Taliban Releases US Detainee Dennis Coyle In Kabul

The two-day meeting, organised by Women for Afghanistan, will run from March 24 to March 25 and include around 40 participants from political parties, civil society, media and political circles.

In a statement, the organisation said the conference is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen shared principles and common values in addressing Afghanistan’s current crisis.

Enhancing mutual understanding and building trust among different political groups will be the focus of the first day, with participants also discussing Afghanistan’s future.

The second day will involve international partners, diplomats and members of both the House of Lords and the House of Commons in the United Kingdom.

Sources previously told Afghanistan International that some Taliban opponents will hold talks with figures close to the Pakistani government during the meeting.

The first round of the Islamabad conference was held on September 30 and drew strong criticism from the Taliban.

Sources say that amid ongoing clashes between Pakistan and the Taliban, contacts between Pakistan’s political circles and non-Pashtun groups in Afghanistan have expanded, with broader political consultations under way.

The first conference was hosted by the South Asia Strategic Stability Institute and Women for Afghanistan and brought together at least 30 representatives of political groups, civil society activists and officials from Afghanistan’s former government. At the same time, around 40 senior former Pakistani officials also took part.

At the end of that meeting, Taliban opponents said peace and stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan are closely interconnected, adding that the conference helped build an unprecedented consensus on the shared future of the two countries.

The Islamabad conference had been postponed at least three times.

Participants in the earlier meeting included former Afghan MP Fawzia Koofi, former economy minister Mustafa Mastoor, Afghanistan’s representative in Geneva Nasir Ahmad Andisha, former Kabul governor Ahmadullah Alizai, former civil service commissioner Alia Yilmaz and former Bamiyan governor Tahir Zuhair.

Other participants included Abdullah Qarluq and Faridun Elham from the National Islamic Movement, Masooma Khavari from the Islamic Unity Party, journalist Zahra Joya, religious scholar Bashir Ahmad Ansari and several other Afghan activists.

The court said a woman and a man in Kabul were each sentenced to 39 lashes and at least one year in prison on charges described as “extramarital relations” and “running away from home”.

In Balkh province, another man was given 39 lashes for allegedly selling alcohol.

Public floggings are part of the Taliban’s penal practices and have continued despite widespread international criticism calling for their abolition.

The Taliban say such punishments are in line with their interpretation of Islamic law.

Findings by Afghanistan International indicate that since 2024, the Taliban have flogged more than 2,000 people in public, including 291 women, on various charges.

The findings also suggest that the Taliban have avoided carrying out public corporal punishment against individuals affiliated with the group.

Sources told Afghanistan International that the delegation has close ties to the Taliban authorities and that high-level talks are ongoing.

After the release, three other US detainees are expected to remain in Taliban custody.

The Trump administration recently warned the Taliban that failure to free all Americans would result in serious consequences. The United States has said Trump will not rest until all US citizens are released from Taliban prisons.

The ministry said it would not accept any legal changes or new appointments at the embassy.

Earlier, Afghanistan International, citing Taliban Foreign Ministry documents, reported that the Taliban had dismissed Abdul Baqi Popal, the acting head of Afghanistan’s embassy in Germany.

German broadcaster ARD also reported that the Taliban had appointed one of its diplomats to head the embassy in Berlin.

According to Deutsche Welle, a spokesperson for Germany’s Foreign Ministry said Monday that a diplomat from Afghanistan’s former government should continue to manage the embassy.

The spokesperson added that any diplomat must receive Germany’s approval to be recognised as ambassador or chargé d’affaires, and that no such process had taken place in this case.

A letter from the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry had instructed Popal to hand over his duties before the end of his official term to Nebras-ul-Haq Aziz, a diplomat appointed by the Taliban.

Popal is expected to remain at the embassy in a local staff capacity, according to reports.
Diplomatic sources in Berlin told Afghanistan International that Germany’s Foreign Ministry had not been formally notified of the appointment.

According to available information, the Taliban continue to rely on Popal for official dealings with the host country, while internally he is treated as a local employee.

Germany’s Foreign Ministry said maintaining consular services at Afghan diplomatic missions remains a priority. Berlin wants services such as visa and passport issuance to continue regularly and for embassy staff to be able to issue documents recognised by the Taliban authorities.

Currently, within the formal structure of Afghanistan’s embassy in Berlin, a chargé d’affaires appointed before 2021 is recognised by the German government as the official point of contact, although in practice a Taliban-designated individual is managing the embassy.

Popal was appointed acting head of mission several months ago, replacing Yama Yari. He previously served as chargé d’affaires in Berlin and is originally from Panjwayi district in Kandahar province. Under the former Afghan government, he served as deputy director for local governance.

Germany does not recognise the Taliban administration as the official government of Afghanistan.

The document describes Abdullah Israel Arian’s experience with foreigners as notable.

It states that his appointment as an adviser to the health ministry aims to offset a sharp decline in foreign aid and build trust with international organisations to ensure assistance reaches those in need.

The letter, dated November 24, 2024, instructs the public health ministry to appoint Arian as an adviser responsible for oversight and coordination with non-governmental organisations (NGOs). It notes that he previously worked as a civilian adviser to US forces at Camp Eagle and includes photographs of him with American personnel.

Afghanistan International has obtained these images, which show Arian alongside US forces.

The document also emphasises that employing individuals with experience working with international organisations is necessary to advance operations and attract aid.

Taliban sources told Afghanistan International that the office of Hibatullah Akhundzada and the group’s general intelligence directorate were also informed of Arian’s appointment.

According to confirmed information, Arian has accompanied the public health minister, Jalal Jalali, in official meetings and visits. A Taliban official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said efforts to recruit advisers with international backgrounds have increased following the reduction of US aid.

Nearly five years into Taliban rule, reports indicate that many skilled professionals have either left the country or remain unemployed inside Afghanistan.

At the same time, there have been reports of arrests and killings of some former security personnel.

The Taliban have also reduced their administrative structure by about 20 percent following the decline in foreign assistance.