Second Afghan Transit Cargo Ship Docks At Pakistan’s Gwadar Port

The ministry did not release the identity of the individual, details of the arrest, the location of the incident, or the current status of the case.

The video, which sparked outrage online, shows a young Chinese man seated in a vehicle being verbally harassed by several individuals. Social media users strongly condemned the behaviour, calling for accountability.

The incident comes as the Taliban seek to promote Afghanistan as a secure destination for international visitors. On 30 April 2024, the Associated Press reported that the Taliban have begun offering tourism management training to help develop the country’s travel industry.

According to the report, Afghanistan recorded approximately 7,000 foreign tourists last year, with numbers steadily increasing since the Taliban’s return to power.

Mohammad Saeed, head of the Taliban’s tourism directorate in Kabul, said Chinese nationals currently represent the largest group of foreign tourists in the country, citing geographic proximity and China’s large population as key factors.

In a statement released on Sunday, the AFF said the attack took place at approximately 8:30 p.m. local time on Saturday in the main square of Taloqan city.

Local sources in Takhar confirmed to Afghanistan International that an explosion was heard in the city on Saturday night, consistent with the timing of the reported attack.

The Taliban have not yet issued a statement regarding the explosion or the AFF’s claim. Independent verification of the casualties has not been made available.

In a LinkedIn post published on Sunday, 15 June, Howk said the NRF “never misses an opportunity to betray US military veterans” and warned that siding with Tehran could cost the group support in the West.

“If the NRF wants to be friends with the Iranian terror regime… they do so at the cost of being lumped into their terrorist puppet ranks,” he wrote.

Howk argued that the Islamic Republic of Iran represents exactly what the Taliban aspire to become and held the regime responsible for the deaths of thousands of US service members. He also denounced Iran’s record on human rights, saying it represses and kills its own citizens, particularly women who stand up for their rights.

His remarks came in response to a statement issued by the NRF, led by Ahmad Massoud, in which the group condemned Israel’s attacks on Iran and called the killing of senior Iranian officials an “act of aggression” and a violation of international law.

Ahmad Zia Shinozada, a member of Afghanistan’s Chamber of Commerce, confirmed that commercial goods have not been permitted to pass through the border since the previous day.

“The movement of cargo trucks has stopped, and goods are no longer crossing between the two countries,” Shinozada said.

According to Shinozada, annual trade between Iran and Afghanistan has reached approximately five billion dollars since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.

Neither the Taliban nor Iranian officials have issued public statements regarding the closure or its expected duration.

Qadir, a former deputy speaker of Afghanistan’s House of Representatives, was arrested in Nairobi on 18 April while travelling from Qatar to Kenya. He is wanted by the US District Court for the Southern District of New York on charges of drug trafficking and conspiracy to possess illegal weapons.

Sources familiar with the matter said Qadir’s legal team had secured the extension to allow time to prepare a defence. “The lawyers have obtained a one-month window from the court and intend to submit documents and video evidence to refute the accusations,” one source said on Saturday, 14 June.

On 25 May, Qadir’s family had told Afghanistan International that his lawyer had already filed an appeal, expressing hope the court would overturn the extradition order, allow Qadir to return to Afghanistan, and halt his transfer to the US.

While the lawyer had also requested a temporary suspension of the extradition ruling, the judge rejected the request, stating that the appeal could proceed without delaying enforcement of the sentence.

The Nairobi court had previously ruled in favour of extraditing Qadir to the United States, where he faces charges related to drug trafficking and the illegal possession and transfer of heavy weapons.

The Taliban has indicated interest in the case, with acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi assuring Qadir’s family that the group would follow up “within its capacity.” The family has since renewed calls for Taliban intervention to secure his release.

Qadir’s arrest was based on a US warrant issued on 25 March. He has remained in Kenyan police custody pending the outcome of the appeal process.