Taliban Must Release All Detained Journalists Immediately, Says UN Special Rapporteur

His unexpected appearance in Kabul underscores internal divisions within the Taliban leadership and a possible attempt to reassert control and unity.

According to Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the Taliban, Akhundzada urged Taliban officials to fulfil their responsibilities based strictly on “principles of Sharia”. He warned against any leniency in the application of Islamic law and claimed that Afghanistan’s political affairs are now in the hands of “righteous individuals”.

In his address, Akhundzada advised Taliban members not to fall prey to “enemy propaganda”, which he said is designed to sow discord and mistrust within the group. “Do not allow yourselves to be divided. Do not be deceived by the enemy’s tactics,” he stated.

The meeting was reportedly attended by the Taliban governor of Kabul, intelligence chief, judicial authorities, district governors, and local commanders. No official images or videos of the event have been released, and Akhundzada, who has never made a public appearance, has not been seen in any of the coverage, raising questions about the format of his speech and the duration of his stay in Kabul.

Akhundzada also emphasised that religious scholars had long been marginalised from both worship and political spheres. “For centuries, scholars were pushed to the periphery. Islamic governance, Jihad, and Sharia remained confined to books. Now, politics in Afghanistan is in the hands of scholars, the Taliban, and righteous individuals,” he asserted.

Despite the strong tone on religious enforcement, Akhundzada reportedly instructed Taliban officials to cooperate with the public and treat people with respect in various aspects of daily life.

Speaking in an interview with RIA Novosti, Kabulov stated that Russia would provide all possible support to the Taliban through its specialised security agencies. “ISIS-K is our mutual adversary,” he said. “Moscow stands ready to offer assistance using all relevant structures.”

Recognition of the Taliban Still Uncertain

However, Kabulov avoided answering a direct question on whether Russia is prepared to formally recognise the Taliban government. He noted that cooperation between Moscow and Kabul is ongoing on a de facto basis but did not commit to official recognition.

He indicated that the recent decision by the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation to suspend the designation of the Taliban as a terrorist organisation would pave the way for broader cooperation. Kabulov added that once the Taliban’s nominated ambassador arrives in Moscow, it would mark the final step toward formal diplomatic engagement.

The envoy said he had no confirmed information about the ambassador-designate but noted that once details are provided by the Taliban administration, Russia would review the nomination and proceed accordingly.

On 17 April, Russia’s Supreme Court approved a request from the Prosecutor General’s Office to suspend the ban on the Taliban. Judge Oleg Nefedov declared that the ruling would take immediate effect. Kabulov credited the decision to extensive inter-agency work involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Federal Security Service, the Ministry of Justice, and the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Despite this move, Russia like all other nations has yet to officially recognise the Taliban government.

Interest in Afghan Natural Resources

Kabulov also acknowledged Afghanistan’s substantial natural wealth, including hydrocarbons, precious stones, and rare earth elements. When asked about Russia’s interest in extracting resources such as lithium, he emphasised that comprehensive geological surveys must be completed first.

“Lithium extraction requires significant water resources, which are scarce in Afghanistan,” he noted, suggesting that logistical and environmental challenges remain an obstacle to full-scale operations.

Estonian diplomat Harri Tiido previously told Ukrinform that Russia’s growing engagement in Afghanistan is motivated by both economic and geopolitical interests, including access to lithium reserves. Tiido asserted that Moscow seeks to establish an ally in the region as a counterweight to Western influence.

Cooperation with the West on Afghanistan

Kabulov also addressed the prospect of engagement with the western countries on Afghan affairs. He stated that Russia is open to cooperation, including with the United States, but expects “constructive measures,” such as the unfreezing of Afghanistan’s foreign assets held in Western financial institutions.

He downplayed the recent US decision to impose tariffs on Afghan goods, noting that trade between Washington and Kabul is minimal totalling less than $10 million annually. However, he warned that such actions could further isolate the Taliban and drive them closer to regional powers such as Russia.

Released on Friday, 2 May, the annual RSF index gave Afghanistan a press freedom score of 17.88, just ahead of Iran, which ranked 176th with a score of 16.22. At the bottom of the list were Syria, China, North Korea, and Eritrea. In contrast, Norway, Estonia, and the Netherlands topped the index, recognised for their strong protection of journalistic freedoms.

Afghanistan’s position marks a slight improvement from 2024, when it ranked 178th with a score of 19.9. However, RSF continues to classify the country as facing a “very serious” situation for press freedom, placing it among the five worst nations globally for media rights.

The report attributes Afghanistan’s dire ranking to the Taliban’s growing repression of independent media and the widespread economic collapse of media outlets. According to RSF, financial instability has emerged as one of the gravest threats to press freedom worldwide, with three-quarters of global media organisations now facing severe economic difficulties.

“The conditions for practising journalism have deteriorated in half of the countries assessed,” RSF said, warning that without urgent support and reform, many media outlets face collapse. The organisation called for concrete action to safeguard press freedom, ensure access to reliable information, and support the survival of independent journalism.

Afghanistan has also been described as one of the most dangerous countries for journalists. In 2024, it plummeted from 152nd to 178th in the rankings, with escalating crackdowns on media by the Taliban.

According to the Afghan Journalists Center, the Taliban closed 22 media outlets over the past year. The group also documented 172 cases of press freedom violations, including arrests, detentions, and intimidation of journalists.

In addition to media closures, the Taliban have imposed increasingly restrictive laws under the “Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice” framework. This includes bans on broadcasting or publishing images of “living beings” a directive that has further crippled visual journalism and creative content.

Sources aware of the development speaking to Afghanistan International have confirmed that UN officials in Kabul are engaged in talks about Afghanistan’s political future, including the possible accreditation of Suhail Shaheen, currently the Taliban’s envoy in Qatar, as the official group’s ambassador to the United Nations.

According to a source in Kabul, these discussions are part of a broader political roadmap being drafted by the UN for Afghanistan’s re-engagement with the international community.

As part of the proposed framework, three key conditions have been set by the international community and three by the Taliban. The UN is reportedly insisting on the formation of an inclusive government, the dismantling of terrorist networks operating within Afghanistan, and the protection of human rights including the reopening of schools, universities, and workplaces for women.

In return, the Taliban are demanding international recognition of their government, the lifting of economic sanctions, and the unfreezing of Afghanistan’s overseas financial reserves.

Sources say the UN has proposed a phased, step-by-step process for engagement on these six conditions. Should the Taliban establish a broader and more inclusive governing structure in Kabul, the UN seat may be formally handed over to Suhail Shaheen.

The Taliban leadership in both Kabul and Kandahar have, according to the sources, not opposed the plan in principle. Some Afghan political parties and prominent figures have also reportedly welcomed the gradual approach, viewing it as a way to promote human rights, end international isolation, and establish a more representative government.

Diplomatic sources indicate that a six-month timeline has been proposed to begin implementing and monitoring the plan’s key elements.

One diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the negotiations, confirmed that progress has been made and that all discussions are taking place under the supervision of the Taliban leadership in Kandahar. However, the diplomat warned that hardline factions within the Taliban, as well as certain political groups, remain resistant to power-sharing arrangements.

The Taliban spokespersons did not respond to a request for comment from Afghanistan International.

Suhail Shaheen was nominated by the Taliban as their UN ambassador shortly after their return to power in 2021. However, the UN has not yet formally recognised him in this capacity.

Speaking at the White House on Thursday during the National Day of Prayer, Trump asserted that Bagram once the largest US military base in Afghanistan is located just an hour away from Chinese nuclear weapons facilities.

“We were going to keep Bagram, the big air force base, which is one hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons,” Trump said. “That’s what they do, they make their nuclear missiles one hour away from Bagram. And I said, you can’t give up Bagram.”

He described the decision to abandon the base during the 2021 withdrawal as “crazy,” emphasising Bagram’s size and strategic value.

Trump also referenced the deadly 26 August 2021 suicide bombing at Kabul airport’s Abbey Gate, which killed 13 American service members and more than 160 Afghan civilians, while injuring dozens more. “We lost 13 soldiers, and 42 were horribly injured. Nobody ever talks about them,” he said.

Trump has previously stated that his administration planned to retain Bagram not for Afghanistan’s sake, but because of its geographical proximity to China.

In response to Trump’s remarks, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has reiterated that Afghanistan is an independent nation and does not permit any foreign military presence on its soil. “Bagram Air Base is under the control of the Islamic Emirate, not China,” Mujahid said in an earlier statement refuting similar claims.