Taliban Pushes Iran For Afghan Refugee Return Deal

NSC spokesperson James Hewitt said no discussions are underway about the embassy’s status, while a State Department spokesperson added, “The US does not recognise any entity as Afghanistan’s government and has no plans to reopen its embassy.”

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid recently told Al Arabiya that the group had asked the US to relinquish control of the Afghan embassy in Washington and reopen its Kabul mission, awaiting a response. The NSC countered: “We’ve made no commitments on the Afghan Embassy in Washington, and no talks are ongoing about the US Embassy compound in Kabul.”

Last month, a US delegation—including Adam Boehler, Donald Trump’s hostage affairs envoy, and Zalmay Khalilzad, former Afghanistan envoy—visited Kabul, meeting Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. Some reports suggest they first travelled to Kandahar to confer with figures close to Taliban leader Mullah Hibatullah.

The Taliban sought recognition as Afghanistan’s legitimate government during these talks and later released George Glezmann, a 66-year-old American tourist. Mujahid noted the US responded by lifting bounties on Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s Interior Minister, and two Haqqani Network members, calling it a positive step for relations.

The US closed its Kabul embassy in August 2021 after withdrawing from Afghanistan, with diplomats since operating from Qatar. CNN reported, citing US officials, that the Taliban is pushing to win favour with Trump, aiming for formal ties and a US political office.

However, sources told CNN the US still designates the Taliban as a terrorist group, a view echoed by Vice President J.D. Vance, who once labelled them among the world’s worst terrorist organisations.

The appeal came in a joint statement issued at the conclusion of the first EU–Central Asia summit, held on Friday, 4 April, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

The summit, hosted by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, brought together heads of state who underscored their shared commitment to Afghanistan’s development and expressed concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the country.

In their statement, the leaders stressed the need for a secure, stable, and prosperous Afghanistan governed by inclusive systems that protect the rights of all citizens, including women, girls, ethnic and religious minorities. They also called on Afghanistan to honour its international obligations and live in peace with itself and its neighbours.

“We emphasised our strong commitment to see Afghanistan develop into a secure, stable and prosperous State with inclusive government and governance systems that respects the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all its citizens, including women, girls, persons belonging to ethnic and religious groups and minorities,” the statement read.

The EU and Central Asian leaders specifically urged full and equal access to education for women and girls in accordance with international standards, as well as their active participation in public and political life. The statement also called for the continuation of regular consultations between EU special representatives and their Central Asian counterparts on the situation in Afghanistan.

During the summit, President Mirziyoyev voiced particular concern over regional security threats emanating from Afghanistan and criticised what he described as the international community’s insufficient attention to the issue. He reaffirmed Uzbekistan’s readiness to engage in political consultations to promote Afghanistan’s peaceful development.

Images released by the Taliban show his guards—armed with American-made weapons—remaining in close proximity, fingers on triggers throughout the meetings.

Even during Eid prayers at Sapedar Palace, which were attended by foreign diplomats, Kabir’s personal guards did not leave his side. On the first day of Eid, Abdul Haq Wasiq, the Taliban’s intelligence chief, visited Kabir. Photos of the meeting show Kabir’s guards positioned directly behind Wasiq, remaining in the room throughout the encounter.

On the second day of Eid, several Shia clerics visited the minister. The Ministry of Refugees published photos showing a heavily armed security presence around Kabir during the meeting, reinforcing his heightened security measures.

This increased security follows the assassination of Kabir’s predecessor, Khalil-ur-Rahman Haqqani, who was killed in a suicide attack at the ministry’s headquarters last year. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack. Haqqani, a senior figure in the Taliban, was known for carrying a weapon at all times.

Following Haqqani’s death, Abdul Kabir was removed from his former role as Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs and reassigned as acting Minister of Refugees. Since then, Kabir has refused to relocate to the ministry’s official headquarters, choosing instead to continue operating from the fortified Sapedar Palace.

Security analysts believe the assassination of Haqqani may have been facilitated from within Taliban ranks, pointing to increasing distrust and internal rivalries. Kabir’s visible reliance on armed protection, even within the heavily guarded Presidential Palace compound, signals rising fear and paranoia among senior Taliban officials.

Noor claimed Khan was assassinated on 27 March in a conspiracy following his release from Taliban intelligence custody. The Taliban has not yet commented on the allegations.

On Friday, Noor posted images of Wali Khan on X, accusing the Taliban of widespread “crimes” since taking power, including targeted killings. He asserted: “In many instances, these killings aim at ethnic cleansing and political, religious, and local purges,” framing Wali Khan’s death as part of this Taliban policy.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has reported ongoing human rights abuses against former government officials and ex-members of Afghanistan’s defence and security forces, despite the Taliban’s 2021 general amnesty pledge.

Alireza Khameh-Zar, head of the South Khorasan Chamber of Commerce, criticised Iran’s stringent Plant Protection Organisation regulations, which he said are obstructing agricultural imports from Afghanistan.

In an interview with Iran’s ILNA news agency, Khameh-Zar stated, “Iran was once Afghanistan’s top trading partner, but it has now dropped to fifth place.” He attributed this decline in part to Afghanistan’s growing dissatisfaction over Iran’s refusal to buy its agricultural goods, which has contributed to an imbalance in trade between the two countries.

Although trade volumes have fluctuated in recent years, Iran remains one of Afghanistan’s largest commercial partners, exporting products such as petrol, gas, construction materials, machinery, pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment.

Khameh-Zar explained that, under Iranian regulations, Afghanistan is classified as a high-risk country for agricultural imports. However, he argued that Afghanistan has the capacity to meet many of Iran’s agricultural needs. He pointed to the current cotton shortage in Iran, noting that Uzbekistan no longer exports cotton to Iran and Türkiye has become a net importer. Under these circumstances, Afghanistan could emerge as a suitable alternative supplier.

He also stressed that as Iran continues to face a worsening water crisis, relaxing restrictions on Afghan agricultural imports could help alleviate domestic challenges in food production.

Khameh-Zar highlighted Afghanistan’s comparative advantages, including low labour costs and vast tracts of undeveloped farmland, which make it an ideal candidate for offshore farming to support Iran’s agricultural market.