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Five days to release hundred Taliban prisoners
The National Security Council says it has decided to release a hundred Taliban prisoners on the president’s verdict and it should be followed by the guarantees from the Taliban not to return to battlefields. Earlier, the Taliban had said that there would be no guarantee as such.
The government of Afghanistan, the United States of America, Qatar, the Red Crescent, and the Taliban, have come to an agreement to start the prisoner releases by March 31.
According to the NSC, the decision has been made in a VTC meeting where all aspects – reduction in violence, face to face talks, permanent ceasefire and paving the ground for prisoner releases – were discussed.
The NSC emphasizes that the government has been trying to receive guarantees from the Taliban making sure that they do not return to the battlefields.
Jawid Faisal, the NSC spokesperson, says, “The Taliban should guarantee that once the prisoners released should not get back to war. A hundred prisoners will be released on March 31.”
The Taliban political spokesperson Suhail Shaheen has tweeted that only the prisoner releases were discussed over the VTC meeting and that the rest will be talked through in the intra-Afghan negotiation.
Sources close to the Taliban indicate that a 37-member Taliban negotiating team will probably visit Kabul to take on the talks about the prisoner release and the rest of the negotiations.
Jalaluddin Shinwari, former Taliban chief justice, says, “Yesterday the second meet took place. They spoke for four hours. The Taliban’s negotiating team comprised of 37 people will hopefully visit Kabul to talk about other important matters as well. The process of prisoner releases will start by March 31. Let’s see when all 5000 prisoners will be released.”
The releases of the Taliban prisoners have been causing concerns around. The human rights commission, civil society and a number of political figures express their concerns asking the government to be careful with its steps and to not let justice down.
The decision of the Taliban releases by March 31 has been acknowledged by the American Peace Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad too.
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Pakistan to repatriate nearly 20,000 Afghans awaiting US resettlement
Authorities will also share verified data of the affected individuals with relevant departments to support implementation.
Pakistan will repatriate nearly 20,000 Afghan nationals currently awaiting resettlement in the United States, The Nation reported, citing official sources.
The move affects 19,973 Afghans living across Pakistan.
A federal directive will instruct provincial chief secretaries and police chiefs in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and the Islamabad Capital Territory to begin the repatriation process immediately.
Authorities will also share verified data of the affected individuals with relevant departments to support implementation.
Following the Islamic Emirate’s return to power in 2021, more than 100,000 Afghans fled to Pakistan, many of whom had worked with the US and UK governments, international organizations, or aid agencies.
Thousands have remained stranded in Pakistan for over four years while awaiting US resettlement clearance.
Prospects for relocation have dimmed amid a suspension of case processing by the US administration, according to The Nation.
Under Pakistan’s Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP), all Afghan nationals still awaiting US relocation will now be returned to Afghanistan.
Terrorist activities continue to be observed along Afghanistan borders and along the India–Pakistan–Afghanistan corridor, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview published on Monday.
Speaking to Russia-based media outlet TV BRICS, Lavrov pointed to ongoing concerns in the Middle East, including its Asian regions.
He highlighted the importance of collaboration with India at the United Nations to advance a global counter-terrorism convention.
Lavrov stated that while the draft convention has already been prepared, consensus on its adoption has not yet been reached.
Russia has repeatedly expressed concern about militant threats from Afghanistan. The Islamic Emirate, however, has dismissed the concerns saying that it will not allow Afghanistan’s soil to be used against any country.
Noorullah Noori, Afghanistan’s Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs, held a phone conversation with Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, to discuss bilateral border cooperation.
According to the Iranian news agency IRNA, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening border collaboration, with a particular focus on the ongoing renovation and updating of border markers. They also agreed to accelerate joint technical and legal meetings to enhance coordination.
As part of the agreement, the next meeting of senior border officials from Afghanistan and Iran is scheduled to take place in Iran in 1405 (2026–2027).
Pakistan to repatriate nearly 20,000 Afghans awaiting US resettlement
Terrorist activities observed along Afghanistan borders, says Lavrov
Afghan border minister holds phone talks with Iran’s deputy foreign minister
OIC Kabul mission chief meets German envoy to discuss Afghanistan situation
Iran arrests at least four reform front politicians
Afghanistan–China joint market opens in Kabul
Pakistan approves re-export of stranded Afghan transit trade cargo
ATN secures broadcast rights to Carabao Cup semis across Afghanistan
Pakistan army orders evacuation of Tirah Valley, fears of mass displacement grow
Afghan traders sign deal to import pharmaceuticals from Bangladesh
Saar: Afghanistan’s relations and opportunities with regional countries
Tahawol: Kabul’s response to Pakistan’s new accusation discussed
Saar: Discussion on Iran-US talks in Oman
Tawsia: Afghanistan’s interest in buying Russian oil and gas
Tahawol: IEA calls UNSC’s Daesh concerns baseless
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