NRF Alleges Chinese Presence At Former US Base In Afghanistan

Otunbayeva was accompanied by Arafat Jamal, the UNHCR Representative in Afghanistan. During a meeting with Noor Ahmad Islamjar, the Taliban-appointed governor of Herat, she said her visit aimed to directly observe the border situation and better understand the challenges facing returnees.

According to a statement released by the governor’s office, Otunbayeva said the United Nations is working with relevant agencies to amplify the voices of returning migrants and to mobilise greater international cooperation in managing the crisis.

Islamjar expressed appreciation for international support provided to Afghan migrants and attributed the current wave of deportations to “foreign aggression and the consequences of climate change.”

He urged the UN to conduct a thorough on-site assessment of the migrants’ condition and to help address their most urgent needs.

The Taliban’s High Commission for Addressing Migrants’ Affairs previously reported that more than 500,000 Afghans have been expelled from Iran in the past 19 days alone, underscoring the scale of the humanitarian pressure on border regions like Herat.

During the meeting, Muttaqi described ties between the two countries as important and expressed gratitude for what he called Qatar’s “vital” role in supporting the Taliban at international forums and meetings.

According to the ministry’s statement, Al-Qashouti said that Qatar-Afghanistan relations under Taliban control were “progressing” and reaffirmed Qatar’s readiness to assist in strengthening the Taliban’s foreign relations.

Qatar has played a key role in both bilateral and multilateral engagement with the Taliban and remains one of the few countries maintaining formal political contact with the group.

In 2013, with the approval of the United States and the former Afghan government, Qatar permitted the opening of the Taliban’s political office in Doha. This office later served as the main platform for peace talks between the United States and the Taliban.

Although Qatar has not formally recognised the Taliban as the official government of Afghanistan, it continues to engage with the group through sustained diplomatic channels.

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.