Taliban Deputy PM Praises Herat Administration Following Protests & Arrests

According to the Taliban, Masamitsu also said Japan will spend a further $9 million in 2026 on projects aimed at addressing climate change and water shortages in Kabul.

The Taliban Ministry of Economy said on Sunday, June 14, that Economy Minister Din Mohammad Hanif discussed development cooperation and Afghanistan’s humanitarian needs during a meeting with the Japanese ambassador.

Hanif called on Japan and other countries to continue their long-term support for efforts to address the effects of drought and assist Afghan returnees.

In recent years, Japan has provided aids to Afghanistan through international organisations and humanitarian agencies. According to published figures, Tokyo has committed more than $560 million in humanitarian and development aid to Afghanistan since August 2021.

In a statement issued on Saturday, June 13, the NRC said it had responded to the basic needs of families affected by clashes between the Taliban and Pakistan in eastern Afghanistan. The organisation added that at least 9,500 people received kitchen sets, emergency shelter materials and household items.

According to the statement, 7,000 people were provided with hygiene kits, while a further 2,000 received cash assistance. The organisation did not disclose the amount of cash distributed.

The NRC also expressed appreciation for Norway’s continued support for displaced people in Afghanistan.

Earlier, on 3 April, the council reported that thousands of families had been displaced by border clashes between the Taliban and Pakistan and were living in inadequate tents without access to essential services. It called for urgent assistance to support those affected.

The Taliban had previously stated that more than 27,000 families had been displaced across nine provinces because of Pakistani attacks.

The Norwegian Refugee Council nevertheless stressed the continued need to support vulnerable people in border regions.

Sharif described the measures as part of a broader national security strategy and said strengthening the “Durand Line” was essential to counter security threats.

He added that differing views on the issue should be respected, but that the government has a responsibility to ensure security.

The Pakistani prime minister made the remarks in response to comments by opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai.

Speaking in the National Assembly, Achakzai argued that the Durand Line divides Pashtun communities on both sides of the border and carries social and humanitarian consequences.

On Saturday, June 13, Sharif said billions of rupees had been spent on border fencing, surveillance cameras and other monitoring infrastructure along the nearly 2,000-kilometre frontier with Afghanistan.

He said the measures were designed to reduce illegal crossings and prevent security threats.

Sharif added that if these efforts save even a single citizen’s life, particularly that of a child, the expenditure would be justified.

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.