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Taliban Cancels Landmark Oil Deal With Chinese Company Over Contract Violations

Jun 17, 2025, 10:18 GMT+1

The Taliban has annulled its first major oil agreement, a 25-year contract with the Chinese oil and gas firm Afchin, citing the company’s repeated failure to meet its contractual obligations.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum announced the termination of the Amu Darya oil field contract, originally signed in January 2023. Ministry spokesperson Homayoun Afghan stated that the cancellation followed a formal investigation by a joint committee, which found Afchin had committed multiple breaches of the agreement.

“The contract was annulled due to repeated violations by the contracting company of its commitments,” Afghan wrote on X (formerly Twitter). He added that the decision was approved by the Taliban Prime Minister’s Office following a recommendation from the group’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs.

The contract was initially signed in the presence of Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s deputy prime minister for economic affairs, and China’s ambassador to Afghanistan. It involved a joint venture between China’s state-linked Central Asia Petroleum and Energy Company (CPEIC) and Afghanistan’s state-owned oil and gas company, with the Chinese side holding a 75 percent stake.

The agreement covered oil extraction from a 4,500-square-kilometre area spanning the northern provinces of Sar-e Pol, Jowzjan, and Faryab. It was expected to scale production from 200 tonnes of oil per day to 20,000 tonnes over time, with an initial Chinese investment of $150 million, rising to $540 million within three years.

Key provisions required the company to construct a refinery inside Afghanistan and banned the export of crude oil. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid previously confirmed that the deal included a clause for automatic cancellation if obligations were not fulfilled within a year.

The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has not publicly disclosed the specific violations that led to the cancellation. However, officials have now invited international companies with oil sector expertise to review the legal and financial documents of the voided agreement and formally express interest in the project.

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Taliban Criminalise Use Of Fake Social Media Accounts

Jun 16, 2025, 16:51 GMT+1

The Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has announced that the use of fake social media accounts is now considered a criminal offence under the group’s regulations, as part of a broader crackdown on online activity.

In a statement issued this week, ministry spokesperson Saif-ul-Islam Khyber warned that individuals who violate the directive will face serious legal consequences. “No one should misuse social media,” he said, adding that online platforms must be used solely for “sharing accurate information, business, education, and public awareness.”

The announcement marks the latest in a series of restrictions the Taliban have imposed on digital platforms. The ministry, in coordination with the Taliban’s intelligence agency, has previously detained and reportedly tortured several social media users accused of spreading anti-Taliban content.

Since regaining power in August 2021, the Taliban have sharply curtailed freedom of expression in Afghanistan. Special monitoring teams have been established to surveil online behaviour, track dissenting voices, and enforce digital compliance with the regime’s strict ideological rules.

Kazakhstan Appoints Special Representative For Afghanistan

Jun 16, 2025, 09:05 GMT+1

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has appointed a special representative for Afghanistan, marking a renewed diplomatic focus on engagement with the country under Taliban rule.

Yerkin Tokumov, an experienced diplomat and academic, was named to the post by direct order of the president, according to an official statement from the presidential office. Tokumov has previously served at the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies, working under the supervision of the president.

Born in 1973, Tokumov holds advanced degrees in international relations and philosophy, and has long been involved in foreign policy and regional affairs.

While Kazakhstan does not officially recognise the Taliban government, it maintains ongoing diplomatic and economic relations with the group. In January 2024, Kazakhstan removed the Taliban from its list of designated terrorist organisations, signalling a shift in its approach to Afghanistan.

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

Jun 15, 2025, 17:08 GMT+1

Pakistan’s Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, has announced the arrival of the second Afghan transit cargo vessel at Gwadar Port, marking continued progress in efforts to develop the port as a regional trade hub.

The ship, which arrived on Saturday, 14 June, carried 20,000 tonnes of diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertiliser from Townsville, Australia, destined for Afghanistan.

“This is part of our sustained efforts to operationalise Gwadar Port as a strategic trade gateway for landlocked Afghanistan,” Chaudhry said in a statement.

Irfan Ahmed, head of Gwadar Port, confirmed that the berthing and unloading operations were completed efficiently and without incident.

The first Afghan transit cargo vessel arrived at Gwadar Port on 3 February 2025. The latest shipment was facilitated by a private company.

This development comes shortly after Pakistan’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) removed the requirement for bank guarantees on trade with Afghanistan , a move aimed at facilitating smoother bilateral commerce and strengthening regional connectivity.

Taliban Arrest Man For ‘Inappropriate Behaviour’ Toward Chinese Tourist

Jun 15, 2025, 15:38 GMT+1

The Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice announced that its morality police have arrested a young man for allegedly behaving “inappropriately” toward a Chinese tourist, following the circulation of a widely shared video on social media.

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.

Killed Two Taliban Fighters In Takhar, Says AFF

Jun 15, 2025, 13:46 GMT+1

The Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) has claimed responsibility for an attack on a vehicle carrying Taliban fighters in the capital of Takhar province, saying two members of the group were killed.

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.