Brief news from the past 24 hours in Afghanistan

The Taliban’s governor office in Khost announced the start of building an industrial park expected to boost the province’s roughly 150 operating factories;

The Taliban’s governor office in Khost announced that construction has begun on an industrial park in the province. Gulzali Jananzoi, head of Khost’s Chamber of Industry and Mines, said about 150 factories currently operate in the province and that the new industrial park is expected to increase the number of factories.

Taliban and Iran Agree on Prisoner Transfers
Iran’s deputy foreign minister said Tuesday that the Taliban have agreed to transfer Iranian prisoners from Afghanistan to Iran. Kazem Gharibabadi stated that, under the bilateral understanding, a list of the prisoners will soon be provided to the Iranian embassy to facilitate their immediate transfer to Iran.

UN: Internet Shutdown in Afghanistan Cost Children’s Lives
A recent UN office report in Afghanistan found that a 48-hour internet blackout ordered by the Taliban had disastrous consequences for patients across the country, contributing to child deaths.

Iran-mediated Meeting between Pakistan’s Interior Minister and Taliban Deputy in Tehran
Amid verbal exchanges between the Taliban administration and Pakistan and after the failure of Istanbul talks, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met with Ebrahim Sadr, senior deputy for security at the Taliban Interior Ministry, on the sidelines of an ECO interior ministers’ meeting in Tehran.

Pakistan Reports Failure of Istanbul Talks with Taliban
Following four days of talks, Pakistan’s Information and Media Minister Attaullah Tarar said negotiations with the “Afghan Taliban regime” in Istanbul were fruitless. He thanked Qatar and Turkey for mediation but reported no concrete results.

Badakhshan Uprising: Taliban Seeks to Arrest Rebel Commander
After clashes between local commander Abdulrahman Ammar—former head of Taliban mines—and Shafiqullah Hafizi, current head of Badakhshan mines, the Taliban central authority has sent fresh forces. Sources say Ammar is considered a “rebel” and the dispatched forces are tasked with arresting him and his followers.

Pakistan Defense Minister: Taliban Delegation in Istanbul Incompetent and Influenced by India
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif accused the Taliban negotiating team in Istanbul of lacking authority, claiming real power rests with elements in Kabul allegedly acting as an Indian proxy.

UNAMA: “Promotion of virtue” Policies Pressure Doctors to Refuse Treating Women
A new UN political mission (UNAMA) report indicates the Taliban administration continues discriminatory and repressive measures against Afghan women, and that “promotion of virtue” policies pressure doctors to withhold treatment from women.

Khalilzad Defends Taliban vs. Pakistan from Fake Account
Former U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad reposted from a fake account attributed to Tajikistan’s national security chief that criticized Pakistan.

Iranian Official: 50% of Afghan Returnees Remain in Iran for Now
The head of Iran’s migrant affairs center said 456,000 Afghan migrants have returned to Afghanistan since the start of this year, and about the same number remain in Iran illegally and must leave.

Study: British Data Leak Linked to 49 Afghan Relatives’ Deaths
A new study shows that of 231 Afghans who received notification from the UK Ministry of Defence about information leaks, 49 reported that a family member or colleague was killed as a result. The findings were presented to the UK Parliament’s defense committee.

Afghan and Kazakh Firms Sign $360 Million in MOUs
The Taliban’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce announced agreements worth $360 million between 15 Afghan and Kazakh companies covering petroleum products, flour, wheat, foodstuffs, transport, detergents, and pasta.

Taliban Health Minister Leads Delegation to Saudi Arabia
Taliban Health Minister Noor Jalal Jalali visited Saudi Arabia Tuesday leading a delegation; the trip, at Saudi invitation, aims to strengthen health cooperation and exchange expertise.

Some UK Universities Suspend Afghan Admissions
Several UK universities have suspended applications from Afghan applicants or imposed stricter limits due to visa refusal concerns, increased Home Office scrutiny, and the risk of losing sponsorship licenses for “high-risk” institutions.

Iran Offers to Mediate Between Pakistan and Taliban
Iran’s president said at the ECO summit that Tehran is ready to help resolve disputes between Islamabad and Kabul to reduce tensions and avoid conflict.

Taliban: We Will Give a “Decisive Response” to Any Pakistani Attack
The Taliban Interior Ministry warned it will respond decisively to any Pakistani attack, promising a reply severe enough to teach Pakistan a lesson.

Hekmatyar Urges Pakistan to Adopt a New, Constructive, Permanent Policy Toward Afghanistan
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar urged Pakistan’s people and parliamentarians to stop “irresponsible” threats that could lead to undesirable consequences.

Pakistan and Taliban Blame Each Other for Failed Istanbul Talks
After three days of unsuccessful talks, Taliban-controlled national television claimed certain Pakistani army circles obstructed negotiations and that the Taliban cannot prevent attacks inside Pakistan.

Contradictory Accounts from Former Taliban Ambassador and Ex-ISI Chief
Former ISI chief General Ehsanul Haq called Abdul Salam Zaeef’s claim—that Pakistan handed him over to the U.S. after the Taliban’s fall—“false and misleading,” saying Zaeef was arrested inside Afghanistan.

Pakistan Asks Taliban to Designate TTP a Terrorist Group
A Taliban foreign ministry source told Afghanistan International that Pakistan requested the Taliban undertake operations against TTP and designate it as a terrorist organization during Istanbul talks.

Netherlands Plans to Deport Two Afghan Women
The Dutch government intends to return two women to Afghanistan, believing they can adapt to Taliban-imposed rules for women.

Third Day of Taliban–Pakistan Talks Ends Without Results
Taliban–Pakistan talks in Istanbul concluded their third day with no agreement; officials said despite long negotiations no tangible progress or joint statement was produced.