Border Fencing Along Afghanistan Frontier Is Essential For Security, Says Pakistan PM

In a statement, the office of the Taliban governor in Herat said Islamjar had departed for Kabul at the head of a delegation and is expected to meet several senior officials in the capital.

Although observers have linked the visit to the recent security situation and tensions in Herat, the governor’s office described the trip as focused on economic and infrastructure issues.

According to the statement, the main purpose of the meetings is to review progress on major economic projects, the expansion of Herat’s industrial park and efforts to address challenges affecting commercial transport.

The statement added that increasing imports and exports through the Islam Qala border crossing and improving customs procedures will also be discussed in an effort to provide greater facilities for traders.

Herat witnessed two anti-Taliban protests over the past week. Taliban forces suppressed both demonstrations and have since imposed extensive security measures across the province to prevent further protests.

The protests erupted following the mass detention of women accused of violating the Taliban’s dress code.

At the same time, the Afghanistan Freedom Front claimed responsibility for an attack on the Taliban’s Directorate for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice office in Herat, saying three Taliban members were killed.

Earlier, Noor Ahmad Islamjar said compliance with the Taliban’s prescribed dress code had been steadily declining in Herat.

He described the detained women as suffering from “psychological and religious problems” and said authorities had been instructed to remove them from public spaces.

According to the statement, the individuals had been detained in Pakistan for lacking valid residency documents.

The Taliban ministry said 230 people returned through the Torkham crossing, while another 533 entered Afghanistan via Spin Boldak.

The detention of undocumented Afghan refugees in Pakistan continues.

The United Nations has called on Pakistan to halt the detention and deportation of Afghan migrants.

Taliban officials, however, have called for the return process to be accelerated despite limited humanitarian resources available to support returnees.

He urged cabinet members to teach religious knowledge to the public and expand religious education to “the mountains and deserts”.

Akhundzada said the strengthening of the Islamic system depends on the spread of religious learning.

Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy Taliban spokesman, released details of the cabinet meeting on Saturday.

Earlier, multiple informed sources in Kandahar told Afghanistan International that the Taliban cabinet meeting, chaired by Hibatullah Akhundzada, was held in the province on Wednesday. According to the sources, the Taliban prime minister also attended, and 11 issues were discussed during the session.

The group claimed that three Taliban morality officers were killed and two others wounded in the attack.

In a statement posted on X, the AFF said the attack took place at around 10:00 pm local time.

The group had previously described members and facilities of the Taliban’s morality police as “legitimate targets”.

Dawood Naji, the AFF’s political chief, told Afghanistan International: “We said it, and we did it.”

The group released a video it said showed the operation and stated that the attack was carried out in response to the harassment of women and the suppression of public protests by the Taliban in Herat.

The Afghanistan Freedom Front also urged Herat residents to stay away from Taliban military vehicles and gathering points.

Sources said that, in addition to Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Taliban intelligence chief Abdul Haq Wasiq were present at the meeting. The Taliban has not yet released details of the discussions.

According to the sources, 11 different topics were raised during the meeting, though they declined to provide further details.

Previously, sources had told Afghanistan International that internal Taliban discussions over reopening schools and universities to girls had concluded and that Hibatullah Akhundzada intended to settle the matter by further enforcing restrictions, including the ban on publishing images of living beings.

Sources close to the Taliban in Kandahar had earlier said that Akhundzada continues to insist on the full implementation of the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice law. According to them, he has issued serious warnings to cabinet members who privately oppose his directives.

Akhundzada first implemented many of his decrees in Kandahar, where no media outlet is now permitted to publish images of living beings. Local Taliban officials in the province also refrain from releasing photographs or videos of their activities.

This comes amid reports that Sirajuddin Haqqani disagrees with some of Akhundzada’s directives and has allowed Interior Ministry officials to continue publishing photographs and images freely.

Kandahar is among the provinces where the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue law and other strict decrees issued by Akhundzada have been fully enforced. However, in some provinces, including Kabul, Taliban officials have reportedly shown less commitment to implementing the leader’s orders.