Explosion Rocks Mazar-e-Sharif, Casualties Feared

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.

According to the commission’s statement released on Saturday, 1,543 individuals were expelled via Spin Boldak, while nearly 5,000 were returned through the Torkham crossing.

The statement noted a significant surge in deportations, with 288 families entering Afghanistan through Spin Boldak and 820 families through Torkham in just 24 hours.

In addition, the commission confirmed the deportation of 134 Afghan migrants from Iran. Of these, 70 returned via the Islam Qala border crossing and 64 through Pul-e-Abrisham.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) also reported on Saturday that at least 44,900 Afghan migrants had returned from Pakistan between 1 and 11 April. According to the agency, 14,100 of them were forcibly deported during that period.

The deportations come amid an intensified crackdown by Pakistani authorities on undocumented Afghan migrants. Since the expiry of the voluntary return deadline on 31 March, reports indicate that hundreds of Afghans are being expelled daily, raising humanitarian concerns among international agencies and rights organisations.

According to a statement from the Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, Robert Dickson, the United Kingdom’s Chargé d’Affaires for Afghanistan, conveyed this development during a recent meeting in Kabul with Acting Minister Abdul Kabir.

“Robert Dickson expressed satisfaction that a proposal on Afghanistan is being prepared within the United Nations and is expected to be shared with officials of the Islamic Emirate soon,” the ministry stated. “He mentioned that the proposal includes strengthening ties with Afghanistan, ensuring security, and other positive points.”

The Taliban further quoted Dickson as saying the UK has played a key role in shaping the proposal. However, neither the British diplomatic mission for Afghanistan nor the United Nations has released any formal confirmation or comment regarding the document.

During the meeting, both parties reportedly discussed the situation of Afghan refugees, the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and the possibility of expanding cooperation between the Taliban and the international community. The ministry added that Dickson reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting the Afghan people and to maintaining constructive engagement with Afghanistan, while seeking to bring the country back into focus on the UN’s international agenda.

The Taliban quoted Dickson as stating, “The world is changing,” while emphasising Afghanistan’s strategic importance.

It remains unclear whether the proposal mentioned by the Taliban refers to the independent assessment commissioned by the UN Secretary-General in 2023 or if the organisation is working on a new and separate initiative.

In April 2023, UN Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Turkish diplomat Feridun Sinirlioğlu as the Special Coordinator for Afghanistan, under Security Council Resolution 2679. His mandate was to conduct a broad assessment and recommend a coordinated international approach to the country’s ongoing challenges.

Sinirlioğlu’s report called for the launch of an intra-Afghan dialogue aimed at forming an inclusive government and fostering sustainable peace and economic development. He made clear that Afghanistan’s formal reintegration into the international system would depend on the Taliban’s compliance with international obligations, including ensuring women’s participation in governance.

Following the report, the UN Security Council called for the appointment of a Special Envoy for Afghanistan—an initiative the Taliban has strongly opposed.

To inform his recommendations, Sinirlioğlu conducted extensive consultations with Taliban officials, political opposition figures, regional leaders, and women’s representatives during his visit to Kabul.