Taliban Interior Minister, Chinese Envoy Discuss Bilateral Relations
Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban interior minister met Zhao Xing, Chinese ambassador in Kabul to discuss bilateral relations, the Taliban’s interior ministry said.
Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban interior minister met Zhao Xing, Chinese ambassador in Kabul to discuss bilateral relations, the Taliban’s interior ministry said.
According to a statement issued on Monday, the two sides also highlighted the importance of China’s efforts to address regional challenges.
Haqqani told the Chinese envoy that the Taliban administration is seeking overall stability in Afghanistan.
No further details about the meeting were immediately released.
China, like most countries, has not formally recognised the Taliban government, with the exception of Russia. However, Beijing maintains extensive economic and diplomatic ties with the Taliban authorities.
Salahuddin Salar, a Tajik commander and former deputy intelligence chief in the Taliban’s defence ministry, says they pledged allegiance “without seeing their leader” and did not fight for “ethnic supremacy”.
Salar on Sunday shared a video of a Taliban member criticising the group’s ethnic conduct, writing that the aim of the war was to “end the occupation” and establish an “Islamic government”, not to bring the Taliban leaders’ own ethnic group and linguistic peers to power.
The former Taliban commander also wrote that he had previously rejected predictions and taunts by opponents about the Taliban leadership but said that “everything the opponents said has come true” and that the group has demonstrated this in practice.
In the video shared by Salar, Abdul Qadir Saad, a Taliban critic in Balkh, is seen condemning the concentration of power in the hands of Pashtun Taliban
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Two years ago, Salahuddin Salar was dismissed from his post after openly opposing Qari Ayub Khalid, the then Pashtun governor of Badakhshan.
Salar has previously criticised the Taliban’s performance as well.
In earlier remarks, he criticised “corruption”, “ethnic bias”, “the prioritisation of personal and tribal interests over justice and the public good”, and the concentration of wealth and national resources in the hands of a limited number of individuals. He warned that this situation widens the gap between the people and Taliban rule and calls the legitimacy of their authority into question.
Reacting to the killing of Ikramuddin Saree, a former police commander in Takhar, he also said that assassinations and killings are not a solution to Afghanistan’s crises and problems.
Several tribal elders in Kunar say that, following Pakistani artillery attacks and the evacuation of some villages, they have begun talks with elders in Bajaur to find a path towards a permanent ceasefire.
Sources said these discussions started in consultation with the Taliban and that two meetings have so far been held.
Kunar tribal elders state that over the past two months, villages in Sirkanay district have repeatedly been targeted by Pakistani mortar strikes, forcing many residents to abandon their homes.
According to them, after elders in Nuristan and Chitral reached a ceasefire agreement, elders in Sirkanay are now trying to achieve a similar deal through mediation by Bajaur elders.
They add that the Taliban are aware of these talks and that the process is moving forward with guidance from the group’s local authorities.
Both sides, they say, have shared their conditions with one another.
Previously, elders from Nuristan and Chitral agreed to reopen routes between their regions, with a permanent ceasefire envisaged from Nari district to Nuristan.
Meanwhile, Pakistani forces have reportedly obtained a verbal commitment from Nuristan elders not to allow members of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan to operate in their areas.
Images from that meeting show the jirga being held at a Pakistani military base, with Pakistani soldiers present during the signing, but no Taliban representatives in attendance.
Tribal elders believe the Taliban appear unwilling to directly confront Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and are instead trying to resolve the issue through tribal agreements.
Two days ago, Sirkanay district was again hit by several Pakistani artillery strikes.
The Taliban have not yet officially commented on these talks.
Taliban disaster management authority says at least 13 people have died and nine others were injured in the past 24 hours due to heavy rainfall and flooding across several provinces.
The authority said the casualties were recorded in Kabul, Bamiyan, Paktia, Ghor, Badghis, Balkh, Samangan, Sar-e Pol, Jawzjan and Baghlan.
The agency added that floods completely destroyed 94 homes and partially damaged 107 others.
Afghanistan faces destructive floods every year, particularly in recent weeks. Experts say climate change, reduced vegetation and construction along flood paths have contributed to rising casualties and damage.
The UK home secretary has not ruled out returning rejected Afghan asylum seekers to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, saying the government is reviewing the issue and monitoring EU talks with the Taliban.
Yvette Cooper, UK foreign secretary, said the UK is examining the issue while following discussions between the Taliban and the European Union on returns.
She added that further discussions are also taking place within UK government institutions.
If implemented, such a move would mark a significant shift in current UK policy and could trigger strong opposition from human rights organisations.
The United Nations last month described Afghanistan as a “graveyard of human rights” and raised concerns about “gender apartheid”.
At present, the UK cannot return rejected asylum seekers to Afghanistan as it does not recognise the Taliban administration.
Her remarks come as Sweden has confirmed ongoing talks between Kabul and Brussels on a possible return agreement.
Shabana Mahmood, the UK home secretary, said Britain is closely monitoring developments in other countries, including European partners and their discussions with Afghanistan.
She added: “I am neither confirming nor ruling out this option, and I will not provide further details about internal government discussions at this stage.” Afghans were the largest group arriving in the UK by small boats in the year to June 2025, with around 6,360 arrivals, an 18% increase on the previous year.
Between 2022 and 2024, nearly 29,600 Afghan nationals applied for asylum in the UK.
Acceptance rates have dropped sharply, from 99% in 2023 to 38% in the first half of 2025.
Several European countries are also considering returns, with more than 20 EU states reportedly interested. Germany has deported over 100 Afghan “criminals” since 2024.
Recent reports indicate worsening human rights conditions in Afghanistan, particularly for women and girls.
Detentions, torture and killings of journalists, dismissal of women from public roles and sweeping social restrictions have been highlighted.
Critics warn that returning refugees under such conditions could put their lives at risk.
The Taliban have urged Afghan refugees facing possible relocation from Qatar to the Democratic Republic of Congo to return home, saying no one faces security threats in Afghanistan.
In a statement on Saturday, April 25, the Taliban foreign ministry said reports indicate Afghans in Qatar awaiting US visas are being asked to choose between returning home or relocating to a third country.
The ministry said Afghanistan is “the shared home of all Afghans” and invited those abroad to return, assuring them they can do so with confidence.
It added that those wishing to travel elsewhere could do so later through “legal and dignified” means.
The Taliban also said they are ready to cooperate with all countries under bilateral consular frameworks to protect Afghan citizens’ rights.
It insisted that “no one currently faces security threats in Afghanistan” and that no one needs to leave due to insecurity.
Possible relocation to Congo
The Trump administration is reportedly considering relocating Afghan refugees to third countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, after halting US resettlement programmes.
Reports say Afghan nationals are currently barred from travelling to the United States under these policies.
Around 1,100 Afghan refugees, including interpreters, former special forces members and families of US partners, are waiting in As Sayliyah camp in Qatar for humanitarian visas.
US officials have indicated plans to close the camp, while Reuters reported that Afghan refugees there were offered money to return to Afghanistan.
A senior US official said Washington is negotiating with third countries to relocate them, adding that keeping refugees indefinitely in the Qatar camp is “not a viable solution”.
However, the US has not officially confirmed any plan to transfer refugees to Congo.
Concerns over reprisals
International organisations have repeatedly warned that returning Afghan refugees to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan is unsafe.
The United Nations says groups such as women, human rights activists, journalists, former security personnel and officials could face serious risks if they return.
An investigation by Afghanistan International found that dozens of former soldiers and government employees were killed after being deported from Iran.
In recent years, many returnees from Iran and Pakistan have reportedly been detained or imprisoned by the Taliban, with multiple reports of killings of former security personnel.