Afghanistan’s Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani has called for stronger national unity, improved relations between citizens and security personnel, and greater public awareness to help end longstanding rivalries and hostilities.

Speaking in Khost province, Haqqani said maintaining security was a shared responsibility and should not be considered solely the duty of police personnel.

He urged religious scholars, preachers and tribal elders to raise public awareness, encourage reconciliation and use the current opportunity to strengthen peace and solidarity among communities.

Haqqani also called on security officials to serve the public in accordance with the directives of the Islamic Emirate’s leadership, emphasizing respectful conduct, brotherhood and good manners in their interactions with citizens.

Addressing the country’s broader situation, the interior minister expressed optimism about Afghanistan’s progress toward self-sufficiency and reconstruction, describing the development as a blessing from God following years of hardship and difficulties.

He said security had improved, divisions and hostilities had declined, and unity among Afghans had strengthened. Haqqani further claimed that security incidents across the country had fallen to nearly zero.

He also alleged that certain individuals were attempting to create concern and anxiety among the public despite the current security situation.

Haqqani’s remarks focused on shared responsibility for security, public service, reconciliation and the role of community leaders in promoting social cohesion.

Swissinfo has reported that documents obtained under transparency laws show Swiss officials cooperated with representatives of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in 2025 to identify and deport a number of Afghan nationals. The move has raised concerns over the safety of deportees and the possibility of legitimizing the Islamic Emirate.

According to Swissinfo, four representatives of the Islamic Emirate visited Geneva from August 19 to 21, 2025, to verify the identities of 13 Afghan nationals whom the Swiss government intended to deport.

Citing documents obtained by the WAV investigative group, the report says that, contrary to previous statements by the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), the delegation from the Islamic Emirate spent two nights at the Mövenpick Hotel in Geneva. The trip reportedly cost the Swiss government 13,490 Swiss francs, equivalent to approximately $16,250.

According to the published documents, Swiss officials provided the Islamic Emirate with information about the individuals scheduled for deportation before the interviews took place.

Each of the four delegation members also received 150 Swiss francs per day as an allowance. Swiss officials said the payments were intended to cover expenses related to meetings and local transportation.

The report says that representatives of the Islamic Emirate identified eight of the 13 individuals as Afghan nationals. Following further checks, the identity of one additional person was confirmed. However, the delegation issued documents for six individuals.

The Swiss State Secretariat for Migration has confirmed that three Afghan men have been deported to Afghanistan following the process, adding that preparations for further deportations are ongoing.

According to Swissinfo, several asylum law experts and human rights organizations have expressed concern over the disclosure of asylum seekers’ personal information to officials of the Islamic Emirate.

Swiss officials, meanwhile, have said they have received no adverse reports concerning individuals who voluntarily returned to their home countries. They have also emphasized that the deportations in question were carried out on the basis of judicial rulings issued in Switzerland.

According to Swissinfo, some politicians and legal experts fear that such cooperation could contribute to normalizing relations with the Islamic Emirate and granting it legitimacy.

Jean Tschopp, a member of the Swiss parliament from the Social Democratic Party, said that if the published details are confirmed, the actions would go beyond providing consular services to facilitate the return of Afghan nationals.

In response, SEM stressed that issuing visas to members of the Islamic Emirate’s delegation did not amount to recognizing the Islamic Emirate as the government of Afghanistan.

Switzerland resumed deportations of Afghan men whose asylum applications had been rejected in April 2025. The decision has also faced opposition from several human rights organizations.

Swissinfo concludes that the documents raise serious questions about how Swiss officials cooperate with the Islamic Emirate, how asylum seekers’ personal information is protected, and what measures are in place to ensure the safety of people returned to Afghanistan.

A recent analysis by the US-based magazine The National Interest argues that Washington’s efforts to expand economic and strategic ties with Central Asia could face significant challenges without addressing Afghanistan’s ongoing political and security situation.

In an article titled “US Central Asia Policy Has an Afghanistan Problem,” the magazine examined US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s October 18 visit to Uzbekistan, where he met representatives of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan under the C5+1 framework.

Accompanied by a large US business delegation, Rubio sought to strengthen trade, investment, regional connectivity and security cooperation. According to the magazine, Washington is increasingly focused on Central Asia’s critical minerals, energy resources, transport corridors and industrial development as it seeks to diversify its economic partnerships and reduce dependence on China.

However, the analysis argues that economic development and regional security cannot be separated from Afghanistan’s situation. Terrorism, drug trafficking, border security and the risk of regional instability remain key concerns for Central Asian countries.

The magazine also suggests that expanding US economic engagement could pave the way for closer security cooperation with Central Asian states, including intelligence sharing, border surveillance, cybersecurity and military training.

Meanwhile, the article highlights Russia’s growing engagement with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, noting Moscow’s recognition of the authorities in Kabul in July 2025 and subsequent moves toward military-technical cooperation.

The analysis also points to deteriorating relations between Pakistan and the Islamic Emirate amid Islamabad’s allegations that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operates from Afghan territory. The Islamic Emirate has repeatedly rejected allegations that Afghan territory is being used to threaten other countries.

Regional connectivity projects also depend on developments in Afghanistan, the magazine argues. It cites the CASA-1000 electricity transmission project, which aims to connect electricity supplies from Central Asia to South Asia, as an example of how progress depends on completing infrastructure in Afghanistan. According to a January 2026 World Bank update referenced in the article, the project cannot become operational until the Afghan section of the transmission line is completed.

The analysis describes Afghanistan as a potential land bridge between Central and South Asia through trade, energy and transport networks. However, it identifies restrictions affecting women and girls, along with the absence of an inclusive political settlement, as obstacles to long-term stability and deeper regional integration.

The National Interest calls for broader regional dialogue involving Afghanistan’s neighbors and other key countries, including Central Asian states, India, Pakistan, Russia, China, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia, to develop common approaches to security and economic cooperation.

The magazine concludes that Central Asia’s economic prospects are closely linked to Afghanistan’s stability and that Washington’s long-term regional objectives will remain difficult to achieve without addressing challenges related to Afghanistan.

The Islamic Emirate has repeatedly stated that Afghan territory will not be used against any country, particularly neighboring states, and that armed groups will not be allowed to use Afghanistan as a base for attacks against other countries.