Recent Appearances...

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Hello !
Recent Appearances...

Amir Khan Muttaqi

Taliban

Afghanistan/South Asia

20020319

Afghanistan

Taliban begin crackdown on Pakistan-linked militants operating from Afghanistan: Express Tribune

2025-05-27

[KhaamaPress] The Taliban
Taliban

...mindless ferocity in a turban...
have started cracking down on hard boyz in Afghanistan who encourage attacks in Pakistain, signaling a shift in policy.
Rewriting 1998
Recent closed-door talks between a Pak delegation led by Muhammad Sadiq Khan, Pakistain’s Special Representative, and Amir Khan Muttaqi, Taliban Foreign Minister, marked a significant shift in Taliban policy. For the first time since their return to power, the Taliban have begun cracking down on individuals encouraging attacks inside Pakistain.

According to Express Tribune sources, over 70 murderous Moslems, primarily Afghan nationals linked to plans following the Pahalgam attack in Kashmir
...a disputed territory lying between India and Pakistain. After partition, the Paks grabbed half of it and call it Azad (Free) Kashmir. The remainder they refer to as "Indian Occupied Kashmir". They have fought four wars with India over it, the score currently 4-0 in New Delhi's favor. After 72 years of this nonsense, India cut the Gordian knot in 2019, removing the area's special status, breaking off Ladakh as a separate state, and allowing people from other areas to settle (or in the case of the Pandits, to resettle) there....
, have been detained, earning Islamabad’s tentative trust.

China is believed to be playing a crucial behind-the-scenes role in facilitating dialogue between Pakistain and Afghanistan. On May 21, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted an informal trilateral meeting with the foreign ministers of Pakistain and Afghanistan in Beijing. The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that Pakistain and Afghanistan agreed in principle to exchange ambassadors, signaling a normalization of diplomatic ties.

For years, Pakistain struggled to convince the Taliban to take decisive action against terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan soil. However,
it was a brave man who first ate an oyster...
during the March talks in Kabul, Pak officials, including military and intelligence representatives, sensed a genuine change in Taliban approach. Islamabad now believes the Taliban are primarily focused on "business" and appear serious about addressing Pakistain’s security concerns.

Sources confirmed that many Afghans under Taliban rule who were recruiting or supporting Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain (TTP) hard boyz are now imprisoned and facing legal actions. These developments followed growing evidence presented by Islamabad showing increased involvement of Afghan nationals in TTP-backed attacks within Pakistain, which heightened tensions and prompted Islamabad’s demands for accountability.

Since the crackdown began, Pakistain has witnessed a noticeable drop in suicide kabooms and terrorist attacks, particularly in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. These efforts have helped improve diplomatic relations between Pakistain and the Taliban government. The positive momentum paved the way for Pakistain’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Muhammad Ishaq Dar, to visit Kabul on April 19—the first such high-level Pak visit since the Taliban takeover.

Both sides agreed on several confidence-building measures during the visit, including Taliban assurances not to allow Afghanistan soil to be used against Pakistain. Pakistain reciprocated by easing some trade restrictions, such as removing banking guarantee requirements for Afghan importers. Islamabad has expressed cautious optimism but insists the Taliban take irreversible steps toward lasting peace.

Meanwhile,
...back at the wreckage, Captain Poindexter wished he had thought to pack sun block...
India continues to emphasize expanding ties with the Taliban, despite its tense relationship with Pakistain. Following the April 22 Pahalgam incident and subsequent cross-border exchanges with Pakistain, India recently resumed visa issuance to Afghan citizens after a four-year hiatus. New Delhi insists it will not allow Pakistain to hinder its relations with the Taliban, intensifying the regional diplomatic competition.

Pakistain has previously accused India of involvement in terrorist attacks on its soil, including in Balochistan
...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it...
, though Indian officials deny such claims. The evolving dynamics between Pakistain, Afghanistan, India, and China highlight the complex geopolitical contest shaping South Asia’s security landscape.

Link

Afghanistan

Muttaqi: Direct Talks with the US Resumed After Trump’s Return

2025-05-04

To what end? The last time round President Trump wanted agreements to support removing American forces from Afghanistan. Since then, they have been removed. In the most harum scarum, destructive way possible, leaving behind both Americans and local allies to suffer at the hand of the new Talib caliphate, but gone nonetheless. If President Trump means to rescue them all, what can he offer to bargain with?

[ToloNews] The acting foreign minister said that after Donald Trump

...The man who was so stupid he beat fourteen professional politicians, a former tech CEO, and a brain surgeon for the Republican nomination in 2016, then beat The Smartest Woman in the World in the general election. Then he beat Kamala while dodging bullets...
’s return to power, direct communications with the United States resumed, and he expressed hope that relations between the two countries will improve.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Amir Khan Muttaqi emphasized that the Islamic Emirate has fulfilled its commitments under the Doha Agreement. However,
we can't all be heroes. Somebody has to sit on the curb and applaud when they go by...
he noted that some obligations on the American side—such as removing the Islamic Emirate’s name from the blacklist—have yet to be fulfilled.

He also highlighted the development of relations with regional countries including Russia, Qatar
...an emirate on the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It sits on some really productive gas and oil deposits, which produces the highest per capita income in the world. They piss it all away on religion, financing the Moslem Brotherhood and several al-Qaeda affiliates. Home of nutbag holy manYusuf al-Qaradawi...
, India, and Pakistain, and reiterated the Islamic Emirate’s commitment to a balanced foreign policy.

Muttaqi stated: "We have repeatedly stressed that the United States must adopt a realistic view of the current situation in Afghanistan. There is no security threat, no drug trafficking, and no use of Afghan soil against others. If reality is seen instead of propaganda, there is a good opportunity to improve relations."

Wais Naseri, a political analyst, said: "A de facto relationship—meaning practical ties—has existed with all countries, especially the United States, Russia, India, China, and Pakistain, over the past three years and eight months. However,
we can't all be heroes. Somebody has to sit on the curb and applaud when they go by...
a legitimate, state-to-state relationship has not yet been established, mainly due to global conditions and the positions of the US, Russia, India, China, Pakistain, and the UN Security Council."

Muttaqi called Russia’s recent move to remove the Islamic Emirate from its list of banned
...the word banned seems to have a different meaning in Pakistain than it does in most other places. Or maybe it simply lacks any meaning at all...
organizations a "positive step" toward expanding relations, particularly in the trade sector.

He added: "We consider Russia’s recent decision a significant step. Now, more economic cooperation is possible. Afghanistan’s geographic location can also be advantageous for Russia."

Fazl Rahman Oria, another political analyst, commented: "Afghanistan must adopt a balanced and completely neutral foreign policy between Eastern and Western powers, and protect its legitimate national interests accordingly."

Regarding regional ties, Muttaqi said the Islamic Emirate seeks no tension between India and Pakistain and supports direct dialogue for resolving disputes.

He also stated that new opportunities for political, economic, cultural, and trade cooperation have emerged between Kabul and Doha.

Link

Home Front: WoT

American freed by Taliban reunited in US with wife and former cellmate

2025-03-22

[IsraelTimes] George Glezmann, an American detained in Afghanistan for more than two years before being released by the Taliban, has arrived in the United States, where he reunites with his wife and is greeted by a welcoming party that included his former cellmate.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce says Ryan Corbett, another former prisoner of the Taliban who had been held in the same cell as Glezmann, was at Joint Base Andrews, outside Washington, to greet Glezmann.

“After a brief ceremony, George and [his wife] Aleksandra flew to another location in the United States to rest and recover,” Bruce tells a regular State Department news briefing.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement on Thursday confirming the release of Glezmann, who was detained in 2022 while visiting Kabul as a tourist.

A source tells Reuters he left Afghanistan aboard a Qatari aircraft on Thursday evening bound for Qatar, following direct talks between US hostage envoy Adam Boehler and Taliban officials in Kabul.

Bruce says the US is grateful for the support of the government of Qatar in bringing Glezmann home. She says the United Arab Emirates also played a role in facilitating the initial discussions.

In a statement, the Taliban calls Glezmann’s release a “goodwill gesture” reflecting its willingness to engage with the United States “on the basis of mutual respect and interests.”

Bruce says the United States remains “deeply concerned” about the well-being of Mahmood Habibi and other Americans still believed to be in custody in Afghanistan.

Thursday’s meeting in Kabul marked the highest-level direct US-Taliban talks since President Donald Trump came to power in January.

Boehler met with the Taliban administration’s foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Afghan foreign ministry says in a statement.

The NY Post adds:

Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken testified before Congress in 2023 that at least 175 Americans remain stranded in Afghanistan, though he didn’t divulge how many were being wrongfully detained by the Taliban.

“There are several Americans currently detained in Afghanistan, and we have been pressing the Taliban to return the remains of a deceased American,” a State Department spokesperson told The Post.

“We are deeply concerned about the well-being of Mahmood Habibi and all Americans detained in Afghanistan and actively working to bring them home. Due to the sensitivity of these cases, we have nothing further. We remind all Americans — do not travel to Afghanistan.”

MSN-ABC News adds:

Glezmann, an airline mechanic for Delta Air Lines, was visiting Afghanistan as a tourist in late 2022 and intended to spend five days in the country exploring its history and culture, according to his family. He was detained by the Taliban's intelligence service on Dec. 5 but was never charged with any crime or offense.

In September 2023, he was declared wrongfully detained by the Biden administration.

The Taliban jailed Glezmann in a 9-foot-by-9-foot cell with other detainees and sometimes held him in "solitary confinement and underground for months at a time," according to a resolution put forward by Democratic Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock from Glezmann's home state of Georgia.

While in custody, Glezmann also suffered from "from facial tumors, hypertension, severe malnutrition and other medical conditions" and experienced a rapid decline in his physical and mental health, per the senators.

Talks aimed at bringing Glezmann home have been happening on and off since shortly after his detention, according to U.S. officials.

Negotiators came close in January, when officials cut a deal to bring Americans Ryan Corbett and another U.S. national in a prisoner swap -- but the Taliban rejected efforts to include Glezmann in the exchange.

"Today is a good day. We succeeded in obtaining the release of an American citizen, Georg Glezmann, after two years in detention in Kabul," former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad posted on X following his release. "The Taliban government agreed to free him as a goodwill gesture to @POTUS and the American people. George is on his way home to his family."

Link

Afghanistan

Trump: Bagram Base Now Under China's Control

2025-02-02

[ToloNews] Donald Trump

...The cad! Twice caught beating wimmin!...
, former US president,

…and current US president, a thought that ought to give such as the Taliban pause…

once again emphasized the significance of Bagram Airbase for the United States, stating that the strategic airbase in Afghanistan is now under China's control.

Trump highlighted that Bagram's proximity to China makes it crucial for the US. He stated: "I was getting out, but I was going to keep Bagram. Right now, China has Bagram. I was going to keep one of the biggest airbases in the world, they left it."

This is not the first time Trump has stressed the importance of Bagram Airbase for the US. Previously, during his election campaigns, he had criticized the American withdrawal from Afghanistan and pledged that if re-elected, he would reclaim the base.

However,
it was a brave man who first ate an oyster...
US policy towards Afghanistan and its future relationship with the interim government remain uncertain.

Mohammad Ameen Karim, a political analyst, told TOLOnews: "Their priority is the release of three American citizens from Afghanistan, but reclaiming Bagram Airbase is nothing more than a dream, an illusion, and madness. It will never happen again."

The Islamic Emirate has not commented on Trump's recent remarks. However,
it was a brave man who first ate an oyster...
in an exclusive interview with TOLOnews, the acting foreign minister had previously rejected any possibility of handing over Bagram Airbase to the US.

Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting foreign minister, had stated: "Even if they recognize us and rebuild all of Afghanistan, not just Bagram, we will not give them even a meter of land. This is the stance of the Emirate and the people."

Sayed Qareebullah Sadat, another political analyst, said: "The Americans think only of their own interests. We, the people of Afghanistan, should also focus on our national interests and how we can meet the needs of our own people."

Bagram Airbase, located in Parwan province in northern Afghanistan, was the largest US military base in the country during its two-decade-long military presence.

Link

Afghanistan

Russia completes work on removing terrorist status from Taliban

2024-10-05

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] Russia is finalizing the issue of excluding the Taliban movement (the organization is under UN sanctions for terrorist activities) from the terrorist list, FSB head Alexander Bortnikov said on October 4.

“We see the Taliban’s readiness to fight the most dangerous wing of ISIS (a terrorist organization whose activities are banned in the Russian Federation), Vilayat Khorasan (a terrorist organization whose activities are banned in the Russian Federation), which continues to receive resource support from the West, which uses the terrorist group’s capabilities in subversive actions under a false flag on our territory,” Bortnikov said at a meeting of the Council of Heads of Security Agencies and Special Services of the CIS Member States.

In this regard, the head of the FSB called on his CIS colleagues to cooperate in order to identify communication channels in terrorist structures supervised by the West. The Russian side considers it expedient, on the one hand, to establish contacts with the Taliban, and on the other, to identify potential supporters of terrorists in the CIS countries, Bortnikov said.

As reported by the Regnum news agency, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced on April 1 that the issue of removing the Taliban’s status as a terrorist organization is being worked on, and the final decision will be made by the country’s top leadership.

In December 2023, the Kazakh government decided to remove the Taliban from its list of terrorists. Kyrgyzstan also removed the Taliban from its list of banned organizations on September 6.

Since March 2022, Moscow has established diplomatic relations with Afghanistan and accredited diplomats of the Taliban-formed government. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in January of this year that representatives of the Taliban movement control power in Afghanistan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on May 28 that the status of the Taliban movement is constantly being discussed. The head of state added that Russia takes into account the opinion of each country in the region on the issue of recognizing the Taliban.

More from regnum.ru
Kabulov: Taliban decided to be excluded from list of terrorist
organizations banned in Russia

The decision to exclude the Taliban movement from the list of terrorist organizations was made at the highest level, but legal procedures must be followed. This was stated on October 4 by Zamir Kabulov, a member of the Board of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of the Russian Federation and former Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan.

"The Foreign Ministry, together with the FSB (Federal Security Service) and a number of other Russian agencies, is completing legal work on the process of excluding the Taliban movement from the Russian Federation's terrorist list. It is not a matter of desire; the decision in principle on this issue has been made by the top leadership of Russia. But all processes must be carried out within the framework of the Russian legal field," Kabulov said during a meeting of the Moscow format of consultations on Afghanistan.

Courtesy of Fred, GeoTV adds:

President Vladimir Putin
...President-for-Life of Russia. He gets along well with other presidents for life. He is credited with bringing political stability and re-establishing something like the rule of law, which occasionally results in somebody dropping dead from poisoning by polonium or other interesting substance. Under Putin, a new group of business magnates controlling significant swathes of Russia's economy has emerged, all of whom have close personal ties to him. The old bunch, without close personal ties to Putin, are in jail or in exile or dead from poisoning by polonium or other interesting substances...
said in July that Russia considered Afghanistan's Taliban
Taliban

...mindless ferocity in a turban...
movement an ally in the fight against terrorism.

Russia has been slowly building ties with the Taliban since it seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021 as US-led forces withdrew after 20 years of war but the movement is still officially outlawed in Russia.

No country has formally recognised the Taliban-led government as the country's legitimate leadership, although China and the UAE have accepted its ambassadors.

Russia added the Afghan Taliban to its list of terrorist organizations in 2003. Removing it would be an important step by Moscow towards normalising relations with Afghanistan.

The Taliban's acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said in a speech in Moscow that recent decisions by Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan to remove the former gunnies from a list of banned groups was a welcome step.

Link

Afghanistan

Muttaqi Says Intl Action Must Be Taken Against Terrorist Centers in Region

2024-07-19

[TOLONEWS] Amir Khan Muttaqi, acting Foreign Minister, called on the international community to eliminate the centers of ISIS and other terrorist groups in the region, during a public meeting at the ministry's headquarters.

Muttaqi, without naming any country, stated that some countries are allowing the bases of terrorist groups to operate outside of Afghanistan.

The acting Foreign Minister said: "We call on the world to eliminate the centers of ISIS and similar groups in the region, outside of Afghanistan. Why are they allowing these bases to operate? Why do they not stop those who use these groups? Why do they provide individuals and raw materials for them?"

The acting government official added that certain restrictions were put in place during the days of Muharram as special measures for the Ashura ceremonies. Muttaqi expressed satisfaction with the special measures during this year's Ashura ceremonies and emphasized that the Islamic Emirate does not differentiate between citizens.

Amir Khan Muttaqi also mentioned that some circles spread propaganda about the creation of certain restrictions in Muharram; however, some of these restrictions were considered special measures for the Ashura ceremonies.

Link

Afghanistan

Clashes Increase Between Islamic Emirate, Pakistani Forces in Dand-e-Patan

2024-05-17

[TOLONEWS] Residents of Paktia said that there have been festivities between the forces of the Islamic Emirate and Pakistain’s border guards for the past three days.

According to locals, during this period dozens of missiles have been fired by Pakistain, hitting people's residential houses.

The festivities started in Aryob Zazi district of Paktia and have recently spread to the Dand-e-Patan district.

The Islamic Emirate has not yet officially provided details about these festivities including any casualties resulting from them.

"It was ten o'clock and the fighting was intense; people with their children went by car towards Samkanai district," said Amir Khan, another resident of Paktia.

Local residents added that Pak forces targeted residential houses, and some families in Dand-e-Patan have been forced to leave their homes.

At the same time with the start of these festivities, the Kharlachi transit route in Dand-e-Patan has also been closed to any traffic.

"We ask them that whenever you commit a violation, you must not target the general public with artillery. The laws of war must be observed here," said Mohammad Anwar Sediqi, a resident of Aryob Zazi.

Don’t be ridiculous. Everyone knows the laws of war only apply to the [all bad things, so pick one or more, dear Reader] West.

"No one could handle their sorrow [about the situation]. The fierce fighting continued, and there were children and women on every side," said Sayedullah, a driver in Paktia.

Military analysts said that border festivities darken the relations between the two countries and that professional individuals should be deployed at the border line.

"The solution is to deploy responsible and professional individuals at the borders to prevent such unnecessary conflicts," said Sarwar Niazi, a military analyst.
Some Pak media outlets reported that in these festivities, one soldier from that country has died and four others have been maimed.

At the same time, a source told TOLOnews that five forces of the Islamic Emirate have also been injured in these festivities.

Link

Afghanistan

Pakistan, Afghanistan agree to expand 'counter-terrorism' cooperation

2024-03-17

[GEO.TV] Pakistain and the Taliban
...the once and current oppressors of Afghanistan...
-led Afghan government Saturday agreed to expand "counter-terrorism" cooperation and continue working together in building fraternal bilateral relations.

The development came during a telephonic conversation between Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Afghan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi.

"Expanding cooperation in connectivity, trade, security, counter terrorism and people-to-people contacts is a top priority for Pakistain," Dar posted on X, as he received a congratulatory call from the Afghan interim minister.

Pakistain, Afghanistan agree to expand ’counter-terrorism cooperation
Earlier this week, Kabul emphasised maintaining relations with Islamabad, saying that it was a necessity to have improved relations with all its neighbouring countries.

Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid urged the new government of Pakistain to show flexibility towards the deportation of Afghan refugees.

"First, the Islamic Emirate has always sought good relations with all its neighbours, including Pakistain, where a new government has emerged. Afghanistan also needs good relations with Pakistain.

"We want Pakistain to make good progress in various sectors with Afghanistan and ask the future government to solve all its problems," the spokesperson said.

The development comes amid a tense relationship between the two countries with acting Prime Minister of Afghanistan Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund assuring Pakistain earlier this year that his country did not have any intention of inflicting damage upon or creating problems for the neighbouring country.

During a meeting with a delegation of Pak religious leaders led by Jamaat Ulema-e-Islam
...the political wing of the Pak Taliban...
-Fazl (JUIF) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman

...Deobandi holy man, known as Mullah Diesel during the war against the Soviets, his sympathies for the Taliban have never been tempered by honesty. Fazl seldom misses a meal and is now so large he has his own gravitational pull...
in January this year, Akhund said they dealt each issue in Afghanistan as per the Islamic Sharia, as the country was governed by Sharia, and Sharia did not allow hurting anyone or any other country including Pakistain.

The Afghanistan acting PM also reiterated that they would not give permission to use their soil against any other country.

Link

Afghanistan

Afghanistan Exports Nearly $2 Billion Last Year: MOCI

2024-01-09

[ToloNews] The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) said that the amount of Afghanistan's exports in 2023 was close to two billion dollars, with the largest exports going to Pakistain, India, China, the United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, the front man of MoCI, emphasized that although the export of coal decreased and there were problems in the trade sector with neighboring countries, the amount of exports has increased.

According to the MoCI, the amount of Afghan exports to other countries increased by 2% in 2023.

Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad told TOLOnews: "Afghanistan has exported $1.9 billion dollars in 2023. The above figure shows a 2% increase, which is equal to $41 million dollars, despite the restoration of the Salang highway, the reduction of coal exports and the problems of neighboring countries."

The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) said that currently Afghanistan trades with all countries in the region and the world, and in order to develop trade, the world needs to remove restrictions on the private sector.

Mohammad Yunus Momand, the first deputy of the ACCI, said: "We export to all countries of the world. We export to Europe, Australia, Canada and important countries of the world. You will not find a country where Afghan fruit is not found or Afghanistan dry fruit is not there."

Meanwhile,
...back at the railroad tracks, Little Nell tried to kick her bound feet and scream post the snotty handkerchief Scarface Al had stuff into her mouth...
acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, on his visit to Iran, at the meeting of the Afghanistan-Iran
Iran

...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for spontaneously taking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet militias to extend the regime's influence. The word Iran is a cognate form of Aryan. The abbreviation IRGC is the same idea as Stürmabteilung (or SA). The term Supreme Guide is a the modern version form of either Duce or Führer or maybe both. They hate ~~Jews~~ ~~Zionists~~ Jews. Their economy is based on the production of oil and vitriol...
Joint Chamber of Commerce on December 26, 2023, said that currently business activities in the country have developed and they are trying to connect to China through the Wakhan Corridor.

Muttaqi said that Iranian investors can invest in the agricultural and mining sectors in Afghanistan.

Muttaqi said: "Now Afghanistan is the best way between South Asia and Central Asia. The government has decided to connect with China through the Wakhan Corridor. As South Asia and Central Asia are connected, we decide to connect North and South as well. China will be connected to Central Asia, to Iran, and through Iran to the world."

Earlier, the Acting Minister of MoCI in an interview told TOLOnews that Afghanistan has established trade relations with sixty countries.

Saffron worth $27 million exported from Afghanista

[KhaamaPress] The Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Afghanistan has reported exporting saffron worth 27 million dollars in the past eight months.

Abdulsalam Javad Akhundza, the spokesperson for this ministry, told the media that the total amount of saffron exceeded 28,000 kilograms and has been exported to various countries worldwide.

According to him, saffron exports during the eight months of the year have reached approximately 28,620 kilograms, with a value of 27 million dollars. Most of these exports have gone to countries such as India, Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
, the United Arab Emirates, ~~The Sick Man of Europe~~ Turkey
...the occupiers of Greek Asia Minor...
, Indonesia, Spain, Germany, the United States, and England.

Some saffron exporters also mention that despite Afghanistan experiencing several years of drought in recent times and the country’s farming communities suffering in this regard, the efforts of farmers have resulted in a significant increase in saffron production and exports from Afghanistan.

They are urging the authorities of the Taliban
Taliban

...Arabic for students...
to facilitate further saffron exports to foreign countries through air corridors.

In this regard, the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock had previously stated that they provided training opportunities for 200 farmers to promote the cultivation of saffron in various provinces of the country.

The Chamber of Commerce and Investment states that Afghan saffron has gained a good share in foreign markets, and its exports flow normally.

Due to favourable climatic conditions, Herat
...a venerable old Persian-speaking city in western Afghanistan, populated mostly by Tadjiks, which is why it's not as blood-soaked as areas controlled by Pashtuns...
province is the largest saffron producer in Afghanistan. Reports indicate that approximately 80% of the employees in this sector are women.

Currently, there are about 30 saffron trading companies operating in Herat, and over 80% of their employees are women and girls in various saffron processing sectors.

Link

Afghanistan

Daily Evacuation Brief November 27, 2023

2023-11-28

[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS

CABINET RESHUFFLE REPORTED – The Deputy Prime Minister, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir is once again said to be stepping down due to an illness. The current Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi will assume the role in the interim. It was not clear if Muttaqi would be replaced at the Foreign Ministry or fulfill the duties of both positions. Kabir has reputedly fallen ill on at least two other occasions and a temporary Deputy was appointed in his place. Some sources allege that Kabir is not ill but has harbored resentment over his position since the Cabinet was formed.

TALIBAN OFFICIALS IN HERAT CLAIM IRAN DEPORTING AFGHANS WITH VALID PASSPORTS AND LEGITIMATE VISAS – The local head of Immigration in Herat said that many recent deportees had been returned through the Islam Qala crossing bearing valid documentation issued by Iran. Most expressed outrage over having been arrested and deported ‘violently’ by Iranian security forces. Most reports indicate that Iran has increased deportations of Afghans by 100% over the month of November. Speculation continues that Iran is using the cover of Pakistan’s largely unpopular deportation operation to get rid of Afghans.

NRF CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR SATURDAY ATTACK IN TAKHAR – The National Resistance Front took credit for a blast that had been reported in Talaqan on Saturday. The group said that 3 Taliban were killed in the incident and that their forces had used an explosive device to target a Taliban vehicle.

SPIN BOLDAK PROTESTS CONTINUING – Islamabad has yet to find a solution to the protests that continue to block commercial traffic at the Spin Boldak-Chaman border crossing. Trade is reportedly at a standstill as Pakistanis continue to deny access to the crossing for trucks and other commercial vehicles to cross into Afghanistan. The impasse arose over the implementation of the ‘One Document Policy’ that only affords those with a passport/visa to cross the frontier. Local traders say that the crossing has always been treated as an ‘open border’ and that generations have moved freely across to buy/sell goods. The Government in Islamabad has countered that the border crossing has been used for smuggling purposes and seems content to allow it to remain closed. Many international observers in Pakistan have offered the opinion that Islamabad failed to make a strong case for security when implementing the policy and this has contributed to much of the frustration.

CONFLICT TRACKER

Laghman: The AFF claims ro have assassinated 2 Taliban intelligence officials yesterday in the Daulat Shah district. The two stood accused of murdering former members of the Afghan military.

Panjshir: An internal clash between a Taliban district governor and a local Taliban commander took place on Saturday in the Dara district. The governor and a commander reportedly got into a fight. The commander was injured. Locals said the Taliban then disarmed the governor’s security detachment.

NEXT 24 HOURS: No Threats Reported

Daily Evacuation Brief | November 26, 2023

[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS

DEPORTATIONS HALTED AT TORKHAM ON FRIDAY, TALIBAN FORCE THE HALT – In a move that has befuddled policymakers in Islamabad, the Taliban refused to accept people being deported from Pakistan by mandating they all must be cleared by the Consul General in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A source in Islamabad said the maneuver caught members of the Foreign Ministry by surprise and that a special team had been assembled to examine the legality of the Taliban’s new rule. The Taliban’s main contention for invoking the screening is that many Pakistani citizens have been found among the Afghans who have so far been deported back to Afghanistan. A human rights lawyer in Islamabad said the maneuver was ‘brilliant’ on the part of the Taliban and offered the opinion the rule would be hard to argue as Pakistan had used similar arguments in a previous case involving Afghans in the early 2000s. Eyewitnesses say that no deportees were sent through Torkham on Friday as a result and that trucks carrying those who faced expulsion were left at the border to try again today.

TALIBAN MINISTRY HIT BY NEW CYBER-ATTACK – An unidentified Ministry in Afghanistan fell victim to the ‘HrServ’ attack. Analysts say the attack inserted the web shell into the Ministry’s server and that the HrServ is a weaponized malware that can allow hackers to steal data, monitor servers, and perform limited functions across the server. The hack is being characterized as an Advanced Persistent Attack (APA). The web shell is capable of launching a file that erases any trail it may leave. Analysts say those responsible for the hack are likely not native English speakers due to the high number of typos in the source code. Ultimately, it is believed those behind HrServ were planning a financial crime of some sort.

RETIRED INDIAN AMBASSADOR SAYS HIS COUNTRY IS ON THE VERGE OF RECOGNIZING THE TALIBAN – Talmiz Ahmad, a retired Indian senior diplomat said that the recent circus that has played out in the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi is a sign his government intends to begin bilateral relations with the defacto leaders in Kabul. Ahmad characterizes the step as ‘inevitable’ and is hopeful that bilateral relations would result in favorable trade agreements and the potential for discussions about the Taliban’s internal policies.

PAKISTAN’S SUPREME COURT TO HEAR CASE AGAINST FORCED DEPORTATIONS ON 1 DECEMBER – After a possible politically motivated delay, the Supreme Court said it would constitute a three-member bench to hear the plea on behalf of Afghans who were born in Pakistan and are considered to be ‘birthright citizens’ under Section 4 of the Citizenship Act (1951). If the plea is affirmed by the Supreme Court, it could potentially provide a legal basis for halting the deportations as the plaintiffs argue illustrates the Government of Pakistan’s inability to differentiate between those considered lawful ‘birthright citizens’ and those deemed ‘illegal migrants’. Political analysts say that even if the Supreme Court accepts the plea, it is unlikely to halt deportations but could provide ammunition to the international community to bring more pressure to bear on Islamabad over the universally condemned policy.

BADAKHSHAN HEADACHES CONTINUE FOR TALIBAN – Reports of a widening rift continue to come in from Badakhshan Province. The most recent indicates that the District Governor is thought to have ordered the transfer of both heavy and light weapons to Kandahar. A senior Taliban official, Qari Fasihuddin, was asked to postpone a trip to the restive Province by senior agents from the GDI. A source in Kabul said that senior leaders are recommending a ‘stronger hand’ is needed to lead the Province.

CONFLICT TRACKER

Takhar: A blast was reported by locals in the downtown area of Talaqan. Multiple sources said the blast targeted a Taliban truck and that 1 Talib was killed and two were wounded in the blast. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Parwan: Multiple reports confirmed that an attack if some sort was launched at a district administration building in the Bagram district. Eyewitnesses said the building came under attack from rocket fire before midnight on Saturday, and the attack continued for nearly thirty minutes. Casualties were reported, but the number and type has not been provided.

NEXT 24 HOURS

POSSIBLE DEPLOYMENT OF TALIBAN TO BADAKHSHAN – Several sources in both Kabul and Kandahar say that a warning order has been issued to select units of the Ministry of Defense to prepare for a deployment to the Province. It is not clear what the reinforcements will be used for upon arrival but many are speculating that local leaders will likely be arrested and an effort to reign in members of the Eastern Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) could occur. At-risk Afghans in Badakhshan (especially Faizabad) should be aware of the possible deployment. Conflict could easily ensue as the Taliban appear to be nervous over a potential ‘breakaway’ Province situation. China has previously expressed concerns over the activity of ETIM in the Province and is rumored to have shared several intercepted messages with Kabul over the past year.

Daily Evacuation Brief | November 25, 2023

[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS

NEW UPDATES FROM BADAKHSHAN TALIBAN ISSUES – Hasht-Sub Daily reports that a former Commander of the GDI in the Province was arrested by a special Taliban security detachment sent from Kabul. The former Commander was arrested in Faizabad on Friday and has been transferred to Kabul. Rumi Nooralhuda faces charges of corruption and mistreatment of civilians and may be implicated in the mysterious killing of 4 Taliban fighters earlier in the Province. Nooralhuda is said to be related to Mawlawi Fasihuddin Fetrat, a leader in the Taliban Ministry of Defense.

UNITED NATIONS TO INVESTIGATE RECENT KILLING OF SHIITE SCHOLARS IN HERAT – A brazen daylight assassination of 2 Shiite Islamic scholars in Herat City has prompted the Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, Richard Bennett to open an inquiry into the matter. In a tweet, Bennett urged the Taliban to accept an independent investigation into the killings, and sources in Kandahar say that Taliban officials are unlikely to accept the advice as there are concerns that a local Taliban Commander (unnamed) may have been involved.

TALIBAN OFFICIALS IN KABUL THREATEN SHOP OWNERS TO ADOPT PASHTO OR FACE CLOSURE – The threat was communicated during a televised interview with an unidentified Taliban official in central Kabul. The threat supports claims made by members of minority groups within Afghanistan for the past two years that say their cultures are under threat by the Pashtun-dominated Taliban. The Taliban have continually pushed back against such claims but few can ignore the lack of political representation from minorities in the senior Taliban ranks.

MORE DIPLOMATIC DRAMA IN INDIA – Diplomatic staff at the besieged Afghan Embassy in New Delhi released several statements on social media that claimed the Embassy was to be closed and no further services were to be provided to Afghan citizens residing in the country. Shortly after the posts began to circulate on various social media platforms, 2 officials from the staff said that the Embassy would continue to operate. One of those mentioned is said to be a consular officer appointed by the previous regime but who has agreed to work with the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry in Kabul. The Government of India has wisely stayed out of the squabble and it is not yet clear if they will accept the credentials of the new ‘Taliban’ affiliated diplomats.

RESISTANCE ATTACKS GAIN MOMENTUM – Fighters from the Afghanistan Freedom Front have launched several operations over the month of November and appear to be carrying the brunt of the fighting against the Taliban in the months leading up to Winter. Yesterday witnessed three separate military engagements against the Taliban, two of which have been confirmed. The attacks follow several others that were ultimately confirmed throughout the month of November. While the National Resistance Front is generally considered the main military opponent for the Taliban, the AFF has clearly stepped up operations when most campaigning is tapering off for the Winter. Local sources within the Resistance say this is primarily due to a spike in recruitment that began in late 2022 and that the group is primarily located within Kabul and a select few other cities while the NRF is considered the ‘Northern Front’ and is based mainly in Takhar and Panjshir. Many have long thought that the majority of the legitimate Resistance groups began coordinating operations at the end of 2022. This has not been confirmed but the frequency and locations of attacks over the course of 2023 suggest that some communication is taking place. Many in Afghanistan have characterized the AFF fighters as sort of a ‘Robin Hood’ movement that locals can turn to in dealing with particularly heavy-handed or corrupt Taliban in their neighborhoods. The AFF’s operational strategy has been to launch lightning attacks on vulnerable Taliban positions. While the NRF was involved in heavier campaigns against the Taliban in 2022. Throughout 2023, the NRF has played a more defensive role and has largely avoided major engagements like those witnessed in the previous year. Whether this is a coordinated strategy between the two groups is unknown but it has resulted in constant pressure on the Taliban and has served to illustrate to regional and international observers that the Resistance is far from pacified.

CONFLICT TRACKER

Kabul: An operation by fighters from the AFF took place yesterday evening, targeting a Taliban position in the Gulkhane area (6th Police District). 2 Talibs were killed and 3 others wounded in the operation.

Kabul: An AFF force launched an attack earlier against the Taliban garrison of Toli Muzab (5th Police District), which left 4 Taliban member dead and 3 wounded in the attack. Sources say the attack was ordered after citizens complained the garrison was responsible for searches that were focused on stealing citizens’ property.
Parwan: Fighters from the AFF reportedly struck a Taliban security checkpoint near the Padeh Khab Bridge in the Bagram district. 3 Talibs were said to have been killed and 2 others wounded in the attack.

NEXT 24 HOURS

POSSIBLE TALIBAN SECURITY OPERATIONS IN KABUL – After two successful attacks by Resistance forces in Kabul and a third unconfirmed attack in Parwan, our analysis indicates it is likely the Taliban will be forced to respond and may launch a search operation to attempt to ferret out the location of Afghanistan Freedom Front operating bases. Sources in Kabul say that local Taliban Commanders have been voicing frustration with the Ministry of the Interior’s inability to gain intelligence on the AFF for the past two months. With this in mind, increased security operations are possible in Kabul and potentially elsewhere across the country. Sources say that very little information is known about the AFF and that some are suspicious it is receiving intelligence from within the Taliban that has allowed it to elude detection. At the very least, the Taliban will likely increase patrols in order to restore confidence among its fighters who are manning checkpoints and outposts that it is at least doing something to contain the AFF.

Link

Afghanistan

Spokesperson: Muttaqi Temporarily to Assume Some Duties of Deputy PM

2023-11-26

[ToloNews] The acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, has temporarily taken on the task of regulating the Islamic Emirate's internal and external policy, which was one of the duties of the Prime Minister's political deputy.

The Islamic Emirate's spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, told TOLOnews that Muttaqi will temporarily take over for Political Deputy Prime Minister Mawlawi Abdul Kabir due to his illness.

"Following up on domestic and foreign policy have been entrusted to the minister of foreign affairs, and the head of the political deputy PM's office should carry out the other work and activities," Mujahid said.

It has been almost three months that the political deputy of the Prime Minister has not been present in meetings and visits with officials from other countries.

"We hope that he will return to his duties in the coming days. He participates in consultations and gave advice to the government, but he did not visit his office because the physicians had urged him to take a rest," said Hassan Haqyar, head of the media directorate of the political deputy of the PM.

Some political analysts said that the Islamic Emirate's leaders' presence is important in meetings, and urged that the current government provide an explanation for the officials' attendance and absence.

"I hope the Islamic Emirate shares with the nation every issue, including changes and meetings, travel abroad and inside ... so that some propaganda and worries will be removed," Kamran Aman, a political analyst, told TOLOnews.

Mawlawi Abdul Kabir most recently met on September 4, 2023, with the former Ottoman Turkish ambassador. However,
if you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning...
he did not have any formal meetings following that.

Link

Afghanistan

Afghan diplomat says Taliban govt already declared 'attack on Pakistan not jihad'

2023-10-26

[GEO.TV] A top Afghanistan diplomat said Wednesday that the Islamic Emirate — or the Taliban
Taliban

...Arabic for students...
administration — had already issued a fatwa (decree) that launching attacks in "Pakistain is not jihad" (holy war).
"But possibly Dirka Dirka Jihad Jihad?"
Hafiz Mohibullah Shakir, the acting consul general at the Afghan Consulate in Beautiful Downtown Peshawar
...capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, administrative and economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Peshawar is situated near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass, convenient to the Pak-Afghan border. Peshawar has evolved into one of Pakistain's most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities, which means lots of gunfire...
, told Geo News that the neighbouring country’s defence ministry had also made it clear that attacking Pakistain did not fall under jihad.

The Pak government has time and again stressed that Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain (TTP) turbans have safe havens in Afghanistan and that the neighbouring nation’s soil was being used for attacks on Pakistain.

Since the Afghan Taliban took over the reins of government in 2021, Pakistain has witnessed a rise in terror incidents with 2023 being the deadliest in eight years, despite months left in its conclusion, with officials also saying that Afghan nationals were involved in attacks on security forces.

Asif Durrani, Pakistain's special representative on Afghanistan, said that the banned TTP’s attacks on Pakistain along the borders have increased and that they were "taking shelter on the Afghan soil".

In response to Pakistain’s repeated insistence on taking action, the interim Afghan rulers arrested 200 suspected turbans involved in attacks against Pakistain, Voice of America reported last month, citing Pak officials privy to the development.

Interim Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani and his Taliban counterpart, Amir Khan Muttaqi, met on the sidelines of a China-hosted international conference earlier this month.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement, said Jilani "underscored that challenges confronting regional peace and stability be addressed in collaborative spirit through collective strategies".

In his conversation with Geo News, Shakir said the TTP turbans had migrated to Afghanistan during former US-backed Afghan president Ashraf Ghani
...former chancellor of Kabul University, now president of Afghanistan. Before returning to Afghanistan in 2002 he was a scholar of political science and anthropology. He worked at the World Bank working on international development assistance. As Finance Minister of Afghanistan between July 2002 and December 2004, he led Afghanistan's attempted economic recovery until the Karzais stole all the money...
’s tenure — 2014-2021. He was tossed by the Taliban.

"I want to make it clear: No attacks will be launched from Afghanistan on Pakistain," the envoy added.

Link

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