Afghanistan International: During his visit to Iran, Afghan jihadi leader Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf urged the Taliban to establish a Shurā-ye Ḥall wa ‘Aqd, a council composed of “those who are qualified to unbind and to bind”—also described as “the people who loosen and bind”—instead of holding elections. This council, a concept in Sunni Islamic
8am: Several political movements in various countries have initiated discussions on Afghanistan’s future political system over the past three years. Most recently, the Federalists Assembly of Afghanistan held a meeting in Vienna, where it introduced its proposed constitution for the post-Taliban political system. The Assembly stated that its proposed constitution consists of 12 chapters and
Michael Hughes: Trump 2.0 and Taliban 2.0 were likely destined to clash, but who knew the unlikely bedfellows would kill their marriage within weeks of the Dealmaker-In-Chief reentering the Oval Office. We knew Trump would go after the $7 billion in military aid the U.S. left behind in Afghanistan, but less foreseeable was the radical
Amu: Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf, former jihadi leader and a senior member of the National Resistance Council for the Salvation of Afghanistan, has arrived in Iran for what Iranian media describe as a “medical visit.” Iranian state media reported Tuesday that during his visit, Sayyaf met with senior Iranian officials, though details of the discussions
Ariana: Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, a former jihadi leader, has expressed concern about the current situation in the country, saying Afghanistan faces “threats and gaps”. “We are facing significant gaps,” he said. “The country needs a heavy council. This is a void that needs to be filled. We need a legitimate government with clear responsibilities and powers.
Afghanistan International: Documents obtained by Afghanistan International reveal that Mohammad Yousuf Wafa, the Taliban governor of Balkh, has filed a formal complaint with the Taliban Supreme Court, calling for a military trial of Abbas Stanekzai, the group’s deputy foreign minister. Wafa accused Stanekzai of “disrespecting” Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and opposing his decrees. Click here
Amu: Amid reports of rising internal tensions, Abdul Kabir, the Taliban’s minister for refugees, has rejected the idea that leadership is open to all, emphasizing the authority of their reclusive leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada. Speaking at a gathering in Kabul on Thursday, Feb. 20, Kabir insisted that Akhundzada remains the recognized leader and that Taliban officials
Afghanistan International: Mohammad Mohaqiq, leader of the People’s Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan, has stated that internal divisions within the Taliban could lead figures such as Sirajuddin Haqqani and Mullah Baradar to join the Vienna Process. Speaking in an interview with Afghanistan International on Tuesday, Mohaqiq, a participant in the Vienna Process, stressed that if
Amu: A delegation from Iran, including members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), met with representatives of the National Movement for Peace and Justice, an opposition group led by Mohammad Hanif Atmar, in Istanbul, according to a source within the movement. Click here to read more (external link).