Two Afghan Resistance Commanders Appear In New Photos, Claim Presence In Mountains

Speaking to reporters in Kerman Province on Friday, 16 May, Momeni stated that Iran no longer has the capacity to accommodate additional migrants. He claimed that undocumented migrants, most of whom are Afghan nationals, are occupying job opportunities and consuming substantial government subsidies.

“Iran has hosted millions of migrants for decades due to regional instability, particularly from Afghanistan,” Momeni said. “But we are not economically or socially equipped to absorb such a large number.”

He added that, beginning in 2024, the government initiated new measures to tighten border controls and accelerate the deportation process.

While acknowledging Iran’s deep historical, cultural, and religious ties with its neighbours, Momeni emphasised the need for pragmatic policies. “The issue of undocumented migrants poses both humanitarian and economic challenges,” he said. “We hope our Afghan brothers and sisters will return to their country and contribute to rebuilding their homeland.”

The minister’s remarks come amid worsening conditions for Afghan refugees and asylum seekers in Iran. According to Iran’s Office for Migration Affairs, over 2.2 million Afghans were deported last year alone.

Among those deported were former Afghan military personnel and government employees who had fled Afghanistan fearing Taliban retaliation. Human rights groups have raised serious concerns about the forced return of these individuals, warning they could face arrest, persecution, or even execution upon re-entering Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

Saimumin Yatimov issued the warning during the 56th meeting of the Council of Heads of Security Agencies and Special Services of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), held on Friday, 16 May, in Dushanbe.

According to Russia’s TASS news agency, Yatimov described international terrorism as one of the most significant threats confronting CIS member states. He stressed that the transnational nature of terrorism, coupled with emerging security flashpoints near CIS borders particularly in Afghanistan necessitates joint action, timely information exchange, and continuous refinement of operational tactics and intelligence-gathering methods.

Representatives from Russia, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan attended the meeting, with Turkmenistan participating as an observer.

Yatimov underscored the importance of such gatherings in facilitating the exchange of perspectives and expertise on regional security, describing the CIS council as a critical platform for enhancing cooperation among member states.

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon also addressed the session, urging CIS members to bolster collective efforts to address mounting security challenges across the region. He identified terrorism, extremism, radicalism, drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and cybercrime as the primary threats facing the bloc.

Tajikistan, which will hold the rotating presidency of the CIS in 2025, has prioritised enhanced security cooperation as a central objective during its term.

Speaking to RIA Novosti on Friday, 16 May, Kabulov confirmed that the nominee’s name has been submitted and is currently undergoing review by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant government agencies. While he did not disclose the identity of the nominee, Kabulov expressed hope that the approval process would soon conclude with a formal agreement.

Earlier this month, during a meeting with Kabulov, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi announced that the group would soon appoint an ambassador to Russia.

At present, the Afghan embassy in Moscow is headed by Jamal Nasir Gharwal, who was appointed by the Taliban and serves as chargé d’affaires.

The nomination follows Russia’s recent decision to suspend its designation of the Taliban as a terrorist organisation. In the wake of that move, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated its intention to elevate the Taliban’s diplomatic representation in Moscow from chargé d’affaires to ambassador level.

According to RIA Novosti, Kabulov noted that the arrival of a Taliban ambassador in Moscow could pave the way for potential recognition of the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan.

They are punished on charges of same-sex relations between men, fleeing from home, and extramarital sex.

According to a statement issued on Friday, 16 May, the individuals were sentenced to lashes and prison terms ranging from six months to one year. The punishments were carried out in public, in the presence of local officials, court staff, attendees, and residents, after being approved by the Taliban’s Supreme Court.

Over the past 10 days, the Taliban has publicly flogged at least 55 people across Afghanistan for various alleged offences, continuing its enforcement of strict interpretations of Islamic law.

The group refers to public flogging as the implementation of “Islamic Sharia.” However, international human rights organisations have repeatedly condemned such punishments as forms of torture and violations of international law.

Just a day prior, Taliban-controlled courts also carried out public floggings of 12 individuals in the provinces of Bamiyan, Ghazni, and Parwan.

Despite widespread international criticism, the Taliban continues to impose corporal punishment and public executions as part of its judicial system, drawing concern from global rights advocates and foreign governments.

The arrests mark a continued crackdown on digital content deemed inappropriate under the group’s strict interpretation of Islamic values.

Saif-ul-Islam Khyber, a spokesperson for the ministry, released videos of two detained TikTok users expressing regret for their actions. One of them, known online as “Haroon Pakora,” appears in what seems to be a forced video confession, stating he was detained for speaking with women during TikTok livestreams. In the video, he pledges not to interact with women again and urges women in Afghanistan and abroad not to join his live broadcasts.

The circumstances under which the video was recorded remain unclear. Some social media users have alleged that the Taliban shaved Haroon’s head during his detention.

Khyber urged content creators to use social media platforms for “education, reliable news, and legitimate business,” warning that activities involving ideological deviation, insults, ethnic discrimination, or behaviour contrary to religious values are considered crimes.

Meanwhile, Taliban intelligence forces in Baghlan province arrested another prominent TikTok user, Sher Ali Mubarez, on Tuesday, 13 May. Mubarez was known for hosting live entertainment programmes featuring humour and satire. He was detained on charges of “inappropriate activity” on social media.

The ministry reiterated that “no one has the right to use social media for inappropriate and immoral purposes.” On the same day, it declared that the “illegitimate use of social media is subject to legal prosecution.”

In 2023, the Taliban banned the use of TikTok and PUBG in Afghanistan, claiming the apps were corrupting the country’s youth. Despite the ban, TikTok remains widely popular, particularly among younger Afghans.

With traditional job opportunities having largely vanished under Taliban rule, many young people in Afghanistan have turned to platforms like TikTok and YouTube to earn a living. However, growing restrictions and increased enforcement by the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice threaten to eliminate one of the few remaining sources of income for Afghan youth.