Taliban Fuel Ethnic Tensions With Forced Displacement, Says Ex-Afghan Commander

In a series of posts on X on Monday, Hekmatyar questioned whether Afghans could agree on a “national covenant” that would provide a unified and inclusive approach to the country’s challenges. “If we build this capacity and ability within ourselves, we can move toward light,” he wrote.

Hekmatyar pointed to strained relations with Pakistan, the inability of Iran to provide support, and joint counterterrorism exercises by Russia and Pakistan near Afghanistan’s borders as signs of the country’s isolation. He also referred to the recent meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, saying it remained unclear what their agenda was for Afghanistan. Quoting Putin’s remark that “we defeated a common enemy,” Hekmatyar asked whether that enemy was Germany or Afghanistan, and whether the defeat came 77 years ago or 25 years ago.

Hekmatyar argued that Ukraine, Gaza, Iran’s nuclear programme and Afghanistan are now the most pressing issues for Washington and Moscow. He said Afghanistan remained the last place where both the US and Russia had fought against the Mujahideen and the Taliban, adding that after America’s 20-year occupation and the Soviet withdrawal, “we believe Putin’s target is Afghanistan.”

He claimed Trump appeared to be offering concessions to Putin over Ukraine but that Putin could only deliver something meaningful to Washington through Afghanistan. “Only in Afghanistan can he, as in the past, assist America,” Hekmatyar wrote, suggesting such help would come via northern neighbours and groups linked to Moscow that had cooperated with the US during its occupation.

Hekmatyar’s remarks come as the Taliban continue to ban political parties and movements across Afghanistan, showing no sign of willingness to pursue national dialogue or an inclusive political agreement.

Citing senior Iranian officials, the newspaper said four Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officers travelled to Kabul last week to collect the list, which the group intends to use as leverage in nuclear negotiations with the West. The officials reportedly acted without the knowledge of Iran’s government.

The list dates back to February 2022, when a British Ministry of Defence employee accidentally leaked the details of 25,000 Afghans who had applied for asylum in the UK, including former soldiers who had worked alongside British forces. Some are believed to have fled to Iran to escape Taliban reprisals.

According to sources, the IRGC delegation promised the Taliban it would lobby the Iranian government to accelerate recognition of the Taliban administration. In return, the Taliban provided a “modified” version of the list, though it remains unclear what changes were made.

An Iranian official told The Telegraph the IRGC plans to use the names to identify “British spies” and present them as bargaining chips ahead of the possible reactivation of UN “snapback” sanctions. European powers have warned Tehran it faces renewed penalties if it does not restart nuclear talks by the end of August.

Iranian border forces have already detained several Afghans whose names appeared on the list. Some were later released after being identified as former soldiers, while others remain in custody for investigation.

Din Mohammad Hanif made the request in an interview with Japanese broadcaster NHK, saying official recognition would bring economic and political benefits. He added that security in Afghanistan had improved and that Japanese companies now had strong opportunities to invest.

Despite the Taliban’s sweeping restrictions on women, Hanif insisted there were “no problems” regarding women’s rights in Afghanistan. He claimed women faced no threats and said Afghanistan’s religious values should be respected.

So far, Russia is the only country to recognise the Taliban government, a decision analysts believe was driven by security concerns and a lack of alternatives. Other partners, including China, Pakistan and Iran, have accepted Taliban-appointed diplomats but stopped short of granting recognition, describing the prospect as unlikely under current conditions.

The Taliban have also failed in repeated bids to claim Afghanistan’s United Nations seat. Still, the group has portrayed meetings with foreign officials as a sign of acceptance.

The international community has made recognition conditional on the Taliban forming an inclusive government, respecting human rights, committing to counterterrorism, and ensuring women’s right to education and work, as well as establishing a professional administration that represents Afghanistan’s ethnic diversity.

Meanwhile, rights groups have sounded the alarm over the worsening situation for Afghan women. Advocates say Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has turned Afghanistan into a “prison and hell” for women through more than 100 decrees issued over the past four years, imposing severe bans and restrictions on their daily lives.

Susan Ferguson said the crisis, driven by systematic restrictions imposed over the past four years, is increasingly being normalised by the international community.

Ferguson said the Taliban have issued dozens of decrees over the past four years that strip Afghan women of their rights and dignity. She described the enforcement of the so-called “morality law” as a turning point in their systematic exclusion from public life.

“We must stand up for all women and girls in Afghanistan,” Ferguson said, urging stronger global solidarity.

She noted that Afghan women continue to feel unsafe in public spaces and even within their own families, and many do not benefit from the relative security that has emerged since the Taliban’s return to power.

Ferguson called for continued support for women-led NGOs, expanded job opportunities, and stronger participation of Afghan women in international dialogue.

The UN has previously reported that the Taliban have issued nearly 100 restrictive decrees against women since 2021. Ferguson has also stressed that these restrictions extend beyond Afghanistan’s borders, further limiting Afghan women’s mobility and participation.

Ali Akbar Pourjamshidian, Iran’s deputy interior minister, told state broadcaster IRIB that many employers had long relied on Afghan workers. He said more than 6.5 million Afghans were living in Iran before the deportation campaign began, with about two million residing illegally.

Calling undocumented migrants a “major problem,” Pourjamshidian said they must be expelled, though he claimed many had already returned to Afghanistan voluntarily. He added that those leaving voluntarily may be able to return to Iran legally “with the necessary permits, provided conditions allow.”

Jafar Seyedabadi, director general of foreign nationals and migrants affairs in Khorasan Razavi province, said between 3,000 and 4,000 Afghans are being returned daily through the Dogharoun crossing. He said deportations of undocumented migrants would continue until September.

According to Seyedabadi, 844,000 Afghans have been deported through Dogharoun since the beginning of the year.