Afghan Activists Urge France To Recognise Gender Apartheid In Afghanistan

In a post on X on Friday, May 8, he said Pakistan has intensified political, cultural and propaganda pressure against Afghanistan.

Maria Sultan, head of the South Asian Strategic Stability Institute (SSASI), recently said Afghanistan may lose its geographic form in a changing regional order and might not exist in its current structure in the future.

Khurram wrote that parts of Sultan’s comments, particularly regarding Taliban officials’ assets, should be addressed by the group, but claims about the disappearance of Afghanistan’s geography and denial of its national identity require a response from every Afghan.

He stressed that Afghanistan is a historical country formed over centuries and not an artificial construct like Pakistan created through political decisions.

He described Sultan’s remarks about Afghanistan’s future geography as “propaganda”.

Khurram also accused Pakistan of appropriating Afghanistan’s historical and cultural heritage.

He said the SSASI head’s statements reflect the position of Pakistan’s intelligence services and added that such efforts have intensified since the start of the Iran conflict.

Sultan’s remarks have drawn reactions from several Afghan politicians.

Rangin Dadfar Spanta, former foreign minister of Afghanistan, said scenarios of Afghanistan’s fragmentation have failed throughout history, adding that despite foreign interference, the country has preserved its territorial integrity, and its people will respond to any threat.

Asif Durrani, former Pakistan envoy for Afghanistan said Afghanistan’s future should be determined by Afghans themselves and that no external country or force should interfere in its internal affairs.

Speaking to France 24 on Thursday, May 7, the chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party said: "Unfortunately, most of the terrorist attacks that do take place in Pakistan are linked to organisations within Afghanistan".

He added that the government of India supports groups behind terrorist activities inside Pakistan.

The Pakistani government holds a similar position, accusing both India and the Afghan Taliban of backing militants.

Asif Durrani, former Pakistan envoy for Afghanistan, said in April that Islamabad’s airstrikes inside Afghanistan had reduced attacks by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). He also said the Afghan Taliban had partly stepped back from their stance on supporting the TTP.

The Afghan Taliban, which maintain close ties with the TTP, have repeatedly denied involvement in deadly attacks in Pakistan, describing them as Pakistan’s internal security issue.

Sources said the clash began on Friday, May 8, in a village in Argo district when Taliban members moved to destroy poppy fields.

They added that Taliban forces have since surrounded the village and detained one protester.

Local sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said residents were attempting to move the body of the deceased to the Kashm district highway nearby in protest and to block the road.

They said Taliban forces were dispersing protesters using gunfire and violence.

A local resident identified the victim as Haziqa, son of Zamanuddin Paikar, a former Taliban member.

He said Taliban forces are not allowing residents to leave their homes.

The resident added that around 500 Taliban fighters have been deployed to the village, and the area is now heavily militarised.

Taliban authorities have not yet commented on the incident.

This comes as the Taliban governor and his deputy in Badakhshan have recently visited several districts, urging residents to cooperate with efforts to eradicate poppy cultivation.

Earlier, local sources reported that the Taliban had deployed at least 1,500 forces to Kashm district for similar operations.

This is not the first time residents of Argo have resisted poppy eradication without alternative crops being introduced.

In previous years, similar confrontations during the poppy harvest season led to deadly clashes between residents and Taliban forces.

Uzbekistan’s foreign ministry said the Japanese side praised Tashkent’s pragmatic approach to Afghanistan and highlighted the importance of infrastructure in Termez as a suitable base for implementing international humanitarian and social projects.

Yamada expressed Japan International Cooperation Agency’s interest in using Termez’s capacities for programmes in education, healthcare, agriculture, private sector development and combating drug trafficking.

In recent years, Uzbekistan has strengthened Termez as a logistical and humanitarian hub for Afghanistan-related projects. Since 2022, it has served as a key route for delivering international aid to Afghanistan, and from early 2025 it joined the global emergency warehouse network of UNHCR.

Despite these efforts, experts and human rights organisations have raised concerns about the effectiveness of development projects under current conditions in Afghanistan. International sanctions, banking restrictions, security challenges and, notably, Taliban-imposed limits on women’s and minorities’ rights are among the key obstacles.

Many Afghan civil society activists and UN experts stress that without tangible progress on human rights, particularly in women’s education and employment, development assistance may not be sustainable or could even reinforce existing conditions.

No detailed information has yet been released about the projects discussed, including budgets, timelines or specific areas of implementation.

The meeting is part of Uzbekistan’s diplomatic efforts to coordinate international assistance for Afghanistan. Irgashev has recently met several representatives of international organisations and foreign diplomats to facilitate practical project implementation.

Although Uzbekistan does not formally recognise the Taliban government, it maintains extensive economic and political ties with them. Taliban officials have previously welcomed Tashkent’s approach.

The commission met last week following rising insecurity in west Kabul, reviewing the security situation and stressing the need for serious attention to the safety of residents.

Sources told Afghanistan International on Thursday that Taliban officials were dissatisfied with the commission raising concerns about western Kabul security and asked its leaders to appreciate the "nationwide security” in their statement.

Since the Taliban’s return to power, at least seven deadly attacks have targeted Shia communities in Herat, including in Jebrael township and the districts of Injil and Guzara. These incidents, involving bombings, shootings and targeted killings, have left dozens dead and injured.

Shias in Kabul have also previously been targeted by Islamic State (ISIS-K) group. The Taliban have so far failed to arrest those responsible for the attacks.

Head of the High Commission of Shias of Afghanistan Mohammad Ali Akhlaqi said the commission serves as a body to follow up on issues facing the Shia community and aims to convey concerns from the capital city and provinces to Taliban authorities.

He added that the group insists on resolving differences through dialogue, moderation and strengthening national cohesion, while also describing recent urban development as positive.

Sayed Hayatullah Alami, the deputy director for cultural affairs at the Shia commission, said the commission is seriously pursuing the community’s concerns and will raise them with relevant authorities.

Shia representatives have repeatedly presented demands to senior Taliban officials, including recognition of the Jaafari jurisprudence in the Taliban judicial system, political participation, adjudication of cases based on Jaafari jurisprudence, and teaching Shia beliefs in schools and universities.

Mohammad Mohaqiq, an Shia former vice president, previously reacted to calls for recognition of Shia Islam, suggesting it is unrealistic.

Reports indicate that Taliban-imposed religious restrictions have increased pressure on Shia students in some universities, with some reportedly asked to pledge conversion to Sunni Islam.

Security Concerns In Western Kabul

The meeting comes amid growing reports of insecurity and armed robberies in west Kabul.

Local sources said residents in areas such as Ettefaq Town, Kaṯah Bolandi and several other areas have organised night patrols and hired additional guards in commercial centers to protect themselves.

At the same time, Shias remain occasional targets of ISIS-K attacks. On Friday, April 10, unidentified gunmen on motorcycles opened fire on a gathering of Shia civilians in Deh Miri, Injil district of Herat, killing at least 11 people, including women and children, and injuring others.

Taliban police in Herat have yet to arrest the attackers.

Economic Challenges And Projects

the Shia Commission officials expressed optimism about Taliban economic projects, but local sources say significant state projects have not been implemented in Hazara areas. They added that the Taliban have not only neglected development there but also obstructed community-led initiatives.

For example, the Taliban have blocked the opening of the Ali ibn Abi Talib hospital in Angoori locality, and another clinic of Jaghori district in Ghana province; both built with local funding.

The Taliban’s 2024 development budget allocated more than 60 precent to Kabul, where authorities seek to showcase their achievements.

Political Situation Of The Shia Community

Shia activists say the community continues to face systematic ethnic and religious discrimination. Apart from a few mid-level positions, Shias have largely been excluded from government structures.

Hamida Lesani, a human rights activist, criticised the commission, asking why it has remained silent on forced displacement of Hazaras, widespread youth unemployment, the denial of girls’ education and clear discrimination.

She said people need more than meetings and appreciation of the Taliban; they need a voice that stands with their real struggles and addresses their problems.

The Taliban have faced repeated criticism for ethnic and religious exclusion but maintain that representatives of all ethnic and religious groups are included in their administration.