Taliban Imposes Travel Ban On Over 8,000 Former Government Officials

The decree mandates that intelligence officers withdraw from these ministries and other governmental bodies. However, if operational or intelligence activities are required within these institutions, they must be coordinated with senior officials from the respective ministries to ensure full collaboration.

The order was issued by Noor-ul-Haq Anwar, Director-General of Administrative Affairs, and communicated to the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and other government agencies.

Unprecedented Data Leak in Afghanistan

This decree is part of thousands of leaked documents published online by an anonymous hacking group. Afghanistan International has obtained access to portions of these records, marking an unprecedented intelligence leak in Afghanistan.

Although previous reports have suggested tensions between the Taliban’s security agencies, particularly between the Intelligence Directorate and the Ministry of Interior, the leaked documents do not specify why intelligence personnel are being removed from these ministries but not from other government institutions.

The Taliban’s intelligence agency has played a key role in surveillance, and crime prevention since the group’s return to power.

According to documents leaked by a hacking group, the ministry surveyed 500 individuals in each province, focusing on issues such as the promotion of religious virtue and the enforcement of hijab regulations.

The survey was conducted in Helmand, Bamiyan, Kunar, Paktika, Sar-e Pol, Samangan, Maidan Wardak, Baghlan, Kapisa, Paktia, Jowzjan, and Laghman provinces. In total, 6,000 people participated in the study, and 479,800 Afghanis were allocated from the ministry’s budget for its implementation.

Survey Findings on Hijab Compliance

One of the primary questions posed in the survey was: “What percentage of people in your area observe Islamic hijab?”

According to the report, 86 percent of respondents claimed that hijab was “100 percent observed” in their communities, while 14 percent selected the 40 percent option.

However, the Taliban’s report noted that in Bamiyan province, women’s approach to hijab is influenced by Shia Islamic beliefs, and many do not adhere to the Taliban’s strict dress code.

Another question asked: “Do you have knowledge about promoting virtue and preventing vice?”

A majority—68 percent—claimed to have “complete knowledge” on the subject, while 66 percent of respondents expressed “full satisfaction” with the ministry’s morality enforcement.

Taliban’s Observations on Bamiyan’s Population

The Taliban’s ministry expressed concern over social interactions between men and women in educational institutions, healthcare centres, and government offices in Bamiyan, stating that gender segregation policies had not been properly implemented. The report described this as a “failure of the enforcers.”

According to the Taliban, only 10 percent of Bamiyan’s women adhere to what they define as “Islamic hijab”, and these are primarily rural women travelling into urban areas. The report also claimed: “Urban women do not observe hijab at all.”

Despite 78 percent of Bamiyan’s respondents claiming that hijab is observed, the Taliban noted that many locals consider fitted or thin clothing to be acceptable hijab, arguing that this interpretation aligns with their sectarian beliefs.

The Taliban further alleged that foreign influences, including an influx of domestic and international tourists, have eroded Islamic values in Bamiyan. The report accused Western countries of attempting to “distance the people of Bamiyan from Islam” and foreign organisations of spreading Western culture.

Taliban’s Allegations Against the Aga Khan Foundation

The Taliban report claimed that more than 60 foreign organisations are operating in Bamiyan, alleging that some, including the Aga Khan Foundation, have attempted to convert locals to Christianity.

The ministry’s report stated: “During the Republic era, the Aga Khan Foundation was visibly active, and those who accepted its invitation were sent abroad.”

Although the report acknowledged that the organisation remains active, it suggested that its missionary activities are no longer as visible.

Sectarian Differences in Bamiyan

The Taliban’s ministry cited differences between Shia and Sunni scholars in Bamiyan as a major obstacle to enforcing religious policies, particularly in relation to Friday prayers and the promotion of virtue. The report claimed that Shia scholars regard such matters as “optional recommendations.”

The survey also highlighted the lack of religious schools in Bamiyan, which the Taliban described as contributing to “religious negligence.”

Additionally, the report noted that although two mosques exist in the province’s centre—one Shia and one Sunni—both are too far from the main market for the call to prayer to be widely heard. The ministry estimated that 20,000 people visit Bamiyan’s central market daily, yet “half of them do not pray.”

The Taliban also lamented that despite three years of their rule, local radio stations in Bamiyan continue to broadcast music and songs, which they view as a violation of their moral directives.

Crackdown on Salafi Followers in Kunar

The Taliban’s survey also reported sectarian disputes in Kunar, particularly regarding the way Salafi followers perform religious practices.

The report noted that Salafis perform the Taraweeh prayer with only eight rakats instead of 20, deliver a single sermon for Friday prayers, and say seven Takbirs during Eid prayers. Additionally, Salafis were criticised for reciting funeral prayers aloud and for an extended duration.

The Taliban claimed that both the local population and the ministry’s enforcers have struggled to control Salafi followers, and that the group has actively prevented the growth of the Salafi movement in Kunar.

The ministry also warned that most teachers in Kunar’s religious schools follow the Salafi sect, arguing that this “corrupts the younger generation and distances them from their true faith.”

The Pentagon assessed the helicopters as suitable for use and subsequently transported them to the U.S., sources confirmed.

According to Uzbek officials, a total of 22 military aircraft and 24 helicopters from the former Afghan armed forces were in Uzbekistan, of which seven helicopters have now been relocated to the United States.

Uzbekistan and U.S. Strengthen Defence Cooperation

During a ceremony at the Uzbek Embassy in Washington marking the 33rd anniversary of Uzbekistan’s Armed Forces, officials from both nations reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing defence and security cooperation, particularly in relation to Afghanistan and regional stability.

Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to the U.S., Furqat Sidiqov, stated that Tashkent is prepared to expand cooperation with Washington across all sectors. He emphasised that the Uzbek government highly values collaboration between the security agencies and armed forces of both countries.

In August 2023, U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Jonathan Henick, confirmed that under a new agreement, 46 former Afghan military aircraft and helicopters would remain under Uzbek control.

“These assets never belonged to the Afghans; they have always been U.S. property. The Afghan military used them, but we have always retained ownership,” Henick stated.

Taliban Rejects Transfer of Military Assets

On 15 August 2021, Uzbek officials confirmed that 22 military aircraft and 24 helicopters from the Afghan armed forces had entered Uzbekistan’s airspace.

Former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, along with a group of close associates, also fled to Uzbekistan using three military helicopters before eventually relocating to the United Arab Emirates.

Meanwhile, the Taliban’s Ministry of Defence has strongly rejected the transfer of Afghan military assets, stating that the United States has no right to seize or donate Afghanistan’s equipment. The group has urged Uzbekistan to return the aircraft belonging to the Afghan Air Force.

Last year, Taliban Defence Minister Mohammad Yaqub declared in Kabul that the Taliban “would never allow Afghanistan’s northern neighbours to seize or use these aircraft.”

Speaking on Tuesday at the launch of Rights Monitor Media, a newly established platform dedicated to Afghanistan, Bennett highlighted the crucial role of independent media in amplifying the voices of Afghans and shedding light on their struggles. He emphasised the importance of holding Afghanistan’s ruling authorities accountable, underscoring the role of journalists and media organisations in bringing the voices of those inside the country to the world stage.

The event was also attended by Hamish Falconer, the UK’s Under-Secretary of State for the Middle East, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, who reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s continued support for the Afghan people and its commitment to advocating for women’s rights.

Rights Monitor Media: A Platform for the Voiceless

Rights Monitor Media was founded by human rights activists and journalists Horia Mosadiq and Nahid Baqi, with the objective of being the “voice of the voiceless”.

At the launch ceremony, Nahid Baqi stated that while Rights Monitor Media will focus on human rights issues, it will also showcase various aspects of Afghan life and culture, ensuring that the voices of Afghan people, particularly women, are heard globally.

Horia Mosadiq added that the platform will function with the support of volunteer journalists and media activists, with investigative journalism as a core focus.

Rights Monitor Media’s website is available in Persian, Pashto, and English, and the platform also produces radio podcasts covering cultural, social, and human rights issues in Afghanistan.

The 573-kilometre railway will establish a vital transport link between Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, facilitating trade between Central Asia, South Asia, and global markets.

According to Uzbek media reports citing Mahkamov, officials have presented the necessary details regarding the railway route and project financing to the President of Uzbekistan, who has been briefed on the initiative.

This railway forms part of an agreement signed in 2021 between Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan in Tashkent. While construction of the Turkmenistan-Mazar-e-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway was initially expected to commence that same year, the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan delayed its implementation.

By late 2021, the Taliban expressed their willingness to participate in the project, and by mid-2022, an exploratory team had begun assessing the route and conducting feasibility studies.

Cost Estimates and Capacity

Estimates for the railway’s construction cost vary. Uzbekistan’s primary design and research institute for transportation infrastructure has projected the cost at $4.6 billion. However, Pakistan has estimated it at $8.2 billion, while media reports suggest the overall project cost could range between $4.8 billion and $6 billion.

Once completed, the Trans-Afghan Railway is expected to handle an annual cargo capacity of up to 20 million tonnes, strengthening trade routes and fostering greater economic integration between Europe, Russia, Central Asia, and South Asia.