Taliban Announces Discovery Of Buddhist-Era Archaeological Sites In Laghman

Human rights activists have voiced concern over her possible deportation to Afghanistan and are working to prevent it.
Mousavi’s husband, Mahmood Qasemi, confirmed her arrest in an interview with Afghanistan International’s Pashto section. He stated that Pakistani authorities transferred her, along with other refugees, to a migrant camp. “We have contacted all organisations working on refugee issues, but we have not yet received any news,” Qasemi said.

Rahila Talash, a human rights activist and close friend of Mousavi, told Afghanistan International that she has been moved to a deportation camp. She expressed hope that intervention efforts would prevent her forced return to Afghanistan. Talash added that Pakistani police took Mousavi to the camp along with her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter. She warned that the deportation of journalists and human rights defenders, particularly women, would put them in grave danger.

Talash called on international human rights organisations and the United Nations to take immediate action against the forced expulsion of Afghan refugees. She stressed that sending activists back to Afghanistan would be equivalent to putting their lives at risk.

The Pakistani government, in a meeting led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on 29 January, approved the mass deportation of Afghan refugees. Following this decision, authorities in Islamabad launched a widespread crackdown, detaining and deporting thousands of Afghan citizens. The Taliban embassy in Islamabad has confirmed that the plan to expel all Afghan migrants from Rawalpindi and Islamabad, except those with valid visas, has been finalised and will be strictly enforced.

The message states: “Individuals who transport and relocate foreign nationals without legal residence permits will be punished.”

This warning is part of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s ongoing crackdown on Afghan migrants in the country.

Iranian authorities have already criminalised the employment, rental, and purchase of housing and vehicles for undocumented migrants. Additionally, restrictions have been imposed on their presence in designated areas.

The arrest and deportation of Afghan migrants have intensified, with Iran’s Interior Minister announcing that 1.2 million Afghan nationals have been expelled since the beginning of this year.

Iranian officials have also urged citizens to report any sightings of undocumented migrants to the police.

During the meeting on Saturday, Baradar called on Uzbekistan’s central bank to provide banking facilities to strengthen commercial ties between the two countries. He also proposed the use of national currencies in trade exchanges to streamline financial transactions.

Discussions covered the rapid integration of customs systems at the border, facilitating Afghan traders in transporting goods to the common market, removing trade permit restrictions, and simplifying visa issuance.

According to a statement from Baradar’s office, both sides explored opportunities to expand trade and transit relations and attract Uzbek investments in Afghanistan.

The statement further noted that Uzbek officials expressed readiness to establish a joint trade zone at the border, featuring processing factories for pine nuts and cotton, packaging and logistics centres, and food production plants.

The Uzbek government has yet to comment on the meeting. However, Baradar’s office stated that the Taliban welcomed the proposed initiatives and expressed willingness for cooperation.

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.