Germany’s Incoming Chancellor To Halt Refugee Admissions, Including Afghans

Nouri stated that the arrests were part of the “Social Security Enhancement” initiative. He confirmed that the detained migrants have been handed over to authorities for deportation.

On Sunday, 9 March, Nouri said the operation aimed to improve social security and increase public satisfaction. He also reported that several drug addicts and small-scale drug dealers were arrested during the crackdown. He stressed that tackling illegal migration remains a top priority for security forces.

Authorities in Sistan and Baluchestan, which shares a border with Afghanistan, have recently intensified deportations of Afghan migrants. On Saturday, Hamid Noori, police chief of Zahedan province, reported that 486 Afghan migrants were arrested under the same initiative and transferred for deportation.

Earlier, Ali Akbar Habibifar, police chief of Zabol city, announced the arrest of 172 undocumented Afghan migrants.

In the past year, Iran has tightened restrictions on Afghan migrants, making work and living conditions increasingly difficult. Under new Iranian laws, employing or renting property to Afghan migrants is now a criminal offence punishable by prosecution.

Sharifullah, the alleged mastermind behind the deadly ISIS attack at Kabul airport, was arrested in Pakistan and later handed over to U.S. authorities.

The U.S. Department of Justice previously stated that Sharifullah was involved in multiple attacks, including the March 2024 concert hall bombing in Moscow, which killed at least 145 people.

Malik explained that Sharifullah was arrested at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and later extradited to the U.S.. He stated that there was no need to consult Afghanistan on the matter.

He also clarified that while Pakistan does not have a formal extradition treaty with the U.S., it follows specific procedures allowing extradition if the requesting country provides the necessary legal documentation.

In an interview with RIA Novosti, Malik also claimed that U.S. weapons left in Afghanistan are being used in terrorist attacks inside Pakistan.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, confirmed that Sharifullah is an Afghan citizen.

On Tuesday, 4 March, U.S. President Donald Trump, in a speech before a joint session of Congress, announced that the mastermind behind the Kabul airport bombing—which killed 13 U.S. soldiers and over 170 Afghan civilians—had been captured with Pakistan’s cooperation.

Following Trump’s statement, Kash Patel, Director of the FBI, confirmed that Sharifullah had been transferred to the U.S. and would face “American justice”.

The attack at Kabul airport occurred on 26 August 2021, during the chaotic evacuation of U.S. and NATO forces. A suicide bombing at the Abbey Gate entrance killed 13 U.S. troops and over 170 Afghan civilians, leaving dozens more injured.

According to a statement from the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Muttaqi is expected to hold discussions on political and economic relations with Omani officials during his visit.

This trip follows the Taliban’s announcement in September that their diplomats had taken control of Afghanistan’s embassy in Oman. On 15 September, Zia Ahmad Takal, Deputy Spokesperson for the Taliban Foreign Ministry, stated that the embassy’s services had resumed with the cooperation of the Omani government.

Although no country has officially recognised the Taliban, some regional nations have allowed their diplomats to operate in embassies under their administration.

In an interview with IRAF, Mujahid was asked about the Taliban’s stance on relations with the U.S. and Iran. He responded that Iran is a neighbouring country with many shared interests, while the U.S. was an occupying force that harmed Afghanistan for 20 years. He insisted that comparing Iran and the U.S. was not up for discussion. He also said that the recent visit of Iran’s Foreign Minister to Kabul reflects the close ties between the Taliban and Tehran.

Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, recently travelled to Kabul and met with Taliban leaders. Their discussions covered border security, water disputes, countering ISIS, economic cooperation, drug trafficking, and mutual threats. During his visit, Araghchi stated that a new chapter in Iran-Taliban relations had begun.

Mujahid also addressed Washington’s decision to retrieve American weapons left in Afghanistan. He declared that no one can take the Taliban’s weapons. He warned that if any attempt were made, the Taliban would defend Afghanistan and itself.

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly pledged to retrieve American military equipment from the Taliban. He also claimed that the Bagram airbase is now controlled by China. Mujahid denied this, stating that no foreign troops are in Afghanistan. He accused Trump of mixing political and economic issues.

He further stated that pressure and coercion will not succeed, arguing that 20 years of war had already proven this.

Pakistan has backed Washington’s decision to retrieve weapons from the Taliban. The Pakistani Defence Minister claimed that advanced U.S. weaponry left in Afghanistan is now being used by terrorists.

Mujahid once again claimed that ISIS militants have established safe havens in Pakistan. He insisted that the Taliban has suppressed ISIS in Afghanistan, forcing them to flee and take refuge in Pakistan.

He downplayed ISIS’s presence in Afghanistan, saying its operations are minimal and deceptive. He also accused some countries of exaggerating ISIS’s influence for propaganda purposes.

Mujahid responded to Pakistan’s allegations that Afghanistan is being used as a base for attacks against Pakistan. While he did not outright deny the claims, he said Pakistan should strengthen its own borders.

Discussing border disputes, Mujahid said the recognition of the Durand Line should be decided by the people on both sides. He stated that when the time is right, the people will make their decision.

Pakistan considers the Durand Line an official international border, while the Taliban, like previous Afghan governments, has refused to formally recognise it. Mujahid claimed that the British were responsible for dividing the people along the border.

The protesters urged both the Taliban and the Pakistani government to resolve their disputes and ease the suffering of travellers and traders. The demonstration took place on Saturday, 8 March, with participants chanting slogans such as “We want peace and security” and “We demand security in border areas.”

Stranded drivers and traders in Landi Kotal called on the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan to allow traffic and passengers to cross without further delay. An Afghan driver affected by the closure said he had spent over 50,000 Pakistani rupees due to the prolonged shutdown. He added that the situation has become even more difficult with Ramadan approaching.

The Torkham crossing was closed on 22 February after tensions escalated between Pakistani border guards and the Taliban. The clashes have intensified over the past two weeks. The Pakistani government stated that the closure was due to the Taliban’s attempt to construct a checkpoint on Pakistani territory.

Despite several rounds of negotiations, no agreement has been reached to reopen the border. Abdul Kabir, the Taliban’s Minister of Refugees, met with Ubaid Ur Rehman Nizamani, Pakistan’s Chargé d’Affaires in Kabul. He insisted that closing the Torkham crossing will not resolve conflicts and stressed the need for dialogue to address the ongoing issues.