled from Pakistan to Afghanistan with an unrelated man, for which she was detained by the Taliban.

Sources claimed that Muqtada released the man from custody to cover up the forced marriage and then compelled the woman to marry him. It was also reported that Muqtada had rented a house in Jalalabad, where the woman now resides.

In response to the allegations, the Taliban’s Directorate of Information and Culture announced Muqtada’s dismissal and the appointment of Sohail Saeed as the new head of Nangarhar prisons. However, the Directorate’s statement did not address the allegations of forced marriage.

Local sources further indicated that no formal complaint has been filed against Muqtada in government offices, and he has not been referred to court.

In its official statement, the Directorate of Information and Culture praised Muqtada’s past performance and urged prison staff to fully cooperate with the newly appointed director.

The meeting focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation, particularly in economic and trade relations.

Zia Ahmad Takal, Deputy Spokesperson for the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reported on Sunday, 24 November, that Muttaqi expressed appreciation for Russia’s continued engagement. He noted that over the past year, Russia has invited several Taliban officials to participate in official meetings in Moscow, describing these exchanges as vital to fostering stronger ties.

During the meeting, Kabulov assured Muttaqi that a high-level Russian delegation would soon visit Kabul to explore opportunities for expanding cooperation between the two sides.

This announcement comes amidst cautious remarks from Andrey Rudenko, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, who recently stated that it remains too early to formally recognise the Taliban government. However, Rudenko suggested that removing the Taliban from Russia’s list of terrorist organisations could pave the way for collaboration in various sectors, especially economic development.

Russia has consistently worked to maintain diplomatic channels with the Taliban since their takeover of Afghanistan. While Moscow, like the rest of the international community, has not officially recognised the Taliban regime, it has accepted a Taliban representative at the level of chargé d’affaires.

Earlier this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the broader question of engagement with the Taliban, stating, “How to engage with the Taliban is another question, but some form of relationship with them is necessary.”

The road, which links the Wazir Akbar Khan neighbourhood to Foroshgah Street in central Kabul, has been reopened following reconstruction efforts. Hamidullah Fitrat, the Taliban’s Deputy Spokesperson, confirmed that all obstructions have been cleared, and work is underway to construct an entrance gate for the road.

Fitrat explained that access will initially be limited to officials and invited guests, with no specified timeline for when the road will be opened to the public.

This street, located in a strategic area of Kabul, had been fully closed to traffic during the previous government as well. The prolonged closure caused significant disruption to traffic flow between Wazir Akbar Khan and the city centre, impacting both residents and commuters.

Bikdeli will now serve as the Special Representative of the Iranian Foreign Ministry for Afghanistan, according to reports from Iranian media.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry’s website notes that Bikdeli does not have a direct connection to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which has historically played a significant role in shaping Iran’s foreign policy towards Afghanistan.

In related developments, the role of the Iranian president’s special representative for Afghanistan has been eliminated as part of recent structural reforms. The responsibilities of the special representative will now fall under the direct purview of the Foreign Ministry.

Bikdeli brings extensive diplomatic experience to the position, having served in various roles within the Foreign Ministry. These include Acting Deputy Minister for Consular, Parliamentary, and Iranian Expatriates Affairs, as well as Head of the Taskforce for Economic Reconstruction of Afghanistan. He has also served as Iran’s ambassador to Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Cyprus.

Kazemi Qomi, who assumed the position of special representative in October 2021, played a pivotal role in managing Iran’s relations with Afghanistan during a period of significant transition.

While Iran, like many nations, does not officially recognise the Taliban government, it has maintained a pragmatic relationship with the group. Tehran has handed over Afghanistan’s diplomatic missions to Taliban representatives, reflecting its continued engagement with the new power structure in Kabul.

The organisation comprises ten member countries, including Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Turkey.

Esmail Baghaei, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, confirmed that high-ranking officials and ministers from ECO member states will attend the meeting. Representatives from the organisation’s regional specialised agencies and secretaries-general of certain multilateral economic organisations are also expected to participate in this key regional event.

Baghaei described ECO as one of the oldest regional economic cooperation frameworks among developing nations, committed to promoting regional economic development. He further noted that the Islamic Republic of Iran has assumed the rotating presidency of ECO for 2024.

The Economic Cooperation Organisation is an intergovernmental regional body established in 1985 by Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey, with the aim of fostering economic and cultural collaboration among its members. In 1992, the organisation expanded by welcoming seven new members: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.