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U.S., Taliban to Form ‘Technical Teams’ for Implementing Qatar Agreements
The United States and the Taliban would soon establish technical commissions for implementing the agreements being made in their recent meeting in Qatar, sources close the Taliban told Ariana News on Thursday.
The U.S.-Taliban’s another round of talks is set for February 25, after a draft pact was reached to potentially end the war in Afghanistan, a Taliban spokesman confirmed to Ariana News, adding that this round of talks would focus on declaring a timeline for withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan.
The Taliban said that in the due meeting, they would provide a guarantee that they will fight against Al-Qaeda and other insurgent groups in Afghanistan.
The Taliban also told Ariana News that after American troops’ pullout, the armed group will hold talks with Afghan politicians and political parties, adding that the talks would focus on formation of a future government in the country.
Rejecting the proposal of an interim government, the Taliban stressed that they are not going to offer any role to the current government when they negotiate the political parties.
According to sources, the Taliban even have asked Afghan political parties to introduce a negotiating team to begin face-to-face talks with their representatives.
Separately, sources close to the Taliban said that the United States and the Taliban would soon establish technical teams for implementing the agreements being made in their recent meeting in Qatar.
The Afghan government, however, said that they would not accept the agreements being reached between the U.S. and the Taliban in closed doors.
It comes as U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad this week said that in his Qatar talks, he has reached to “agreements in principle” on key issues for a peace deal that would end the 17-year war in Afghanistan.
Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, said that a mortar shell of the Pakistani military regime hit Shanpat area of Nari district of Kunar province at 9:30 am on Sunday, killing one civilian and wounding another.
The injured person is a woman, he said.
Pakistani forces also opened fire on a civilian vehicle in Shakin district of Paktika province, but no casualties were reported, Fitrat said.
The Pakistani government had earlier announced that it would halt its attacks on Afghanistan until Monday night on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.
Germany was not informed of the appointment of a new Afghan diplomat in Berlin, according to a report by public broadcaster ARD, raising fresh questions about the Islamic Emirate’s expanding control over overseas missions.
The report states that an IEA-linked official has assumed the role of chargé d’affaires at Afghanistan’s embassy in Berlin without prior approval from the German government. Under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, host countries must consent to such diplomatic appointments.
Germany does not formally recognize the IEA government, which returned to power in August 2021 following the withdrawal of US and NATO forces.
Undisclosed leadership role
According to ARD, the official—identified as Nebrasul H.—arrived in Berlin in July last year as a junior consular staff member, a position approved by German authorities. However, documents obtained by the broadcaster suggest he was also quietly appointed to lead the embassy.
He is reportedly acting as chargé d’affaires, effectively heading the mission and liaising directly with Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry in Kabul.
The move highlights the IEA’s efforts to consolidate authority over Afghan diplomatic missions abroad, despite lacking broad international recognition.
Berlin ‘not notified’
Germany’s Foreign Ministry said it had received “no notification of any personnel changes” at Afghan diplomatic missions in the country.
Berlin has consistently maintained that Afghan embassies should remain under representatives appointed by the former government of Ashraf Ghani, which was ousted in 2021.
Previous envoy sidelined
The report also claims that the previous head of mission, Abdul P., has been stripped of his authority and reduced to a largely symbolic role. He was originally appointed under the Ghani administration.
Despite being sidelined, he remains in Berlin, reportedly continuing to live in the ambassador’s residence and retaining diplomatic privileges.
Wider diplomatic shift
In a related development, ARD reported that another Afghan official who arrived alongside Nebrasul H. has assumed a leadership role at the Afghan consulate in Bonn, also without formal recognition from German authorities.
The developments suggest a broader strategy by the IEA to assert control over Afghanistan’s diplomatic presence in Europe, even in countries that do not officially recognize its rule.
Sebastian Gorka, Deputy Assistant to U.S. President Donald Trump, says efforts are ongoing to secure the release of all Americans detained in Afghanistan.
In a post on X, Gorka marked the anniversary of the release of George Glezmann, who had been held for 836 days, describing his detention as part of what he called the Islamic Emirate’s use of “hostage diplomacy.”
He added that Trump “will not rest” until all Americans held in Afghanistan are freed, naming detainees including Dennis Coyle, Mahmood Habibi, Paul Overby, and Polynesus Jackson.
“Kabul, you have been warned,” he said.
The remarks come amid increased US pressure, including a recent designation by U.S. State Department labeling Afghanistan a “state sponsor of wrongful detention.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has described the decision as regrettable, emphasizing that disputes should be addressed through dialogue.
The ministry, said that citizens of no country are detained in Afghanistan for bargaining purposes. Instead, some individuals have been arrested on charges of violating the law, many of whom have later been released after completing legal procedures.
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