Relations With Taliban Will Remain Frozen, Says Pakistan

Following the appointment of a new UNAMA chief, UN Secretary-General spokesman Stéphane Dujarric told Afghanistan International that the mission’s priorities, as set by the Security Council, would remain unchanged.

Dujarric said on Thursday, 16 July that the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan would continue its work on human rights monitoring and reporting in line with the mandate assigned by the UN Security Council.

He added that no date had yet been set for Rabab Fatima to begin her role as the UN secretary-general’s special representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA.

According to Dujarric, the start of her assignment depends on the completion of her current responsibilities as a UN under-secretary-general in New York.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Fatima, a senior and experienced Bangladeshi diplomat, as his special representative for Afghanistan.

Dujarric told Afghanistan International that UNAMA’s renewed mandate also includes a strategic review that must be completed and submitted to the Security Council by March 2027.

He said such strategic reviews within the United Nations are conducted under the direction of the secretary-general’s office.

Fatima previously served as UN under-secretary-general for the least developed countries. Before that, she was Bangladesh’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations in New York.

The veteran diplomat holds a master’s degree in international relations and diplomacy from Tufts University in the United States.

The UN Security Council extended UNAMA’s mandate for another year on 15 June. The China-sponsored resolution was adopted unanimously with 15 votes.

Hanafi made the remarks during a visit to western provinces, where he met religious scholars, tribal elders and local officials.

Referring to criticism of restrictions imposed on women, he said some countries remained silent over the killing of women and children elsewhere in the world but objected to measures such as compulsory hijab in Afghanistan.

During an earlier visit to Herat, Hanafi also defended recent arrests, saying they targeted people who, in his words, were promoting immodest dress.

The Taliban minister also criticised international views on human rights, saying global advocates did not properly understand its definition. He claimed human rights in Afghanistan were being upheld in accordance with “Islamic principles”.

He urged media outlets to first apply the Taliban’s vice and virtue law to themselves before conveying it to the public, adding that the media could currently serve as a pulpit.

The remarks come as the Taliban appear to be seeking support from religious scholars and influential local figures to prevent public resistance to the continuing arrests.

In recent weeks, Taliban vice and virtue officers in Herat have launched an operation to detain women accused of failing to observe the group’s required dress code.

Sources told Afghanistan International that Sharaei made the remarks during a training workshop for military personnel in Kandahar.

He said some ministers did not visit wounded or sick “mujahideen” but found time to meet and check on cricket stars.

Sharaei appeared to be referring to Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, who visited the home of former national cricket player Shapoor Zadran to attend a memorial gathering. Haqqani has previously met cricket players and other athletes.

Speaking at a traffic police training workshop in Kandahar, Sharaei said that without Akhundzada, some government ministers would quickly change their current appearance and begin wearing ties.

Sharaei reportedly made the remarks on Tuesday at the Kandahar provincial meeting hall in the presence of about 800 military personnel.

He spoke about the role of leadership and the importance of preserving the Taliban administration’s principles, describing Akhundzada’s presence as essential to maintaining the current system and ensuring officials’ loyalty to its policies.

Reports said the workshop was also attended by Hajj and Religious Affairs Minister Noor Mohammad Saqib, Deputy Hajj Minister Mohammad Hamed Hasib, Kandahar Governor Mullah Mohammad Shirin, senior religious officials, court representatives and other Taliban figures.

The workshop focused on inspection procedures, professional duties, public conduct, responsibility, compliance with Sharia law and the moral obligations of military personnel.

Speakers urged participants to perform their duties honestly, avoid internal disputes and strengthen religious education, piety and the implementation of Sharia.

Sources told Afghanistan International that the seminar lasted 11 hours and participants were not allowed to bring mobile phones or cameras into the hall.

The justice minister’s remarks come after previous reports of disagreements between Haqqani and Sharaei over the eviction of Hezb-e-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar from his home and office, as well as alleged pressure on several businesspeople.

Haqqani, who also leads the Haqqani Network, is regarded as one of the Taliban officials who reportedly supports changes to the group’s policies and greater engagement with domestic and international actors.

Analysts say officials close to the Taliban leadership, including Higher Education Minister Neda Mohammad Nadeem and Sharaei, oppose Haqqani’s more engagement-oriented approach.

Over the past three years, Akhundzada has restricted the activities of the Haqqani Network in Kabul and the provinces, transferred some equipment belonging to its Badri 313 special unit to Kandahar and reduced Haqqani’s authority over appointments.

In February 2025, sources told Afghanistan International that Akhundzada had summoned Hafiz Azizuddin Haqqani, Sirajuddin Haqqani’s brother, to Kandahar over the activities of the Badri 313 unit. He was later removed from his position.

The Taliban have repeatedly denied reports of internal divisions.

Iranian domestic media reported that senior officials from the three sides attended the trilateral meeting, hosted by the Khorasan Razavi road maintenance and transport department in Mashhad.

Participants included Reza Akbari, Iran’s deputy roads and urban development minister; Yar Mohammad Ramazan, head of the Taliban delegation; and Shoista Saidmurodzoda, Tajikistan’s deputy transport minister.

The three sides signed an operational memorandum to launch a new joint road corridor linking Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan.

The agreement was described as an important step towards facilitating regional trade, reducing freight costs and strengthening the region’s transit role. All three parties pledged to prioritise the route in their trade plans.

Under the deal, the first trial cargo shipment is expected to travel along the route within one month, using lorries from all three countries.

The trial will assess customs coordination, transport procedures and cross-border movement in practice.

A joint working group will also be established to address administrative obstacles, simplify visa issuance for drivers, reduce border waiting times and develop shared insurance arrangements.

The parties further agreed that a second round of trilateral talks would be held in Kabul in late 2026 to approve a draft long-term cooperation agreement and advance the project’s implementation.

Fatima succeeds Roza Otunbayeva of Kyrgyzstan. In a statement, Guterres thanked Otunbayeva for her dedicated service and also recognised Georgette Gagnon, who led UNAMA in an acting capacity during the transition.

The new UNAMA chief brings more than three decades of experience in bilateral and multilateral diplomacy and international policymaking.

Fatima previously served as UN under-secretary-general for the least developed countries. Before that, she was Bangladesh’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations in New York.

She was also the first woman to chair the UN Peacebuilding Commission and previously served as Bangladesh’s ambassador to Japan and as a regional representative for the International Organization for Migration.

The veteran diplomat holds a master’s degree in international relations and diplomacy from Tufts University in the United States.

Her appointment marks a new step in the United Nations’ efforts to manage diplomatic and humanitarian engagement in Afghanistan.

The appointment comes after the UN Security Council extended UNAMA’s mandate for another year on Monday, 15 June. The China-sponsored resolution was adopted unanimously with 15 votes.