Nine countries have issued a joint statement backing the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor’s request for arrest warrants against Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani.
The statement was signed by Denmark, France, Greece, Guyana, Panama, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom. These countries condemned the Taliban’s systematic gender discrimination and violence against women.
The governments urged the Taliban to immediately revoke policies that violate women’s and girls’ fundamental rights. They emphasised that Afghan women have been erased from public life and their voices silenced.
The nine countries reaffirmed their commitment to holding the Taliban accountable for the widespread violations of women’s rights. They also welcomed the ICC’s efforts in pursuing justice.
Earlier, ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan called for arrest warrants against Akhundzada and Haqqani. He accused them of crimes against humanity, particularly for their role in suppressing Afghan women.
Afghan journalist Ehsan Mahdavi has denied reports that he was beaten by the Taliban, raising concerns of a forced confession. The Taliban’s intelligence agency in Daikundi province arrested him three weeks ago, accusing him of propaganda against the regime.
Before his statement, a journalist protection organisation had reported that Mahdavi’s physical and mental condition in custody was dire.
On Monday, Mahdavi wrote on Facebook that reports of his mistreatment were based on personal hostility.
He explained that he returned to Afghanistan from Iran three months ago after completing his studies. He admitted that during his time in Iran, he had published Facebook posts that contradicted Taliban policies.
Mahdavi said Taliban intelligence in Daikundi arrested him on charges of spreading negative propaganda. He was detained for further investigation.
According to him, a judge in the Pato district court released him on bail after a week.
He also dismissed claims that his father’s death was linked to his alleged torture. He stated that his father died from a pre-existing illness days after his release.
Mahdavi’s statement contradicts concerns raised by journalist advocacy groups. The civil society and journalist protection organisations had earlier reported that his condition in Taliban custody was poor.
The Taliban has a history of arbitrarily detaining and abusing journalists. Reports from international organisations confirm that the group has arrested and tortured dozens of journalists since taking power.
Reporters Without Borders recently warned that the Taliban has intensified its crackdown on the media. The group continues to harass, detain, and torture journalists across Afghanistan.
Pakistani security sources have reported that the Taliban resumed construction of a border post on Monday, despite a ceasefire agreement reached by a tribal council.
This comes after Pakistan requested a halt to border facility construction near the Durand Line just a day earlier.
Sources told Afghanistan International that Taliban forces restarted work on the post on 10 March, violating the peace agreement signed a day earlier.
Images from the area show that the post is located within Afghan territory, near the border fence.
On Sunday, Taliban and Pakistani officials held their first round of talks aimed at ending border clashes and reopening the Torkham crossing. During the meeting, Pakistan requested that the Taliban notify Islamabad before constructing any border facilities.
According to sources, the Taliban was expected to respond to Pakistan’s request by Monday. However, the reopening of Torkham crossing remains conditional on halting construction activities. The crossing has now been closed for over two weeks due to ongoing tensions.
The Taliban’s actions indicate that, despite Pakistan’s pressure, they remain committed to their border projects, which could further complicate negotiations.
Border tensions have escalated, with Islamabad accusing the Taliban of building posts near the border and inside Pakistani territory. The Taliban, however, insists that all construction is within Afghanistan’s borders.
Reports that the Trump administration may impose a travel ban on Afghan citizens have deeply alarmed Afghans who worked with U.S. forces and are awaiting resettlement. The White House is expected to announce the decision on Monday.
Estimates suggest that around 25,000 Afghans with approved U.S. resettlement applications now face uncertainty due to Trump’s recent orders. On his first day back in office, Trump suspended all refugee admissions, a move that has severely impacted former Afghan allies.
Now, AfghanEvac, a refugee support coalition, and several US media outlets have reported that Trump may take an even stricter approach by banning all Afghan entry into the US, even for those with valid visas. The reports have intensified fears among Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
Afghan US Allies Face Rising Uncertainty
Ahmadullah (a pseudonym), an Afghan living in Islamabad, worked on US-related projects in Afghanistan. He called Trump’s decision unfair. He fears that if the travel ban is enforced, his refugee status will become even more unstable.
“I’m completely confused—what is happening to us?” he said. “We supported the US mission in Afghanistan, and now we are abandoned in this dire situation.”
For three years, Ahmadullah and his family have faced severe financial struggles. Another former US non-profit employee in Rawalpindi said the new restrictions have deeply affected his mental health.
Living in a two-bedroom apartment with his wife and two daughters, he described delays in his asylum case and worsening financial difficulties.
“My daughters keep asking when we will go to the US,” he said. “I have no answers—what am I supposed to say?”
He added that rumours of a total ban on Afghan travel have only worsened his fears. “This will destroy all our hopes.”
His daughters, aged 13 and 11, previously attended school in Afghanistan, but now cannot continue their education in Pakistan. Afghan refugees are barred from public schools, while private schools require legal stay permits and high tuition fees.
Speaking to Afghanistan International, several Afghan refugees said they are trapped in worsening conditions. Many cannot work, their visas have expired, and they struggle to enrol their children in school.
Afghan Refugees Face Crackdown in Pakistan
A refugee waiting for US resettlement told Afghanistan International he could not speak freely because Pakistani police were stationed outside his home.
In the past three months, Pakistani authorities have intensified a nationwide crackdown on Afghan refugees, with mass arrests in Islamabad and Rawalpindi cities.
The crackdown escalated after Pakistan’s security agencies claimed that some Afghan refugees participated in violent protests organised by Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
Following these claims, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi ordered a large-scale operation against Afghan refugees. However, Afghans deny involvement, calling it an internal political issue in Pakistan.
Pakistan Sets 31 March Deadline for Afghan Departures
The Pakistani government has announced that Afghan refugees must leave Islamabad and Rawalpindi by 31 March.
Under this directive undocumented refugees will be arrested and deported to Afghanistan and those with valid visas must leave the capital city and Rawalpindi.
Last week, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that even Afghans whose US asylum cases are delayed or rejected may face deportation.
Some landlords in Islamabad and Rawalpindi have told Afghan tenants to vacate their homes, while others refuse to rent to Afghans fearing police action.
Former US Allies Plead for Protection
Afghans who worked with the US government are calling on Trump to exempt them from the travel restrictions.
“We collaborated with the US in Afghanistan,” Ahmadullah said. “Now, the US must not abandon us. If Pakistan deport us to Afghanistan, we will face death threats.”
US Congresswoman Doris Matsui has urged the United States to increase support for former Afghan allies who assisted US forces during the twenty years presence in Afghanistan. She called on President Donald Trump to honour the commitment to protect thousands of at-risk Afghans.
Matsui stressed that the US has an obligation to support these Afghans, who put themselves and their families in danger for a future they were promised.
On Monday, she posted on X, stating that thousands of Afghans sacrificed greatly to assist US service members. She criticised Trump’s executive orders, saying they have left tens of thousands of allies stranded under Taliban rule.
Matsui noted that these individuals have already undergone extensive security screenings. She added that families and supporters across the US are waiting for their relocation.
Alongside Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan, Matsui sent a letter to Trump on 6 March, urging action on Afghan refugee resettlement. The letter, signed by at least 45 Democratic lawmakers, called on Trump to reverse executive orders that have restricted refugee admissions and cut foreign aid.
Matsui and her colleagues continue to push for action, stressing the strategic importance of fulfilling US commitments to Afghan allies.
Mohsen Bagheri, a representative in Iran’s Supreme Labour Council, has stated that Iranian workers are leaving for Afghanistan and Iraq in search of better wages.
He said that employers in Iran are struggling due to a shortage of workers, while many Iranians are seeking jobs abroad. He noted that most of these workers are looking for simple jobs in neighbouring countries.
Bagheri attributed this trend to Iran’s weak domestic labour market, which has forced workers to seek opportunities elsewhere.
According to Entekhab news agency, he also claimed that Afghan migrants in Iran are no longer taking on physically demanding jobs, such as working in mines. Instead, he alleged that many now occupy well-paid jobs in northern Tehran, replacing Iranian workers.
