Taliban’s Deputy PM Seeks Banking & Trade Cooperation With Uzbekistan

A source familiar with the incident told Afghanistan International that Taliban forces stormed the organisation’s office, detaining both male and female employees for several hours while investigating alleged weapons possession.

Following the interrogation, female employees were released at 10 PM, while male staff members were held until 4 AM. One male employee was temporarily detained but later released.

Due to fears for their safety, employees have avoided returning to work, leaving the office shut for several days.

The Taliban have not yet commented on the incident.

Women for Women operates in several provinces across Afghanistan, focusing on women’s empowerment and economic participation within households.

The confrontations took place separately in Shali Dara village of Khas Kunar district in Kunar province and Goshta district of Nangarhar province.

According to local sources, on the evening of Friday, both sides exchanged rocket fire. The continuous shelling by Pakistani forces in Shali Dara has forced many residents to flee their homes.

As of now, no official information has been released regarding potential casualties from these clashes.

In Goshta, sporadic clashes between Taliban and Pakistani forces have continued near the Durand Line over the past few days.

Sources reported that three days ago, the Taliban attempted to establish a security outpost in Goshta to station an armoured tank. However, Pakistani border forces opposed the move, leading to an armed confrontation.

Neither Pakistani authorities nor Taliban officials have issued official statements regarding these incidents. The latest clashes have raised renewed concerns over security along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

The request was made during a meeting with the head of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Pakistan.

On Saturday, the Taliban-controlled Bakhtar News Agency reported that Sardar Ahmad Shaqib, the Taliban’s envoy in Islamabad, met with Philippa Candler, UNHCR’s representative in Pakistan.

The meeting focused on Pakistan’s recent decision to expel Afghan refugees from Islamabad and Rawalpindi and the necessary arrangements for their forced return.

On 31 January, the Pakistani government, under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership, approved a large-scale deportation plan for Afghan refugees. Following this decision, Pakistani authorities began mass arrests, detaining and deporting thousands of Afghan nationals.

The Taliban’s embassy in Islamabad has confirmed that Pakistan’s decision to deport all Afghan refugees from Rawalpindi and Islamabad—except for those with valid residency permits—has been finalised and is irreversible.

The UNHCR previously reported, citing Pakistani government officials, that all Afghan refugees must leave Islamabad and Rawalpindi by 28 February 2025.

The delegation includes Hidayatullah Badri, Minister of Mines and Petroleum; Hamidullah Akhundzada, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation; Nooruddin Azizi, Minister of Industry and Trade; Ataullah Omari, Minister of Agriculture; and Noor Ahmad Agha, Governor of the Taliban-controlled Central Bank.

According to a statement from Baradar’s office, the two-day visit aims to strengthen political and economic relations between the Taliban administration and Uzbekistan. The delegation is scheduled to meet with Uzbek officials in Tashkent to explore opportunities for expanding bilateral cooperation.

While Uzbekistan, like other nations, has not officially recognised the Taliban government, it maintains extensive diplomatic and economic ties with the group. The Afghan embassy in Tashkent has also been handed over to Taliban representatives.

Prior to the Taliban delegation’s visit, Uzbekistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Ismatulla Irgashev, met with US Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Jonathan Henick, to discuss Afghanistan-related matters.

He asserted that the Taliban demonstrates its diplomatic incompetence with every international statement.

On Friday, Andisha wrote on X that the Taliban’s declaration rejecting the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Rome Statute is merely symbolic, as the group is not internationally recognised.

He explained that under Article 127 of the Rome Statute, states may withdraw from the treaty, but the process requires a formal written notification to the UN Secretary-General, followed by a one-year waiting period before the withdrawal takes effect.

Andisha emphasised that withdrawing from the treaty does not nullify the ICC’s jurisdiction over crimes committed prior to the withdrawal. He added that Afghanistan remains a signatory to the Rome Statute, meaning the ICC retains the authority to investigate crimes committed in the country since 2003, including those attributed to Taliban leaders.

According to Andisha, this latest move further highlights the Taliban’s diplomatic incompetence. He noted that since taking power in 2021, the Taliban has sought international legitimacy, but no country has formally recognised their government. He added that their recent takeover of diplomatic missions in some countries is more a result of temporary, pragmatic considerations rather than broad international acceptance.

Andisha argued that the Taliban’s rejection of ICC jurisdiction reflects their isolationist approach. He pointed out that their history of repression, violations of women’s rights, and internal security crises has already weakened their diplomatic standing. Rejecting the ICC’s jurisdiction, he said, only worsens the situation, demonstrating that the Taliban prioritises ideology over strategic engagement.

The Afghan envoy stressed that this issue goes beyond the ICC, illustrating a broader diplomatic challenge for the Taliban. He noted that while the group seeks the privileges of a formal government—such as control over embassies and participation in international discussions—it refuses to accept the responsibilities of a state, including adherence to international treaties.