Iran Enforces Stricter Employment Laws For Afghan Migrants, Says Interior Minister

In 2024, the Taliban’s Administrative Office had previously sent a letter to the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, warning against uncoordinated visits to Mullah Omar’s resting place. The letter cited “security concerns” as the reason for mandating prior approval before visiting the site in Zabul.

This directive comes despite repeated claims by Taliban officials over the past year that the group has ensured “nationwide security” across Afghanistan, allowing citizens to travel freely between provinces without fear.

The Taliban officially unveiled Mullah Omar’s grave in November 2022. However, the previous Afghan government had asserted that he had passed away in April 2013 in Pakistan.

The order surfaced following a major data breach within the Taliban’s government systems. On Wednesday, a hacker group claimed responsibility for infiltrating Taliban ministries and released internal documents on a platform called “TalibLeaks.”

The Taliban’s Ministry of Communications has acknowledged the leak, confirming that documents from multiple government offices have been exposed. On Thursday, the ministry stated that initial assessments suggest the breach may have originated from individual computers with inadequate security measures.

However, Taliban officials have denied that the central government database was compromised.

Despite this declaration, a Taliban foreign ministry official insisted that the embassy “continues its operations as usual.” On Thursday, Zaker Jalali, a Taliban representative, stated on X that the group’s “diplomats” at the Afghan embassy in Ankara would continue to carry out their duties with “transparency and commitment.”

Sources told Afghanistan International on Wednesday that the Turkish government was set to assume control of the Afghan embassy in Türkiye on Thursday. This development is reportedly the result of Taliban pressure, coupled with the refusal of diplomats from the former government to cooperate with Taliban-appointed officials.

Diplomatic sources in Türkiye, speaking to Afghanistan International, reported recent clashes between Taliban appointees and employees from the previous Afghan government at the embassy. According to available information, nine embassy employees were from the Republic era, while three were appointed by the Taliban.

A statement, allegedly issued by former diplomats and published on X, confirmed the handover, attributing it to Taliban pressure on the Turkish government and a decision by Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The statement further noted that all diplomats from the Republic era had now concluded their missions.

Findings by Afghanistan International indicate that the Taliban’s foreign ministry had previously attempted to seize control of the embassy around four months ago, deploying some of its diplomats to the mission.

He also urged the Taliban to cease its intimidation and arbitrary detention of journalists.

On Tuesday, the Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture ordered the closure of Radio Begum, citing “multiple violations,” including the station’s alleged broadcasting of content for a foreign-based television network and “breaching licensing conditions and regulations.”

Following the shutdown, the station reported that some of its equipment had been confiscated, and two of its employees had been arrested.

The closure and arrests have sparked international condemnation, with media rights organisations demanding the unconditional release of the detained staff and the reinstatement of the station, which is known for its focus on women’s issues.

Bennett reiterated his call for the journalists’ release, warning that the continued intimidation and arbitrary detention of media workers have “devastated the civic space in Afghanistan.”

On Thursday, the ministry stated that preliminary investigations suggest the documents were obtained sporadically from individual computers lacking proper security measures. However, Taliban officials maintain that their central government database has not been compromised.

Unprecedented Cyberattack on Taliban Government

An unidentified group launched a cyberattack on the Taliban administration’s database, publishing classified documents from 21 ministries and independent agencies online.

In an official statement, the Taliban’s Ministry of Communications said: “Based on the leaked documents, many belong to departments that previously lacked dedicated systems.”

The ministry downplayed the breach, claiming that most of the leaked files were already publicly accessible and related to past years. Officials further insisted that “no system has been hacked, all systems remain secure, and there are no issues.”

Despite these assurances, the Taliban has accused the leak of being an attempt to mislead public opinion through the media.

Government Agencies Affected

The data breach has reportedly exposed information from key ministries, including Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Finance; Ministry of Justice; Ministry of Information and Culture; Ministry of Mines; Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice and the Taliban’s Supreme Court.

Thousands of leaked documents have been published on a website called “TalibLeaks.” However, the identities of the hackers and the details surrounding the website remain unknown, with no group yet claiming responsibility for the cyberattack.

According to sources, Karim Khan, the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), has accused the two Taliban leaders of crimes against humanity, specifically gender-based violence. In gathering evidence to support the arrest warrant request, Khan’s office has engaged with various groups, including women’s rights activists, human rights defenders, Afghan politicians, and Taliban members.

It remains unclear what ranks and positions these Taliban members hold or how they managed to testify or provide evidence against their leader.

ICC Expected to Issue Arrest Warrants

In January 2024, Karim Khan announced that his office had submitted two arrest warrant requests to the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber II. The court’s 18 judges are expected to review the case in the coming weeks, with a decision anticipated by the end of this month.

The ICC’s chief prosecutor stated that the evidence collected provides reasonable grounds to hold Akhundzada and Abdul Hakim Haqqani criminally responsible for crimes against humanity and gender-based violence.

According to Khan’s office, the Taliban has committed multiple crimes, including murder, imprisonment, torture, sexual violence, enforced disappearances, and other inhumane acts.

Taliban Responds to ICC Arrest Warrants

The Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dismissed the ICC’s actions as politically motivated. The group argues that the ICC should not impose a specific interpretation of human rights while ignoring religious and national values of different societies.

In response to mounting international pressure, including the ICC prosecutor’s request for an arrest warrant, Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has reportedly told Taliban members “not to fear Western countries’ threats.”

The ICC has previously issued arrest warrants for leaders of Russia, Israel, and Hamas, marking its continued efforts to prosecute those accused of serious violations of international law.