Taliban Detains Social Media Critic, Forces Public Confession

In a statement released on Monday, the Ministry of Energy and Water announced that Abdul Latif Mansoor, the Taliban-appointed minister, met with Dmitry Zhirnov, Russia’s ambassador to Kabul. During the meeting, Mansoor invited Russian state and private companies to invest in Afghanistan’s water and energy sectors.

Key projects highlighted included the transfer of water from Panjshir to Kabul, the construction of dams in the provinces of Takhar, Baghlan, Herat, and Ghazni, as well as electricity generation from coal, wind, solar, and gas resources.

The minister thanked the Russian government for its recent decision to remove the Taliban from the list of banned organisations, a move he said would enhance economic and trade relations between Kabul and Moscow.

This follows a ruling by Russia’s Supreme Court, which officially delisted the Taliban as a terrorist organisation. The Taliban has welcomed the decision, describing it as a step forward in strengthening bilateral ties.

Ambassador Zhirnov, in turn, extended an official invitation to Mansoor to attend the upcoming Kazan Economic Forum, scheduled for May this year. The Taliban minister accepted the invitation and confirmed his attendance.

Since the Taliban's return to power, the Book Evaluation Commission, chaired by Ziaulhaq Haqmal, former head of Bakhtar News Agency, has intensified its scrutiny of books and cultural content.

The commission has imposed stringent restrictions on publishing and printing in Afghanistan, mandating that no book be printed without its approval.

The Taliban have also enforced widespread controls on libraries, printing houses, and publishing institutions nationwide. Inspections of public and private libraries have led to bans on the distribution, sale, and accessibility of numerous books, periodicals, and artistic and literary works. Bookstores in the capital have received lists of prohibited titles, with warnings against their purchase or sale.

Frequent commission meetings and ongoing censorship have sparked significant concern among writers, publishers, and cultural activists. Critics contend that the Taliban are using the commission to enforce ideological conformity and shape an official narrative across Afghan society.

The letter, addressed to the Ministry of Interior and the General Directorate of Intelligence, follows a broader directive from Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, dated 12 April, instructing security institutions including the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Interior, and intelligence agency to reduce staff due to budgetary constraints. Affected personnel are to be placed on “active reserve” status.

In the document, the Taliban’s Security and Clearance Commission, chaired by Mujahid, underscores the need for careful implementation to avoid organisational disruption. Referencing Order No. 5528, dated 27 March 2025, the commission outlines a tiered approach to the downsizing process.

Priority is to be given to removing those deemed “undesirable and unpopular.” Subsequent phases will target personnel recruited after the Taliban’s return to power, associates and relatives of “martyrs” (excluding immediate family), individuals unwilling to work officially, households with more than two employed fighters, the elderly, and those with minimal past militant engagement.

The directive was sent directly to the Ministry of Defence, with instructions for immediate enforcement.

However, these criteria appear to contradict Akhundzada’s initial order, which stated that reductions should begin with auxiliary personnel, such as contracted guards. His decree also mandated a monthly compensation of 5,000 Afghanis for those dismissed.

Observers have raised concerns that the vague term “undesirable” could be used to remove remaining employees linked to the former Afghan Republic, potentially under the guise of administrative reform.

The move has sparked discontent among Taliban fighters affected by the cuts. In recent weeks, social media has seen a wave of complaints from dismissed personnel, particularly guards, who say they bear the brunt of the downsizing despite their service.

On Monday, the Taliban Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, met with Serik Zhumangarin, Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, on Monday to discuss expanding bilateral economic ties.

During the meeting, Mullah Baradar revealed that the two sides had signed a draft roadmap aimed at increasing trade between Kabul and Astana to as much as $3 billion. He claimed that trade relations between Afghanistan and Kazakhstan have continued to grow since the Taliban’s return to power and reiterated the group’s interest in deepening economic and trade relations with Kazakhstan and other regional countries.

The Taliban also stated that it has shared a draft agreement with the Kazakh delegation aimed at establishing a joint coordination centre among four countries—Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan.

Baradar called for the launch of direct flights between Kabul and Astana, streamlined visa issuance for Afghan traders, and Afghanistan's active participation in regional economic forums.

Quoting Serik Zhumangarin, the Taliban said that Kazakhstan would create a logistics and transport company in Herat to facilitate the implementation of the Turghundi–Herat–Spin Boldak railway project.

The Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister also expressed his country’s readiness to support the extension of internet infrastructure to Afghanistan, which could result in more affordable internet access for the country.

Zhumangarin further stated that Kazakh investors are prepared to invest in Afghanistan’s mining, oil, and gas sectors, with technical teams already dispatched to Kabul.

The Kazakh delegation also expressed willingness to issue visas to Afghan traders, launch direct flights between the two countries, enhance banking cooperation, and collaborate on health, education, transit, and bilateral trade initiatives.

Jalal Qadir stated that his last contact with his uncle was on 15 April, during a phone call from Dubai Airport. Since then, there has been no further communication, and all of Abdul Zahir Qadir’s phone numbers have been unreachable. The circumstances surrounding his arrest remain unclear.

“A few days ago, Abdul Zahir Qadir left for a foreign trip. Unfortunately, during our last call, he told us he had been detained by US intelligence officials at Dubai Airport,” said Jalal Qadir. “He has not contacted us since and is now effectively missing.”

The government of the United Arab Emirates has not yet issued any official statement or comment regarding the alleged arrest.