Torkham Border Remains Closed For Ninth Day, No Indication Of Reopening From Pakistan

According to a statement released by the court on Saturday, the individuals received between 10 and 39 lashes. Additionally, two of the accused were sentenced to two years of imprisonment, while the third received a two-month prison sentence.

This latest punishment is part of a series of public penalties imposed by the Taliban over the past month. Reports indicate that at least 42 individuals across Afghanistan have been publicly punished for various alleged offences during this period.

The Taliban claims that such punishments are in accordance with “Islamic Sharia law.” However, international organisations argue that trials under Taliban rule lack transparency and fail to meet the standards of due process.

Human rights groups have repeatedly condemned the Taliban’s severe punishments, including flogging, stoning, and executions, warning that these practices could target individuals who may not have committed any crime.

Her visit comes nearly 18 months after the Taliban imposed a ban preventing Afghan women from entering the park.

On Friday, Wright also posted images from Kabul and Herat on her social media accounts, showcasing various locations in these cities. The images included an Ariana Airlines aircraft, the tiled ceiling of a shrine in Herat, a shop, and rickshaws on a street. However, she was not visible in any of these pictures.

Afghanistan International reached out to Wright to inquire about the exact timing and purpose of her trip, but no response has been received so far. The Taliban have also not commented on the matter.

Despite their harsh restrictions on Afghan women, the Taliban have facilitated travel for foreign male and female tourists, aiming to project a “positive image” of their rule to the world.

Previously, photographs of Taliban members posing warmly with female Chinese tourists gained widespread attention, highlighting the group’s stark contrast in treatment between local and foreign women.

According to these sources, Taliban intelligence officers arrested Abdul Nasir on Tuesday, and handed over his body to his family on Friday night.

Sources told Afghanistan International that Abdul Nasir was detained from his shop in the Tot Bagh area of Taloqan. The Taliban have yet to disclose the charges against him or provide any explanation for his arrest.

A close relative of Abdul Nasir stated that after his detention, several local elders attempted to negotiate his release with Taliban officials. The Taliban reportedly confirmed his arrest and assured them that he would be freed soon. However, on Friday night, 1 March, his body was returned to his family.

Relatives of the deceased claim that visible signs of torture were present on his body, leading them to believe he died as a result of mistreatment while in Taliban custody.

Pattern of Deaths in Taliban Prisons

This is not the first case of a detainee dying in Taliban custody. Over the past three years, numerous reports have surfaced of individuals dying due to torture in Taliban prisons. Human rights organisations have repeatedly accused the Taliban of unlawful detentions, arbitrary arrests, and the systematic torture of prisoners.

In October 2024, Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban’s supreme leader, acknowledged reports of prisoners dying under torture during a visit to Kunduz province. He stated that he had received reports of such incidents and contacted prison officials to inquire whether these deaths were carried out under judicial orders or occurred without legal authorisation. The prison official reportedly denied any knowledge of the incidents, claiming that subordinates had carried out the killings.

Despite acknowledging the issue, Akhundzada has not announced any action to hold those responsible for the torture and deaths of detainees accountable. The Taliban leadership remains silent on addressing or preventing further incidents of abuse in detention centres.

Speaking at the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Friday, Eleanor Sanders, the UK Ambassador for Human Rights at the United Nations, condemned the Taliban’s continued suppression of women, particularly the bans on female education and employment.

She described the prohibition of women’s access to medical education, including nursing, midwifery, and dentistry, as “appalling,” highlighting these actions as clear violations of fundamental human rights. Sanders called on the Taliban to immediately reverse these restrictions, stating, “The Taliban must lift these inhumane measures to ensure a brighter future for all Afghans.”

The UK Human Rights Ambassador also reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to supporting vulnerable groups in Afghanistan, announcing a £171 million humanitarian aid package to provide essential services.

She stressed that sustained international pressure is crucial to compelling the Taliban to reverse their repressive policies and uphold the rights of all Afghans.

In an official statement, the group declared that it will refrain from conducting military actions as long as its forces are not attacked and its bases and positions remain free from direct threats.

However, the front’s intelligence networks will continue their operations and maintain close surveillance of the situation.

The statement further emphasised that if the Taliban engage in actions that violate Islamic and humanitarian principles—such as harassing civilians, committing violence against women, or targeting vulnerable groups—the AFF will respond accordingly, based on the circumstances.

The AFF expressed hope that the Afghan people will experience Ramadan in peace, unity, and harmony.

The front is one of the two major armed groups opposing the Taliban, alongside the National Resistance Front (NRF).

Recently, the group claimed that over the past year, it had carried out 87 targeted attacks on Taliban bases, checkpoints, and gathering centres, resulting in the deaths of 229 Taliban fighters and the injury of 166 others.