Taliban Extends Electricity Import Agreement With Iran

The Taliban’s deputy spokesperson said on Tuesday, 17 February, that Akhundzada delivered the speech at Kandahar provincial hall.

According to a Taliban statement, Akhundzada urged unity among officials and religious scholars, encouraging them to obey one another and consult collectively. He said the strength or weakness of the political system depended on their actions and that it would endure if they remained vigilant.

He said the survival, success and preservation of what he described as an Islamic system depended on religious knowledge, adding that expanding and strengthening religious education was among the administration’s most important responsibilities.

The deputy spokesperson said the Taliban governor of Kandahar, the head of the administrative office, the chief of the Afghan Red Crescent, the military deputy of the supreme court and other officials attended the gathering.

According to the statement, Akhundzada also warned officials not to be drawn to worldly positions and urged them to remain obedient, saying such obedience was in their own interest. He added that officials should not seek recognition from others for their obedience.

He also instructed Taliban officials to promote obedience among the public, saying it would lead to unity and strength.

The statement said Akhundzada thanked the people and religious scholars of Afghanistan for what he described as their obedience to the Islamic Emirate. Participants at the meeting renewed their pledge of allegiance to him, the Taliban spokesperson said.

Mujahid said the soldiers were captured on 12 October 2025 during fighting along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. He added that the men were handed over to a Saudi delegation that travelled to Kabul last Monday.

Clashes between Taliban and Pakistani forces occurred several times in October, when tensions escalated after Pakistani officials accused the Taliban of supporting Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Following the accusations, Pakistan carried out air strikes on targets inside Afghan territory, prompting a response from Taliban forces and exchanges of fire in parts of the border region.

Tensions flared repeatedly during the same month before a ceasefire was reached in Doha.

Local sources said two or three people were wounded in the incident. Taliban officials have not commented.

According to the sources, the workers are employed by the Farah Customs Directorate and are responsible for inspecting vehicles entering Afghanistan from Iran to prevent the smuggling of illegal goods. Their duties include unloading trucks for inspection when necessary and reloading cargo after checks are completed.

The protest began after some workers learned they had been dismissed, while others were informed that their daily wages would be significantly reduced.

In response, the workers closed the customs gate and, during the demonstration, broke the windows of the customs directorate building.

In a post on X on Tuesday, the agency again highlighted the vulnerability of Afghan cities to climate change and stressed the need for urgent climate action in urban areas.

UN-Habitat estimates that by 2060, one in every two people in Afghanistan will be living in cities, while many urban areas remain unprepared for such rapid population growth, according to the United Nations.

The agency said priority should be given to creating safe and sustainable living environments in cities.

Earlier, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) warned that climate change has intensified heatwaves across South and Central Asia, particularly in Afghanistan.

Separately, a recent report by a climate research institute warned of unprecedented global temperature increases this year and their potentially severe consequences, noting that global warming continues to place billions of people at risk.

Khan said on Tuesday in a post on X that he met with Albert Khorev, Russia’s ambassador to Pakistan, and exchanged views on diplomatic efforts to address regional security concerns. Regional security developments were among the main topics discussed.

Amid rising insecurity and violence in Pakistan, Islamabad has accused the Afghan Taliban of harbouring militant groups, particularly Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The Taliban have repeatedly denied the allegation.

International organisations have published reports documenting the presence of armed groups in Afghanistan and warning about potential regional security threats linked to their activities.

Earlier, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) warned that numerous international extremist and militant groups are operating in Afghanistan. The organisation’s leadership said their presence raises the risk of militancy spreading to neighbouring countries.