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Taliban Prisoners Still Under Afghan Government Custody: Sediqqi

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Last Updated on: October 24, 2022

Presidential Spokesman Sediq Sediqqi on Saturday confirmed that Anas Haqqani, Mali Khan and Hafiz Rashid, three members of the Haqqani Network, are still under government custody, because Taliban couldn’t deliver on their promises.

“Taliban’s failure to comply with the conditions has delayed the [prisoners] swap process,” Sediqqi wrote on Twitter.

Ghani’s Spokesman further said that the Afghan government will review the prisoner exchange process and will act based on the national interests of the country.

Last week, President Ashraf Ghani confirmed the release of key Taliban members, saying they would be freed in exchange for the release of two foreign lecturers from the American University of Afghanistan.

Hajji Din Mohammad, Deputy of Afghanistan’s High Peace Council told Ariana News that the prisoner swap was halted at the last minute following a deadly car bombing in Kabul and a similar attack on U.S. forces in the Logar province on 13 November 2019.

The Afghan Parliament Speaker, Mir Rahman Rahmani, speculated on Saturday that the two professors, Kevin King, 61, from the U.S., and Timothy Weeks, 49, from Australia, might have died.

“Taliban showed that they have no authority to make a decision about war or peace,” the Lower House Speaker added.

However, in a phone call with Ariana News, the Taliban spokesman Zabihulla Mujahid on Friday said, their prisoners were expected to be transferred to Qatar and Taliban would hand over the two AUAF professors to Americans inside Afghanistan, but for unknown reasons the swap did not happen.

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Flash floods and natural disasters leave dozens dead, thousands affected across Afghanistan

The warning comes as Afghan authorities report significant losses caused by recent heavy rainfall and natural disasters across the country.

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More than 31,000 people were affected by flash floods in Afghanistan in 2025, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme said on Sunday, warning that the country is increasingly vulnerable to climate-related disasters.

In a statement, the agency highlighted Afghanistan’s growing exposure to extreme weather events and stressed the urgent need for disaster-resilient infrastructure. The organization also noted that it is working with the Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan to help communities strengthen their ability to withstand future environmental shocks.

The warning comes as Afghan authorities report significant losses caused by recent heavy rainfall and natural disasters across the country.

According to Zabihullah Mujahid, at least 61 people have died and 116 others have been injured following severe weather and flooding in several provinces. Authorities say four people remain missing as search and rescue efforts continue.

The disasters have also caused widespread destruction to homes, farmland, and livestock. Mujahid said 2,448 houses were destroyed either completely or partially, leaving thousands of families displaced.

In addition, 26,841 acres of agricultural land were severely damaged, dealing a major blow to rural communities that depend heavily on farming and livestock for their livelihoods. Officials also confirmed that 1,045 livestock animals were killed during the storms.

Mujahid said the Islamic Emirate has mobilized available resources to support affected communities, emphasizing that relief efforts are underway to deliver emergency assistance such as shelter, medical supplies, and food to those impacted.

He added that alongside immediate humanitarian aid, authorities are also focusing on long-term reconstruction and recovery efforts to rebuild damaged infrastructure and restore livelihoods.

The United Nations has repeatedly warned that Afghanistan remains highly vulnerable to climate-related disasters, including floods, droughts, and landslides, which continue to threaten millions of people across the country.

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IEA accuses Pakistan of war crimes amid heavy civilian losses

The attacks also left a trail of widespread destruction. Over 1,100 homes were completely destroyed.

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In a grave accusation, the deputy spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Hamdullah Fitrat, has condemned Pakistan’s military actions, accusing it of carrying out attacks that led to significant civilian casualties and widespread destruction across several Afghan provinces. The allegations focus on a period between February 22 and April 4, 2026, during which Pakistani military strikes are said to have targeted various regions of Afghanistan.

According to Fitrat, the attacks primarily impacted the provinces of Paktika, Paktia, Kandahar, Nangarhar, Kunar, Kabul, Khost, Nuristan, and Laghman. The toll on civilians has been devastating: 761 people were killed, 626 others injured, and 27,407 families displaced from their homes.

The attacks also left a trail of widespread destruction. Over 1,100 homes were completely destroyed, along with 256 shops, while 34 mosques, 13 schools, 13 Madrasas, 3 health facilities, and 42 vehicles were all reduced to rubble. The destruction has had a severe economic impact, with 661 livestock animals reported as killed.

The scale of the strikes has been particularly alarming. A total of 14,973 missiles, mortars, and artillery shells were fired during the period in question, inflicting immense physical and psychological damage on civilian populations.

Fitrat has called these actions “war crimes” against Afghan civilians, highlighting not only the tragic loss of life but also the deep humanitarian crisis that has resulted from the attacks. The international community is now being urged to take action to address the devastating impact of the bombardments on Afghanistan’s civilian infrastructure and economy.

Pakistan has not yet publicly responded to the accusations. However, these developments are likely to escalate tensions between the two neighboring countries as both sides continue to grapple with a volatile and complex geopolitical situation.

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Kabul to host ‘Afghanistan–Central Asia Consultative Dialogue’ tomorrow

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At the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the “Afghanistan–Central Asia Consultative Dialogue” will be held in Kabul tomorrow (Sunday).

The meeting will be chaired by Amir Khan Muttaqi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and attended by senior representatives from Afghanistan and Central Asian countries.

The discussions will cover political, economic, and security issues, as well as the development of regional cooperation, trade, and transit.

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