Former Afghan Army Pilot Dies By Suicide In Iran After Facing Deportation

In a statement shared on the social media platform X, Hekmatyar warned that failure to adopt a unified national stance could result in fragmentation, chaos, and renewed conflict.

Citing reports and comments from Russian and American officials, Hekmatyar claimed that Moscow and Washington are exploring a potential agreement in which the United States would cede Ukraine to Russia in exchange for regaining access to Bagram Airfield and the recovery of leftover American weapons in Afghanistan.

He referred to statements from Russia’s Foreign Minister indicating Moscow’s openness to dialogue with Washington on Afghanistan, and noted that discussions between the two countries on this issue reportedly continued until 2022. Hekmatyar also mentioned remarks by Russia’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, who stated that Bagram Airfield held no special importance for Moscow, a claim Hekmatyar views as strategic posturing ahead of possible negotiations.

Pointing to growing concern in Russia, Pakistan, and India about American arms left behind in Afghanistan, Hekmatyar argued that Moscow’s interest in resuming dialogue with the US is part of a broader effort to reach a deal involving Ukraine, Afghanistan, and strategic infrastructure such as Bagram.

He suggested that US President Donald Trump’s public stance on Ukraine, as well as his reported attitude toward Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, hinted at Washington’s willingness to make such a trade-off. “Statements by Russian officials indicate that Moscow is fully prepared for such a deal,” he wrote.

Hekmatyar also warned that the Taliban’s decision to join China’s air corridor initiative could trigger a regional backlash involving the United States, India, and Iran. He claimed this move undermines the Chabahar Port development project, a joint venture between Iran and India, and contradicts Washington’s expectations that the Taliban would avoid aligning with US adversaries.

He further speculated that countries such as Pakistan, India, Iran, and Russia could ultimately cooperate with the United States on Afghanistan, much like during the US-led occupation, in an effort to reclaim influence over strategic assets such as Bagram Airfield.

“These threats are real, not imaginary or born of illusion. They have happened before and may happen again,” Hekmatyar warned, stating that Afghanistan now stands on the threshold of a new and potentially perilous phase.

In a plea for national solidarity, he posed a stark question: “Are we prepared to confront these threats, or will some surrender tomorrow, some flee to the mountains, and others escape abroad in moments of crisis?”

Concluding his statement, Hekmatyar urged Afghans to reflect on past experiences and to adopt a unified strategy to face emerging geopolitical risks. “We must have learned many lessons from our history,” he wrote.

He asserted that regional powers have begun to accept the Taliban as the de facto rulers of Afghanistan, engaging with them as a matter of pragmatism. “The regional countries know this fact and, as such, they engage with the Islamic Emirate at various levels, which is a pragmatic and rational approach in my view,” he said.

Despite no country having officially recognised the Taliban government, Al Jazeera reported that India, Pakistan, and Iran are actively seeking to engage with the group.

Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has recently held meetings with high-ranking officials from all three nations. He hosted Pakistan’s foreign minister in Kabul, conducted a phone call with India’s foreign minister, and travelled to Tehran and Beijing, where he participated in trilateral discussions involving Pakistan and China.

These diplomatic overtures signal growing regional engagement, despite the Taliban’s historically strained ties with all three countries.

India, once highly critical of the Taliban during the 1990s, has cautiously rebuilt its relationship since the collapse of the previous Afghan government. The Indian embassy in Kabul has resumed operations, and several high-level meetings have taken place.

Shaheen stressed that dialogue remains essential for addressing regional challenges and reiterated the Taliban’s position that international recognition should not be delayed further.

Meanwhile, Pakistan once a key Taliban backer is increasingly concerned about the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Islamabad claims is operating from Afghan soil. The Taliban deny these accusations. The situation has been further complicated by Pakistan’s mass deportation of Afghan migrants, which has heightened tensions between the two neighbours.

Iran, too, has shifted its posture, now pursuing security and economic cooperation with the Taliban. Tehran is particularly alarmed by the threat of Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K), which claimed responsibility for a deadly attack in Kerman in January 2024. Iran is also seeking progress on the long-standing Helmand River water dispute and the status of Afghan refugees within its borders.

According to Al Jazeera, citing regional analysts, the recent diplomatic interactions between the Taliban and Pakistan appear to be tactical in nature rather than indicative of a long-term strategic shift.

Rabia Akhtar, Director at the Centre for Security, Strategy and Policy Research at the University of Lahore, told Al Jazeera that Pakistan’s primary concern is potential collaboration between the Taliban and India, prompting Islamabad to maintain a careful approach to its western frontier.

Though still lacking formal international recognition, the Taliban has, by most measures, established itself as a significant player in the regional geopolitical landscape.

The commission stated that 2736 Afghans were deported from Iran, while 1311 were returned from Pakistan. The deportees reportedly reentered Afghanistan through various border crossings, including Torkham, Spin Boldak, Bahramcha, Angoor Ada, Pul-e-Abrisham, and Islam Qala.

Despite ongoing talks between Taliban officials and authorities in both Iran and Pakistan regarding the treatment and status of Afghan migrants, mass deportations continue unabated.

The Taliban have not provided further details about the condition of the returnees or the circumstances under which they were expelled. Human rights groups have previously raised concerns about the treatment of Afghan migrants in both neighbouring countries, particularly in light of Afghanistan’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.

Qanit himself was arrested two days earlier from the same residence.

According to the sources, the Taliban stormed the home on Thursday morning. The cleric’s eldest son reportedly fled to avoid arrest, prompting Taliban fighters to detain the younger child instead. During the raid, family members were allegedly insulted and humiliated as Taliban forces conducted a search of the house.

Afghanistan International obtained video footage of Qanit’s arrest earlier in the week, showing plainclothes Taliban intelligence agents arriving in a civilian vehicle, entering the alley outside his home, and forcibly taking him away in front of neighbours.

The reason for the child’s detention remains unknown.

Mawlawi Qanit is one of the few religious scholars who have consistently and publicly criticised the Taliban’s rule, frequently speaking out against the group’s policies and consolidation of power. He was previously detained by Taliban intelligence for his outspoken remarks.

The arrest of Qanit’s son marks a growing trend of Taliban pressure on critics and their families, further raising alarm among human rights observers.

Speaking on Thursday, Dar did not clarify whether the envisioned alliance would be political, economic, or military in nature.

Addressing recent tensions with the Taliban, Dar acknowledged that relations between Pakistan and the group had remained strained for several years. However, he recently visited Kabul, where he held meetings with the Taliban’s top leadership. He also met Taliban representatives during a subsequent visit to China.

Dar’s remarks, reported by Samaa News, included comments on the recent aerial skirmish between India and Pakistan. He described the encounter as “the largest of its kind,” lasting over an hour, compared to a previous record of thirty minutes. He suggested that this conflict had shifted perceptions in the international community, asserting that Pakistan was now gaining recognition as a formidable nation.

The proposal for a regional alliance comes at a time when Islamabad has expressed frustration with the Taliban’s neutral stance during the recent India-Pakistan tensions. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif noted that only two parties Israel and the Taliban appeared to support India’s position. Asif criticised the Taliban’s approach, recalling Pakistan’s longstanding support for the group despite global pressure and scrutiny.

Despite these criticisms, signs of rapprochement are emerging. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that relations between the Taliban and Pakistan are improving, with both sides agreeing to appoint ambassadors to one another’s capitals in the near future.

Currently, diplomatic engagement remains at the level of chargé d’affaires. Ubaid Ur Rehman Nizamani serves as Pakistan’s envoy in Kabul, while Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb represents the Taliban in Islamabad.

On 21 May, China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that both the Taliban and Pakistan had expressed a mutual willingness to elevate their diplomatic ties, signalling a possible thaw in relations amid broader regional shifts.