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The UN’s human rights rapporteur for Afghanistan has raised concerns over EU plans to host Taliban officials for talks on deporting Afghan migrants.

The Taliban say the European Union’s special envoy for Afghanistan has visited Kabul and held talks with officials, focusing on cooperation and relations.

Human Rights Watch says Pakistan has sharply increased deportations of Afghan refugees, warning of abuses including arbitrary arrests and forced returns.

Local sources in Asadabad, Kunar, say Pakistani forces launched mortar strikes on parts of the city late Tuesday night, with no immediate reports of casualties.

Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai says Afghans want a government based on the will of the people, with equal participation of all citizens in shaping the country’s future.

Former Afghan vice-president Sarwar Danish says critics of federalism misunderstand it, arguing it could help manage ethnic diversity and ensure fair power-sharing in Afghanistan.

Russia’s foreign minister says instability in Afghanistan and the Middle East could threaten security in Central Asia and the CSTO region, warning that terrorism and drug trafficking remain ongoing concerns.

The UN says more than 7,600 families in eastern Afghanistan are still living in temporary shelters six months after a major earthquake, with over 221,000 people in urgent need of aid.

The International Committee of the Red Cross says thousands in Nuristan have gone without food, healthcare and basic services for more than six weeks due to fighting, as aid deliveries begin.

Diplomatic sources say the EU plans to invite a Taliban delegation to Brussels to discuss the return of Afghan migrants, though no formal invitation has yet been issued.

Former Afghan foreign minister Haneef Atmar says recent remarks on the Durand Line do not reflect Afghanistan’s historical realities and go against public sentiment.

The Taliban’s higher education minister has warned students in Khost to avoid political activity, saying support for the Taliban system is “mandatory”.

Sources told Afghanistan International that former Taliban finance minister Mullah Mutasim Agha Jan has been released after a brief detention, in a move seen as reflecting internal tensions within the group.

Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo defended Donald Trump’s talks with the Taliban, while describing former Afghan president Ashraf Ghani as “one of the most corrupt leaders” he had encountered.

Former Afghan interior minister Umer Daudzai says there are differences within the opposition over the Durand Line, rejecting remarks by Mohammad Mohaqiq recognising it as the official border.

UNICEF says the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan remains critical, with about 23.2 million people in need despite continued international assistance.

At Pakistan’s Darul Uloom Haqqania, long seen as a key center for educating Afghan Taliban, only 55 Afghan students remain, as enrolment declines following the expansion of religious schools inside Afghanistan.

Afghan politician Mohammad Mohaqiq says he recognises the Durand Line as the official border with Pakistan and supports the UN-defined political geography of Afghanistan.

The UN Human Settlements Programme says about 4.2 million people in Afghanistan will need emergency non-food aid and shelter in 2026, describing the needs as urgent and critical.

The Taliban’s Supreme Court said two people were flogged in public in Maidan Wardak, receiving 39 lashes each on theft charges.

The Taliban’s Supreme Court said 42 people were flogged across three provinces on charges including same-sex relations, alcohol offences and extramarital affairs.