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IEA says it’s investigating the disappearance of women activists
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) on Thursday said they are investigating the disappearance of four women protestors who were arrested by the authorities last month.
“We and all the intelligence staff of the Islamic Emirate are looking for these women,” said Bilal Karimi, an IEA spokesman, on Thursday.
Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi also addressed the issue and said in a meeting with the UN special envoy to Afghanistan Deborah Lyons that he would “resolve the issue soon”.
This comes amid growing concern for the safety of the women and on the heels of the UN chief’s comments on Thursday that he was deeply concerned about the situation.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that he is “increasingly concerned about the welfare of women activists who have disappeared in Afghanistan.”
In a series of tweets he said several women protesters had disappeared in Kabul and that their status had been unknown for weeks.
He stressed that Kabul must ensure the safety of the protesters so that they can return to their homes.
The remarks come after at least four women protesters and their acquaintances were detained in Kabul over the past three weeks.
The United Nations, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have all joined the chorus for their release in the past few weeks.
“The Taliban (IEA) must reveal their whereabouts instead of continued denial of not having them under their arrest,” Amnesty International tweeted.
Two people have been killed amid protests against a poppy eradication campaign in northeastern Badakhshan province, local officials said.
Authorities said counter-narcotics forces were deployed on Friday to Atan Jalo area of Argo district to destroy poppy fields. Clashes erupted after a number of farmers and residents reportedly attempted to block the operation.
Officials said a child was killed during Friday’s unrest, while another person died on Saturday as protests and tensions continued in the area.
According to local authorities, demonstrators also temporarily blocked the Kishm–Faizabad highway, disrupting traffic for several hours before it was reopened following coordinated efforts by security officials, religious scholars, and community elders.
Officials blamed “drug traffickers and criminal groups” for inciting the unrest and said security forces have since regained control of the area.
A high-ranking Uzbek delegation comprising government officials and private sector representatives from the Republic of Karakalpakstan arrived in Kabul on Saturday to discuss the expansion of trade and economic cooperation with Afghanistan.
The delegation is headed by Amanbay Orinbayev, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Karakalpakstan.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the delegation is expected to hold talks with Nooruddin Azizi, the Minister of Industry and Commerce, focusing on strengthening bilateral trade and economic relations.
The ministry said the visiting delegation will also participate in trade connectivity meetings and business-to-business sessions aimed at enhancing commercial cooperation between the two sides.
As part of the visit, the Uzbek delegation is also scheduled to travel to Balkh province, where members will attend additional trade meetings and inaugurate an exhibition showcasing Uzbekistan’s domestic products.
Hamid Karzai, former president of Afghanistan, has expressed concern over recent developments along the Durand Line, saying Pakistan has increased military and economic pressure on villages and residents living near the line.
In a statement, Karzai said the apparent purpose of these pressures is to push residents of Durand Line areas to seek help from Pakistani institutions for resolving security and other local issues.
He added that, amid this situation, some tribal elders from both sides of the Durand Line recently signed documents described as “peace agreements,” which were later officially welcomed by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to Karzai, these developments amount to an effort by Pakistan to legitimize the Durand Line and represent an action against Afghanistan’s national sovereignty.
The former Afghan president also urged the relevant Afghan authorities to provide the public with a clear explanation regarding the recent agreements and developments along the Durand Line.
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