Taliban Dismiss Acting Afghan Ambassador to Germany

Local Taliban officials in Kunar said that since Thursday, at least 72 mortar attacks have been carried out in parts of the province, with civilians also affected.

According to the Taliban, 25 artillery shells were fired in Nari district alone.

The officials added that civilian homes were targeted in the attacks but did not provide details on casualties or damage.

Meanwhile, local residents say the attacks have completely blocked routes linking Nari district in Kunar with Barg-e-Matal and Kamdesh districts in Nuristan.

A resident of Barg-e-Matal told Afghanistan International: People have no food. These roads have been closed for 25 days due to the fighting, and Pakistani forces are positioned on the heights. Anyone who tries to pass is shot at.

In response, Pakistan’s information ministry said there had been no ceasefire violations by its forces and described the Taliban’s claims as “baseless and without evidence”.

The ministry warned that any breach of the ceasefire would lead to its collapse and that any attacks would be met with full force.

The Taliban and Pakistan agreed to a temporary ceasefire for Eid following pressure from Qatar, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. However, the Taliban defence ministry accused Pakistan of violating the truce, a claim denied by Islamabad.

Observers say the ceasefire is fragile and could collapse.

Democratic congresswoman Julie Johnson said Thursday she had requested answers from immigration authorities after reports that Mohammad Nazir Paktiawal, a former Afghan soldier, died at Parkland hospital a day after being detained outside his apartment in Richardson.

US immigration authorities have not announced the cause of death and said investigations are ongoing.

Paktiawal was a former member of Afghanistan’s special forces who had worked alongside US military special forces. He was relocated to the United States in 2021 with his family and had been living under temporary humanitarian parole, which expired in August 2025.

He lived in Texas with his wife and six children and worked at a grocery store.

In a letter to the head of the immigration agency, Johnson raised concerns about reported poor conditions and inadequate healthcare in detention centres and sought details about Paktiawal’s detention and medical condition.

She said the death appeared to be linked to what she described as reckless decisions by the agency and unnecessary detention.

Earlier, Democratic congressman Marc Veasey also called for an investigation into the case, saying the death raised urgent questions that required a full and transparent inquiry.

He added that the death of a former Afghan soldier who had supported US forces could send a troubling signal about whether the United States stands by its partners.

According to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Paktiawal experienced shortness of breath and chest pain after being detained and was taken to hospital.

The incident comes amid broader concerns about conditions in immigration detention. According to sources, at least 32 people have died in such facilities since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term, raising concerns about the treatment of migrants, particularly Afghan asylum seekers.

According to the Pakistani newspaper Dawn, the country’s Information Ministry described the allegation as “baseless”.

The Taliban’s Defence Ministry had earlier accused Pakistan’s military of breaching the ceasefire in border areas.

Fasihuddin Fitrat, chief of staff of the Taliban armed forces, said several civilians were killed in attacks by Pakistani forces in the border regions.

Ansari, who had been sentenced to 18 months in prison on charges of cooperating with Afghan media outlets abroad, was freed from Bagram prison on Tuesday evening and reunited with his family in Kabul.

In a statement, the centre said Ansari’s fundamental rights had been seriously violated.

Ansari went missing on October 6, 2024 after leaving his workplace in the Pul-e-Sokhta area of Kabul. His family confirmed three days later that he had been detained by Taliban intelligence.

On January 1, 2025, a primary court in Kabul sentenced him to 18 months in prison on charges of propaganda against the Taliban authorities.

The Afghan Journalists Centre said Ansari was convicted without access to an independent defence lawyer and through an unfair process. It added that a video of his forced confession was released by Taliban intelligence during his detention.

According to the centre, at least 21 journalists and media workers were detained in Afghanistan in 2025.

With Ansari’s release, at least four journalists and media workers remain in detention, the organisation said.

A US State Department official told Afghanistan International that, under guidance from the US president, the Taliban’s behaviour would face consequences.

Last week, the United States placed the Taliban administration on its list of wrongful detention governments.

The official said the Taliban are engaging in hostage diplomacy.

He added that the designation by the State Department is a direct response to the continued and unjust detention of American citizens by the Taliban for political gain.

According to the official, the administration of President Donald Trump is sending a clear message that if Americans are detained, there will be consequences consistent with this designation.

He also referred to remarks by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said these abhorrent tactics must end.