UN Pledges Continued Support For Afghan Women & Girls Ahead Of Women’s Day

Images from the clash show both sides targeting one another’s positions. Reports indicate that Taliban forces have destroyed a Pakistani military outpost, further escalating tensions in the region. Videos circulating on social media reveal Taliban forces employing heavy artillery to attack Pakistani military posts.

Following the closure of the Torkham border crossing on 22 February, clashes between Taliban forces and Pakistani soldiers have recurred, with both sides utilising heavy weaponry. A spokesperson for the Taliban Ministry of Interior confirmed that one of their fighters was killed and two others injured during the recent clashes.

The Torkham crossing has now been closed for 13 consecutive days, with reports stating that thousands of trucks carrying goods and fresh produce are stranded on both sides of the border. Despite several rounds of talks between officials from both sides aimed at ending the fighting and reopening Torkham, negotiations have so far been unsuccessful.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated that the centre would serve as a key platform for coordinating international efforts in the region.

According to the statement released on Tuesday, 5 March, the UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution approving the establishment of the centre, with the consensus of 152 countries.

The Kazakh presidency described the resolution’s adoption as a major achievement in the country’s foreign policy.

President Tokayev also expressed gratitude to all the nations that supported the resolution’s approval.

In a statement, Shamshad confirmed that Hedayat Shah Hedayat, a Shamshad TV reporter, along with two other local journalists, sustained injuries from mortar fire launched by Pakistani forces.

Local Taliban officials in Nangarhar confirmed the injuries and stated that among the wounded were a Pajhwok News Agency reporter and a Radio Hurriyat journalist.

Taliban authorities further reported that the injured journalists had been transferred to a hospital for treatment.

On Wednesday, Taliban and Pakistani forces clashed once again at Torkham. Footage circulating on social media shows both sides exchanging heavy fire, targeting each other’s positions.

As of now, no official details have been released regarding potential casualties from the clashes.

Sources told Afghanistan International that the conflict at Torkham is still ongoing, with tensions remaining high at the strategic border crossing.

He stated that the detainees had been handed over to the relevant authorities for deportation.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Noori emphasised that the detention and deportation of undocumented migrants remain a top priority for security forces in Sistan and Baluchestan. He added that the initiative aims to “increase public safety and citizen satisfaction.”

Earlier, Ali Akbar Habibifar, police chief of Zabol in Sistan and Baluchestan, reported that security forces had detained 172 undocumented Afghan migrants over the past week. He confirmed that they had also been transferred to the relevant authorities for deportation.

This comes as the Iranian government has intensified its crackdown on Afghan migrants in recent months. Under new regulations, renting homes to undocumented migrants or employing them has been criminalised.

Despite these restrictive measures, Iran has deported more than 1.2 million Afghan migrants back to Afghanistan this year alone.

Following Trump’s announcement, Kash Patel, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), stated that on Tuesday night, 4 March (U.S. time), the FBI, the Department of Justice, and the CIA successfully extradited one of the terrorists responsible for the killing of 13 American service members at Abbey Gate during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Suspect Identified as ISIS-K Operative Mohammad Sharifullah

According to Axios, citing sources, the suspect has been identified as Mohammad Sharifullah, also known as “Jafar”.

The report states that Sharifullah was a member of ISIS-K and was accused of planning and coordinating the attack at Abbey Gate, which resulted in the deaths of at least 170 Afghan civilians and 13 U.S. service members.

Axios further reported that Sharifullah is expected to arrive in the United States on Wednesday, where his court hearing will be held publicly.

CIA and Pakistan’s Role in the Capture

U.S. officials revealed that after John Ratcliffe was confirmed as CIA Director in January, Trump ordered him to prioritise the capture of those responsible for the Abbey Gate attack. In his first communication with General Asim Malik, head of Pakistan’s ISI, Ratcliffe raised this issue.

Officials further stated that the CIA had been tracking Sharifullah for an extended period but only recently acquired precise intelligence on his whereabouts. This intelligence was shared with Pakistan’s security agencies, leading to his capture by a special unit near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Reports indicate that ten days ago, after U.S. officials were informed of Sharifullah’s arrest, Ratcliffe and FBI Director Kash Patel contacted Pakistan’s intelligence chief from CIA headquarters to discuss his extradition.

According to the report: “Since then, the CIA, the Department of Justice, and the FBI have worked together on his extradition, with Ratcliffe, Patel, and Attorney General Pam Bondi personally involved.”

On Tuesday night, Trump publicly thanked Pakistan for assisting in Sharifullah’s capture.

Kash Patel, in a post on social platform X, stated that with this arrest, justice for “American heroes and their families” is one step closer.

Neither Trump nor Patel disclosed the suspect’s identity in their statements.

As of now, Pakistani officials have not commented on the matter.

This development follows a previous claim by U.S. officials in April 2023 that the Taliban had killed an ISIS-K leader responsible for the Kabul Airport attack. While the Biden administration confirmed the leader’s death, it did not disclose his identity.