Head Of Taliban Information & Culture Killed In Badakhshan

Referring to recent developments in Badakhshan, Haqqani said every war should be examined from five perspectives.

He said it was first necessary to identify the attackers and their financiers, determine who was providing them with shelter, establish their objectives and assess how much local support they had in the areas where they were fighting.

The Taliban’s information and culture minister said an examination of these factors showed that “in reality, nothing has happened”.

Haqqani claimed the Taliban administration could prove to the public, “even to opponents and foreigners”, that conditions in Afghanistan were better than before and that “the people are happy and satisfied”.

Speaking on Monday, 27 July, following opposition attacks in Badakhshan, Haqqani described the situation in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan as good and unprecedented.

He also claimed that the public was cooperating with the Taliban administration.

In his speech, Haqqani referred to Taliban opponents as “murderers, highway robbers and oppressors” and claimed they had no public support.

His remarks come as political and military groups opposed to the Taliban have carried out offensive operations in north-eastern Afghanistan, particularly in Badakhshan, in recent days.

The attacks began last week when the newly formed Sepah-e Mihan Front briefly seized Yaftal district for several hours.

The Afghanistan Freedom Front has also continued attacks against Taliban forces in Zebak district of Badakhshan.

The front says it has carried out continuous attacks over the past four days and destroyed two Taliban drones.

On Sunday, the Afghanistan Freedom Front claimed that its forces had advanced five kilometres towards the centre of Zebak district and captured two more Taliban posts.

Mujahid dismissed reports of the fighting and claims that Yaftal district had fallen as “media propaganda”.

He said the country had been liberated through the sacrifices and the loss of lives, adding that the Taliban would make twice as many sacrifices to defend it.

The Taliban refers to its suicide attackers as “fedayeen (self-sacrifices)”.

Mujahid’s remarks come after nearly a week of repeated clashes between Taliban forces and the Afghanistan Freedom Front in Zebak district of Badakhshan.

The Afghanistan Freedom Front says it has captured several Taliban posts in Zebak. The Taliban, however, claims it has repelled the opposition attacks.

Head of the Economy Department of South Khorasan Morteza Zakerian said on Sunday at a meeting on investment opportunities in South Khorasan, attended by a Chinese economic delegation, that the administrative process was under way, taking into account the three countries’ geographical, economic and transit potential.

According to Zakerian, the proposal was first presented by the governor of South Khorasan to Iran’s president in December last year. Its aim is to expand economic cooperation through private-sector investment, particularly from Chinese investors.

He said Iran could provide infrastructure, labour and industrial capacity under the plan, while China could contribute investment, financing and technology transfer. Afghanistan, meanwhile, could offer its mineral resources, rare-earth reserves and transit position.

Referring to regional and international developments, Zakerian said the Iran-Afghanistan-China route could serve as a safe, alternative and sustainable corridor for expanding economic relations.

Mojtaba Shariatifar, deputy governor of South Khorasan for economic affairs, said the plan was presented during talks with the Chinese delegation and was welcomed by the Chinese side.

He said the proposal would be pursued through the Chinese embassy and government, and that cooperation agreements were expected to be signed during the Chinese ambassador’s next visit to South Khorasan.

The proposal comes as China has increased its economic presence in Afghanistan in recent years, particularly in the mining sector. Iran is also seeking to use its border with Afghanistan to expand regional trade and attract foreign investment.

Following the suspension of trade relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan because of border and political tensions between the Taliban and Islamabad, Iran has become Afghanistan’s largest trading partner.

Local sources also confirmed the attack on Taliban positions in Kuran Wa Munjan to Afghanistan International.

In a statement on Monday, the National Resistance Front said the operation was carried out at around 1am in the Shahran area of Munjan.

Local Taliban officials have not yet commented on the attack or the reported casualties.

The attack comes amid increased military activity by anti-Taliban groups in Badakhshan in recent days.

The Afghanistan Freedom Front previously reported advances in Zebak district, the downing of Taliban drones and the capture of Taliban posts. The Taliban military, however, claimed it had repelled the opposition attack.

He added that at least 10 others remain missing and that search operations are continuing.

The deadly floods struck parts of Nuristan on Monday, 20 July, following heavy rainfall, killing residents and affecting hundreds of families.

According to the Taliban deputy governor, the floods caused extensive damage to infrastructure.

He said around 10 markets containing more than 90 shops were destroyed in the provincial capital, while seven houses were completely demolished and another 82 were damaged.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs had earlier said the floods affected thousands of people and created urgent needs for shelter, food, drinking water, healthcare and sanitation.

The United Nations also warned that flood-affected communities in Nuristan faced severe shortages of medical services, medicines, safe drinking water and sanitation facilities.

Nuristan is a mountainous and difficult-to-reach province. Aid officials say limited access to many affected areas has hampered search operations, emergency assistance and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Afghanistan is among the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

In recent years, flash floods, droughts and extreme weather events have become more frequent across the country, repeatedly causing deaths and extensive economic damage.