India has announced it will establish an agricultural research centre in Afghanistan, marking one of its most significant developmental engagements in the country since the Taliban takeover. The initiative aims to enhance crop productivity, introduce modern farming technology and boost food security — critical priorities in a country where drought, economic contraction and limited international aid have strained livelihoods. New Delhi’s move signals a continued interest in maintaining influence and supporting grassroots development, despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties with the Taliban administration.

Taliban regime

Tensions with neighbouring Pakistan escalated once again, after Pakistan’s Defence Minister publicly stated that the “Taliban regime” does not represent the Afghan people. The remark underscores Islamabad’s growing frustration with the Taliban government and reflects worsening trust between the two sides, driven by allegations of cross-border militancy and disputes over the status of Afghan refugees. Pakistan, historically seen as a critical power broker in Afghan affairs, appears to be recalibrating its stance in response to rising security challenges at home, and increasingly vocal domestic criticism of its past engagement with the Taliban.

Pakistan ceasefire

Despite the heated rhetoric, diplomatic channels have remained active. Türkiye confirmed that Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to maintain a ceasefire, following mediation efforts led by Ankara, with fresh negotiations scheduled for November 6. The move highlights Türkiye’s ambitions to play a stabilising diplomatic role in South Asia and its growing engagement in regional political dynamics. While the ceasefire agreement signals progress, both sides remain cautious amid continued concerns over border security, militant movements and humanitarian pressures linked to mass displacement and returns.

Counterterrorism cooperation

Further confirming diplomatic momentum, Kabul and Islamabad later issued statements reaffirming their commitment to continue the ceasefire and dialogue. However, Afghan and Pakistani relations remain fragile, shaped by longstanding mistrust and divergent security priorities — especially around counterterrorism cooperation and the contested Durand Line border. With winter approaching and regional security conditions unpredictable, observers warn that even small provocations could destabilise the fragile peace without sustained political will on both sides.

Afghan values

Domestically, internal messaging from the Taliban leadership continued to emphasise cultural control and ideological direction. Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani hosted Afghanistan’s U-17 futsal champions, praising their achievement on the international stage while urging them to adhere to “Islamic and Afghan values.” The meeting reflects the Taliban’s strategy of using youth and sports victories to foster national pride, even as they tighten cultural restrictions. It also highlights the regime’s effort to cultivate a narrative of unity and resilience, despite ongoing concerns from Afghan civil society over shrinking freedoms and limited pathways for young people under the current political environment.

Since regaining power, the Taliban has pushed for international recognition while maintaining a firm stance against any form of foreign intervention, military or otherwise. Muttaqi’s remarks appear to reinforce that position amid recent regional discussions on counterterrorism cooperation and growing humanitarian concerns.

While the Taliban leadership has expressed openness to trade and diplomatic ties with neighbouring and global powers, it continues to resist international pressure over human rights , particularly the treatment of women and girls, and the presence of militant groups operating within Afghanistan’s borders.

The order followed a decree from Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada banning the internet as part of new “morality measures.” The group, which seized power in Kabul in 2021, has promised alternative channels of access but has yet to explain what these might be.

Reports from the ground suggest that services began cutting out before Monday evening.

"Afghanistan is now in the midst of a total internet blackout as Taliban authorities move to implement morality measures, with multiple networks disconnected through the morning in a stepwise manner; telephone services are currently also impacted,” Netblocks said. 

Why it matters: 

Bigger picture: 

Austria has opened political channels with the Taliban by hosting a delegation from the Islamic Emirate to discuss the deportation of 20 Afghan migrants with criminal records. Analysts see this as a sign that European nations may be warming to limited engagement with Kabul’s rulers to address security and migration concerns.

UNAMA’s role dispute

A national debate continues over whether the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) is playing a constructive mediating role or has become irrelevant amid the Taliban’s consolidation of power.

Imran Khan urges Pakistan to send a peace delegation

From outside Afghanistan, imprisoned former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan called on Islamabad to send a peace delegation to Kabul, arguing that closer coordination is needed to stabilise cross-border security.

Internet shutdown fallout

Inside Afghanistan, the Taliban dispatched six ministers to Kandahar to address public anger over internet shutdowns, which have disrupted commerce, education, and communications. This marks one of the most direct government responses to digital rights concerns since the Taliban’s return to power.

Taliban threatens forced evictions in Herat township

Human rights concerns are also rising as reports emerge of threatened forced evictions in Herat, targeting Hazara residents, a move that has sparked fears of ethnic discrimination and displacement.

In a public statement, Amarkhil called on community leaders and parents to support the vaccination effort. "There are no confirmed positive polio cases registered in Afghanistan in 2024. The ministry is trying to eradicate this wild virus by launching vaccine campaigns," he emphasised, highlighting the importance of cooperation from tribal elders, religious scholars, and parents to ensure effective implementation.

The announcement follows recent reports of uncertainty over polio campaigns in the country. On September 16, the United Nations announced that Afghanistan's Taliban government had suspended polio vaccination campaigns. The next day, however, the Taliban-led Health Ministry disputed this, calling the UN’s statement "false."

Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the only countries globally where the polio virus is still endemic. As of October 28, the global count for confirmed polio cases in 2024 has reached 64, with 23 cases reported in Afghanistan and 41 in Pakistan. This is a significant increase from the 12 cases recorded last year, split equally between the two countries.

"When the Taliban came to power (in 2021), they closed down many places for women and I wanted women's voices to be heard and to make them understand that we also exist, that we are part of society," Zuhal said in an interview with AFP.

Afghanistan's Taliban authorities have firmly defended the new morality regulations amid widespread international condemnation.

The Taliban's chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, criticized international and local critics for what he called a lack of understanding of Islamic principles. He argued that dismissing the law without proper insight is "arrogant" and could "even lead to the decline of their faith."

The European Union has expressed strong disapproval, labelling the new regulations a "serious blow" to Afghan women and girls.

The international community continues to watch Afghanistan closely. The United Nations has stated that recognition of the Taliban government remains impossible as long as restrictions on women and other human rights violations persist

Meanwhile, On Monday, August 12, a group of women's rights activists in Takhar protested against the Taliban's policies. During the march, they chanted slogans denouncing "gender apartheid," asserting that the Taliban cannot silence women's voices through force.

Women's rights movements, both in Afghanistan and globally, have issued statements ahead of August 15, marking the third anniversary of the Taliban's return to power, calling it the "darkest day in Afghanistan's modern history."

Despite three years of improved security, a third of the nearly 40 million Afghans now survive on just bread and tea, according to the United Nations. Unemployment is widespread, and the World Bank warns there could be zero economic growth over the next three years.

Nikki, who previously ran a salon in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, reopened her business four months ago in a hidden location. To avoid detection, customers visit discreetly, and some of her 25 employees live on-site to maintain the appearance of a family residence.

Before the ban, her salon served 30 to 40 customers daily, but now she receives only six or seven, according to the AFP.

Despite this, she has kept all her employees on the payroll, though her monthly income has dropped from 25,000 Afghanis to between 8,000 and 12,000.

Nikki is concerned about being discovered by the authorities, who have previously shut down other underground salons, destroyed equipment, mistreated staff, and imposed fines.

"We're working in hiding, and we don't know for how much longer," she told AFP.

A leaked video has surfaced, revealing the Afghan Taliban's planning of an attack on Pakistani security forces. The video, originating from Afghanistan, has raised tensions between Kabul and Islamabad. Despite recent attacks on Pakistani soldiers, the Taliban government has not issued a response, reports media agency The News . Pakistan has persistently urged Afghanistan to cease attacks and collaborate in combating terrorism.

Former Prime Minister talks about his ousting

Although Nawaz Sharif is no longer the Prime Minister, he attributes his 2017 ousting to the military establishment. Amid ongoing conflicts with the ruling party Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), he expressed his commitment to steering the country towards progress, reports media agency Deccan Herald . Accusations of election rigging continue to heighten the political tensions.

Partnership for sustainable cotton farming in Pakistan

The Better Cotton Initiative has partnered with Net Zero Pakistan to advocate for sustainability and carbon emissions reduction on cotton farms. Net Zero Pakistan, launched in 2021, aims to ensure that the country's carbon emissions do not surpass atmospheric absorption levels by 2050, Eco Textile reported. 

Suicide attack targets Chinese nationals in Pakistan

Tragically, a suicide bomber targeted a vehicle carrying Chinese nationals in northwest Pakistan, resulting in the deaths of 5 Chinese citizens and their Pakistani driver. According to Fox News , the attack occurred in Shangla, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, following previous security threats to Chinese individuals in Pakistan. The government has pledged a comprehensive investigation and heightened security for Chinese nationals involved in Pakistani projects. 

New IMF Loan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is advocating for an additional IMF loan to strengthen Pakistan's economic stability. Emphasizing the need for growth, job creation, and inflation management, Pakistan is seeking a bailout package to facilitate long-term reforms, NDTV reports. The ongoing standby arrangement, slated to expire in April, is contingent on Pakistan meeting IMF conditions, including fiscal adjustments and interest rate hikes.

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has criticised Pakistan for alleged propaganda against Afghanistan, prompted by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's remarks about the Islamic State threat in Afghanistan during the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit. Karzai emphasised that IS threats originate from Pakistan and urged Pakistan to avoid interfering in Afghanistan's internal affairs, local media Afghanistan Times reported. Meanwhile, Khan highlighted the importance of Afghanistan combating terrorism to prevent its spillover into neighbouring countries.

Ban on women’s work in the media

The Minister of Virtue and Vice for the Taliban, Mohammad Khalid Hanafi has issued a warning regarding female reporters' appearances on television. Hanafi cautioned that if women do not cover their faces during broadcasts or visual interviews, the Taliban's supreme leader, Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, may prohibit women's work in the media entirely, local media Khaama reported. The Afghanistan Journalists Center expressed concern over this decree and called for its cancellation. Abdul Ghafoor Farooq, the spokesperson for the Taliban's Ministry of Virtue and Vice, recommended that women employees wear a "black covering with only their eyes visible" and advised against interviewing women without face coverings or masks.

Women’s rights

The UN special rapporteur for Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, delivered an assessment of the human rights situation in the country during the 55th session of the Human Rights Council. He highlighted widespread discrimination against women and minorities, emphasising the urgent need to prioritise human rights, particularly women's rights, in engagements with the Taliban. Bennett expressed concern over the Taliban's detention of women under the pretext of "bad hijab," and their release being contingent upon the guarantee of male family members. He called for accountability from the Taliban for their policies and actions, urging the international community to swiftly find ways to support Afghan women and girls, reports local media Afghanistan Times .

Britain–Afghanistan partnership

Robert Dixon, the British Embassy Chargé d'affaires for Afghanistan, held a meeting with Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, a political appointee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs press release outlined that the discussion covered a range of bilateral and multilateral political issues, focusing on strengthening relations between the two countries and humanitarian assistance efforts, reports local media Bakhtar News . Also the importance of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan's participation in international meetings related to Afghanistan to ensure effective coordination and establish fundamental relations at the international level.

Human rights violation

The annual report on human rights in Afghanistan, published by Tolerance, an organisation dedicated to monitoring human rights violations revealed that 506 people have been killed and 266 injured in targeted killings, mysterious murders, suicide attacks, and mine explosions, the report sheds light on the plight of various groups, including former government Afghanistan employees, human rights defenders, ethnic elders, opponents of the Taliban, and civilians, reports local media Etilaaztroz .

The Afghan Taliban declined participation in a U.N.-sponsored conference on Afghanistan to convene in Doha, Qatar. The conference, initiated by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, aimed to assemble member states and special envoys to discuss engagement with the Taliban. Despite the United Nations extending invitations to Afghan civil society representatives and anti-Taliban groups to engage with special envoys, the Taliban's refusal to participate complicates the proceedings, reports local media Afghanistan Times .

Ban on girls’ education condemned

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned the ban on girls' access to education and employment in Afghanistan, calling for its immediate reversal. In a statement posted on the UN's social media platform X on February 20, Guterres emphasised the need to ensure that women and girls in Afghanistan have meaningful participation in all aspects of life. He stressed that they should have the opportunity to participate fully in Afghan society, from classrooms to decision-making tables, local media Khaama reported.

Munich Security Conference

Following the Munich Security Conference's announcement this year, the spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan dismissed concerns expressed by foreign ministers of 12 European countries, stating that propaganda efforts by conspirators cannot impede Afghanistan's development. Mr. Mujahid, in a statement on X page, asserted that Afghanistan will continue to progress regardless of external announcements or concerns, local media Nunn reported. He emphasised ongoing developments as evidence contradicting the conference's concerns, accusing biased circles of disseminating misinformation and misrepresenting Afghanistan's image.

Girls in medical school

The Taliban have approved the enrollment of female high school graduates in state-run medical institutes in Afghanistan for the upcoming academic year beginning in March. The Ministry of Public Health of the Taliban has issued directives to recruit girls who have completed twelfth grade in government health institutes across several provinces, reports local media Etilaat Roz . Letters have been sent to the Public Health Departments of the mentioned provinces, instructing them to recruit these 12th-grade female graduates into health institutes.

Afghan trade

Afghanistan's trade landscape has witnessed a significant surge over the past nine months, with total imports and exports collectively reaching $7.5 billion. While exports amounted to $1.35 billion during this period, imports soared to $6.22 billion, resulting in a notable trade deficit for the country. A comparative analysis of the preceding period revealed a marginal decline in exports and a substantial rise in imports. Pakistan emerged as the leading destination for Afghan exports, followed closely by India and the UAE, local media Afghanistan Times reported.

In 1991 , 7,000 Afghan women were enrolled in higher education, 230,000 girls attending schools, and 190 female professors. However, by the end of the Taliban's first rule in 2001, less than a million Afghan children were in school, and none of them were girls.

By 2021, Afghan women had secured 69 parliamentary seats out of 249. They were visible in law, politics, journalism, and various public spaces.

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, they've issued 80 edicts, 54 specifically targeting women and girls. One year into their rule gender segregation and restricting women’s movement was clear.

Erased from the public sphere

The Taliban has since closed  secondary schools for girls; barring women from university and working at NGOs including the United Nations, excluding women from public offices and the judiciary, restricting travel without a male companion, and banning them from public spheres like the gym, parks and sports club.  

Women must now adhere to a strict dress code and if they don’t their male relatives would be punished.

The world’s attention

The global condemnation and threats of the Taliban's treatment of girls and women, along with calls for reforms from the UN's human rights body, have had limited impact on instigating change. Global attention has waned, leaving many Afghan girls to feel abandoned by the world.

Why the ban on education

The Taliban stopped girls' education beyond sixth grade because  they said it didn't comply with their interpretation of Islamic law, or Sharia . Afghan universities were also restricted to women due to perceived non-compliance with instructions, including a dress code, with the Taliban's minister for higher education, citing concerns about inappropriate attire resembling wedding attire.

Efforts to persuade the Taliban to reconsider the ban on girls' schools involved individuals like Obaidullah Baheer, a political science lecturer at the American University of Afghanistan, who engaged in discussions with the Taliban in an attempt to overturn the ban.

Baheer said the ban is deeply rooted in the ideological convictions of the current Taliban leader, Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada. Such leaders have been indoctrinated by the Deobandi school of thought and thus enforce a stringent interpretation of Islam on Afghans. The ban, considered a deliberate policy aligns with a fringe Islamic opinion of preferring the choice of one of the Prophet Muhammad's wives, Sawdah Bint Zam'ah, who chose to stay at home until her death.

" This fringe opinion is not held by all Taliban leaders but is one that the current absolute sovereign, the Taliban emir, seems to be convinced of,” he said .

The seemingly bleak future

In the face of numerous challenges, Afghan women persist in creating pockets of hope. Despite facing threats, intimidation, arrests, and torture , women who engage in rare protests against the Taliban's restrictions remain resilient.

The future of Afghan women hinges on meaningful engagement between the Taliban and the international community. If the Taliban does not respond to this engagement, it is unclear what the future holds.

Millions of Afghan women are confined to their homes, being forced to spend their days on farms and household chores. The lack of education for girls raises concerns about a generation facing a bleak future with limited rights. Afghan girls now live in fear of what the future holds for them.

According to Pakistani sources, the cargo included American M4 weapons, Kalashnikovs, night vision cameras, laser beams, grenades, and thousands of bullets. The final destination of the shipment remains unknown.

These weapons were hidden among sacks of onions in a cargo truck and upon inspection, the Pakistani police confiscated the truck and arrested the driver.

Pakistani officials have said that the attempt to smuggle modern American weapons from Afghanistan to Pakistan refutes the Taliban's claim that they do not use Afghan soil against Pakistan.

Islamabad has asked the Afghan Taliban to stop arms smuggling to Pakistan and to take specific steps against the activities of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan in Afghanistan.

This is amid the fact that exactly one month ago, the Pakistani media, Tribune, citing a senior security official in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa state, reported that terrorist groups in that state had acquired advanced American weapons.

This claim was announced after two police officers were killed in that area at night with weapons equipped with night vision cameras.

Pakistani security officials have repeatedly claimed that American weapons have fallen into the hands of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and around the Afghanistan-Pakistan border which has bolstered the positions of this insurgent group.

The sale and smuggling of American weapons on the borders of Afghanistan started more than two years ago since the withdrawal of the American forces.

It was following the departure of U.S. forces that the US special inspector for the reconstruction of Afghanistan announced that US military equipment worth seven billion dollars remained in Afghanistan.

The Washington Examiner also reported that more equipment worth 18 billion dollars was given to the Afghan National Army, whose fate was not known after the collapse of the republican government.

During the past two years, following the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan, several reports of black market sales of American military equipment in the border areas of Afghanistan were published in the media.

However, some American officials have denied the presence of American weapons in Afghanistan. The Taliban have always denied the claim of smuggling American weapons from Afghanistan.

He said that 650 to 900 tonnes of oil are extracted from these wells daily and a portion of the income is spent on development projects.

Currently, 15 wells are operating but the number is expected to increase in the future.

He claimed that the cost of building the Sultan Ibrahim dam will be financed by profits from oil extraction ventures, and the project will be launched in April next year.

Chinese influence

Local media Independent Persian reports that during a visit to the Qashqari oil field, in late November, the Taliban governor ordered the Taliban forces to cooperate with the employees of the Chinese contractors operating wells to ensure security.

The Taliban is worried that the Khorasan branch of the Islamic State or their military opponents will make the oil-rich Qashqari region unsafe, the report added. 

During the two decades of war and insurgency against the former government of Afghanistan and its Western allies, the Taliban were accused of making a great deal of effort to make various projects in the country unsafe and were allegedly extorting money from project contractors, Arab News revealed.

In January 2023, the Taliban handed over the extraction of the Qashgari oil field and other Amu Darya oil fields in Jawzjan and Faryab provinces to a Chinese company called Xinjiang Gas and Petroleum in Central Asia (CAPEIC) under a 25-year agreement.

It is estimated that the capacity of the Amu Darya oil region is 87 million barrels. 20% of the income from oil field resources goes to the Taliban.

The process of extracting oil from the Qashqari oil field started in July of this year and initially, the capacity of extraction was 50 tonnes of crude oil in one day. The Chinese company was able to increase the level of oil extraction.

With the overthrow of the previous government in August 2021, the Taliban started a massive campaign to attract foreign investors in the mining sector, and among these, Chinese companies showed great enthusiasm for investing in this sector. Various Chinese delegations travel to Afghanistan to meet with senior Taliban officials.

The Taliban regime has entrusted the mining of the Aynak copper mine in Logar province, the largest copper mine in Afghanistan and the second copper mine in the world, to China.

China owns a large part of Afghanistan's consumer market, and it is believed that with the continuation of the Taliban regime, China's role in the country's economy will become more prominent.

Contractual risks

The Taliban regime was able to dominate Afghanistan by resorting to the military option and signing an agreement with the United States of America on February 29, 2020.

This Islamist extremist group is accused of monopoly of power and violation of human rights, especially of women.

The Taliban government has not been recognized by any country yet, therefore signing the contract for extracting Afghanistan's mines is not legal and has no legitimacy, and it will not hold if the Taliban regime is overthrown.

During the Kunduz visit, Fasihuddin inspected the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border, addressing potential shortcomings in the border forces to prevent adversaries from seeking refuge in Tajikistan.

Tajikistan's lack of diplomatic relations with the Taliban and its harboring of Taliban opponents, including those aligned with Ahmad Massoud's National Resistance Front, has added tension to their relationship.

With Tajikistan perceived as a possible supporter of Taliban opponents, fears of increased armed resistance against the Taliban persist.

There are speculations that some of the Taliban's military rivals have sought refuge in Tajikistan, traveling through routes from Panjshir to Baghlan and onwards.

Fasihuddin's visit aims to fortify the Taliban's border defenses, preventing political and military opponents from finding shelter in Tajikistan. Tajik authorities deny backing the Taliban's adversaries but advocate for an inclusive government in Afghanistan representing all ethnic groups.

Since the Taliban's takeover, key figures from the previous Afghan government, including former President Ashraf Ghani and his deputy Amrullah Saleh, are reported to have fled to Tajikistan, utilizing helicopters due to the Taliban's lack of control over Afghan airspace.

In Baghlan province, Fasihuddin extended his visit to Andrab city, a hub for former military personnel from the previous republican regime. The Taliban's statement highlighted discussions on the city's security situation, meetings with local elders and authorities, and assurances of maintaining security.

Sources reveal that Fasihuddin urged Andrab's elders to prevent youth recruitment by the national and freedom resistance fronts, deeming any opposition as "rebellion" subject to suppression.

Amid domestic and international legitimacy crises, criticism of rights violations, and economic challenges, the Taliban faces growing dissatisfaction. Simultaneously, political opponents seek unity for potential political and military confrontations, evident in recent gatherings organized for this purpose.

Participants engaged in discussions that spanned diverse topics, formulating "engagement plans" for Afghanistan's future. The gathering included opposition groups, with invitations extended to the Taliban and their advocates, though they opted not to participate.

The conference concluded with a performance by the "Zehre Orchestra," a group currently in exile following the Taliban's assumption of control in Afghanistan. Davoud Moradian, the head of the organizing institution, emphasized that the conference sought to amplify the diverse voices shaping Afghanistan's path forward.

Hot-button issues such as "identity conflict in the region" and the potential threat of religious extremism to exonym Persia dominated headlines. The role of opposition groups and discussions on the possibility of toppling the Taliban government were central themes.

Abdullah Mahla, a Tajik writer, stressed the importance of recognizing the various nations in the region with their distinct national interests. He underscored that the threat of "religious extremism" poses a significant danger to the civilization in the area and has led to the "death of civilization" in some aspects.

The panel titled "Regional Consensus; Global Support" featured former diplomatic and security officials and focused on diplomatic strategies in dealing with the Taliban government. Syed Tayyab Javad, the former ambassador of Afghanistan in London and Moscow, criticized the international strategy on Afghanistan, alleging "obvious double standards" in global diplomacy.

In the session titled "Towards a Democratic Afghanistan," Mohammad Amin Karim from Hizb-e-Islami expressed his unconventional views, stating that he does not support overthrowing the current Taliban government. Karim highlighted the distortion of democracy in Afghanistan over the past two decades and advocated for a "religious democratic elected system."

Another panel emphasized the "inseparable commonalities" among groups and movements opposed to the Taliban. Mohammad Ismail Khan, a former Afghan Minister of Energy, labeled the Taliban's return to power a "great global conspiracy" and asserted that those involved in the "One-sided Doha Agreement" are experiencing regret. He emphasized the unity of Taliban opponents and hinted at resorting to previous methods if negotiations fail.

Smith indicated ongoing efforts to extend an invitation to a representative of the Taliban government for this gathering, which will include delegates from 20 countries.

During discussions with Taliban officials, Smith acknowledged that the conference would cover various topics, including human rights, humanitarian aid, the return of Afghan refugees, and the issue of "recognition of the Taliban government." UNAMA has disclosed the participation of several prominent Afghan figures in the conference.

Last February, the United Nations convened a meeting to deliberate on the conditions for recognizing the Taliban government. To date, preconditions for recognition and legitimacy have included respecting human rights and women's rights, forming an "inclusive government," and preventing "terrorist groups" from finding refuge. 

The UN Secretary-General appointed a committee following the earlier meeting to conduct further investigations and gather perspectives from various countries on joint action for the future of Afghanistan.

Zabiullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, remarked, "If the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is invited, it will, of course, participate, but it does not appear likely to receive an invitation as the issue of recognition by the United Nations is still pending, and Afghanistan's seat has not been transferred yet."

"These centers have been named as 'holding centers'. Illegal immigrants will be kept there," Sarfraz Bugti, the caretaker interior minister, said at a press conference.

"They will be provided with medical facilities and food. Children, women, and elders will be treated with special respect. But at the same time, after Nov 1st, we will not compromise on illegal immigrants.”

Feroz Jamal, spokesperson for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government said three centers situated along the province's border with Afghanistan will be prepared by the specified deadline.

This directive is issued at a time when Pakistan is contending with an increase in attacks that the government attributes to militants operating from Afghanistan, a claim consistently denied by Kabul. Additionally, there is a growing anti-Afghan sentiment amid prolonged economic difficulties faced by the Pakistani state.

Over the course of several decades marked by conflict, Afghans have flocked to Pakistan. This influx began during the Soviet invasion, continued through the subsequent civil war, and extended into the period of the US-led occupation.

United Nations data indicates that approximately 1.3 million Afghans are registered as refugees, while an additional 880,000 have legal status to reside in Pakistan. According to the Pakistani government, an additional 1.7 million Afghans are in the country without legal authorization.

Since the Taliban's assumption of power in Kabul in August 2021 and their imposition of strict Islamic law, it is estimated that hundreds of thousands of Afghans have crossed into Pakistan, with many of them seeking asylum in third countries.

Authorities and politicians have asserted that a recent crackdown targeted individuals lacking legal status, motivated by concerns related to increasing crime and inadequate immigration oversight, which has placed a strain on resources.

However, Afghans have leveled accusations against authorities, alleging that they are making indiscriminate arrests, disregarding valid documentation, and engaging in extortion practices.

The interior minister has also issued a caution, stating that Pakistanis who provide shelter to undocumented Afghans will face severe consequences, while Afghans possessing forged documents will be subject to penalties.

Afghanistan itself is grappling with significant economic challenges. It is disconnected from the international banking system and heavily reliant on humanitarian assistance, especially as the harsh winter months approach.