Taliban Publicly Flogs 8 In Ghazni, Parwan Over Morality Charges

Andrew Saberton, Deputy Executive Director of UNFPA, announced that a $102 million cut in US aid would leave an estimated 6.9 million Afghan women and children without access to essential health services.

Speaking to reporters in New York after visiting UN-supported health facilities in Kabul, Bamiyan, and areas near the Afghanistan–Pakistan border, Saberton underscored the severe consequences of the funding shortfall.

“I saw and understood the devastating impact the massive cuts to UNFPA will have in one of the world’s greatest humanitarian crises; a crisis that may have fallen off the news radar, but remains one of the most severe globally,” he said.

Saberton revealed that the US had recently withdrawn approximately $330 million in funding for UNFPA globally, of which $102 million was earmarked for Afghanistan. These funds were primarily allocated for family health services, mobile health clinics, and psychosocial support, all vital in a country with one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world.

The potential closure of these clinics could drastically reduce access to life-saving care for millions of Afghan women and children.

Despite the funding setback, Saberton reaffirmed UNFPA’s commitment to staying in Afghanistan and continuing to provide critical services wherever possible.

Speaking on Wednesday at the 18th International Tourism and Handicrafts Fair in Razavi Khorasan, Mozaffari described Afghanistan as a key trade partner due to its vast mineral wealth. He revealed that both sides are working to establish a joint economic and mining zone within the Dogharoon free trade area, located near the Iran-Afghanistan border.

The initiative aims to create a regional hub for the processing and export of Afghan gemstones to international markets.

"With its extensive expertise in gemstone processing, Iran can help elevate this industry to a global standard through collaboration with Afghan traders," Mozaffari said. "This partnership will deliver mutual benefits."

He also underlined the crucial role Afghan merchants play in sourcing goods from Iran, noting that Iranian exports to Afghanistan surpassed $2.2 billion last year. Iran, he said, is looking to further improve its trade balance with Afghanistan through expanded economic cooperation and joint projects.

In recent years, ties between Iran and the Taliban administration have deepened, particularly under the direction of the Iranian president. Tehran has prioritised strengthening economic and trade relations with the Taliban, especially across border provinces.

According to the statement, the sentences were issued by a Taliban court in Bamiyan and approved by the group’s Supreme Court. The individuals, whose identities were not disclosed, received between 35 and 39 lashes each and were also sentenced to prison terms ranging from two months to one year.

The floggings took place on Tuesday, in the courtyard of the Taliban’s primary court in the province, in the presence of local officials and residents.

This incident follows a similar announcement made on Wednesday by the Taliban, stating that two women and two men were publicly flogged in Mohammad Agha district of Logar province for alleged “illicit relationships.”

Despite international condemnation, the Taliban continues to enforce public corporal punishment, which it describes as the implementation of Islamic Sharia law. Human rights organisations have consistently denounced such practices as cruel, inhuman, and in violation of international legal standards.

In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Omar published photos from the meeting and stated that both sides exchanged views on “important issues.” However, further details of the discussions have not yet been disclosed.

Omar and his delegation arrived in Dushanbe on Wednesday, to participate in high-level meetings on CASA-1000, a major electricity transmission project connecting Central and South Asia via Afghanistan. Representatives from Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, along with other stakeholders, are attending the summit.

According to Breshna, the summit’s agenda includes reviewing the current status of the project, addressing implementation challenges, and drafting a roadmap for future progress. The company reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the project's timely completion and operational launch.

“The CASA-1000 project not only boosts economic cooperation among participating countries but also serves as a significant step toward strengthening political ties and advancing sustainable regional development,” Breshna stated.

The visit comes amid historically tense relations between Tajikistan and the Taliban. Tajikistan has provided refuge to members of the National Resistance Front and other anti-Taliban groups and remains one of the few Central Asian nations that has not formally recognised or maintained diplomatic ties with the Taliban government.

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has previously raised concerns over Afghanistan’s security situation under Taliban control and called for the creation of a regional security buffer around the country.

Nonetheless, a recent Eurasianet report suggests that both sides are cautiously working to improve bilateral relations, with the CASA-1000 summit offering a rare opportunity for direct engagement.

The summit brings together representatives from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, the Taliban, the World Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, and several other organisations. The gathering aims to review the current status of the CASA-1000 electricity transmission project, address challenges, explore solutions, and plan the next phases of implementation.

According to a statement issued on Wednesday, 14 May, Breshna, the Taliban-controlled national electricity provider, confirmed that delegates will also visit the converter station located in the Sangtuda region of Tajikistan.

CASA-1000 is one of the largest regional electricity transmission initiatives, designed to export surplus power from Central Asia to South Asia through Afghanistan. Breshna stated that "this project not only enhances economic cooperation among member countries but also represents a significant step toward strengthening political ties and promoting sustainable regional development.”

Earlier this year, on 31 March, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov jointly inaugurated a cross-border power transmission line in Khujand, Sughd province of Tajikistan, as part of the CASA-1000 project.

In February 2024, the World Bank announced that construction of the CASA-1000 power line in Afghanistan would commence at the request of the participating countries, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan. The World Bank emphasised that all financial transactions related to the project in Afghanistan would be managed externally and remain separate from the Taliban's control.