Security sources in Pakistan told Dawn on Wednesday that its forces destroyed several Afghan Taliban posts and vehicles in Chaman, in response to what they described as cross-border aggression.
The Taliban’s justice ministry says a land recovery commission has identified more than 415 acres of land in Kabul’s District 16 as state property, with a court ordering the plots be handed over for restitution.
Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General said at least seven people were killed and 79 others, mostly children, injured in Pakistani strikes in Kunar, warning continued fighting is putting vulnerable communities at greater risk.
European Commission spokesperson, Markus Lammert said the European Commission does not confirm plans to host Taliban officials in Brussels or invite them, adding that only technical contacts continue over returns.
Sources say a recent Taliban Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement on Pakistan was issued after approval by Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul, with the summoning of its ambassador largely symbolic.
The UK Ministry of Defence has told Afghan refugees with acceptance letters to find their own way out of Afghanistan, with about 9,000 still awaiting relocation, Luke Pollard said.
The Taliban said it would take “two steps” towards easing tensions if Pakistan takes one, according to Abdul Wasi, Head of Taliban’s PM Office after talks with Richard Lindsay, UK enovy.
Sirajuddin Haqqani, The Taliban interior minister met Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s special representative for Afghanistan in Kabul on Tuesday, as both sides stressed closer cooperation between Russia and the group.
Ahmad Massoud, leader of the National Resistance Front, said at an event that the “illegitimate rule of the Taliban” must be challenged through civic, field and intellectual efforts, calling the struggle for Afghanistan’s freedom a “religious duty”.
The Taliban’s foreign ministry says it summoned Pakistan’s chargé d’affaires in Kabul over attacks by Pakistani forces on civilian targets along the border, including a university in Kunar, calling them a violation of Afghan airspace.
United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan confirmed that dozens of civilians were killed and injured in Monday evening’s attacks on Asadabad in Kunar, without identifying the perpetrator, though local sources blame Pakistan.
Local residents in Kunar told Afghanistan International that Pakistani forces attacked Khas Kunar district with heavy weapons, forcing some civilians to flee their homes in fear of mortar strikes.
Sources told Afghanistan International that the Taliban fired mortars from Afghan territory at areas in Chaman and Bajaur in Pakistan overnight, killing at least one person and injuring another.
UN Secretary General, António Guterres, has appointed Bruno Georges Lemarquis as the new Deputy Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, where he will also serve as the UN Humanitarian Coordinator.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and broadcasting on Monday denied reports it had attacked Sayed Jamaluddin Afghan University and residential areas in Kunar. The ministry called the claims blatant lies and an attempt to win sympathy and conceal Taliban support for the TTP.
Sources at the Kunar hospital say Pakistani attacks on the Asadabad city and Sarkani District have killed 7 people and injured 75, including women and children.
Local sources told Afghanistan International that Pakistani forces fired mortars at several villages in Spin Boldak District on Sunday night. Sources say Taliban forces returned fire at Pakistani posts.
Mansour Bijar, the Iranian governor of Sistan and Baluchestan Province visited Nimruz Province in Afghanistan and met Taliban officials, thanking them for releasing water to the Sistan region. He also met the Taliban governor of Nimruz.
Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban interior minister met Zhao Xing, Chinese ambassador in Kabul to discuss bilateral relations, the Taliban’s interior ministry said.
Salahuddin Salar, a Tajik commander and former deputy intelligence chief in the Taliban’s defence ministry, says they pledged allegiance “without seeing their leader” and did not fight for “ethnic supremacy”.
Several tribal elders in Kunar say that, following Pakistani artillery attacks and the evacuation of some villages, they have begun talks with elders in Bajaur to find a path towards a permanent ceasefire.
Taliban disaster management authority says at least 13 people have died and nine others were injured in the past 24 hours due to heavy rainfall and flooding across several provinces.