The UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan has urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to recognise and support Afghanistan’s women’s cricket team. He warned that the players remain in exile and their funding is due to end in August.
Richard Bennett wrote on X on Wednesday that, following FIFA’s support for Afghan women footballers, the International Cricket Council should find a similar solution.
He wrote: “Recognition & sustained support- nothing less.” The UN special rapporteur made the appeal as the ICC’s annual meeting opened in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The four-day meeting, running from Wednesday until Saturday, will discuss key issues including officiating systems and applications for new membership.
Afghanistan’s women’s cricket team was established in 2010 but lost its official national status after the Taliban returned to power. Most of the players fled Afghanistan, and a number of them are now living in Australia.
A new survey suggests around 75 per cent of respondents are dissatisfied with the Taliban. Some participants identifying themselves as lower-ranking Taliban members also criticised corruption, nepotism and appointments within the group.
Zawia News published the survey on Tuesday under the title, How satisfied are you with the Taliban, and to what extent have your expectations of the group been met? The outlet said around 1.7 million people participated.
According to the published results, 21 per cent of respondents said they were satisfied with the Taliban’s performance, while 3.6 per cent described themselves as neutral.
Zawia News said the survey was conducted through Facebook, X and WhatsApp messages. Nearly 14,000 people submitted comments or messages, generating more than 10,500 reactions, nearly 9,000 social media comments and 3,652 WhatsApp messages over four days.
According to the report, 32.2 per cent of the WhatsApp messages came from individuals who identified themselves as Taliban members or lower-ranking fighters.
The report said these respondents criticised financial and moral corruption, nepotism in appointments, preferential treatment for associates of senior commanders and the neglect of ordinary Taliban members. Some said they had fought against the former Afghan republic regime but had received neither positions nor benefits since the Taliban returned to power. Others complained about economic hardship affecting themselves and their families.
Zawia News also reported that dissatisfied participants cited the ban on girls’ education, restrictions on women’s employment, the Taliban’s lack of legitimacy, growing poverty, economic stagnation, administrative corruption and uncertainty over Afghanistan’s future as the main reasons for their dissatisfaction.
Supporters of the Taliban, by contrast, identified improved security, the end of the influence of powerful local figures and the implementation of some infrastructure projects as the group’s main achievements.
Women accounted for only five per cent of participants in the survey.
The outlet stressed that the survey was informal and did not publish details of its sampling method, measures to prevent duplicate participation or its statistical margin of error. It said the findings should therefore not be regarded as representative of the views of Afghan society as a whole.
Previously, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) published research in March 2024 showing that 96 per cent of women surveyed opposed international recognition of the Taliban, while only four per cent supported recognition without changes.
In addition, UN Women reported in August 2025 that 92 per cent of Afghans surveyed supported girls’ education, with strong backing across different sections of society.
Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met senior UN officials in Kabul on Tuesday, saying emergency aid alone is insufficient and calling on the international community to support Afghanistan’s long-term development.
The Taliban Foreign Ministry said Muttaqi raised concerns over the detention of some Afghan migrants and the legal problems faced by those lacking identity documents in several countries. He urged the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to help address these issues.
Taliban criticises deportations
According to the ministry, Muttaqi said the forced deportation of Afghan migrants from neighbouring countries was worsening Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis. He said the Taliban had taken steps to receive returnees and provide basic services, but that their long-term resettlement and improved living conditions required sustained international development support.
He also described the Taliban’s ban on poppy cultivation as one of the group’s “major achievements”, saying its continuation depended on investment in agriculture, strengthening the private sector, creating jobs and providing alternative livelihoods for farmers.
Taliban account of the UN officials’ remarks
The Taliban Foreign Ministry claimed that Alexander De Croo, the UNDP Administrator, described improved security, nationwide stability and reduced poppy cultivation as favourable conditions for expanding development cooperation.
According to the Taliban, he also stressed the need to move beyond emergency humanitarian assistance and place greater emphasis on economic growth, private-sector development and job creation in Afghanistan.
The ministry also quoted Barham Ahmad Salih, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, as saying that UNHCR does not support the forced deportation of Afghan migrants and is working with host countries to ensure that returns are voluntary, safe and dignified.
According to the Taliban, Saleh also spoke of strengthening cooperation between Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and UNHCR to find a sustainable solution to the refugee issue.
The ministry said both sides agreed to continue cooperation on supporting returning migrants and advancing Afghanistan’s economic and development programmes.
The United Nations has not yet independently released details or its own assessment of the meeting.
Who are the two UN officials?
Before joining the United Nations, Alexander De Croo served as Prime Minister of Belgium from 2020 to 2024. He previously held several senior government posts, including deputy prime minister, finance minister and minister for development cooperation.
Barham Ahmad Salih is an Iraqi politician and former president of Iraq, serving from 2018 to 2022. He currently serves as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and has previously held the positions of Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region and Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq.
Taliban official Hayatullah Mohajer Farahi dismissed Donald Trump’s remarks about retaking Bagram Air Base, saying the former US president would regain the base “only in his dreams”. He said Bagram would remain under Taliban control.
Hayatullah Mohajer Farahi, the Taliban’s deputy minister for publications at the Ministry of Information and Culture, made the remarks in an interview with the Indian news outlet India Today. Responding to Donald Trump’s comments about regaining control of Bagram Air Base, he said: "Trump will get Bagram Air Base only in his dreams,"
Bagram Air Base, built by the Soviet Union north of Kabul, became the main base for US-led forces in Afghanistan after the 11 September 2001 attacks.
The base fell to the Taliban in August 2021 after the withdrawal of the last US troops. Since then, Donald Trump has repeatedly argued that the United States should have retained control of Bagram because of its strategic location near China.
Taliban-Pakistan tensions
Farahi also addressed tensions with Pakistan, saying the Taliban would defend Afghanistan’s sovereignty against any external action.
"The Pakistan military regime has been given a strong reply. We will protect our sovereignty at all costs," he said.
His remarks come as security tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan continue over border-related issues.
Expanding ties with India
Farahi said the Taliban’s foreign policy would be guided solely by Afghanistan’s national interests rather than the preferences of any other country.
Speaking to India Today he said: “We have historic ties and deep connections with India. No one can dictate who should be our friend and who should not. We want greater people-to-people engagement and stronger trade with India, which is our neighbour,”
Farahi added that the Taliban administration was expanding alternative trade routes to reduce its dependence on Pakistan.
He Said: “Our border crossings with Pakistan have remained shut repeatedly, so we have developed new trade corridors through Central Asia, Iran, India and China. We are strengthening these routes and will no longer remain dependent on Pakistan.”
The second National Dialogue conference, organised by a group of Afghan activists, researchers and civil society figures, was held on Sunday in Hamburg, Germany.
According to a statement issued after the event, the conference was held under the theme Social Justice: The Foundation of Sustainable Peace and National Unity and was attended by academics, cultural and social figures, civil society activists, representatives of organisations and members of the Afghan community in Germany.
The statement said Ahmad Mukhtar Naderi presented a paper entitled Social Justice: The Foundation of Sustainable Peace and National Unity, arguing that lasting peace in Afghanistan cannot be achieved without social justice, the rule of law, genuine public participation, security and national trust.
According to the statement, participants discussed ways to achieve sustainable peace, the role of social justice in promoting peace, fundamental rights including the rights to education, work and social participation for women, the importance of national unity, the role of the Afghan diaspora and ways to strengthen social cohesion and public participation.
Amid rising internal Taliban tensions and increased activity by opposition groups in north-eastern Afghanistan, the Taliban defence minister visited Ismaili-populated areas of Badakhshan.
Local elders reportedly rejected his appeal for young Ismailis to join the Taliban’s military.
Local sources said Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, Taliban defence minister, travelled to the border district of Ishkashim, an area with an Ismaili-majority population that borders Tajikistan and Pakistan. The district's Ismaili community is estimated at around 200,000 people.
According to the sources, the main purpose of the visit was to encourage young Ismailis to join the Taliban’s armed forces, but the proposal was rejected by local elders and residents.
The sources said Mujahid also urged Ismaili communities in Kuran wa Munjan, Yamgan, Jurm, Zebak and Ishkashim to enlist in the Taliban army. Taliban intelligence officials had previously made similar appeals during a series of meetings with Ismaili leaders.
The reports come after international organisations and human rights groups previously accused the Taliban of exerting religious pressure on Afghanistan’s Ismaili community. Over the past five years, the Taliban has reportedly sought to encourage Ismailis to adopt the Hanafi school of Islam.
On Tuesday morning, the Taliban defence minister also visited the 219th Military Division in Baharak district. Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid has been in Badakhshan for the past five days.
Fasihuddin Fitrat, the Taliban army chief of staff, and Amanuddin, the Taliban governor of Helmand, both originally from Badakhshan, have also made repeated visits to the province.
Their visits have largely focused on internal disputes over mining, clashes with farmers over the destruction of poppy fields, and increased activity by anti-Taliban groups in Badakhshan.
Local Commander Disarmed As Internal Rifts Deepen
As the defence minister remained in Badakhshan, reports emerged of growing internal divisions within the Taliban in Faizabad, the provincial capital.
Local sources said a Taliban special unit disarmed the vehicles and bodyguards of Mullah Shamsullah Jurmi, a local Taliban commander, on Monday afternoon. After his weapons and equipment were confiscated, he reportedly left the area.
Jurmi had previously expressed support for Juma Khan Fateh, the dissident Taliban commander wanted by the group's leadership. He had also made controversial remarks, claiming: “If Taliban rule continues for another five years, southern Taliban will take away all the girls from this region.”
Taliban officials are known to have multiple wives. Recently, a Taliban media activist known as Mubeen reportedly married for a third time.
Taliban Concerns Extend Beyond Fateh
Although the repeated visits by senior Taliban officials to Badakhshan were initially seen as an effort to contain Juma Khan Fateh, informed sources said the group’s security concerns extend beyond him.
According to the sources, the Taliban is increasingly concerned about the growing influence of opposition groups, including the Afghanistan Freedom Front and the National Resistance Front, entering Ishkashim district through Pakistan.
Badakhshan is linked to Pakistan through the Chitral region and Afghanistan’s eastern provinces. Its mountainous terrain and difficult routes have long made it a strategically sensitive area for armed groups.
Some political observers believe that if the military balance in Afghanistan changes, Badakhshan could become one of the main centres of future developments.
According to the latest reports, the dispute between the Taliban leadership and Juma Khan Fateh remains unresolved. Taliban reinforcements are still stationed in Nusay district, although sources say Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid has ordered them to withdraw.
In response, Fateh has instructed his fighters to open fire if forces sent from Kabul enter the area without prior coordination.
Sources said his men have abandoned their main headquarters in Al-Fath township and lower checkpoints, retreating instead to the rugged mountain areas of Delwan, Khun and the highlands of Fughaz. According to the reports, Fateh is now based in his home village of Ghami with hundreds of armed supporters.
Taliban Shifts Focus To Badakhshan Mines
Taliban activity around Badakhshan’s mining sector has also intensified. Sources said the Taliban’s provincial mining chief arrived in Nusay district with three vehicles carrying armed personnel to begin inspections of local mines. Local workers have reportedly been ordered to suspend mining operations until the inspections are completed.
According to local sources, the Taliban has significantly reinforced its military presence in Badakhshan in recent days, deploying hundreds of additional fighters from Kabul and other north-eastern provinces. The Defence Ministry is reportedly planning to establish a new border brigade in Kuran wa Munjan.
Analysts believe that given the new deployment of opposition forces and the continued resistance of local commanders, the likelihood of increased military clashes in Badakhshan in the coming months remains high.