Nearly 1,000 Afghan Refugee Families Return From Iran & Pakistan, Says Taliban

Speaking on Sunday evening, Hashemi described a recent visit by an Iranian delegation to Afghanistan as “successful,” noting that opportunities for Afghan investors in Iran are set to expand.

The governor’s visit to Herat and Farah provinces last week was part of a broader mission led by Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister. The delegation included the Director General for South Asia at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development, and other senior officials. Their discussions with local Taliban authorities focused on enhancing trade and transit cooperation.

Hashemi stated that the visit spotlighted investment prospects in South Khorasan, and that Afghan investors responded positively to the initiatives proposed.

He added that more than 38 per cent of Iran’s exports last year were facilitated through the Mahirood border crossing. However, he stressed that the Mahirood–Farah highway remains incomplete after 15 years. “Completing this route is now our top priority,” he said.

In an effort to further boost bilateral trade, the governor invited Afghan traders to take part in the Iran–Afghanistan Trade Exhibition, scheduled to be held in South Khorasan from 9 to 12 June.

In a symbolic gesture during the visit, the Iranian delegation also attended Friday prayers at the Grand Mosque of Herat. Commenting on the occasion, Hashemi remarked, “By attending Sunni Friday prayers, we emphasised that Iran holds special respect for the people of Afghanistan. The Islamic Republic is the only country that has provided full security for Afghan nationals.”

He further expressed South Khorasan’s willingness to attract Afghan investment, particularly in the renewable energy sector. “We are prepared to offer opportunities for establishing solar power plants in the province to Afghan investors,” he said.

Iran has increasingly prioritised the development of ties with Afghanistan’s western provinces, including Herat, Farah, and Nimroz. As part of this policy, greater administrative authority has been granted to Iranian provincial governments to deepen trade and transit cooperation with Afghan counterparts. Plans are also underway to establish an Iranian consulate in Farah province.

The blast occurred around 8:30 a.m. near a Shia mosque in a predominantly Hazara neighborhood within the city’s second security district.

Taliban authorities have not yet commented on the incident, and details regarding injuries or damage remain unclear.

The situation is ongoing, with further information expected as developments unfold.

According to the IRNA news agency, the delegation—which includes representatives from the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Governorate of South Khorasan—is focused on identifying logistical challenges, enhancing transport capacity, and facilitating increased economic cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.

Abdullah Arjaei, Iran’s Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development, said the expansion of the railway could significantly improve regional transit and provide new opportunities for the Iranian private sector to engage in Afghan infrastructure projects.

“The volume of transit through the country should increase to 40 million tonnes annually, and this is not possible without sufficient attention to neighbouring countries and the completion of east-west and north-south corridors,” Arjaei stated.

He also emphasised the strategic importance of linking Afghanistan to European markets and international waters, noting that Iran is well-positioned to facilitate such access.

The Khaf-Herat railway connects Iran’s national rail network to Herat in western Afghanistan and is considered a vital component of the East-West international rail corridor. The 2,000-kilometre route spans China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Turkiye, and Europe, offering a major transit corridor for goods across the region.

The sentences were carried out publicly on Sunday in front of a large crowd, according to local Taliban officials.

The public punishments come amid a broader campaign of corporal sentencing by the Taliban, which has drawn widespread international condemnation for its lack of due process and judicial transparency.

A day earlier, the Taliban judiciary announced that 13 people — including three women — were sentenced in the provinces of Jowzjan and Khost to prison terms ranging from two to five years, along with 35 to 39 lashes administered in public.

According to Taliban authorities, the charges in those cases included “illicit relationships, bribery, insulting religious sanctities, and spreading false news.”

Human rights organisations and international bodies continue to express concern over the Taliban’s justice system, which operates without an independent judiciary, legal safeguards, or defence representation for the accused.

The latest incidents follow last week’s public execution of four individuals by Taliban authorities, underscoring the group’s ongoing use of harsh and controversial punishments under its interpretation of Islamic law.

Speaking at a religious seminar for Hajj instructors in Kandahar on Sunday, Akhundzada declared, “We are happy to have our heads cut off, but we are not happy if Sharia is not implemented.”

An audio recording of his remarks was shared on the social media platform X by Taliban deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat.

Referring to himself as Amir al-Mu’minin (Commander of the Faithful), Akhundzada claimed that loyalty to his leadership is equivalent to allegiance to God. “If these people are standing with me, they are standing with God. They are aligned with God’s Sharia,” he said. “May the day never come when we compromise on Sharia.”

He criticised the international community, particularly Western countries, for opposing the Taliban’s strict interpretation of Islamic law. Despite pressure, he vowed that the Taliban would continue to enforce their policies, even by coercive means.

“In the past, words were spoken without force. Now, it is a matter of law — whether someone accepts it or not, we will impose it by force,” he warned.

Nearly four years since seizing power, the Taliban has yet to receive formal recognition from any country. Even those considered sympathetic or maintaining close ties have refrained from granting official legitimacy.

The group’s hardline governance, especially the continued ban on girls’ education and the exclusion of women from public and professional life, has attracted widespread criticism, including from Muslim-majority states. International appeals for moderation have thus far been dismissed by the Taliban leadership, deepening the regime’s isolation on the global stage.