Second High-Ranking Taliban Official Stresses On 'Good Relations With Tajikistan'

In an interview, he stated that under international law, Pakistan has the right to act across the border.

In an interview with Sama TV on Sunday, Sanaullah said, "It is an international law that if there is a threat to your territory from a place or there is preparation for an attack taking place there, you have the right to take action against such terrorists or enemies to protect yourself and your security."

He stressed that whenever there is a threat to Pakistan, it will take action at the right time.

Earlier, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, referring to the recent airstrike on Paktika, threatened to respond strongly to attacks from across the border.

Referring to the attacks on the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Pakistan's prime minister on Friday (January 3) said at a meeting of the Central Apex Committee on National Action Plan that the group is responsible for numerous attacks against security forces and civilians.

At least 50 people, including women and children, were killed in a Pakistani army airstrike on Barmal district of Paktika in December, the Taliban said. It was the second attack in 2024.

Pakistani officials said that the attack targeted TTP's military and media centres and killed a number of the group's commanders. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirmed the deaths of women and children in a Pakistani airstrike.

The attack has inflamed tensions between the two countries. Abbas Stanekzai, the Taliban's deputy foreign minister, warned Pakistan not to be proud of its weapons and military equipment. He claimed that five Taliban members were enough to drive Pakistanis to the sea.

He emphasised that Pakistan has made significant sacrifices for the Afghan people.

Speaking at a conference in Lahore on Saturday, the minister highlighted Pakistan’s efforts to foster regional stability and underscored the importance of reducing political tensions to achieve economic progress.

Iqbal reiterated Pakistan’s expectation that the Taliban would uphold their commitment to ensuring Afghan soil is not used for terrorism. He expressed concerns over the growing proliferation of drugs and weapons, stressing that if any group found refuge in Afghanistan for terrorist activities, it was the Afghan government’s duty to prevent them.

He also criticised the previous government, led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, for the resurgence of militant activities. Iqbal noted that Pakistan is now confronting a renewed wave of terrorism.

The minister remarked that the people of Pakistan have endured significant hardships and made substantial sacrifices for the people of Afghanistan, bearing the repercussions to this day.

Relations between Pakistan and the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan have become increasingly strained due to security concerns and border disputes. Pakistan has voiced alarm over claims that Afghan territory is being used by militant groups to stage cross-border attacks. However, the Taliban have consistently denied these allegations.

The sources indicated that Habibullah had continued to work in the administrative offices of Laghman province under Taliban rule.

According to multiple reports on Sunday, 7 January, Taliban intelligence arrested Habibullah at his home last Wednesday.

A relative of Habibullah told Afghanistan International:

“He was at his post until Wednesday. Two Taliban intelligence officials took him away. He had no disputes with anyone, which is why he continued his work during the Taliban administration.”

The sources further reported that several tribal elders attempted to meet Habibullah in person, but local Taliban authorities denied them access.

The Taliban has not yet issued any statement regarding his detention.

Following their rise to power, the Taliban’s leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, declared a general amnesty. However, numerous reports have since emerged of former government officials, particularly military personnel, being killed under mysterious circumstances.

Over the past three years, there have also been consistent reports of the Taliban detaining and torturing former military officers, with some reportedly losing their lives as a result of such treatment.

UNICEF stated that it had trained 3 million children and their caregivers over the past year in recognising and understanding the risks posed by explosive munitions.

On Sunday, 7 January, UNICEF shared an image on its official X (formerly Twitter) account showing a training session for children aimed at increasing their awareness of these hazards.

The HALO Trust demining organisation previously reported on 12 November that over 65 square kilometres of land in 26 provinces across Afghanistan remain contaminated with improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

The organisation identified Afghanistan as one of the four most heavily landmine-contaminated countries in the world and disclosed that it employs 2,235 demining personnel across the country.

During the previous republic government, the Taliban planted mines indiscriminately in roads and farmland along defensive lines of the former government and foreign forces, often without any formal mapping or documentation.

On Saturday, the ministry revealed that 13 personnel have been trained to operate the newly introduced missile system.

In a statement issued on 6 January, the ministry noted that these individuals had completed their training at the General Staff Artillery Directorate. According to the Taliban, the operatives underwent a one-month specialised and technical training course.

The Ministry of Defence reported that the Konkurs and Milan missiles are capable of targeting armoured tanks, naval warships, and low-flying helicopters.

The Konkurs missile is a product of the former Soviet Union, while the Milan missile was developed through a joint effort between France and Germany. Both missile systems are considered legacy technologies, with the Milan having been designed in 1962 and the Konkurs entering production in 1974.

In 1991, Iran obtained a licence to produce a domestic version of the Konkurs missile, which it named Tosan, and subsequently began its production.

From a technical perspective, the Konkurs has a greater range and superior armour penetration capability compared to the Milan. The Milan system has seen widespread use among NATO member states, whereas the Konkurs has been favoured by nations aligned with Russia or the former Soviet Union.

The Taliban has not disclosed whether the missile system was sourced from foreign suppliers or if it forms part of the military assets inherited from the previous Afghan government.