Resistance Groups Behind 72 Anti-Taliban Attacks In 3 Months, Says UN

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, Khalilzad addressed President Donald Trump directly, stating that several Asian countries, including Afghanistan, are eager to explore mining partnerships with the United States.

He called for the development of comprehensive investment programmes to facilitate US engagement in mining sectors across the region, highlighting the strategic importance of timely decision-making.

“Afghanistan and others are ready to sign mining deals. The time to act is now,” Khalilzad wrote.

Afghanistan holds vast untapped reserves of copper, gold, oil, lithium and precious stones, with an estimated total value exceeding US$1 trillion. In recent years, the Taliban has prioritised resource extraction to stabilise its economy and circumvent international sanctions.

China, meanwhile, has significantly expanded its role in Afghanistan’s mining sector. Chinese firms have pledged more than US$7 billion in investments, particularly targeting lithium deposits. One of the largest projects, the Aynak copper mine, recently resumed operations after years of inactivity, bolstered by renewed Chinese funding.

Additionally, Beijing has secured major oil extraction agreements in the Amu Darya Basin, where production officially began in 2024.

Muttaqi stated that the majority of the roughly 340,000 Afghan nationals who have returned from Iran so far were forcibly deported by Iranian authorities.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported on Monday that nearly 450,000 Afghans have returned from Iran since early June, as Iranian authorities implemented a deadline of 6 July for undocumented Afghan migrants to leave the country.

While many returnees have reported a lack of basic services and poor conditions, particularly in border areas such as Islam Qala, the Taliban official claimed that support systems are in place across all provinces to receive and assist returnees.

However, international aid agencies have warned that Afghanistan does not have the infrastructure or resources to manage such a large influx of people. Humanitarian groups have expressed concern that the mass deportations could further destabilise a country already facing severe economic hardship and widespread food insecurity.

In a statement released on Sunday, 6 July, the association warned that hostility toward Afghan nationals has reached “alarming” and “horrific” levels, particularly in the aftermath of the recent ceasefire between Iran and Israel.

The organisation expressed deep concern over escalating violence against Afghan migrants, stating that discriminatory practices have worsened significantly since 2023. It accused the Iranian government of systematically limiting Afghan migrants’ access to education, healthcare, and banking services, effectively pressuring them to leave the country.

The association also highlighted the risks facing deported Afghans, including potential persecution and rights violations under Taliban rule.

Reaffirming its commitment to the universal right to safety, shelter, and dignity, the group denounced the Iranian government’s handling of the situation and urged authorities to reverse current policies.

The statement follows a joint letter signed by more than 1,300 Iranian and Afghan activists, journalists, filmmakers, and civil society figures, demanding an immediate end to what they called anti-Afghan policies and mass expulsions.

The appeal comes amid a surge in deportations, with tens of thousands of Afghan nationals reportedly returned to Afghanistan in recent days.

Mansour Bijar, governor of Sistan and Baluchestan province, confirmed on Sunday, 6 July, that discussions have been scheduled with Taliban officials to streamline the expulsion process. He said the initiative targets only those without legal documentation.

“The return of Afghan nationals continues, and all relevant agencies in Iran have been mobilised,” Bijar stated.

He reported a significant rise in the number of Afghan nationals returning via Iran’s eastern borders, particularly through the Melak and Khorasan Razavi crossings. While local return camps in Sistan and Baluchestan have capacity for about 3,000 people, Bijar said as many as 14,000 individuals had recently sought repatriation to Afghanistan.

According to Bijar, more than 75,000 undocumented Afghan migrants have left Iran in the past two weeks, with over 75 percent doing so voluntarily. He added that Iranian authorities are providing transportation, food, and healthcare services at border points.

During the session, member states are expected to adopt a resolution expressing strong support for the Afghan people, particularly women and girls, amid worsening humanitarian and human rights conditions under Taliban rule.

Naseer Ahmad Faiq, the acting representative of Afghanistan to the UN, stated on Sunday that the resolution will underscore the international community’s commitment to upholding the rights, dignity, and aspirations of the Afghan population, especially women and girls. He added that member states are united in calling for a peaceful and inclusive future for the country.

This will be the second major UN meeting on Afghanistan in the past two weeks. On 23 June, the UN Security Council convened a special session to assess the situation following the latest report from the UN Secretary-General, delivered by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). The report highlighted a range of concerns, including intensifying restrictions on women, deepening economic hardship, the suspension of critical aid projects, and widespread human rights abuses.

The Taliban have dismissed such international meetings as ineffective, citing the absence of their representatives in the proceedings. They have instead called for direct diplomatic engagement between their administration and individual states, a position backed by regional powers including Russia and China.