Russia’s foreign minister says instability in Afghanistan and the Middle East could threaten security in Central Asia and the CSTO region, warning that terrorism and drug trafficking remain ongoing concerns.
Sergei Lavrov made the remarks on Monday, April 20, at a meeting of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly Council, referring to instability in Afghanistan, the Gulf crisis and rising tensions across the Middle East.
He also pointed to a deadlock in efforts to establish a Palestinian state, saying continued conflict and Israeli policies have reduced prospects for statehood and worsened conditions in Gaza and the West Bank.
Russia is the only country to have formally recognised the Taliban administration. Moscow has repeatedly warned about the consequences of instability in Afghanistan.
Russian officials have previously described Afghanistan as a regional threat, with the foreign ministry cautioning that the presence of extra-regional military actors could trigger further conflict in the country.
The UN says more than 7,600 families in eastern Afghanistan are still living in temporary shelters six months after a major earthquake, with over 221,000 people in urgent need of aid.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a report on Tuesday, April 21, that the quake damaged homes and infrastructure in Kunar and Nangarhar, disrupting access to education and healthcare.
The only health facility in the area treats more than 100 patients daily, while many residents must walk long distances for medical care. OCHA said funding shortages and declining global aid have hampered relief efforts.
A female head of household in Kunar said: “I only have a tent and my children are young. I have no money or home, and my children’s lives are at risk in the cold.”
The UN added that temporary tents do not provide adequate protection against cold, rain or summer heat, and available resources fall far short of what is needed for full reconstruction and long-term resilience.
The magnitude-6 earthquake in eastern Afghanistan destroyed homes and key infrastructure, killing more than 2,000 people. Survivors have yet to return to normal life.
Diplomatic sources say the EU plans to invite a Taliban delegation to Brussels to discuss the return of Afghan migrants, though no formal invitation has yet been issued.
The visit had initially been planned for late March but has now been postponed to the coming weeks.
A diplomatic source told AFP: “The idea is to invite them before summer” adding that the Taliban delegation would be a “technical” team.
Another source said European officials are assessing information on flights and Kabul airport capacity, while also discussing with the Taliban the fate of returnees.
The visit, coordinated by the European Commission and several member states, follows two earlier trips by European officials to Afghanistan for preliminary talks on the issue.
The EU’s migration commissioner had previously confirmed that the bloc has held discussions with the Taliban on returning Afghan asylum seekers.
The EU aims to return individuals whose asylum claims have been rejected, a move that has raised concerns among human rights groups and international organisations.
Around 20 EU countries are exploring ways to deport Afghan migrants, particularly those convicted of crimes.
Germany began this process months ago and has deported more than 100 Afghans since 2024 via charter flights operated with Qatar’s assistance. Austria has pursued a similar approach.
Although the EU has not formally recognised the Taliban administration, it has maintained a diplomatic presence in Afghanistan.
EU countries received around one million asylum applications from Afghans between 2013 and 2024, with Afghans forming the largest group of applicants last year.
Former Afghan foreign minister Haneef Atmar says recent remarks on the Durand Line do not reflect Afghanistan’s historical realities and go against public sentiment.
Without naming Mohammad Mohaqiq, Atmar said on X on Monday that such positions represent a departure from the demands and feelings of the Afghan people. He described the Durand Line as an “imposed imaginary line” that ignored national will.
Mohaqiq, leader of the People’s Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan and a member of the High Council for National Resistance, said on Sunday that he recognises the Durand Line as the official border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
He stressed that he is committed to borders recognised by the United Nations.
Atmar, a senior figure in the former governments of Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani, has held key roles including foreign minister, interior minister and national security adviser.
He said recognising the Durand Line is “unacceptable and contrary to national sovereignty”, arguing that the Afghan people do not accept it and that it was imposed on the country.
He added that no political consideration “can or should” override the people’s right to sovereignty and self-determination.
Mohaqiq’s remarks have drawn reactions from other Afghan politicians.
Rahmatullah Nabil, former head of Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security, said the comments appeared more like a “questionable political shift” than a clear legal position.
In his interview, Mohaqiq said that regardless of who signed the original agreement under Amir Abdur Rahman Khan, the United Nations and the international community now recognise the Durand Line.
He also argued that those raising territorial claims against Pakistan should consider their capacity, describing Pakistan as a nuclear power and opposing continued dispute with Islamabad.
The Taliban’s higher education minister has warned students in Khost to avoid political activity, saying support for the Taliban system is “mandatory”.
Neda Mohammad Nadeem made the remarks on Monday during a meeting with students at Shaikh Zayed University in Khost, urging them to refrain from political and party-related activities.
The Taliban have banned political parties in Afghanistan and have told former politicians to live as ordinary citizens. Taliban intelligence has repeatedly detained journalists and media analysts over their comments.
Over the past two decades, Afghanistan had political parties and civil society organisations that could operate and criticise the government. Since returning to power, the Taliban, particularly their intelligence apparatus, have shut down such activities and curtailed criticism.
According to a statement from the higher education ministry issued on Monday, April 20, Nadeem also encouraged students to improve their technical and professional skills to attain higher positions.
His remarks come as the Taliban have filled many senior and mid-level technical and administrative posts with commanders and graduates of religious schools.
Unlike in many other countries, the Taliban leader has appointed figures with military backgrounds and religious education to key roles, including at the helm of Afghanistan’s central bank.
Despite criticism over monopolising power, the Taliban have rejected such accusations. Officials have also been accused of appointing relatives and close associates to government positions.
Sources told Afghanistan International that former Taliban finance minister Mullah Mutasim Agha Jan has been released after a brief detention, in a move seen as reflecting internal tensions within the group.
He had been detained on April 10, from his home in Kandahar. Sources say both his arrest and release point to internal divisions and pressure within the Taliban leadership.
His detention sparked concern and unease among Taliban members and supporters, particularly those who hold him in high regard. Sources say the move was widely seen as a sign of internal rivalry and power struggles, prompting swift reactions from different factions.
Mutasim Agha Jan is considered an influential figure within the Taliban and enjoys significant support. According to sources, this backing led Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada to order his release to prevent further escalation of tensions and deeper fractures within the group.
Despite the significance of the incident, neither Taliban officials nor Mutasim himself have commented publicly. The circumstances and any negotiations leading to his release remain unclear.
His detention and subsequent release highlight ongoing divisions between hardline factions in Kandahar and other centres of power within the Taliban. The episode underscores continuing challenges to unity and cohesion within the group, suggesting that moves against influential figures could carry serious consequences for its internal stability.
