Uzbekistan & Taliban Establish Joint Trade Council

Zamir Kabulov told RIA Novosti that Moscow wants both sides to avoid conflict and instead work jointly to address the presence of terrorist groups on Afghan soil.

He said the issue of multiple terrorist organisations in Afghanistan genuinely exists, emphasising that terrorism cannot be defeated by a single side.

In recent weeks, Pakistan has carried out a wave of airstrikes against Taliban-linked military sites in Afghanistan. According to available information, the strikes have included dozens of operations, mainly targeting military bases, weapons depots and training centers.

He described the killing of civilians in the attack as a clear disregard for international humanitarian law and the fundamental principles of Islam.

Reacting on Friday to a Human Rights Watch report, Atmar said it is time for Taliban leaders and political opponents to take immediate joint national action.

He proposed convening an emergency loya jirga to resolve internal disputes and achieve national reconciliation, stressing the need for collective efforts to defend the country and its people.

Human Rights Watch said Pakistan’s 16 March 2026 airstrike on a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul was unlawful and a likely war crime, calling for an impartial investigation.

The United Nations said 143 people were killed in the attack.

Atmar reiterated that such operations show clear disregard for international humanitarian law and the fundamental principles of Islam, particularly those related to the protection of civilians.

He also accused the international community and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation of a shameful silence over Pakistan’s actions, urging them to play a more effective role in ensuring accountability and reviving peace efforts.

In a statement on Friday, the ministry released a video of the visit, claiming the area in Terwa district remains under full Taliban control and dismissing reports of Pakistani forces capturing parts of the district as baseless.

Previously, Enayatullah Toofan, a member of the Taliban’s High Council for Armed Forces Coordination, told Afghanistan International that Pakistan had seized parts of Paktika and issued Pakistani ID cards to local residents.

Faridun Samim, spokesman for the Taliban governor in Nuristan, also confirmed on Wednesday that Pakistani forces were attacking vehicles attempting to enter Kamdesh and Barg-e Matal districts, leading to road closures.

The Taliban Defence Ministry said its forces are committed to defending Afghanistan’s territorial integrity and assured the public that not even an inch of land would be surrendered.

Taliban officials said the decision, ordered by Hibatullah Akhundzada, will take effect from Saturday, allowing Iranian transit vehicles to enter Afghanistan without visas or road permits.

The governor’s office said the measure is expected to reduce transport costs and lower the price of goods.

Herat’s Taliban governor, Noor Ahmad Islamjar, visited the Islam Qala border crossing on Friday to oversee preparations for implementing the decision. During the visit, he held talks with officials from relevant departments, including foreign affairs, public works, customs and transport.

According to the statement, foreign cargo vehicles will be allowed to enter through the Islam Qala crossing without visas or road permits, unload goods and then return to their destinations.

The office said the plan could help reduce transport costs and contribute to lower commodity prices, while also creating daily employment for more than 1,000 people.

Afghanistan and Iran maintain extensive trade ties. Before recent regional tensions, trade between the two sides was estimated at around $4 billion.

Afghanistan’s market, particularly in food, raw materials and construction supplies, is heavily dependent on Iranian imports.

However, rising tensions and conflict in the region have affected Afghanistan’s market, leading to increased prices for some goods and materials.

In a statement on Friday, the group said international humanitarian law requires all parties to take constant care to protect civilians and ensure that targets are lawful military objectives.

Patricia Gossman, associate Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said available evidence indicates the Pakistani airstrike on the rehabilitation facility was unlawful. She added that Pakistani authorities should conduct an impartial investigation to determine why a center full of civilians was targeted and who should be held accountable.

Pakistan carried out airstrikes on at least nine targets in Kabul and Nangarhar on March 16. Bombs struck the Omid rehabilitation center in eastern Kabul, where hundreds of people were receiving treatment for drug addiction.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar described the operation as precision airstrikes targeting Taliban terrorist infrastructure and ammunition storage facilities, but did not mention the rehabilitation center.

International organisations reported that at least 143 people were killed and more than 250 injured in the attack, most of them patients.

Human Rights Watch said its investigation found no signs of secondary explosions typically associated with ammunition depots, such as bulk explosives or propellants. It also noted that the facility lacked the space required to safely store weapons or fuel.

The organisation stressed that hospitals and medical facilities are specially protected under the laws of war and only lose that protection if used for military purposes, and even then, require warning.

It added that attacks are prohibited if expected civilian harm is disproportionate to the anticipated military advantage.

Human Rights Watch said it found no evidence that the Omid center was used for military purposes, concluding that the strike violated the prohibition on disproportionate attacks under the laws of war.