Afghan Refugees In Qatar Will Not Be Moved To America, Says US Secretary Of State

One former detainee, who asked not to be identified, said the Taliban detained him for 24 hours without any clear charge and subjected him to severe abuse during interrogation.

He alleged that Taliban forces blindfold detainees, tie their hands and feet, and use electric shocks during torture.

Another former prisoner from Kunduz province said many arrests are carried out without evidence of wrongdoing and often involve accusations such as cooperating with opposition groups.

According to him, some detainees continue to face mistreatment and torture even after being transferred to prison facilities.

These accounts emerge amid earlier reports that a young man in Herat died because of torture while in Taliban custody.

A relative of another detainee also described similar experiences in Taliban prisons. According to the family member, his brother was arrested without committing any crime, tortured in detention and later asked to spy for the Taliban among local people after his release.

Another man whose son is currently being held by the Taliban claimed his son was tortured in custody and forced to give a confession.

The sources requested anonymity because of fears of security repercussions and possible risks to themselves and their families.

Previously, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid rejected such reports in an interview with Afghanistan International and insisted that Taliban laws prohibit torture at all stages of detention and imprisonment.

The Taliban’s claims have also been challenged by some former female detainees. Zarifa Yaqobi, a former prisoner, previously said that she and her colleagues were subjected to various forms of torture and forced confessions in Taliban intelligence detention facilities.

Sadiq Khan said both sides agreed to strengthen coordination and expand joint counterterrorism cooperation to preserve regional peace and stability.

The meeting comes as China continues its efforts to reduce tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan.

It also follows months of escalating tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban, including border clashes, Pakistani air strikes inside Afghanistan and accusations by Islamabad that militant groups are using Afghan territory to launch attacks.

The Taliban has rejected the allegations, saying insecurity and militant activity in Pakistan are internal matters for Islamabad.

Writing on X on Tuesday, Mohammad Sadiq Khan said the two sides held constructive discussions on regional security, including threats posed by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, which he said operate from Afghan territory.

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, an umbrella organisation of Islamist militant groups, has been responsible for some of the deadliest attacks in Pakistan in recent years.

Islamabad says many members of the group operate from safe havens across the border in Afghanistan, a claim the Afghan Taliban denies.

Pakistan and China have also repeatedly expressed concern about the East Turkestan Islamic Movement.

Beijing accuses the group of seeking to establish an independent state in China’s Xinjiang region.

The talks took place as China has increased its mediating role between Pakistan and Afghanistan. One reason for Beijing’s approach is concern over the impact of instability on regional connectivity projects and Chinese economic interests, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Relations between Pakistan and the Taliban deteriorated sharply earlier this year following deadly border clashes, leading to the most serious confrontation between the two sides in recent years.

In February, Pakistan carried out air strikes inside Afghanistan and accused the Taliban of sheltering militants, while the Taliban condemned the attacks and denied supporting armed groups.

Since then, China has intensified diplomatic efforts to prevent the crisis from escalating further.

In March, Yue Xiaoyong conducted diplomatic shuttle visits between Islamabad and Kabul, and Beijing also hosted direct talks between Pakistani and Taliban officials in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang.

Chinese officials have publicly urged both sides to resolve their disputes through dialogue rather than military action and have supported efforts aimed at securing a ceasefire and reaching a broader political understanding.

In April, Pakistan and the Taliban also resumed talks under Chinese mediation to reduce tensions and explore a long-term framework for addressing border security, militant activity and economic cooperation.

Both sides later described the discussions as constructive, while China said the negotiation process was making progress.

The report, published on Tuesday, June 2, shows that access to work in the fourth week of May fell by 20% compared with the same period last year and was 16% lower than the three-year average.

According to the report, the price of a one-year-old female sheep in Afghanistan rose by 6% ahead of Eid al-Adha due to increased demand.

The World Food Programme said market supply conditions remain generally stable, but transport costs, regional trade uncertainties and Afghanistan’s heavy dependence on imports pose risks to market stability and contribute to localised price fluctuations.

In the food sector, national average prices have largely remained stable, with slight weekly declines recorded for key commodities. However, compared with last year, wheat prices have risen by 14%, flour by between 9% and 12%, rice by up to 38%, cooking oil by 4%, sugar by 25% and salt by 10%.

The report stressed that the annual increase in prices reflects sharp rises between October 2025 and March 2026 following the closure of the border with Pakistan and the rerouting of trade through Iran and Central Asia.

The report comes as millions of people in Afghanistan continue to face economic hardship, unemployment and rising living costs, placing further pressure on vulnerable families.

OCHA said the widening funding gap poses a serious threat to life-saving humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan.

In a post on X, the organisation warned that unless urgent funding is provided, millions of people in Afghanistan could be left without humanitarian support.

The warning comes as the UN Development Programme said last month that poverty in Afghanistan continues to deepen, with nearly 28 million people in 2025 unable to meet even their most basic living needs.

The UNDP also reported that international aid to Afghanistan fell by around 16.5% in 2025. Due to budget cuts, more than 440 healthcare centres have either closed or reduced their services, while the proportion of people without access to healthcare has risen from 16% in 2024 to 23% in 2025.

Speaking on Monday at the Ninth Biennial Meeting of States on the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Raza said the presence of advanced weapons stockpiles in Afghanistan remained a serious concern for Islamabad.

He added that these concerns had also been reflected in reports by the UN secretary-general.

The Pakistani diplomat said the illicit transfer and uncontrolled use of small arms and light weapons contribute to prolonged conflicts, weakened security and underdevelopment.

He stressed that small arms have become the primary tools of violence for non-state armed groups and warned that access to advanced weapons by illegal armed groups, especially those operating in Afghanistan, poses a threat to regional and national security.

Atif Raza also called for greater international efforts to prevent terrorist groups active in Afghanistan from obtaining illegal weapons, saying the Taliban must uphold their international commitments and responsibilities in this regard.

In part of his remarks, he referred to a United Nations Security Council resolution adopted in March 2026, which emphasised the need for regional and international efforts to prevent the illicit trade and destabilising accumulation of small arms and light weapons in Afghanistan and the wider region.

Pakistan has repeatedly voiced concern over insurgent groups gaining access to remaining American weapons in Afghanistan and warned of the wider security implications for the region and beyond.