Former Ambassador & Taliban Critic Appointed As Iran’s Director General For South Asia

The new directive from Donald Trump could potentially revoke India’s exemption from U.S. sanctions on Iran, threatening its cooperation in the development of Chabahar Port.

According to The Times of India, the White House has instructed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to review or revoke exemptions for countries engaging with Iran, including those related to the Chabahar Port project.

Speaking ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Donald Trump, Jaideep Mazumdar, a senior Indian foreign ministry official, emphasised that the development of Chabahar Port aligns with the shared strategic interests of India and Iran.

He stressed that India-Iran relations play a crucial role in enhancing regional connectivity, describing India’s long-term agreement with Iran for Chabahar Port’s development last year as a milestone in bilateral ties. He also underscored the port’s capacity to boost regional trade and its humanitarian significance in facilitating aid to Afghanistan.

During his first term in 2018, Donald Trump had granted Chabahar Port an exemption from U.S. sanctions on Iran, recognising its vital role in Afghanistan’s reconstruction efforts.

However, with the political shift in Afghanistan and Trump’s renewed push to counter Iran’s missile and nuclear programmes, it remains unclear whether the White House will extend this exemption.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet Trump in Washington on Thursday, though it is still unknown whether the Chabahar Port issue will be on the agenda.

Chabahar Port provides India with crucial trade opportunities in Afghanistan and Central Asia, while also bypassing Pakistan, offering Afghanistan an alternative and reliable trade route.

Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting on Monday, Nebenzya criticised the international community for failing to address the issue of terrorist groups acquiring advanced U.S. military equipment.

The Russian envoy argued that the hasty withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan led to a large cache of weapons falling into the hands of ISIS.

Referring to the escalating activities of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, he stressed “The situation in Afghanistan cannot be ignored.”

Nebenzya also accused the United States and its Western allies of globally distributing weapons that ultimately end up in the hands of terrorist organisations. He claimed there is a direct link between the abandoned U.S. weapons in Afghanistan and the increasing ISIS attacks.

Russia is among the few nations publicly expressing concern over militant groups obtaining advanced weaponry left behind by the former Afghan army, which had been supported by the United States.

India has also raised alarms over this issue. Indian security officials recently discovered U.S.-made M4 rifles in the possession of Pakistan-backed insurgents in Jammu and Kashmir.

On 12 November last year, India Today reported that three militants killed in a clash in Akhnoor were found with U.S.-manufactured firearms, prompting an investigation into how these weapons reached from Afghanistan to the region.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump had previously expressed his intention to retrieve American military equipment left in Afghanistan. However, the Taliban has refused to return these weapons, declaring them “spoils of war.”

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has also raised concerns about the presence of advanced U.S. weaponry in Afghanistan, warning that such arms pose a direct threat to Pakistan’s security.

On 29 January, Shafqat Ali Khan, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, stated that the presence of these weapons remains a serious concern for Pakistan’s national security and the safety of its citizens.

Following a series of ISIS attacks in Iran and Russia, as well as disrupted terror plots in Europe and the U.S., the United Nations Security Council convened on Monday to assess the evolving threat posed by ISIS.

Council members expressed growing alarm over the expansion of ISIS operations, particularly across Asia and Africa, calling for stronger international efforts to curb the group’s resurgence.

Jumaddin Khaksar, spokesperson for the Taliban’s Kunduz police command, stated that seven others were injured in the attack.

Khaksar confirmed, “A suicide attacker carrying explosives detonated himself near Kabul Bank in Kunduz province.” He added that the Taliban is conducting an investigation to determine those responsible for the attack.

However, local sources told Afghanistan International that the actual number of casualties is significantly higher than the figures reported by the Taliban.

An eyewitness at Kunduz Regional Hospital reported that 14 bodies had been brought to the facility, while another hospital source claimed that at least 17 bodies had been received. Other sources have suggested the death toll could be even higher.

According to reports, several of the dead and injured were transferred to other medical centres, including Sarhadi Hospital in Kunduz and the Corps Medical Centre.

The suicide bombing occurred around 8:30 AM on Tuesday, 11 February, outside the Kabul Bank office in Kunduz city.

Sources confirmed that two bank security guards were killed in the attack, a fact later acknowledged by the Taliban.

Most of the casualties were Taliban members who had gathered at the bank to collect their salaries.

Following the attack, the Taliban deployed hundreds of forces to the area, restricting civilian movement and preventing people from taking photographs at the scene, according to sources.

As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the suicide attack.

In response to recent security threats, several Taliban offices have reportedly suspended salary payments through banks and have directed their security personnel and military staff to collect wages from military bases or ATMs instead.

This measure was reportedly implemented to reduce the risk of attacks targeting Taliban members at public financial institutions.

Addressing the UN Security Council, Voronkov stated that there are reports of foreign terrorists travelling to Afghanistan, raising concerns over the group’s growing influence.

The Russian UN official highlighted that ISIS-K supporters in Europe have also carried out attacks, demonstrating the group’s expanding operational reach beyond Afghanistan.

Speaking at a Security Council meeting on terrorist threats to international peace and stability, Voronkov emphasised that ISIS continues to recruit fighters, particularly from Central Asian countries.

Despite efforts by the UN and its international and regional partners, he noted that ISIS remains active and operational.

During Monday’s session, Voronkov also referenced the situation in Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad, warning that the country’s ongoing instability could contribute to ISIS’s resurgence.

He pointed out that tens of thousands of ISIS members and their families are still held in camps in northwestern Syria, with 42,500 individuals affiliated with the group remaining in these detention centres and prisons.

According to Voronkov’s report, more than 700 Iraqi citizens, hundreds of Syrians, and 8,600 foreign nationals are detained in these camps and prisons.

He further stated that in Iraq, the repatriation process for ISIS detainees of various nationalities has slowed down, with only 760 individuals accepted by Iraq so far.

During the Security Council meeting, Voronkov reiterated the UN Secretary-General’s call for the “dignified” repatriation of citizens from Syrian camps and urged governments to facilitate their return.

ISIS’s Growing Threat Beyond Afghanistan

The UN official also highlighted the threat posed by ISIS activities in other parts of the world, particularly in West Africa.

He reported that ISIS has conducted numerous attacks on both military and civilian targets, including schools, with some incidents resulting in horrific casualties.

According to officials, smugglers attempted to conceal the drugs inside bundles of brooms in an effort to transport them into Uzbekistan.

On Monday, Uzbek media outlets, citing NSS officials, confirmed that hundreds of kilograms of hashish were discovered at the customs checkpoint in the Surkhandarya region, which borders Afghanistan.

Authorities stated that the smuggling attempt was thwarted and that investigations are currently underway.

According to the NSS report, a suspicious truck was intercepted while attempting to cross the border. The vehicle was carrying 13.5 tonnes of brooms, raising concerns among customs officials.

Upon inspection, Uzbek authorities discovered that the truck contained 180 bags and 22,500 individual brooms. Reports indicate that drugs had been hidden within nearly 3,000 broom bundles to evade detection.

Initial assessments by Uzbek officials estimate the black market value of the seized narcotics at over $16.5 million.

Authorities continue to investigate the origins of the shipment and the smuggling network behind the operation, as concerns grow over drug trafficking from Afghanistan into Central Asia.