Afghanistan’s Exports Reached $1.7 Billion Last Year, Say Taliban Officials

According to a statement from the Taliban court, the woman, convicted of “illicit relations,” also received a one-year prison sentence. Two men in Badakhshan province were reportedly convicted of “sexual relations outside marriage,” while two men in Kabul were found guilty of “same-sex relations.”

The punishments were carried out in Kabul, Badakhshan, and Daikundi provinces, though the statement did not clarify whether the floggings were conducted publicly.

Despite repeated international appeals to halt corporal punishment, the Taliban continues to impose floggings and other forms of physical discipline based on its interpretation of Islamic law.

In May, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported that at least 180 individuals had been publicly punished in various cities over a three-month period. The report highlighted the Taliban’s growing reliance on corporal punishment amid an absence of an independent judicial system.

Since then, dozens more have reportedly been sentenced to flogging or imprisonment, raising serious concerns about due process and human rights violations under Taliban rule.

The land is intended for agricultural and commercial development.

The announcement was made during a press conference titled “One-Year Achievements of Emirati Administrations.” Officials did not disclose the specific locations of the allocated land or clarify whether it had previously been under state or private ownership.

The development raises concerns about land rights and transparency, as Afghanistan currently lacks an independent legal body to adjudicate disputes over land ownership. Many citizens have accused the Taliban of forcibly seizing private property and reclassifying it as state or “Emirati” land.

The Taliban’s Ministry of Justice had earlier formed the Commission for the Prevention and Recovery of Usurped Land, ostensibly to reclaim state-owned lands from so-called “usurpers.” Since its inception, the commission claims to have identified 49.7 million acres of land and reclaimed 3.9 million acres.

According to the latest figures, more than 12.7 million acres have now been registered and preserved under the Taliban’s “Emirati” property designation.

Critics argue that the absence of a legitimate judicial process or oversight means that many private landowners have no recourse if their property is confiscated. The Taliban’s consolidation of land under its control comes amid broader efforts to centralise power and build a new economic framework around Taliban-affiliated enterprises.

The General Directorate of Emirati Companies did not indicate when or how the newly allocated land would be developed.

The party was founded by former ministers Faiz Mohammad Osmani and Jamahir Anwari; former parliamentarians Rozgildi Oichi and Nazari Turkman; former ambassadors Abdul Rahim Oraz and Mohammad Isa Mesbah; and former senator Mohammad Anwar Bashliq.

During the meeting, Mesbah, a former Afghan ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, was elected party chairman. Turkman and Shogofa Farhang were selected as deputy leaders.

Party officials said their core objectives include fostering peaceful coexistence, strengthening unity among Afghan citizens, and rejecting all forms of ethnic and racial discrimination. They called for a renewed sense of national ownership and inclusivity.

Speaking to Afghanistan International on Monday, Mesbah said that “ensuring national justice is the only way to rescue the country from its historical crises.”

The party has outlined several key goals: promoting cultural identity, supporting the election of local officials, establishing schools in native languages, and upholding human rights, including the rights of women and children.

Mesbah emphasised that all Afghan citizens are entitled to equal rights. He noted that no accurate census has ever been conducted in Afghanistan and population estimates are based largely on unofficial data. “There are no legal majority or minority groups in Afghanistan,” he said.

“Religious sects must be free,” he added. “If India, with more than a hundred religions and sects, can live together peacefully in one territory, why can’t we live in peace with just three? We have also prioritised the expansion of education.”

Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, political party activity inside Afghanistan has been banned, forcing many former officials and political figures into exile. As a result, Afghan political movements and civil groups have increasingly taken shape abroad.

The Afghanistan National Justice Party has not announced any plans for operations within Afghanistan at this time.

According to the AFJC, a total of 15 journalists and media professionals are currently in Taliban custody. The organisation condemned the arrests and called for the unconditional release of all detainees.

The centre said that on 24 July, a journalist and two media activists were arrested in Kabul for allegedly organising educational courses for girls. They were transferred to the Taliban’s intelligence headquarters for interrogation.

A day earlier, on 23 July, another individual in Kabul’s Karte 3 area was detained on accusations of designing and providing technical support for Afghan news websites operating from abroad. That person was also taken to a Taliban intelligence detention facility.

The AFJC also reported the arrest of a local journalist on 7 July in one of the provinces. The journalist was released two days later after presenting two guarantors and signing a pledge to adhere to the Taliban’s restrictive media regulations.

On 15 July, Taliban intelligence agents and the morality police raided the office of Pixel Media Company, detaining the outlet’s director and deputy director. Equipment including cameras, computers and data storage devices was confiscated during the raid.

Subsequently, Taliban authorities released a video showing the two individuals, claiming they had been arrested for dubbing foreign television series. The video included what appeared to be forced “confessions.”

The AFJC decried the detentions and stated that such actions are in clear violation of press freedom and international standards. For security reasons, the organisation has not disclosed the identities of the individuals currently in custody.

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s deputy prime minister for economic affairs, said during a ceremony in Kabul that expanding job opportunities abroad will help alleviate poverty and build economic ties with host nations.

Speaking at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul, Baradar called the initiative a “significant step” and urged other countries to follow Qatar’s lead in accepting Afghan labourers. He noted that high unemployment has worsened since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021 and the subsequent decline in international aid.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs said registration for work in Qatar has opened in more than 20 provinces across Afghanistan, with positions available in 14 specialised fields. These include electrical engineering, electric vehicle mechanics, bus driving, hotel services, cooking, dairy farming, and sanitation work.

Registration for applicants will begin Tuesday in various provinces. According to officials, the process aims to provide a legal pathway for skilled Afghan workers to be employed abroad.

In a statement, the Taliban said discussions with several countries, including Iran, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Tajikistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Saudi Arabia, are ongoing and close to finalisation for similar labour agreements.

Since the Taliban takeover, Afghanistan has experienced a sharp economic downturn. International organisations have warned of rising poverty and widespread food insecurity affecting millions. The United Nations and humanitarian groups continue to call for urgent support to address the crisis.