Pakistani Envoy Urges Taliban to Take Practical Action Against Militants
Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani, Pakistan's ambassador to Kabul, urged the Taliban to take practical measures against terrorist threats originating from Afghanistan.
Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani, Pakistan's ambassador to Kabul, urged the Taliban to take practical measures against terrorist threats originating from Afghanistan.
Speaking at an event marking the first anniversary of the four-day conflict between Pakistan and India, the Pakistani diplomat warned the Taliban not to interpret Islamabad’s desire for peace as a sign of weakness.
According to a statement issued by the Pakistani embassy in Kabul on Sunday, Nizamani said Pakistan remains committed to brotherly relations with Afghanistan, but added that concrete action was needed to curb threats emanating from Afghan territory.
Hours earlier, Asim Munir said in a speech in Rawalpindi that terrorism from Afghanistan continued and that the Taliban must dismantle terrorist sanctuaries.
He also accused India of returning to its previous policy of supporting militancy after what he described as failure on the battlefield, adding that security threats persisted not only from India but also from Afghan soil.
Taliban officials have not yet responded to the remarks. The Taliban administration has repeatedly claimed that Afghan territory is not being used against any country.
Informed sources told Afghanistan International that Taliban intelligence forces besieged the offices of TOLOnews and its parent company, Moby Group, for more than six hours after the broadcaster reported the detention of two of its journalists on social media.
According to the sources, around 50 armed Taliban intelligence personnel were deployed around the company’s headquarters in the Wazir Akbar Khan area of Kabul.
TOLOnews published reports on its social media accounts at around 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 11, stating that two of its journalists had been detained by the Taliban.
Sources said that approximately 40 minutes after the reports were published, a large number of armed Taliban intelligence personnel raided the Moby Group offices.
TOLOnews initially used the word “detained” in its reporting, but later deleted the post and replaced the term with “held”.
According to reports, Mansoor Niazi, a news presenter and host of political programmes on TOLOnews, was detained by Taliban intelligence agents on Thursday in Kabul’s Karte Seh area.
Imran Danish, another presenter and head of the network’s political section, was reportedly detained on Saturday evening near the TOLOnews office in Wazir Akbar Khan.
Sources familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said Taliban intelligence agents took control of Niazi’s X account after his detention.
On Sunday morning, a message was posted on the account stating: “What is being said about me on social media is not true. I am at my home.”
One informed source said Taliban intelligence agents confiscated the mobile phones of all employees working for TOLOnews, TOLO TV, Lemar TV, Arman FM, Arakozia FM and the Lapis office during the siege.
The source added that all employees of the media organisation were placed under surveillance.
According to the sources, Taliban personnel mistreated several staff members during the operation, physically assaulting some employees and behaving violently towards women.
Taliban intelligence agents reportedly allowed female employees to leave at around 7 p.m., while male staff remained under supervision for an additional hour.
Sources also said Imran Danish was brought to the TOLOnews office by Taliban intelligence personnel during the siege. After searches and inspections were completed, he was reportedly taken away again.
Neither Moby Group, TOLOnews nor Taliban officials have publicly commented on the reasons behind the raid.
The social media activity of Moby Group and TOLOnews resumed at around 8 p.m. on Sunday evening. A review of TOLOnews’ X account showed that, contrary to its normal activity, no content was posted for approximately nine hours.
Earlier, Taliban intelligence agents also detained Ahmad Jawed Niazi, the head of Paigard News Agency, on Thursday. No information has yet been released about his whereabouts or condition.
Afghanistan Journalists Support Organisation confirmed the detention of the TOLOnews journalists on Sunday, saying that no private media outlet in Afghanistan, including those perceived as showing “flexibility” towards the Taliban, is safe from arbitrary harassment and detention.
Recently, Faridullah Mohammadi, director of TOLOnews said at a meeting in the Taliban presidential palace that the “relative freedom” of the media in Afghanistan was unprecedented in the region.
Since returning to power, the Taliban have detained, tortured, threatened and imprisoned dozens of journalists.
Media rights organisations and journalist advocacy groups have repeatedly expressed concern over the deteriorating state of press freedom and freedom of expression in Afghanistan under Taliban rule.
According to reports, at least five journalists have remained in Taliban prisons over the past year. They include Hamid Farhadi, Aziz Watanwal, Shakib Ahmad Nazari, Mohammad Bashir Hatef and Abuzar Sarem Sarpoli.
Findings by Afghanistan International indicate that at least two of the detained journalists have been transferred to Bagram Prison.
Taliban police in Badakhshan confirmed that at least two residents of Argo district were killed in clashes with Taliban forces during anti-poppy eradication operations.
The Taliban police command in Badakhshan said on Saturday that the clashes began after anti-narcotics units were deployed to a village in Argo district to destroy poppy fields.
In a statement, the Taliban police spokesperson said a number of farmers and residents, allegedly incited by criminals and drug traffickers, attempted to prevent the destruction of poppy crops.
He said one child was killed on Friday during the unrest, while another person died on Saturday, May 9, during continuing protests and clashes.
The Taliban police command claimed the situation is now under control and the area remains under Taliban authority.
However, local sources told Afghanistan International on Saturday that clashes between Taliban forces and residents of Argo district were still ongoing.
Residents said both victims were killed by Taliban gunfire.
A video obtained by Afghanistan International from Argo district shows continuing protests by local residents against the Taliban.
The Taliban police command also acknowledged that protesters temporarily blocked the Kishim –Faizabad highway, which was later reopened through the efforts of security officials, religious scholars and tribal elders.
According to local information, the clashes began on Friday, May 8, when Taliban forces entered the village to destroy poppy fields.
In recent days, the Taliban governor of Badakhshan and his deputy had visited several districts and urged residents to cooperate with anti-poppy campaigns.
Earlier reports said the Taliban had deployed at least 1,500 forces to Kishim district for similar operations.
This is not the first time residents of Argo have resisted poppy eradication due to the absence of alternative crops and livelihoods.
In previous years, similar confrontations during the poppy harvest season resulted in deadly clashes between residents and Taliban forces.
The Taliban leader banned poppy cultivation in 2022, but multiple reports suggest opium cultivation continues, particularly in northern and southern provinces.
Farmers say the lack of viable alternative crops, unreliable markets and insufficient financial and technical support have forced them to continue growing poppies because they have no other source of income for their families.
Hamid Karzai, former Afghan President, said Pakistan has increased military and economic pressure on villages near the Durand Line, warning residents are being pushed to deal with Pakistani authorities.
In a statement on Saturday, Karzai said tribal elders on both sides of the border had recently signed documents described as peace agreements. He noted that Pakistan’s foreign ministry had officially welcomed and endorsed the deals.
The former president said these developments are viewed as an attempt by Pakistan to legitimise the so-called Durand Line and as a move contrary to Afghanistan’s national sovereignty.
Without directly naming the Taliban, he called on authorities to provide clear explanations to the public regarding these developments.
Earlier, Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Tahir Andrabi welcomed ceasefire agreements reached by tribal elders on both sides of the border in Kunar and Nuristan, saying they reflected the desire of border communities for peace.
Speaking on Thursday, May 7, Andrabi described the agreements between elders in Bajaur–Kunar and Chitral–Nuristan as positive developments showing that people on both sides wanted peace.
In mid-April, tribal elders in Nuristan approached Pakistani border forces in Chitral after roads to Kamdesh and Barg-e Matal districts remained closed for two months, raising fears of famine and hunger. Their efforts resulted in ceasefire agreements across the border.
Elders in border areas of Kunar later followed the Nuristan example and reached similar ceasefire arrangements with tribal leaders in Bajaur across the border.
Taliban authorities have not yet commented on the signing of the peace agreements in border regions.
Residents reported unidentified aircraft flying over Kabul on Saturday, along with Taliban gunfire. At least three independent sources told Afghanistan International that repeated shooting was heard across parts of the capital.
Taliban authorities have not yet issued any explanation.
One source in western Kabul said the sound of continuous gunfire was heard while the aircraft were patrolling overhead.
At least three independent sources in Kabul told Afghanistan International on Saturday that unidentified aircraft and repeated gunfire were heard in several parts of the city.
In previous similar incidents, the Taliban Defence Ministry and spokespersons said the gunfire came from air defence forces targeting Pakistani aircraft that had entered Afghan airspace.
Zabihullah Mujahid and other Taliban officials have repeatedly told residents “not to worry”.
No details are yet available about the aircraft activity on Saturday.
Afghanistan International says it is following the story and will publish any official explanation or new details as they emerge.
Local sources told Afghanistan International that armed clashes erupted in parts of Paryan district in Panjshir on Thursday, after which Taliban forces reportedly detained at least seven villagers.
Taliban authorities have not commented on the clashes or arrests.
The identities of those detained have also not been officially confirmed.
According to local reports, security tensions in Paryan have been building for several months. The incidents began after a Taliban vehicle was set on fire in Kojan village in December 2025.
Residents said that later, in an attack on a Taliban outpost at Paryan Mosque in late March 2026, two Taliban members were killed. Another major incident was the killing of Mullah Gul Haidar, the Taliban intelligence deputy, in the same village.
Local sources, speaking anonymously for security reasons, said Taliban forces subsequently arrested many civilians from Kojan village.
There have also been reports of detainees being tortured.
Taliban intelligence reportedly launched two large-scale operations against the strategic Samehr Dara area, claiming the attackers were hiding there.
Sources said a Taliban assault on the night of May 5, from two directions, Shahr-e Biland village and the valley route, was met with resistance, forcing the attackers to retreat after suffering three dead and one wounded.
The security situation in Paryan is now described as heavily militarised, with residents expressing concern over increasing arrests, restrictions and tensions.
Strict curfew measures have also been imposed in Kojan village, where no one is allowed to leave their homes after evening prayers.
