Afghan, Iranian Activists Honoured At Geneva Summit For Human Rights & Democracy

In a statement issued on Wednesday, 18 February, the court said the individuals each received 39 lashes and were sentenced to between one and two years in prison.

The Supreme Court said the punishments were carried out in public in the presence of civilian and military officials, religious scholars, local representatives, court visitors and members of the public.

According to the court’s statements, one woman and two men were flogged in Balkh province, while one woman and one man were punished in Parwan province.

Over the past two weeks, the Taliban have publicly flogged at least 53 people, including women, across Afghanistan on various charges, according to official announcements.

The punishments have continued despite criticism from international organisations that oppose corporal punishment and the treatment of detainees. Taliban officials describe the penalties as the implementation of Islamic law.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, 18 February, the group said that, as in previous years, it would unilaterally pause its operations during Ramadan. It added that no attacks would be carried out until the end of the Eid holidays unless its positions or bases faced direct attack or threat.

The anti-Taliban political and military group said it would respond if it observed what it described as provocative actions by the Taliban, including the harassment of civilians, particularly women.

The Afghanistan Freedom Front also extended Ramadan greetings to Muslims in Afghanistan and worldwide, saying it would resume operations against what it called the Taliban’s “repressive administration” after the Eid holidays.

In a statement, the company said the agreement was signed during a visit to Tehran by a Breshna delegation that held talks with Iranian energy officials.

According to the statement, Abdulhaq Hamkar, head of Breshna, met with representatives of Iran’s electricity transmission and distribution company in Tehran.

Taliban remains heavily dependent on imported electricity. The country currently produces only about 200 megawatts of power domestically, while total demand is estimated at around 7,000 megawatts, according to Breshna.

Afghanistan imports electricity from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Iran. Electricity supplied by Uzbekistan is one of the country’s primary energy sources, providing power to much of Kabul and several other provinces.

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.