Taliban Hosts Turkish Clerics In Northern Jowzjan Province

According to a statement released by the CSTO, the discussions focused in particular on the Targeted Interstate Programme — a joint initiative by CSTO member states designed to strengthen the security of Tajikistan’s southern border. The border with Afghanistan is considered a critical front in regional counterterrorism and stability efforts.

During his visit, Tasmagambetov also held separate talks with Emomali Sobirzoda, Tajikistan’s newly appointed Minister of Defence, to further address security collaboration.

The CSTO Secretary-General had earlier announced that the border reinforcement initiative would begin in 2025 and would consist of specific strategic measures aimed at safeguarding the interests and security of CSTO member countries. The programme is structured in three phases and will be implemented over a five-year period.

In parallel with these high-level talks, joint Russian-Tajik military exercises were conducted near the Afghan border in recent days. The drills, held at a military training ground in Tajikistan, focused on combat readiness and counterterrorism operations in mountainous terrain. The Russian Ministry of Defence reported that the exercise involved the deployment of Orlan-10 drones, tanks, artillery units, and Mi-24 attack helicopters.

Harbans Singh, speaking to Afghanistan International, condemned the minister’s statements, made just days before the Sikh and Hindu festival of Vaisakhi. Hanafi reportedly claimed that non-Muslims, including Hindus and Sikhs, are “worse than animals,” a comment that has drawn sharp criticism from religious minorities.

Singh stressed that no one has the right to insult another religion and warned that such rhetoric could further endanger the small number of Sikhs and Hindus who remain in Afghanistan. He added that these comments could compel many to leave the country altogether due to fears for their safety and religious freedom.

Hanafi, known for his hardline stance, plays a central role in enforcing the Taliban’s restrictive social decrees, particularly those targeting women. In a previous speech, he asserted that God has given Muslims a special status due to their commitment to promoting virtue and preventing vice.

According to DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has determined that current conditions in Afghanistan and Cameroon no longer warrant an extension of TPS.

As a result, approximately 14,600 Afghan nationals and 7,900 Cameroonian nationals—previously eligible under the programme—are expected to lose their protection from deportation by May and June respectively.

TPS is a form of humanitarian relief granted to individuals from countries facing extraordinary conditions such as armed conflict or environmental disasters. While in effect, it permits recipients to live and work legally in the United States and protects them from removal. The status is typically granted for 6 to 18 months and may be extended depending on conditions in the home country.

The decision to revoke TPS for these nationals is seen as part of a broader tightening of immigration policies under the administration of President Donald Trump. In total, more than 22,000 individuals from Afghanistan and Cameroon could be affected by the move, potentially facing deportation within the next two months.

The development has drawn concern from human rights groups and immigration advocates, who argue that returning individuals to regions still experiencing instability could place lives at risk.

According to the embassy, the high-level delegation from the Islamic Republic of Iran participated in the prayers as part of a broader visit aimed at strengthening ties with local authorities and expanding Tehran’s influence in western Afghanistan.

The presence of senior Iranian officials at one of Herat’s most prominent religious sites signals a calculated diplomatic move to engage with the Taliban administration and bolster relations with provincial leaders in Herat and other neighbouring regions along the Iranian border.

Earlier, Iranian media reported that a delegation comprising the Deputy Foreign Minister, the Director General for South Asia at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development, and the Governor of South Khorasan Province had arrived in Herat on Thursday.

During their visit, the delegation is scheduled to tour Herat’s industrial park, the Khaf-Herat railway project, and the Rozanak railway station. In addition, meetings are planned with the Taliban’s governor in Herat, other senior officials of the group, and representatives of the private sector. These engagements aim to assess Herat’s economic landscape and explore opportunities to enhance cross-border trade and infrastructure cooperation.

This diplomatic outreach comes as the Islamic Republic continues the construction of a border wall along parts of the Afghan-Iranian frontier, citing ongoing concerns related to security threats, drug trafficking, and unauthorised border crossings.

Despite persistent apprehensions over the Taliban’s governance and regional security, Iran has stepped up its diplomatic engagement with the group. This includes a recent visit by Iran’s Foreign Minister to Kabul for direct talks with senior Taliban leaders.

The funds, earmarked for madrasas in Pakistan’s border provinces of Balochistan, Sindh, and Punjab, were ordered by Akhundzada despite the Taliban administration facing a severe financial shortfall.

According to the source, Akhundzada instructed Finance Minister Mohammad Nasir Akhund and Central Bank Governor Noor Ahmad Agha to facilitate the allocation.

The decision follows the Taliban’s approval of the 1403 (2024/25) national budget, though specific figures were not disclosed. For comparison, the 1401 (2022/23) budget totalled 231 billion Afghanis, with 203 billion for operational costs and 27.9 billion for development projects.

Amid the budget constraints, the Taliban has mandated a 12 percent staff reduction across all ministries and suspended pension payments to retirees, triggering public discontent.

Nevertheless, Akhundzada’s prioritisation of Pakistani madrasas underscores the Taliban’s deep ideological ties to these institutions, many of which educated its leaders and fighters and continue to serve as recruitment hubs. Senior Taliban officials frequently visit these seminaries and maintain strong connections with them.

The move comes as Afghanistan grapples with profound economic, political, and human rights challenges under Taliban rule. The United Nations estimates that approximately 23 million Afghans require humanitarian assistance. Last year, the World Food Programme provided emergency food aid and cash to nearly 12 million people, with a focus on women and girls facing acute hunger.