Taliban Foreign Minister Thanks Qatar For Support At International Forums

Saif-ul-Islam Khyber, spokesperson for the ministry, said the arrests took place in the village of Dara-e-Ashaqan in Tala wa Barfak district. The individuals were reportedly detained at a guesthouse while allegedly drinking alcohol.

Khyber also accused the detainees of engaging in other “un-Islamic activities” alongside alcohol consumption. He stated that the suspects were transferred to judicial authorities following a preliminary investigation.

Under the Taliban’s strict interpretation of Islamic law, the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice is empowered to monitor citizens’ behaviour across all provinces. Mohtasibs, or religious enforcers, are authorised to enforce regulations on public conduct, dress, and morality, in line with the group’s vision of Sharia.

In a statement issued Saturday, 12 July, the commission said a total of 505389 Afghan nationals entered the country through the Islam Qala and Pul-e Abrisham border crossings during the period.

According to the commission, 212322 individuals were forcibly deported, while 293067 returned voluntarily.

On Thursday, 11 July alone, Iranian authorities deported 32738 Afghans, the statement added. The following day, 30519 individuals crossed into Afghanistan via the two key border points.

The mass return of Afghan migrants from Iran continues amid mounting international concern over forced deportations and the capacity of Taliban and humanitarian agencies to support the growing influx.

In an interview with Welt TV, Dobrindt said he is open to establishing the necessary arrangements with the Taliban authorities to facilitate the return of Afghan offenders. “Deporting dangerous criminals and returning them to Afghanistan is in Germany’s national interest,” he said.

The remarks come despite Germany’s official stance of not recognising the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. However, Dobrindt argued that lack of formal recognition should not prevent cooperation on specific practical matters.

He added that even if the Taliban were to send a representative to Berlin, limited agreements on operational issues could still be reached without granting formal diplomatic recognition.

Dobrindt’s comments follow a deportation flight in August last year, the first since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, in which 28 convicted Afghan nationals with no legal residency status were flown from Germany to Kabul.

Reports at the time indicated that Qatar acted as a mediator between Berlin and the Taliban administration to facilitate the process.

In a statement to Afghanistan International on Friday, Canada reiterated its concern over widespread human rights violations in Afghanistan, particularly those targeting women and girls under Taliban rule.

Last week, the ICC announced that arrest warrants had been issued for Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani. The court accuses both men of committing crimes against humanity, specifically the gender-based persecution of women and girls.

Canada reaffirmed its respect for the independence of the ICC Prosecutor’s Office and urged the Taliban to fulfil Afghanistan’s international obligations by protecting the rights of all citizens, including women, girls, and ethnic and religious minorities.

The Canadian Foreign Ministry added that it supports broader international efforts to hold perpetrators of serious violations of international law accountable.

Earlier this year, Canada joined Germany, the Netherlands, and Australia in filing a joint case against the Taliban at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. The case focuses on systemic gender-based discrimination and has since gained the support of the United Nations and more than 20 other countries.

The ministry said Uzbekistan supports Afghanistan’s development and emphasised the importance of the country’s integration into regional and global supply chains.

Abdul Ghaffar Bahr, a close associate of Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, was appointed ambassador to Uzbekistan in September 2024.

While Uzbekistan has not formally recognised the Taliban government, it has accepted the group's envoy and maintains extensive diplomatic and economic relations with the Taliban administration.