UK MPs Condemn Taliban’s ‘Horrific’ Treatment Of Women & Girls, Urge Stronger Action

According to Pakistan’s Geo News, customs officials estimate that the closure of this crucial trade route has resulted in losses of approximately $12 million over the past four days.

On Wednesday, Pakistani immigration authorities reported that thousands of travellers are stranded on both sides of the border. Before the closure, an estimated 10,000 people crossed daily, highlighting the significant impact on trade, commerce, and humanitarian travel.

Meanwhile, The News Pakistan reported that multiple rounds of negotiations between Taliban and Pakistani officials have so far failed to resolve the standoff.

The border was shut down by Pakistan on Friday night following a dispute over the installation of a signboard by Pakistani officials and the Taliban’s subsequent construction of a security checkpoint.

This is not the first time the Torkham crossing has been closed since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan. The border has frequently been used as a political tool by Pakistan amid ongoing tensions with the Taliban, with closures often triggered by clashes between Taliban and Pakistani border forces.

On Wednesday, the Taliban’s police command in Kandahar issued a statement reporting that floods had struck several districts, including Maiwand, Shah Wali Kot, Zhari, and the 5th, 6th, and 7th security zones of the province. The disaster claimed the lives of nine people, including three children.

The statement added that nine others were injured, while 12 homes were completely destroyed. Additionally, over two hectares of farmland were submerged, causing further financial losses.

Meanwhile, in Helmand, the Taliban’s Directorate of Information and Culture reported that floods on Tuesday had devastated multiple districts, including Qala, Gereshk, Babaji, Nawa, Sangin, and Washir. According to Abdul Bari Rashid, the head of the directorate, six people lost their lives, and ten others sustained injuries.

The floods also inflicted significant financial damage, including the destruction of 1,500 solar panels, a critical energy source for residents.

In a related incident, Farah province also experienced severe flooding on Tuesday, resulting in at least 21 deaths and multiple injuries.

The recent surge in heavy rainfall and flash floods across southern and western Afghanistan has raised concerns over the lack of disaster preparedness and emergency response infrastructure. Many affected communities remain without adequate support, increasing the risk of further casualties and economic devastation.

The region is considered a stronghold of the Haqqani network. This review follows a surge in ISIS attacks in Kabul and other provinces.

Sources told Afghanistan International that this process, overseen by the deputy governors of Khost, Paktia, Paktika, Logar, and Ghazni provinces, began last week.

According to informed sources, “All those who filled out clearance forms but did not participate in combat will be dismissed from their positions. Additionally, individuals recruited through family connections will be removed.”

The commission to purge “people of bad character” from the Taliban ranks has compiled a list of all Taliban fighters in these provinces and is requiring commanders to identify those who were recruited through personal connections.

A source in Khost province stated that the commission, led by the deputy governor, is holding interviews and assessments to validate the fighters’ credentials.

Sources added that in Khost, former governor and senior Haqqani network member Mohammad Nabi Omari had issued clearance forms based on tribal and ethnic affiliations for many senior fighters. These forms are now being reassessed for validity.

According to one source, “It is likely that many Taliban clearance forms in Paktia will be revoked.”

Since taking power, the Taliban has sought to appoint its fighters and commanders to government positions, leading to an administration dominated by its members.

The Taliban’s purge Commission was established by order of the group’s Prime Minister and consists of members from the ministries of defence, intelligence, and interior. It is centrally overseen by the Defence Minister, while at the provincial level, deputy governors are responsible for its implementation.

At the provincial level, the commission includes the deputy governor, police chief, military corps commander, a mufti or representative from the military court, and the head of the religious scholars’ council. These officials are tasked with evaluating clearance forms and deciding whether to approve or revoke them.

The purge commission has restarted its internal vetting process in an area considered the primary stronghold of Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s Interior Minister.

Haqqani recently left Afghanistan due to ongoing disputes with the Taliban’s supreme leader, Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, and is currently residing in Dubai.

According to official documents, Pakistan’s Interior Ministry has set a deadline of 31 March 2025 for their departure. Currently, approximately 800,000 Afghan refugees holding temporary residency cards, known as Afghan Citizen Cards (ACCs), reside in Pakistan.

Reports indicate that Afghans awaiting resettlement in a third country have been granted an extension until 30 June 2025. However, those who fail to secure a visa by September 2025 will be classified as illegal immigrants and face deportation.

Additionally, Afghan refugees waiting for visas beyond 31 March will no longer be allowed to stay in Islamabad and will be relocated to other cities before being sent back to Afghanistan.

To ensure enforcement, the Pakistani Prime Minister’s Office has directed security agencies to submit reports every 15 days.

Despite international appeals, Pakistan remains firm on its deportation policy. Relations with the Taliban have deteriorated, and Islamabad previously launched a large-scale repatriation programme, citing security concerns and the rising number of undocumented migrants.

The United Nations and several Western nations have urged Pakistan to halt the deportations, with analysts suggesting that Islamabad is using the issue to pressure the Taliban.

Thousands of Afghan refugees remain stranded, awaiting resettlement in third countries. However, global crises—including the war in Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East—have shifted international attention away from their plight.

A former Afghan government official, speaking to Afghanistan International, stated that Sayyaf’s visit was made at the invitation of the Iranian government. Sayyaf’s son, Habib-ur-Rahman Sayyaf, also confirmed that his father travelled from India to Iran.

Sayyaf, a key member of the National Resistance Council for the Salvation of Afghanistan, has been residing in Turkiye since the fall of the previous Afghan government. His visit to Iran follows recent meetings between commanders of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iranian diplomats with members of the National Resistance Council in Turkiye.

Three credible sources told Afghanistan International that during these meetings, Iranian officials, including Seyed Hossein Mousavi, Nasser Ghazalipour, and Mohammad Ebrahim Taherian, advised Afghan opposition leaders—such as Abdul Rashid Dostum, Mohammad Mohaqiq, and Taj Mohammad Jahid—to avoid aligning with Pakistan.

Before these discussions, a high-level delegation from Pakistan’s intelligence agency (ISI) had also met with members of the National Resistance Council and jihadi figures in Istanbul. Sources confirmed that Salahuddin Rabbani, Abdul Rashid Dostum, Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf, Mohammad Mohaqiq, and Karim Khalili were among those who participated in the meetings.

According to sources, Iranian officials urged Taliban opposition leaders to distance themselves from Pakistan.