Taliban Deputy Interior Minister Visits Tehran For ECO Conference

According to the sources, the draft proposal emphasises the “non-violation of Afghanistan’s territory and airspace” and includes a commitment to prevent the use of Pakistani soil by Taliban opponents.

The document also reportedly calls for the establishment of a four-party mechanism to monitor and exchange information on any ceasefire violations, involving both sides and their mediators.

The second round of talks, which began on Saturday, continued into Sunday with the participation of mediators from Qatar and Türkiye. The outcome of these discussions is expected to shape the final agreement under the Doha ceasefire framework.

Pakistan has insisted that the focus of the talks must remain on Kabul taking firm and irreversible action against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant groups accused of launching cross-border attacks.

Last month, Pakistan conducted airstrikes on Kabul, claiming that TTP militants were operating from Afghan territory and using it to target Pakistani security forces.

The Istanbul dialogue marks the latest effort by Qatar and Türkiye to ease tensions between Islamabad and the Taliban administration following months of escalating border clashes and mutual accusations of harbouring militants.

Ibrahimi, who was the recipient of the 2024 International Children’s Peace Prize, said she will work with the United Nations over the next two years to amplify the voices of Afghan girls and advocate for their rights globally.

The UN said the 2025 cohort was chosen from more than 33,000 applications submitted from 150 countries. The group, aged 16 to 33, includes founders, activists, peacebuilders, and entrepreneurs working across UN agencies to advance causes such as gender equality, human rights, climate action, and peace and security.

In a post on Instagram, Ibrahimi said she would collaborate with the UN and its partners to advance the Sustainable Development Goals, using storytelling, international partnerships, and community engagement to empower Afghan girls and women.

The UN described Ibrahimi as an education advocate and founder and president of “Her Story,” an organisation promoting women’s empowerment through storytelling.

In November 2024, she was selected from 165 nominees across 47 countries to receive the International Children’s Peace Prize, which honours young people who make significant contributions to children’s rights and global peace.

Amanov said construction of the Afghan segment is expected to finish by the end of next year, after which Turkmenistan will start exporting gas to Afghanistan. He also reported significant progress in negotiations with Pakistan on finalising key agreements necessary for implementing the project.

“These agreements are essential for ensuring investor confidence and protecting future investments,” Amanov said, adding that discussions are more than 90 percent complete.

The TAPI pipeline, designed to transport 33 billion cubic metres of gas per year from Turkmenistan’s Galkynysh gas field, aims to boost regional energy integration. Turkmenistan completed its section of the pipeline in 2024 and is now focusing on facilitating the Afghan phase.

Construction of the 153-kilometre Serhetabat–Herat section inside Afghanistan began in September 2024. On 21 October, Turkmenistan’s national leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov inaugurated a new phase of construction on Afghan soil during a visit to Afghanistan.

Turkmenistan to Export Up to 1.5 Billion Cubic Metres of Gas to Afghanistan

Separately, Maksat Babayev, chairman of Turkmengaz, said Turkmenistan will supply gas to Afghanistan through the TAPI pipeline, beginning with 500 million cubic metres per year, and later increasing to 1.5 billion cubic metres annually.

The Taliban’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Office confirmed that Berdimuhamedov inspected progress on the project during his visit, calling TAPI one of Turkmenistan’s top national priorities and underscoring the importance of completing it on schedule.

The TAPI project, first proposed in the 1990s, is seen as a strategic energy corridor linking Central and South Asia. Its success depends on security and cooperation among all four participating nations.

According to the embassy, Gharibabadi’s visit will focus on border cooperation, judicial matters, and water-related issues, as tensions between the two neighbours persist over the Helmand River dispute.

In recent years, Iran has repeatedly accused the Taliban of violating the 1973 Helmand River Treaty, alleging that Afghanistan has reduced Iran’s allocated share of water from the Helmand (Hirmand) River, a key source of irrigation for Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province.

Taliban officials have rejected the accusations, arguing that reduced rainfall and drought in Afghanistan have limited water flow to Iran. They maintain that no political restrictions have been imposed on Iran’s water share and that the flow depends on natural climatic conditions.

The visit comes amid broader efforts by Tehran and the Taliban to maintain dialogue despite periodic tensions over border security, trade, and water management. Iran remains one of the few countries to keep its embassy in Kabul operational since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

Ministry spokesperson Abdul Matin Qane said Ghaznawi was introduced to local officials by Abdul Haq Mokhdom, the deputy minister for policy and strategy, during an official ceremony in the province.

Before his appointment, Ghaznawi served as deputy director for border inspections at the Taliban’s Ministry of Borders and Tribal Affairs and was also a member of the Commission for the Prevention of Land Grabbing.

He replaces Mohammad Ayub Khalid, who has been appointed commander of the 215 Al-Azm Army Corps, one of the Taliban’s key regional military units.

The Taliban statement provided no details about Ghaznawi’s educational background or professional expertise, but he is known to be a veteran battlefield commander with long-standing ties to the group.