Pakistan Must Stop Deporting Afghan Journalists, Says Rights Group

The funding, channelled through UN partners, will target sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence reduction, and support for returning refugees.

The Department of Foreign Affairs also committed $15 million in total humanitarian aid for crises in Myanmar and Afghanistan. Of this, $7 million will provide food assistance to Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar, while $3 million will support food, healthcare, and shelter for displaced people near the Thailand-Myanmar border.

With US aid suspended, UN agencies in Afghanistan face severe funding gaps, disrupting operations. The UN has warned that cuts could deepen poverty, as much of Afghanistan’s population depends on humanitarian support.

Australia’s government stressed that aiding those in crisis aligns with its values, reaffirming its dedication to global peace, stability, and life-saving assistance. It called for an end to hostilities, diplomatic engagement, civilian protection, hostage releases, and sustained humanitarian efforts.

The arrests highlight growing Chinese activity in Afghanistan since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover, with increased numbers of tourists and investors drawn by the country’s resources.

France Televisions reported in January on China’s expanding economic footprint in Afghanistan, particularly in resource extraction. Afghanistan boasts reserves of copper, gold, oil, and precious stones worth over £780 billion. China has capitalised on this, restarting the Aynak copper mine and signing major oil extraction deals in the Amu Darya Basin, where production began in 2024.

Despite Taliban regulations, security remains a concern. In Takhar province’s Khwaja Bahauddin district, unidentified gunmen killed a Chinese national, though the victim’s translator and driver escaped and alerted a Taliban checkpoint, sources told Afghanistan International. In December 2022, an attack on a Kabul hotel in Shahr-e-Naw, frequented by Chinese nationals, killed 3 and injured 18.

Analysts view Afghanistan as a strategic prize for Beijing, dubbed a modern “El Dorado” for its vast untapped wealth, despite ongoing risks.

Haqqani briefed Akhundzada during the meeting, which also included Defence Minister Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid and Intelligence Chief Abdul Haq Wasiq.

Deputy Defence Minister Abdul Qayyum Zakir and Deputy Interior Minister Nabi Omari also attended.

Mujahid said the meeting reviewed proposals from security institutions and issued directives regarding their operations and strategic direction. He added that decisions were taken to improve public order, equip security forces, and enhance their capabilities.

The exact timing of the meeting was not disclosed.

This is the first public confirmation by Mujahid of Haqqani’s participation in a Taliban leadership meeting since reports surfaced of internal tensions. Haqqani had been notably absent from such meetings and from his office in Kabul for at least two months.

The announcement follows recent reports that the US removed a $10 million bounty on Haqqani, a move viewed as a diplomatic victory that may have enabled his return to active participation in Taliban leadership discussions.

The restriction stems from a law by the Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.

The AFJC obtained voice messages from ministry officials in Badakhshan and Baghlan, sent via WhatsApp groups with journalists and Taliban members, ordering local media to comply. Sources told the centre that officials in all three provinces summoned media executives to reinforce the ban and warn of penalties for violations.

In Badakhshan, 10 private radio stations and 2 private TV channels operate, while Baghlan has one TV station and 5 radio stations, and Nimroz has 2 TV channels and 4 radio stations. Taliban-run Radio Television Afghanistan and the Bakhtar News Agency also function in these areas.

Enacted last year, Article 17 of the ministry’s law forbids depicting or sharing images of living beings, empowering officials to enforce it. The ban already applies in 7 other provinces: Kandahar, Takhar, Badghis, Helmand, Nangarhar, Nuristan, and Farah.

The AFJC cautioned that the measure hampers TV news and further restricts radio, a key news source via social media. Press freedom groups have slammed the Taliban’s censorship as a grave attack on media independence and expression.

Over three years, the Taliban has intensified its media crackdown, imposing harsh limits that have shuttered many outlets and driven numerous journalists to flee Afghanistan for safety and work.

Trump claimed the Biden administration had effectively handed over vast amounts of US gear to the country during its withdrawal.

“Maybe we have to ask for that back, although it is getting a little old,” he said, hinting at retrieving the abandoned assets. He offered no specifics but has repeatedly called for the recovery of US military equipment left behind. Trump also noted that the US has rebuilt its military strength despite the loss.

The Taliban, however, has ruled out returning any equipment to Washington. Taliban officials have dubbed the abandoned weaponry “war spoils,” asserting their intent to keep and use it.

Trump earlier assigned an official named “Doug” to devise a retrieval plan, though the individual’s identity remains uncertain. Some speculate he meant Doug Manchester, a businessman and Republican backer. The US Department of Defence estimates the value of equipment left in Afghanistan exceeds $7 billion, including vehicles, advanced weapons, biometric devices, and other technologies.

From 2002 to June 2020, the US spent over $88 billion via the Afghan Security Forces Fund, managed by the Department of Defence, to equip and support Afghan security forces. Additional funds went towards training, services, capacity-building, and infrastructure projects.