‘Forgotten’ Afghan Refugees Struggle In Remote East African Camp

Mohammad Sadiq said he held talks with Ismatilla Irgashev on the security challenges facing neighbouring countries, citing what he described as the Taliban’s hosting of militant groups.

In a post on X, Sadiq said that, according to reports, more than 2,500 Uzbek militants are based in Afghanistan. He claimed they likely constitute the second-largest militant group in the country after Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

Relations between Islamabad and the Taliban have deteriorated further following Pakistan’s recent airstrikes in Nangarhar Province and Paktika Province. Pakistan said the strikes targeted fighters linked to the TTP and Islamic State-Khorasan and killed at least 70 militants.

The Taliban said the airstrikes hit civilian areas. The United Nations said at least 13 civilians were killed and seven wounded in a strike in Nangarhar and reported no civilian casualties in Paktika.

Although Uzbekistan maintains close political and economic ties with the Taliban authorities, Central Asian countries have repeatedly voiced concern about the presence of militant groups in Afghanistan. Reports by the United Nations Security Council have confirmed the presence of several armed groups in the country, including the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.

Speaking at the council’s 61st session, the former German foreign minister described the condition of women under Taliban rule as the worst form of structural human rights violation. She said the term “gender apartheid” is increasingly used to characterise the treatment of Afghan women and girls.

Baerbock said she could not stop thinking about discussions within the UN and the wider international community over how to deliver humanitarian aid to Afghanistan while women and girls are barred from work and education.

She criticised efforts to distinguish between different factions of the Taliban, noting that some have suggested figures based in Kabul may be more moderate than those in Kandahar. She said that in some discussions in world capitals and even within UN circles, the fundamental principle of protecting human rights particularly the rights of Afghan women had been sidelined.

Baerbock warned that appeasement in the face of grave human rights violations would not produce results.

Elected in June 2025 to lead the 80th General Assembly session, she said the world must recognise that women’s rights are a benchmark of the condition of societies, noting that women make up half of the global population. If four billion people are not safe, she said, no one can be safe.

She also pointed to what she described as a broader rollback of women’s rights worldwide, saying norms once considered firmly established are now openly challenged or disregarded.

Baerbock called for decisive international action to safeguard human rights. She has previously urged the European Union to impose sanctions on the Taliban over what she described as systematic gender persecution in Afghanistan.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said a separate strike in the Argon district hit a private house, causing partial damage. It said the building was vacant at the time.

The UN said it had received no reports of civilian casualties from the strikes in Paktika.

The organisation called on all parties to cease hostilities to protect civilian lives and prevent further harm. It stressed that under international law, parties to a conflict are required to observe the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution to minimise the risk of civilian casualties.

Naseer Ahmad Faiq said the complaint was submitted to the United Nations Security Council. In a post on X on Monday, 23 February, he said Afghanistan’s permanent mission had formally raised what he described as a serious violation.

Faiq said Afghanistan had called for an immediate investigation into the incident, an end to further violations, accountability for those responsible, respect for states’ territorial integrity, adherence to the UN Charter and full implementation of international law.

Pakistan carried out airstrikes late on Saturday in areas of Nangarhar Province and Paktika Province.

The Taliban said 18 people were killed in the attacks, including women and children. The group’s Defence Ministry said Pakistani forces targeted civilian homes and religious schools.

Pakistan said the strikes were retaliatory and targeted militant sanctuaries, claiming at least 70 militants were killed.

Norwegian authorities said they have played no role in facilitating the arrangement and reiterated that they have not been involved in enabling the cooperation.

Denmark’s Immigration Service said 57 Afghan nationals are facing deportation following criminal convictions and the rejection of their asylum applications. In recent months, Germany and Austria have also established contact with the Taliban to facilitate the return of Afghan migrants.

Danish authorities stressed that engagement with the Taliban does not amount to formal recognition of the group and that dialogue is confined to consular matters.

Andreas Kravik, state secretary at Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the Afghan embassy in Oslo also represents Denmark and Iceland. He said Norway does not play a decisive role in the bilateral relations between those countries and the Afghan embassy.

Kravik did not rule out the possibility that Oslo could deport Afghan asylum seekers, saying any such decision would have to be reviewed by Norway’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security.

He added that Norwegian immigration authorities assess the human rights situation in Afghanistan and adhere to the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning asylum seekers to countries deemed unsafe.