Taliban Offers Reciprocal Steps To Reduce Tensions With Pakistan

In a statement, the Taliban’s interior ministry, without providing details, said the two sides emphasised strengthening cooperation between Russia and the Taliban. They reportedly also discussed bilateral security, economic and political issues.

Since the Taliban returned to power, Russia has increased oil and gas exports to Afghanistan, while imports of Russian grain to the country have also multiplied. However, Moscow’s concerns over counterterrorism remain, and it has repeatedly pointed to the presence of militant and terrorist groups in Afghanistan.

Although the Taliban interior minister stressed positive engagement with countries and regional stability during the meeting with the Russian envoy, the group has not expelled Central Asian militants and Uyghur fighters from Afghanistan to address Russia’s and neighbouring countries’ concerns.

Regional countries have cautiously and informally expanded their ties with the Taliban, but most remain reluctant to elevate relations to formal recognition or high-level engagement.

Kabulov, who is visiting Kabul, also met Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s foreign minister, on Tuesday.

Russia is the only country to have recognised the Taliban, though some Russian analysts say Moscow’s expectations of the group have yet to be met.

Massoud said the continuation of Afghanistan’s current situation is not in the interest of Muslims.

In his speech, he stated that the present conditions in Afghanistan will not last and that people will soon witness change.

He said a despotic group is currently ruling Afghanistan and that no tyranny endures forever.

Massoud stressed that no system could survive without domestic and international legitimacy, and that a regime which silences women, young people and freedom cannot represent Afghanistan’s future.

He also implicitly accused the Taliban of fuelling ethnic divisions in Afghanistan.

He noted that Iran is more ethnically diverse than Afghanistan but said its people have reached a collective political understanding that the country is their shared homeland.

Massoud said the people of Iran trusted one another and that “the whole world” gathered against them but could not defeat them. He added that when there were attempts to destroy a bridge, people from all ethnic groups gathered around it and prevented its destruction.

He also referred to commemorations date marking the anniversary of the death of his father, Ahmad Shah Massoud, saying that “Pakol-wearers” sought to stage a poor defence using his father’s image. According to him, they appeared to mourn but intended to provoke and harass people.

Massoud said the Taliban do not represent the Pashtun ethnic group and that “wise Pashtuns” bear greater responsibility to recognise that, as he put it, the Taliban’s hypocrisy runs counter to national unity.

The leader of the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan added that over the past 20 years, Pashtuns in Afghanistan have suffered the greatest losses.

The event was held online to mark April 28, the day in 1992 when the mujahideen entered Kabul following the fall of the government of Mohammad Najibullah.

Zia Ahmad Takal, head of public information and relations at the Taliban’s foreign ministry, said in a statement on Tuesday, April 28, that Pakistan’s claim that the violence began from Afghanistan is “incorrect”. The Taliban called for an examination of the root causes of the current tensions.

The Taliban administration urged Islamabad to refrain from actions that could escalate tensions and warned that the continuation of such behaviour would have serious consequences.

The foreign ministry added that violations of Afghanistan’s airspace and attacks on civilians constitute a clear breach of the country’s territorial integrity, run counter to international principles, and are provocative acts.

The Taliban reiterated their right to defend Afghanistan’s territory and people. According to reports, the Pakistani army targeted various areas of Asadabad, the capital of Kunar province, as well as Sayed Jamaluddin Afghan University with artillery fire.

The Taliban said seven people were killed and 75 others injured in the attack. Pakistan has denied targeting civilians in Kunar province.

Following the escalation of clashes between Taliban forces and Pakistan and the casualties caused by the attacks in Kunar province, UNAMA expressed condolences to the families of the victims in a post on X.

UNAMA stated: “Under international humanitarian law, civilians and civilian sites, including educational facilities, must be protected at all times.”

Earlier reports said the Pakistani army had targeted various areas of Asadabad, the capital of Kunar, as well as Sayed Jamaluddin Afghan University with artillery fire. According to the Taliban, seven people were killed and 75 others injured in the attack.

At the same time, Richard Bennett, UN special Rapporteur expressed concern over the ongoing clashes and stressed the need to protect civilians and hold those responsible accountable.

He also called for an immediate, independent and comprehensive investigation into the recent clashes between Pakistan and the Taliban. Earlier, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting rejected reports that it had attacked the university and residential areas in Kunar.

Islamabad described the claims as blatant lies and an attempt to gain sympathy and conceal Afghan Taliban support for Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. The Taliban, however, attributed the attack to Pakistan and described it as cowardly.

Local sources have not yet reported any casualties or damage resulting from the attacks.

Neither the Taliban nor Pakistan has so far commented on the incident.

A day earlier, Pakistani rocket attacks on Asadabad and Sarkani district in Kunar left seven people dead and around 75 others injured.