US House Passes Bill To Block Taliban From Accessing Foreign, Humanitarian Aid

Roza Otunbayeva, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), is expected to brief the Council, alongside Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, and Sima Sami Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women.

According to an official UN report released on Sunday, the public session will be followed by closed consultations among Security Council members. Several regional countries are also expected to participate in the meeting.

A key focus of today’s discussions will be the Taliban’s restrictive and discriminatory policies, particularly those targeting women and girls. Otunbayeva is also anticipated to present updates on the next steps in the Doha process, an initiative launched in 2023 to coordinate international engagement with the Taliban.

The previous Security Council session on Afghanistan, held on 10 March 2025, raised serious concerns about human rights violations, the growing presence of terrorist groups, and the extension of UNAMA’s mandate. Otunbayeva's forthcoming remarks are expected to address these ongoing issues and outline future UN efforts in the country.

Abdul Salam Jawad, spokesperson for the ministry, told the Taliban-controlled Radio Television Afghanistan that “the import, transit, and supply of goods in domestic markets are proceeding normally.” His remarks were published on Monday.

Jawad added that the prices of essential goods remain stable across the country and are consistent with established benchmarks. He dismissed reports of food shortages as “personal opinions” not reflective of the broader market situation.

The comments come amid growing regional concerns about the impact of the Iran-Israel war on neighbouring economies. Earlier, Attaullah Omari, the Taliban’s Minister of Agriculture, warned that rising tensions could disrupt Afghanistan’s trade with Iran. Speaking at the 2025 Russia Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Omari said the Taliban is in discussions with Moscow to ensure continued food imports.

“We still rely on some food items that come from Iran, and if problems arise there, it will undoubtedly have its effects,” Omari told Reuters.

Iran supplies Afghanistan with a range of goods, including dairy products, while Russia and Kazakhstan remain the country’s primary sources of wheat and flour. Russia also exports sugar and vegetable oil to Afghanistan.

Afghanistan became the largest buyer of Russian flour in 2024 and increased its domestic wheat production by 10 percent last year, reaching 4.83 million metric tonnes. The country’s annual wheat consumption is estimated at 6.8 million metric tonnes.

“For the past four years, since the withdrawal of the Americans, we have been making efforts to provide our essential food supplies ourselves,” Omari said. “The remaining amount, including flour and wheat, is supplied annually by Russia.”

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two sides discussed a range of issues, including trade, transit, regional infrastructure, and the upcoming trilateral meeting involving China, Pakistan, and the Taliban administration, which is scheduled to take place in Kabul.

Both ministers expressed support for expanded cooperation on strategic projects such as the Trans-Afghan railway. Muttaqi voiced hope that the recent upgrading of diplomatic relations between the two countries would lead to deeper and more practical collaboration.

Dar stressed the importance of Afghanistan’s role in large-scale connectivity initiatives, highlighting the potential for progress through joint efforts. He welcomed Afghanistan’s inclusion in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), describing it as a positive step toward strengthening regional integration.

Since Dar’s visit to Kabul in April 2025, both sides have reported progress in trade and transit cooperation. The trilateral dialogue in Beijing brokered by China has also helped ease tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan. During that meeting, Pakistan announced it would elevate its diplomatic representation in Kabul from chargé d’affaires to ambassador.

Relations between the Taliban and Pakistan had been strained in recent years, marked by frequent border clashes at Torkham, Dand Wa Patan, Spin Boldak, and other crossings. Pakistan has also conducted aerial strikes inside Afghan territory, drawing sharp condemnation from the Taliban.

Islamabad accuses the Taliban of harbouring Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters and Baloch separatists with alleged support from India. In turn, the Taliban accuse Pakistan of backing ISIS elements in Afghanistan.

Following Dar’s most recent trip to Kabul, Pakistani media reported that Taliban officials pledged to prevent cross-border TTP attacks. Pakistani authorities estimate that approximately 6,000 TTP members, including senior leadership, are currently based in Afghanistan.

The human rights organisation welcomed his release and emphasised that Saidi should never have been imprisoned for exercising his right to freedom of expression. Amnesty International also thanked supporters of its “Urgent Action” campaign, which had called for his immediate release.

Saidi, director of Anar Media, was arrested on 14 July 2024 in Kabul alongside colleagues Sayed Waris Saeedi and Hasib Sadat. While his colleagues were released the following day, Saidi remained detained and was later sentenced to three years in prison for alleged propaganda against the Taliban.

Reports indicate that he was held in an intelligence detention facility before being transferred to Pul-e-Charkhi Prison, despite suffering from serious health issues.

Saidi has worked in Afghanistan’s media industry for over two decades. He was reportedly targeted for writing a screenplay highlighting the denial of education to girls under Taliban rule. The screenplay was intended to become a critical film addressing education and women’s rights in the country.

The Afghanistan Journalists Center and the Afghanistan Journalists Support Organization had previously demanded his release. According to available data, more than 10 journalists remain in Taliban custody.

Amnesty International reiterated the importance of defending freedom of expression and called for global support for artists, journalists, and media professionals facing repression.

Speaking at the 51st session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers in Istanbul on Saturday, Dar stressed Afghanistan’s critical role in regional peace and stability.

Dar emphasized that Afghanistan remains vital to regional peace, while also urging continued humanitarian support for the Afghan people, the unfreezing of Afghan assets, and the enhancement of regional connectivity to help restore stability in the country.

He noted that Pakistan remains in active diplomatic contact with the Taliban administration and recently upgraded its diplomatic representation in Kabul to ambassadorial level.

Dar urged the Taliban to abide by their international commitments, emphasizing that they must fulfill their pledges on counterterrorism and respect for human rights, particularly the rights of women and girls.

Before returning to power in 2021, some Taliban representatives had pledged support for women’s education and employment during intra-Afghan talks in Doha. However, since seizing control, the group has banned girls from attending secondary school and university and imposed sweeping restrictions on women’s participation in public life.

The Taliban maintain that women’s rights, including access to education, are internal matters and have rejected external pressure on the issue. Nonetheless, regional actors, including the OIC, have publicly stated that bans on female education are inconsistent with Islamic teachings.

Tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban have risen over the past two years, with Islamabad accusing the Taliban of harbouring Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants and Baloch separatists. In turn, the Taliban have accused Pakistan of supporting ISIS elements within Afghanistan.

Relations between the two sides have recently improved, aided by Chinese mediation. Last month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted a trilateral meeting with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar to encourage greater cooperation.