Kabulov
Afghanistan International: Zamir Kabulov, the Russian President’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, has announced that an upcoming visit by a Taliban delegation to Kazan will feature discussions on the construction of a 573-kilometre segment of the Afghan-Trans railway. In an interview with Izvestia newspaper, Kabulov underscored Afghanistan’s vast mineral resources and its strategic geographic position as key assets for future collaboration. He noted that these advantages could help transform the country into a vital transit hub linking Russia, Central Asia, and South Asia. Click here to read more (external link).
Other Economic News
Khaama: Over 200 Afghan refugees in Iowa have been ordered by U.S. authorities to leave the country immediately, facing legal action. American media reports indicate that in April, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security sent emails to over 200 Afghan refugees residing in Iowa, instructing them to leave the country immediately. According to Axios, the emails, sent by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, begin with the statement, “It is time to leave the United States.” The messages warned that failure to leave voluntarily would result in detention, revocation of work permits, and potential legal action. One of the emails accessed by Axios concludes with the message, “Do not attempt to remain in the United States, the federal government will find you.” 
Afghanistan International: Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s acting Foreign Minister, has announced that the group will soon appoint an ambassador to Moscow, marking a new stage in diplomatic engagement between the Taliban and Russia. The statement came during a meeting with Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan. Zia Ahmad Takal, Deputy Spokesperson for the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed that Russia is expected to receive the Taliban’s diplomatic representative at the ambassadorial level. 
Amu: Four members of the Czech Special Forces have been charged in connection with the death of an Afghan prisoner who died shortly after being interrogated, Radio Prague International reported on Tuesday. The incident occurred in 2018 at the Shindand air base in Afghanistan’s western Herat province. According to the report, the Afghan man, identified only as Khan, had earlier shot and killed Czech dog handler Tomáš Procházka and wounded two other soldiers before being captured. 
Amu: The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) reported Tuesday that Taliban have banned the capturing and publication of images of living beings in Bamiyan Province. According to the AFJC, the Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice issued a formal letter to local government offices in Bamiyan on April 17, mandating enforcement of the new ban. The directive was announced following a meeting led by Taliban-appointed governor Abdullah Sarhadi and local officials. Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have imposed increasingly strict controls on the country’s media, drawing condemnation from press freedom organizations and raising concerns over the future of independent journalism in the country. 
