Taliban Critic Stabbed in London, Attackers Flee Scene

Initial reports had suggested that the suspect, an Afghan asylum seeker, was linked to shoplifting. However, officials have now denied these claims.

According to Der Spiegel, Joachim Herrmann, Bavaria’s Interior Minister, confirmed that the suspect had valid residence documents and a work permit at the time of the attack.

The suspect, whose name has not been disclosed, arrived in Germany as an unaccompanied minor asylum seeker in late 2016. His asylum application was rejected in 2020, and the German government requested his departure. However, Munich authorities later granted him a residence permit in October 2021.

Herrmann clarified that the suspect had pursued education and completed vocational training before working as a security officer for two security firms.

The minister also addressed the earlier reports linking the suspect to shoplifting, stating that he was not a suspect but a witness in theft cases.

Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder told German media that the suspect had no known criminal record and was not subject to deportation orders.

Söder confirmed that although the suspect’s asylum request had been denied, he had been granted legal permission to live and work in Munich.

Authorities have so far found no evidence of extremist tendencies in the suspect’s background. Söder stressed that further investigations are needed to determine the motive behind the attack.

The 24-year-old suspect carried out the attack on Thursday, targeting a labour gathering in Munich. Several of the injured victims remain in critical condition.

German police have arrested the suspect, categorising the incident as a suspicious attack.

The incident occurred just two kilometres from the Munich Security Conference venue, which commenced on Friday with high-profile attendees, including U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance. However, Bavarian officials stated that there is no evidence linking the attack to the conference.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for severe action against the attacker, stressing that he must be punished and deported following due legal process.

As the investigation continues, authorities are closely examining the suspect’s background and potential motives while ensuring heightened security across the city.

Speaking on Thursday during a meeting in Moscow with Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Lavrov stated that the fragile security situation in Afghanistan has repercussions for neighbouring states, particularly Russia and Tajikistan.

The meeting was also attended by Zamir Kabulov, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan.

According to Russia Today, Lavrov told his Tajik counterpart that the situation in Afghanistan remains difficult, and this instability echoes across its neighbouring Central Asian countries, including Tajikistan.

Lavrov emphasised that it is in the interests of both Russia and Tajikistan to continue working within multilateral frameworks to ensure regional security.

He also revealed that Moscow and Dushanbe are collaborating to enhance the operational effectiveness of Russia’s 201st Military Base in Tajikistan, which is one of Russia’s largest military installations outside its borders.

Lavrov’s remarks come at a time when suicide attacks in Afghanistan have been on the rise, further fuelling concerns about regional security threats.

One of the latest attacks occurred on Thursday when a suicide bomber targeted the Taliban’s Ministry of Urban Development and Housing in Kabul.

Two credible sources in Kabul confirmed to Afghanistan International that Arsala Kharoti, the Taliban’s Deputy Minister for Finance and Administration, was injured in the attack.

Another suicide bombing took place in Kunduz just two days earlier. On Tuesday, a suicide bomber detonated explosives outside the Kabul Bank office, where Taliban military personnel and government employees had gathered to collect their salaries.

Additionally, Khalil-ur-Rahman Haqqani, a senior Taliban official, was killed in a suicide attack inside the Ministry of Refugees building in Kabul.

ISIS has claimed responsibility for these recent attacks, increasing concerns about the group’s growing presence and operations in Afghanistan.

Heather Barr, Associate Director of the Women’s Rights Division at Human Rights Watch highlighted the courage of survivors who have come forward despite facing deep social stigma, stating "The fact that women are coming forward to talk about these violence anyway is an extraordinary testament to their courage."

She further stressed the urgent need for stronger mechanisms to document and preserve evidence of such crimes in Afghanistan to ensure accountability for survivors.

Afghanistan International recently published an investigative report exposing widespread sexual abuse and harassment of women detainees in Taliban prisons.

Reacting to the report, Barr noted that sexual violence remains underreported globally due to deep-rooted social stigma. However, in Afghanistan, she said, the issue is even more severe.

"In Afghanistan, that is particularly acute problem—not only do victims face enormous stigma, but the Taliban has also dismantled the services and parts of the justice system that might have provided assistance to these victims," she explained.

The abolition of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs has left victims of sexual violence without any protective mechanisms or avenues for seeking justice.

Barr urged international and domestic institutions to take urgent action to support survivors, particularly in evidence collection and justice mechanisms.

At least ten women who were interviewed separately by Afghanistan International reported being subjected to sexual violence or harassment while in Taliban custody.

Among them eight women stated they were raped by Taliban officials, and two others reported that Taliban interrogators filmed and photographed their naked bodies during questioning.

Some victims revealed that their assaults were recorded on mobile phones by prison guards, while others reported that hidden surveillance cameras had been installed in their cells, monitored by the Taliban’s prison administration.

Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, confirmed that he is aware of the issue and is actively investigating it.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Zia Saraj, former head of Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS), acknowledged that during his tenure, security cameras were installed in detention centres such as Directorate 40, Directorate 90, and Kabul’s intelligence facilities.

He clarified that these cameras were installed at the request of the international community, with oversight from UNAMA, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and the U.S. Embassy, to ensure detainees were not subjected to torture by Afghan intelligence personnel.

However, Saraj stated that international access to these surveillance systems has now been cut off, and it remains unclear whether the cameras are still operational under Taliban control.

He warned that the Taliban is using these tactics to psychologically break female detainees and silence them through fear and intimidation.

The revelations in Afghanistan International's report have intensified calls for urgent international intervention, as concerns grow over the systematic use of sexual violence in Taliban detention centres.

According to sources from Afghanistan International, the directive was issued to media executives on Thursday, 13 February, with the ban set to remain in effect until further notice.

In addition, the Taliban has warned media outlets that any violation of this directive will result in severe consequences.

Taliban officials are scheduled to meet with media representatives on Saturday, but it remains unclear how long the prohibition on political content will last.

Since regaining power in August 2021, the Taliban has systematically imposed strict limitations on media operations and freedom of expression.

Over the past two years, their media policies have included the closure of independent outlets, the arrest of journalists, and stringent censorship of news reports.

The latest ban on political programming marks yet another measure in the Taliban’s ongoing crackdown on press freedom, raising concerns about the further deterioration of independent journalism in Afghanistan.

In a message marking World Radio Day, Habib Ghufran, spokesperson for the ministry, announced that since the Taliban’s return to power, the ministry has granted broadcasting licenses to 33 radio stations, all of which comply with the group’s media regulations.

He further stated that there are 234 radio stations currently operating across Kabul and other provinces.

According to Ghufran, all active radio stations in Afghanistan must operate in line with Taliban policies, as well as the broadcasting guidelines issued by the Ministry of Information and Culture.

Speaking to Afghanistan’s National Radio and Television, now under Taliban control, Ghufran added that the ministry provides support programmes for radio stations that align with its policies.

UNESCO recognises 13 February as World Radio Day, acknowledging the significance of radio as a key medium for communication and public awareness.

However, since seizing power in August 2021, the Taliban has imposed extensive restrictions on the media and journalists, shutting down or suspending numerous independent outlets.

In one of the latest crackdowns, the Ministry of Information and Culture announced on 4 February that it had suspended the operations of Radio Begum, citing violations of broadcasting regulations.