Taliban Flog 10 In Kabul, Maidan Wardak On Theft, Drug Charges

The meeting included business figures from Turkiye, Qatar, Bahrain, Palestine, Yemen, Oman, Jordan, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Malaysia and India.

During the meeting, Azizi highlighted what he described as investment opportunities and a favourable business environment in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan has historically relied heavily on imports and international aid. Since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, much of that aid has been suspended, and many foreign investors have withdrawn from the country due to security concerns and a lack of international recognition.

Despite remaining largely politically and economically isolated, with Russia being the only country to formally accept Taliban diplomats, the group continues to seek foreign investment as a means of revitalising the Afghan economy.

The source stated that US pressure on the Taliban over the issue is “just beginning,” as Washington seeks accountability for Habibi’s detention.

Muttaqi was scheduled to lead a Taliban delegation on a three-day official visit to Pakistan beginning Monday, 5 August. However, sources in Kabul said the trip was postponed due to “technical issues.”

Afghanistan International has since learned that the UN Security Council’s 1988 Sanctions Committee has not yet granted Muttaqi a travel exemption, required for sanctioned Taliban officials to travel internationally. These exemptions are typically requested by the host nation, but it appears Pakistan either did not submit a formal request or failed to secure approval.

On Tuesday, 6 August, a US official confirmed that the Trump administration intervened to prevent Muttaqi’s travel after receiving credible witness testimony confirming that the Taliban is detaining Habibi at its intelligence headquarters in Kabul.

“For the Taliban, the counterpart now is Trump, not Biden, and Trump does not play soft when it comes to bringing Americans home,” the source said. “If the Taliban want any progress in relations, they must admit to detaining Habibi.”

The source added: “Denying something the United States is certain of is a game the Taliban will lose.”

Habibi, the former head of Afghanistan’s Civil Aviation Authority, was arrested by Taliban intelligence in Kabul in August 2022 along with several of his former colleagues. All but two of the detainees have reportedly been released, though the Taliban has provided no official information about Habibi’s whereabouts or condition.

Earlier this year, the US State Department announced a $5 million reward for credible information leading to Habibi’s return.

The Taliban has consistently denied holding Habibi and has made no public statements in response to Washington’s statements.

The newspaper reported that Iranian officials are seeking the list to identify individuals suspected of having ties to MI6, the United Kingdom’s foreign intelligence agency.

According to The Telegraph, the list includes the identities of more than 100 British special forces personnel and MI6 officers who had supported Afghan colleagues, as well as the names of approximately 25,000 Afghans who applied for asylum in the UK following the withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan. The list was reportedly leaked in 2022 by a UK Ministry of Defence employee.

Citing a senior Iranian official, the report said a special IRGC committee has been assigned to pursue the matter and has opened discussions with the Taliban. Simultaneously, the Taliban has allegedly instructed its officers in Kabul to identify and detain individuals named on the list.

The Taliban has previously downplayed the significance of the leak, stating it already holds detailed information on former Afghan government security and military personnel.

The Telegraph also reported that an Afghan citizen named on the list who had been living in Iran was recently arrested and deported to Kabul, despite claiming that return would place him at serious risk.

Iranian authorities have not issued any public response regarding the allegations.

In response to concerns, the UK Ministry of Defence stated that it has taken appropriate measures to protect its former staff and Afghan partners. It added that inclusion on the list does not, in itself, pose a significant security threat.

Muttaqi was expected to lead a delegation to Pakistan on Monday for a three-day visit. However, the trip has been delayed due to the absence of a travel waiver from the UN Security Council’s 1988 Sanctions Committee, which is required for sanctioned Taliban officials to travel abroad.

According to sources in Kabul, the delay has been attributed to “technical issues.” Findings suggest that the committee has not yet included Muttaqi on the list of individuals exempted from travel restrictions for this visit.

Under UN regulations, Taliban officials subject to international sanctions cannot travel outside Afghanistan unless granted a specific exemption. These exemptions are issued on a case-by-case basis typically for official meetings, peace negotiations, or urgent medical treatment and must be approved by the sanctions committee, usually upon request from the host country.

While host countries are responsible for initiating exemption requests, it appears Pakistan either did not submit a formal request or has not received approval. Notably, Pakistan currently chairs the 1988 Sanctions Committee for the year 2025.

Muttaqi has previously been granted multiple travel waivers. In 2025 alone, he was allowed to attend the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation foreign ministers’ meeting in Istanbul on 18 June, the Western China International Expo in Beijing and Chengdu on 16 May, and to meet Qatari officials in Doha on 25 April. He also travelled to Saudi Arabia for Umrah on 21 March, to Oman on 7 March, and to the United Arab Emirates on 26 January, all under approved exemptions.

Other Taliban officials have recently been granted similar waivers. On 1 August, Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi received authorisation to travel to Qatar for medical treatment. On 11 July, Khairullah Khairkhwa was cleared to travel to Russia, and on 17 June, Hanafi again received approval to visit China.

Tokayev made the remarks during a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who arrived in Kazakhstan on Sunday, 3 August. The two leaders participated in a signing ceremony to formalise the establishment of a UN Regional Centre for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Central Asia and Afghanistan, based in Almaty.

According to a statement from the Kazakh presidency, Tokayev said the opening of the centre highlights the region’s increasing strategic importance and marks a significant step in Kazakhstan’s ongoing cooperation with the United Nations.

He stressed Kazakhstan’s ongoing support for the Afghan people, which includes humanitarian aid, education initiatives, trade facilitation, and food security programmes. He also noted that trade between Kazakhstan and Afghanistan has been steadily rising.

“We believe that peace and development in Afghanistan must go hand in hand. Human dignity and international law are inseparable and must guide all efforts towards lasting stability,” he added.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the new regional centre, Guterres echoed Tokayev’s remarks, stating that Afghanistan is an integral part of Central Asia’s future. He emphasised the urgency of the country’s humanitarian and economic crisis and said the Afghan people “deserve a better future.”

He added that the new centre could play a critical role in supporting sustainable development in Afghanistan, provided it prioritises universal values and the fundamental principles of human rights.

The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on 4 March 2025 to establish the regional centre in Almaty. The centre is tasked with coordinating development efforts, providing technical assistance, and implementing projects related to poverty reduction, healthcare, education, climate resilience, economic development, and water resource management across Central Asia and Afghanistan.