Resistance Council For Salvation Of Afghanistan Denies Meeting With Pak Intelligence

In a video widely circulated on social media, Omari is seen breaking down during a speech on the closure of girls’ schools. He urged for their reopening, stating: “All I know is that even if [girls’ education] is not a religious obligation or tradition, it is at least permissible.” Shortly after making this remark, he became visibly emotional.

A local source in Khost province told Afghanistan International that Omari delivered the speech on Monday, 27 January, at a gathering in the Aisha Siddiqa girls’ school in the province.

During his address, Omari pleaded: “May God guide us. Religious studies are allowed, so modern sciences should also be permitted.” He warned that the Taliban’s extreme policies could result in future generations being “Muslim in name only.”

The video surfaced just days after Abbas Stanikzai, the Taliban’s Deputy Foreign Minister, was forced to flee Afghanistan following his public condemnation of the school closures.

According to sources, after Stanikzai spoke out against the suppression of the rights of 20 million Afghans, Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada ordered his arrest in Kandahar. However, before he could be detained, he managed to escape to the United Arab Emirates with the assistance of Taliban Defence Minister.

Burchett stated that Rahimi has "potential connections" with the Taliban’s intelligence agency and should be expelled to safeguard national security and uphold American values.

On Friday, Burchett wrote on the social media platform X: “The Biden administration willingly handed a visa to a man who enjoyed unrestricted access to top Taliban commanders.”

In October 2024, Burchett had previously addressed a letter to former U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, raising concerns about Rahimi’s associations with senior Taliban figures and the risks his presence might pose in the U.S.

The letter stated: “Rahimi has actively participated in efforts to sanitise the image of the brutal Taliban regime, consistently portraying their actions as a source of stability in Afghanistan while encouraging members of the Afghan diaspora in the West to return to Taliban-controlled areas.”

Burchett further warned that Rahimi’s presence in the U.S. could endanger former Afghan military personnel and their families currently residing in the country. He expressed deep concerns for their safety and well-being.

Additionally, the congressman urged the U.S. State Department to closely monitor Rahimi’s activities and associations, arguing that his connections could pose a significant threat to national security and undermine the fundamental values upheld by American citizens.

The letter also referenced Rahimi’s alleged ties to high-ranking Taliban officials, including Sirajuddin Haqqani, as well as his reported access to the Taliban’s training camps and the residences of former Afghan government officials.

In his latest statement on X, Burchett reiterated that Rahimi remains in the United States and must be identified and deported without delay.

Rahimi, who recently migrated to the U.S., had been active as a YouTuber in Afghanistan over the past three years. During this period, some critics accused him of collaborating with the Taliban, further fuelling controversy over his presence in the United States.

Sources informed Afghanistan International that political figures including Salahuddin Rabbani, Abdul Rashid Dostum, Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf, Mohammad Mohaqiq, and Karim Khalili are expected to participate in the discussions.

According to obtained information, the primary objective of these meetings is to bolster Pakistan’s engagement with the political opposition to the Taliban. Additionally, discussions will centre on the potential reopening of these groups’ political offices in Islamabad and exploring avenues for joint cooperation in countering the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

This meeting marks the second visit by a high-ranking Pakistani delegation to Türkiye in the past three months, underscoring Islamabad’s increasing diplomatic and strategic efforts in the region.

The ISI officials’ engagement with Taliban opponents highlights Pakistan’s growing initiative to strengthen ties with Afghan political leaders and seek common ground in addressing regional security challenges.

These developments come amid escalating concerns over Taliban activities and mounting domestic and international pressure to formulate viable political and security solutions for Afghanistan.

The organisation welcomed the return of the Afghan women's national cricket team to the field after years of exile, calling it "great news”.

On Friday, January 31, Amnesty International supported the Afghan women's cricket team's match in Melbourne, Australia, saying that the Taliban must "immediately" lift "severe restrictions" on the rights of Afghan women and girls.

The organisation stressed that the Taliban must end systematic gender-based harassment in Afghanistan.

The Afghan women's cricket team recently played a friendly match against Women's Cricket Without Borders after nearly three and a half years.

The match, held in Melbourne, Australia, ended with the Afghan women's cricket team losing by seven wickets. However, some sports experts have called the return of the women's team to the field a "major victory" for Afghan women.

After the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, they banned all sports for women, among other restrictions. The members of the Afghan women's cricket team, who are based in Australia, have not participated in any official match since then.

Pourjamshidian said that smugglers in Afghanistan continue to maintain their drug stockpiles.

In April 2022, the Taliban banned poppy cultivation, as well as its production, consumption, and sale.

Pourjamshidian, however, said, "We are witnessing the entry of narcotics into our country [Iran] from the previous stockpiles that smugglers had in Afghanistan."

He recently visited Kabul with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, saying, "The issue of arms smuggling and terrorism is one of the most important issues we have with Afghanistan."

Mizan News Agency reported on Friday, January 31, that Pourjamshidian added, "During the visit to Afghanistan, the promotion of border security, Iran's rights, and prevention of drug smuggling to Iran were pursued."

In November this year, the Ministry of Interior of the Islamic Republic of Iran announced that the production of traditional drugs in Afghanistan has decreased, but instead the production of industrial drugs such as methamphetamine has increased. The ministry called the increase in the production of industrial drugs in Afghanistan dangerous for the security of the region and the world.

Abbas Araghchi traveled to Kabul on Sunday morning, January 26, along with a political and economic delegation, and met with the Taliban's prime minister, foreign ministers, and defence ministers.

This was the first visit of the Islamic Republic's foreign minister to Kabul since the Taliban's return to power in August 2021.

In a meeting with Taliban officials, Araghchi stressed that a new chapter in relations between the Islamic Republic and Afghanistan will begin.

After his visit to Kabul, Abbas Araghchi called the challenges to the Persian language, rights, border security, internal security of Afghanistan, security of Shiites, security of merchants, narcotics, terrorist groups and ISIS "very important challenges".