Taliban Interior Minister’s Prolonged Stay In UAE Raises Questions

In a newly released audio recording, Stanekzai called on Taliban members to refrain from "worshipping" their leader. The exact timing of the remarks remains unclear, but in the recording, he encourages Taliban officials to reject orders that contradict Islamic teachings. Addressing Akhundzada directly, he stated: "We cannot destroy our country for your sake."

The senior Taliban official urged members of the group to disobey directives that could lead to Afghanistan’s ruin. He further asserted: "You are my leader and Amir al-Mu’minin only as long as you remain on the path of God. If you deviate even one step from God's path, you are no longer my leader, and I do not recognise you."

Stanekzai emphasised that the Afghan people have not placed their faith in Akhundzada, remarking that "hundreds like him have come and gone in Afghanistan’s history, and others will replace him in the future."

Discussing Taliban leadership, he expressed hope that Afghanistan would be led by individuals who "work in the path of God and His Prophet and for the national interests of the country." He also prayed for Afghanistan to be saved from "these calamities and hardships."

Stanekzai, who has been vocal about the need to reopen girls’ schools, recently issued unprecedented criticism against Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. On 19 January, during a graduation ceremony at a religious school in Khost province, he accused the Taliban of "acting against Islamic teachings" and ignoring the rights of 20 million Afghan women.

Following the widespread circulation of his remarks, credible sources told Afghanistan International that Akhundzada ordered Stanekzai’s arrest. However, with the assistance of Mullah Yaqub Mujahid, the group’s Defence Minister, he managed to leave Afghanistan for the United Arab Emirates.

Shortly thereafter, in an audio recording obtained by Afghanistan International, Stanekzai denied any disputes with Akhundzada, claiming he had left the country for rest and recovery. He asserted that he had contracted an "illness similar to COVID-19" but did not acknowledge that his departure was motivated by fear of arrest.

According to the ministry, these migrants had been detained in Islamabad for two to five days.

A statement from the ministry, citing information from the Torkham Border Authority in Nangarhar province, indicated that these individuals were arrested in Islamabad due to a lack of legal documents. They were held for two to five days in Haji Camp prison before being deported to Afghanistan.

The Pakistani government, led by Shehbaz Sharif, is preparing to implement a new wave of mass deportations of Afghan refugees and migrants.

According to a document obtained by Afghanistan International, Pakistan’s cabinet, in a meeting chaired by Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday, approved this plan.

In recent months, Pakistan has not only expelled undocumented Afghan migrants but has also arrested a significant number of them.

The actions of Pakistani authorities against Afghan migrants have raised concerns among refugee advocacy organisations.

She stated that one of the main objectives of this proposal is to mitigate the effects of dust storms and revive the Hamoun Wetland.

According to a report by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) published on Saturday, Torabi mentioned that their assessments indicate the Taliban administration lacks an environmental department. Therefore, Iran has put forward specific proposals.

She emphasised the need to discuss water resource management for the Hamoun Wetland and noted that the Taliban has expressed willingness to cooperate on this matter.

The Hamoun Wetland is located in northern Sistan and Baluchestan Province, in Zabol County, along the Iran-Afghanistan border.

Regarding the timeline and likelihood of the Taliban fulfilling Iran’s water rights for Hamoun, Torabi stated: “The construction of the Kamal Khan diversion dam has altered the flow of water resources, particularly floodwaters.”

Previously, IRNA reported that the Kamal Khan Dam had effectively drained the life out of Hamoun.

Torabi also mentioned that during his recent visit to Kabul, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, stressed the importance of restoring the Hamoun Wetland in his discussions with Taliban officials.

Earlier, the Jomhouri-e Eslami newspaper strongly criticised Araghchi’s trip to Kabul, warning: “Undoubtedly, the Taliban’s water policies will lead to severe drought in eastern Iran.”

He added that estimates indicate 50 percent of these individuals have since returned to Iran.

On Saturday, Momeni stated in an interview with Iran’s state television that the country no longer has the capacity to host Afghan migrants and is implementing various measures, including border closures, to prevent the entry of unauthorised migrants.

He reported that at least six million foreign nationals reside in Iran, with at least two million of them being undocumented. Stressing the necessity of deporting undocumented migrants, he asserted that there is no alternative to their expulsion.

Iran’s Interior Minister further highlighted that foreign aid for refugee support has significantly decreased and claimed that many job opportunities for Iranians have been taken by migrants.

In addition to accelerating the deportation of Afghan migrants, the Islamic Republic has banned their presence in several Iranian cities and has criminalised the employment of undocumented migrants.

Senior members of the council, including Abdul Rashid Dostum, Mohammad Mohaqiq, Almas Zahid, and Basir Anwar, attended the meeting.

One of the participants told Afghanistan International that researchers from the foundation discussed the resumption of Afghanistan's peace process with the leaders of the National Resistance Council. He added that the council leaders presented their positions regarding peace talks and national reconciliation in the country.

Mohammad Mohaqiq, one of the attendees, stated that they provided the American delegation with explanations about the objectives behind forming the National Resistance Council for the Salvation of Afghanistan. According to him, the council was established to pave the way for intra-Afghan peace negotiations under the supervision of the United Nations, with the participation of all relevant countries.

Mohaqiq, quoting the American delegation, wrote that “for the past three years, the issue of Afghanistan had been forgotten in President Biden’s administration, and discussing it was against the prevailing policies of the time.”

According to Mohaqiq, the American delegation mentioned that Donald Trump’s administration had included Afghanistan’s peace process in its agenda and had a deep understanding of the suffering and challenges faced by the Afghan people.

The American delegation stated that the new administration is determined to stand by the Afghan people and work towards achieving real peace and forming an inclusive government.

Some key leaders of the National Resistance Council for the Salvation of Afghanistan, such as Yunus Qanooni, Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf, and Atta Mohammad Noor, were absent from the meeting.

Previously, sources told Afghanistan International that some leaders of the National Resistance Council were set to meet with a delegation from Pakistan’s intelligence agency in Türkiye. However, Khalid Pashtun, a spokesperson for the council, denied that the meeting took place.