Afghan student, Sahra Rezaie, told Afghanistan International that she has been released from the Iranian government’s detention. Rezaie, a student at the journalism faculty of Allameh Tabataba'i University, had been detained on October 18 during the nationwide protests in Iran.
Abdul Hakim Hakimi, director of public health of the Taliban in Zabul, said that several residents of the province have contracted a "suspicious disease". According to Hakimi, two children have died due to the disease so far.
The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that the Taliban must stop all forms of activity of terrorist organizations from Afghanistan that represent a threat to neighbouring countries, including Pakistan.
Parwiz Khalili, an Afghan writer and scholar, confirmed to Afghanistan International his release from Taliban custody. Khalili added that his mental and emotional health condition is good.
Taliban announced that casualties due to the fire in the Salang tunnel has increased to 31 people. The ministry of public health of the Taliban told Afghanistan International that the victims have been transferred to hospitals in Parwan, Baghlan, and Kabul.
Sources told Afghanistan International that a 16-member delegation of Pakistani religious scholars, tribal elders, and government officials will travel to Kandahar to discuss border clashes between the Taliban and Pakistani forces at the Spin Boldak-Chaman crossing.
Taliban announced the closure of the Salang Highway to traffic following two deadly fires on Monday. Taliban officials said that the fire has been contained, but this highway remains closed to traffic in order to clear the area.
Residents of Sar-e-Pol city held a demonstration on Monday against the Taliban’s policy of "land grabbing and forced migration". The protesters said that the Taliban has set a deadline for the people of eight villages in the center of Sar-e-Pol province to leave their lands.
Former president, Hamid Karzai, who is in Berlin, met with Fazl Ahmad Manawi, a senior member of the National Resistance Front (NRF). Manawi tweeted a photo of the meeting and praised Karzai's stance on education, political system, and respect for national figures.
A foreign ministry official of the Taliban criticised Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Iran’s special envoy for Afghanistan, for using the word "Afghanistani" instead of "Afghan". Qomi has recently been appointed as the acting ambassador of Iran in Kabul.
In a new letter, Amnesty International has expressed concern regarding the safety of Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Amnesty stated that due to lack of processes to regularise the stay of Afghan refugees in Pakistan the refugees are facing discrimination and are at risk of arrest.
The Iranian embassy in Kabul has confirmed that Bahadur Aminian's term as the ambassador of the Islamic Republic in Afghanistan has ended. According to the embassy, Aminian’s term has concluded based on “the usual diplomatic procedures".
Mutasim Agha Jan, a disgruntled Taliban leader, has met with Sirajuddin Haqqani, the group’s interior minister. The Taliban has not released details of the meeting and it is not clear what the leaders of the group have discussed.
Sources told Afghanistan International that Iran has replaced Bahadur Aminian, the country’s ambassador to Kabul. The change in Tehran’s ambassador in Kabul comes weeks after Aminian’s controversial speech about the Taliban and Afghanistan had been leaked.
Russian foreign ministry in a statement strongly condemned the recent ISIS attack on Chinese citizens in Kabul. In this statement, Moscow urged the Taliban to guarantee the safety of foreign citizens and take decisive measures in the fight against ISIS.
Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, said on Thursday in New York that the recent border skirmish between the Taliban and Pakistani forces will not change Islamabad's policy towards the group. He said that sanctions on the Taliban will not be effective.
Pakistan announced that the country's chief of mission in Afghanistan, will not return to Kabul until security of its citizens has been ensured. Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesperson said that Islamabad wants to ensure the security of its diplomats and its embassy in Kabul.
Taliban publicly flogged 12 people, including a woman, on various charges in Firozkoh city, the capital of Ghor province. Abdul Wahid Hamas, a spokesperson for the Taliban governor in Ghor, said that these people have been punished for "theft and sexual relations".
Imomali Rahmon, Tajikistan President, said that Dushanbe sees its interests in establishing peace, stability, and national satisfaction in Afghanistan. Rahmon added that an inclusive government comprising all political and ethnic groups must be established in Afghanistan.
Sources said that Taliban members and Pakistani military personnel have been engaged in a firefight in the Shiro Oba area of Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province. According to sources, the armed skirmish started after the Taliban wanted to build facilities in the area.
The United Nations Credentials Committee has once again postponed the decision regarding Afghanistan's seat at the UN. Sources told Afghanistan International that the Taliban's attempt to win the seat failed and Nasir Faiq will continue to represent Afghanistan in the UN.