Haqqani Yet To Return To Afghanistan Amid Discontent With Taliban Leader, Sources Say

According to the statement, five individuals, including one woman, were flogged in Jaghori district of Ghazni. In addition to corporal punishment, some were sentenced to one to five years in prison.

Three men were accused of theft and same-sex relations and a man and a woman were convicted of “running away from home and kidnapping.” Two individuals were sentenced to one year and six months in prison, receiving 35 lashes. Three others were sentenced to two to five years in prison and received 30 to 39 lashes.

Residents of Jaghori shared footage with Afghanistan International, stating that the Taliban forced locals to witness the public floggings. Reports indicate that the Taliban shut down the Ghujor market to draw crowds to the punishment site. Images show a large gathering in an open field where the sentences were carried out.

In a separate statement, the Taliban Supreme Court reported the flogging of four individuals, including two women, in Farkhar district, Takhar. The group accused them of extramarital sexual relations. Three individuals received one year and six months in prison and 39 lashes. The fourth person was sentenced to five years in prison and 39 lashes.

The Taliban Supreme Court frequently announces public floggings across Afghanistan. Human rights organisations and the United Nations have repeatedly called for an end to corporal punishment, condemning it as inhumane and unlawful under international law.

Speaking at the second roundtable discussion of scholars from Iran, Afghanistan, and Russia in Tehran, Mousavi criticised the Taliban’s monopolisation of power and its governance based solely on Hanafi jurisprudence and Pashtun ethnicity.

According to IRNA news agency, Mousavi outlined three possible scenarios for Afghanistan’s future: continuation of the status quo which means the Taliban retains power without major internal changes. change in governance style that the Taliban modifies its approach, allowing for an inclusive government and behavioural reforms. And the Taliban is overthrown due to rebellion, civil war, or foreign intervention.

Mousavi suggested that the prospect of the Taliban gaining international recognition remains low, citing internal instability, ethnic divisions, and restrictions on women’s rights as major obstacles.

The former Iranian Ambassador to Tajikistan warned that terrorist groups in Afghanistan, including ISIS and Al-Qaeda, pose a serious regional security threat. He argued that instability in Afghanistan directly impacts neighbouring countries, limiting broader regional cooperation.

While regional governments do not wish to see a civil war in Afghanistan, Mousavi stated that the Taliban’s failure to fulfil its promises—particularly regarding inclusive governance, women’s rights, and girls’ education—has further alienated both Afghan society and the international community.

Mousavi also referenced a UN Security Council report highlighting the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan and noted that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has called for the arrest of the Taliban’s leader and chief justice over systematic human rights violations.

He concluded that Afghanistan’s long-term stability hinges on the Taliban’s ability to integrate diverse ethnic groups into governance and address major human rights concerns. However, he warned that without these changes, continued instability, regional insecurity, and potential foreign intervention remain real threats.

A letter from the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, leaked by the hacker group TalibLeaks, shows that the MoI has accused the group’s diplomatic missions in Pakistan of violating visa regulations by granting long-term visas to Pakistani citizens in breach of official guidelines.

The Taliban consulate in Quetta, the capital of Pakistan’s Balochistan province, allegedly issued long-term visas to 800 to 1,000 Pakistani citizens, who later applied for extensions in Kandahar.

In response, the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has instructed all its diplomatic missions in Pakistan to issue only single-entry visas instead of business visas to Pakistani citizens.

The letter also warned that issuing long-term visas to Pakistanis could undermine the Taliban’s diplomatic credibility and devalue Afghan visas internationally.

Despite the Taliban’s lenient visa policies for Pakistanis, Pakistan has significantly restricted visa issuance for Afghans. Online visa applications to Pakistan cost $20, but there is no guarantee of approval. Many Afghan applicants face rejection, and the Pakistani government does not refund the fee for declined applications. Travel agencies in Kabul report that many visa applications are rejected arbitrarily despite payment.

Meanwhile, the process of obtaining Pakistani visas in Afghanistan has become a hub of corruption, with reports indicating that visas are sold on the black market for up to $1,500. Allegedly, some Taliban members are involved in this corruption, yet the group has not raised concerns with Islamabad.

Afghan refugees in Pakistan face increasing visa restrictions. Previously, they could extend their visas for six months, but the new policy only allows extensions for one month. Under Pakistan’s latest regulations, Afghans cannot renew their visas beyond a month, leaving many in legal limbo.

Established on 28 March 2002 under UN Security Council Resolution 1401, UNAMA’s primary mission is to support the people of Afghanistan. The Security Council reviews its mandate annually, assessing Afghanistan’s evolving needs before granting an extension.

Afghanistan has been a member of the United Nations since 1946, with UN agencies such as UNICEF operating in the country since 1949.

UNAMA’s headquarters are in Kabul, with regional offices across Afghanistan, as well as in Iran and Pakistan. The mission employs approximately 1,187 staff, including 799 Afghan nationals and 293 international personnel.

Since the Taliban’s return to power, the group has imposed severe restrictions on women’s participation in public life. This includes a ban on female UNAMA staff working with the mission, further complicating the UN’s efforts to assist the Afghan people.

Currently, Roza Otunbayeva serves as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and heads UNAMA.

According to the BBC World Service, the decision was made to prevent the disclosure of potential war crimes committed during the Afghan conflict. The UK Special Forces have the authority to approve or block the relocation of Afghan forces who fought alongside them.

During a court session, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that UK Special Forces had blocked the relocation of Afghan personnel, even though these commandos had provided valid documentation proving their service with UK-supported units.

A significant number of these Afghan forces, known as the “Triples”, including CF 333 and ATF 444, were trained by UK Special Forces, participated in British-led missions, and received UK government funding. Until 2014, these units were under direct British Army control, after which responsibility was transferred to Afghanistan’s Ministry of the Interior.

Following the Taliban’s takeover, these commandos were left at severe risk. However, despite their role in combat missions alongside British Special Forces, their resettlement was blocked by their former British colleagues.

The BBC reports that British Special Forces are currently under investigation for alleged war crimes in Afghanistan. Under UK law, only witnesses residing within the country can be compelled to testify, making the presence of Afghan commandos in Britain a legal risk.

The Ministry of Defence has since resumed reviewing resettlement applications for Afghan commandos but has failed to provide updates on their cases.

In 2023, the Ministry of Defence began processing resettlement applications for 2,022 Afghan commandos, with an expected 12-week timeline. However, a year later, the review remains incomplete.

While some previously rejected cases have reportedly been approved, the British government has not yet informed the applicants.

Following the Taliban’s return to power, many Afghan special forces fled to neighbouring countries. However, those who remained face severe risks, with reports of arrests, torture, imprisonment, and even executions at the hands of the Taliban regime.