More Action Needed To Prevent Economic Crisis In Afghanistan, Says OIC

Hassanzoy has urged the Taliban police command in Kabul to take serious action in the case.

He did not specify when his daughters were abducted in the video.

This is not the first time the former MP has clashed with Taliban authorities.

Last week, Hassanzoy posted a video on Facebook saying he had been detained, claiming his arrest was a Taliban “plot”, though he did not provide further details.

In response, Khalid Zadran said Hassanzoy had been detained following a complaint filed by his wife.

According to a report published on Thursday, April 30, around 136,000 people in Kamdesh and Barg-e-Matal districts of Nuristan province faced severe food insecurity and lack of access to basic services.

The organisation said emergency relief operations for 17,000 affected families began after extensive negotiations with the parties involved.

The report noted that Kamdesh and Barg-e-Matal were left in complete isolation due to hostilities between the Taliban and Pakistan.

According to the data, about 17,000 families, equivalent to 136,000 people, were directly affected by the situation.

The ICRC said it had engaged in intensive talks since early April with all parties to the conflict to secure guarantees for safe passage of aid convoys and the delivery of impartial assistance.

Observers say Taliban policies, including increasing restrictions on female aid workers and strict social controls, have worsened humanitarian crises in remote parts of Afghanistan.

According to the sources, the talks were held in a “focused and frank” manner, and the two sides reached an understanding on matters concerning Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State.

They said negotiators called for the Taliban to designate the TTP as a terrorist organisation, while Pakistan would acknowledge the presence of Islamic State within its territory.

Sources added that representatives close to both sides have finalised a draft agreement, though the text has not yet been made available.

Despite a general understanding, differences remain over formally recognising the TTP as a terrorist group.

It remains unclear whether the Taliban administration will accept the outcome of the informal talks, although earlier reports indicated the delegations were approved by both the Taliban and Pakistan.

In previous formal negotiations held in Doha, Istanbul, Riyadh and Urumqi, the Taliban had rejected similar demands from Pakistan regarding the TTP.

Sources had earlier confirmed that figures close to the Taliban administration and the Pakistani government were engaged in discussions in Istanbul to explore ways of resolving disputes.

They said this was the first time the Taliban had agreed to allow a “non-Taliban” delegation to negotiate on Afghanistan-related issues.

Earlier, multiple sources said the Istanbul meeting was held with the approval of both the Taliban administration and Pakistan, and with the support of Türkiye.

The agenda included the activities of the TTP and Islamic State, border clashes, Pakistani air and ground strikes, economic conditions and the issue of migrants.

Previous rounds of formal talks between the Taliban administration and Pakistan in Doha, Istanbul, Riyadh and Urumqi had failed to produce results.

In a statement on Thursday, Pakistani army said its forces engaged a group of militants in Mohmand district, killing eight of them.

It added that in another clash in North Waziristan, five more militants attempting to cross the Afghan border were killed in an exchange of fire.

The army accused the Taliban of a complete failure to control the border, stating that these incidents once again confirm Pakistan’s consistent position that the Taliban have completely failed in effectively managing the border.

Pakistan’s military called on the Taliban to honor their commitments and prevent militants from using Afghan territory to carry out attacks in Pakistan. It also urged them to stop Afghan nationals from entering Pakistan to conduct terrorist operations.

Mohsin Naqvi, Federal Minister for Interior of Pakistan, also praised security forces for preventing militant infiltration from Afghanistan and described the militants as linked to India.

The remarks come as border tensions between the Taliban and Pakistani forces have intensified in recent weeks, with sporadic clashes continuing along the frontier.

In response to what it calls militant infiltration, Pakistan has carried out artillery strikes on parts of eastern Afghanistan, including Kunar province, which reports say have caused dozens of civilian casualties.

The Taliban, in return, have targeted positions in South Waziristan in Pakistan, leaving a number of Pakistani civilians injured.

His visit to Kabul concluded on Thursday, April 30.

The UK Foreign Office said Lindsay discussed regional stability, humanitarian access and human rights with Taliban officials during the trip.

He met senior figures including the deputy prime minister for economic affairs, and the foreign and interior ministers of the Taliban.

The Foreign Office said he also held talks with representatives of civil society.

Emphasis on Human Rights

The UK envoy stressed that inclusive governance and progress on human rights are essential to Afghanistan’s relations with the international community.

Lindsay also highlighted the importance of constructive engagement through UN-led processes and called on the Taliban to take practical steps to address international concerns over human rights, inclusive governance and counterterrorism cooperation.

He described the visit as an important opportunity for direct engagement with Taliban officials on issues of deep importance to the UK, the international community and the Afghan people.

Talks on Pakistan and Humanitarian Concerns

During the meetings, Lindsay emphasised the need to reduce tensions and resume dialogue between the Taliban and Pakistan, saying there is no sustainable military solution.

He called for the immediate reopening of border crossings to allow humanitarian aid deliveries, warning that continued restrictions could deprive more than one million women and children of access to life-saving nutrition and healthcare.

The UK Special Envoy emphasised the need for restraint and de-escalation between the Taliban and Pakistan and called for dialogue to resolve security concerns.

The British diplomat also underlined the importance of unimpeded humanitarian access to ensure life-saving assistance reaches those in need.

Conditional Support

He said the UK remains committed to supporting the Afghan people. According to Lindsay, London has allocated £151 million in humanitarian aid for Afghanistan for 2025–2026, and the country remains a priority for UK assistance.

He also mentioned that for a sustainable future in Afghanistan, the support must be conditional on allowing women to work, children to be educated, and aid to be delivered safely and impartially.