Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Mosharraf Zaidi, spokesperson to the prime minister on foreign media, said on Tuesday that the Afghan Taliban regime initiated unprovoked firing along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in the Torkham and Tirah sectors.&nbsp;In a post on X, he said Pakistan&rsquo;s security forces &ldquo;responded immediately and effectively, silencing the Taliban aggression.&rdquo;&nbsp;Zaidi warned that any further provocation would be met with an &ldquo;immediate and severe&rdquo; response, reaffirming that Pakistan would continue to protect its citizens and safeguard its territorial integrity. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 393px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2026326337695211825&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=d9de6d2732cd3795fc9a78059af0dc9350b4e0de&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The exchange follows <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-strikes-7-ttp-iskp-terrorist-camps-near-afghan-border" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pakistan&rsquo;s overnight air strikes</a> over the weekend in Afghanistan&rsquo;s Nangarhar and Paktika provinces, where, according to officials, terrorist camps and hideouts were targeted. An official said more than 80 terrorists were killed in the precision strikes.&nbsp;A statement issued by the information ministry in the early hours of Sunday said the strikes were conducted in response to a series of terrorist attacks inside Pakistan, including a suicide bombing at an imambargah in Islamabad and multiple attacks in Bannu and Bajaur.&nbsp;The ministry said Pakistan had &ldquo;conclusive evidence&rdquo; that &quot;khwarij&quot; -- terrorists backed by India belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) -- carried out the attacks at the behest of their Afghanistan-based leadership and handlers.&nbsp;Describing the action as a retributive, intelligence-based operation, the statement said seven terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to the TTP, along with affiliates and Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K), were targeted in the border region.&nbsp;It added that despite repeated efforts by Pakistan urging the Afghan Taliban regime to take verifiable measures to deny the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/russia-estimates-up-to-23000-terrorists-in-afghanistan" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">use of its territory by terrorist groups</a> and foreign proxies for attacks against Pakistan, no substantive action had been taken.

Security

Warns that any further provocation would be met with an “immediate and severe” response, reaffirming that Pakistan would continue to protect its citizens and safeguard its territorial integrity.

Afghan Taliban initiated unprovoked firing along border, says PM’s spokesperson

ISLAMABAD: Russia&rsquo;s Foreign Ministry has estimated that Afghanistan hosts between 20,000 and 23,000 fighters from various international terrorist groups, raising concerns over regional security, according to Afghan media.&nbsp;Ariana News, quoting Russia&#39;s foreign ministry, reported that over half of these fighters are foreign nationals. Among the larger groups, it cited around 3,000 Daesh fighters, 5,000-7,000 from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/un-warns-ttp-emerging-as-significant-regional-threat-from-afghan-soil" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)</a>, and 400 to 1,500 from al Qaeda. Smaller groups reportedly include the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU/Turkestan Islamic Party), and Jamaat Ansarullah.&nbsp;The assessment noted that Daesh remains hostile toward Afghan authorities but lacks the ability to seize territory, focusing instead on undermining public confidence.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 897px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2025934201611252211&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=0f788f5019564c51946ce9062ca401b85a0de722&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>However, Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Taliban-led Interim Afghan government, rejected the report.&nbsp;Speaking to TOLO News, he claimed Afghanistan is under a unified authority, and no foreign terrorist groups operate freely within its borders.&nbsp;Mujahid dismissed Russia&rsquo;s report as politically motivated, drawing parallels with similar allegations made during the US occupation.&nbsp; &ldquo;Afghanistan is secure, and these reports do not reflect ground realities,&rdquo; he said, urging Russia to base its assessments on objective facts.

Afghanistan

Its foreign ministry says that over half of these fighters are foreign nationals. Among the larger groups, it cited around 3,000 Daesh fighters, 5,000 to 7,000 from Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and 400 to 1,500 from al Qaeda.

Russia estimates up to 23,000 terrorists present in Afghanistan 

ISLAMABAD: The Afghan Taliban have introduced a new penal code that permits a husband to physically punish his wife, provided the violence does not result in broken bones or open wounds, according to a report published by The Telegraph.&nbsp;The British newspaper said it had obtained the 60-page legal document, signed by Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and circulated to courts across Afghanistan.&nbsp; The code reportedly classifies spousal beatings as &ldquo;ta&rsquo;zir,&rdquo; or discretionary punishment, rather than a criminal offence.&nbsp;Under the new provisions, a husband may strike his wife or children so long as no visible fractures or open injuries are caused. Even in cases where serious harm is proven, the maximum penalty is said to be 15 days in prison.&nbsp;The report said the complaint process makes it&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/taliban-tighten-restrictions-on-women-media-in-afghanistan-hrw-report" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">difficult for women to seek justice</a>. A woman must appear before a male judge, fully veiled and accompanied by a male guardian &mdash; often the husband accused of abuse.&nbsp; There is no explicit prohibition of physical, psychological or sexual violence against women in the code.&nbsp;The Telegraph further reported that a woman who leaves her husband&rsquo;s home without permission &mdash; including to escape violence &mdash; could face up to three months in prison under Article 34.&nbsp;Family members who shelter her may face the same punishment.&nbsp;The new code replaces legal protections introduced under Afghanistan&rsquo;s previous government, including a 2009 law that criminalized forced marriage, rape and gender-based violence.&nbsp;According to the newspaper, the document also introduces broader social and legal restrictions. It criminalizes dancing and attending dance performances, imposes penalties for criticizing Taliban leadership or policies, and does not provide for the right to legal counsel.&nbsp;Article 23 reportedly prescribes lashes and imprisonment for insulting&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/afghanistan-ranks-among-worlds-most-corrupt-countries-in-2025-report" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Taliban leaders</a>, while Article 17 criminalizes &ldquo;mockery&rdquo; of Islamic rulings without clearly defining the term.&nbsp;The report said the code distinguishes between different social classes and includes provisions that affect religious minorities, including followers of non-Hanafi Islamic schools.&nbsp;Since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban have imposed wide-ranging restrictions on women and girls, including limits on education, employment and public participation.&nbsp; A United Nations report in July 2024 warned that enforcement measures by the ministry for promoting virtue and preventing vice were contributing to a climate of fear and intimidation.&nbsp;The Taliban authorities have not publicly responded to the Telegraph&rsquo;s report.

The British newspaper says it has obtained the 60-page legal document, signed by Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and circulated to courts across Afghanistan. The code reportedly classifies spousal beatings as “ta’zir,” or discretionary punishment, rather than a criminal offence.

Afghan Taliban allow husbands to beat wives without breaking bones: Report 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has stated that the terrorist attacks in the country are the result of a &quot;proxy war&quot; waged by India in complicity with the Taliban government in Kabul. In an interview with FRANCE 24, he also spoke about the situation in Gaza, saying that Pakistan is ready to contribute to an international peace force if the conditions are ripe. Addressing the security situation in Pakistan and the recent bombing of a mosque in the capital Islamabad, Asif stated that &quot;almost all the franchises of terrorism&quot; are present in Pakistan &quot;because of the non-seriousness of the Kabul government toward curbing terrorism,&quot; adding that complicity would be a better word. &lsquo;Won&rsquo;t hesitate&rsquo;Asif went on to say that Pakistan &quot;won&#39;t hesitate&quot; to conduct new strikes on Afghanistan, unless someone in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-russia-discuss-security-threats-from-afghanistanbased-groups" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kabul</a>&nbsp;can &quot;underwrite peace.&quot; He said that India was waging a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/four-facilitators-of-islamabad-mosque-attacker-afghan-mastermind-arrested-security-sources" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">&quot;proxy war&quot;</a>&nbsp;against Pakistan and that New Delhi and Kabul were &quot;on the same page&quot; when it came to striking Pakistan. Asif emphasized that war with India was still &quot;a possibility.&quot; &#39;Not even being considered&#39;Asked about Pakistan&#39;s possible contribution to an international stabilization mission in Gaza, Asif stressed that this would depend on &quot;what sort of terms of reference are drafted for that peace force.&quot; He pointed out that Pakistan has significant experience as a contributor to United Nations peacekeeping forces and said that participating in the Gaza force would be a &quot;good opportunity&quot; to advance a two-state solution in the Middle East. Despite the normalization of relations between several Muslim countries and Israel, Asif said that he doesn&#39;t see &quot;this option being even considered by Pakistan&quot; unless Palestinians are granted &quot;the right of self-determination in their own homeland&quot; within the framework of a two-state solution.

Foreign Affairs

Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has stated that the terrorist attacks in the country are the result of a 'proxy war' waged by India in complicity with the Taliban government in Kabul.

New Delhi, Kabul 'on the same page' for striking Pakistan, says Khawaja Asif 

<figure class="fr-media">ISLAMABAD: India has stepped up its engagement with Afghanistan&rsquo;s interim government, delivering 131 cartons of the tetanus-diphtheria (Td) vaccine to the Afghan Ministry of Public Health, according to state-run Bakhtar News Agency. Each carton reportedly contains 768 doses. The Td vaccine protects against diphtheria and tetanus, with the current batch produced in August 2025 and valid until July 2028.<img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/941d2999-ce05-42be-b7ea-cd3981ea5f75-Td vaccine.webp" alt="India donates 131 cartons of the Td (tetanus-diphtheria) vaccine to Afghanistan. (Photo: Bakhtar News Agency)" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic" style="text-align: left;">India donates 131 cartons of the Td (tetanus-diphtheria) vaccine to Afghanistan. (Photo: Bakhtar News Agency)</figcaption></figure>The shipment, received on Friday, follows India&rsquo;s recent donation of around 9.5 tons of anti-cancer medicines. Earlier, New Delhi also announced 20 ambulances for Afghanistan, five of which were handed over in October 2025. The growing outreach comes at a time when&nbsp;Afghanistan&rsquo;s ties with Pakistan are strained, especially over border tensions, and India&rsquo;s engagement is seen as a strategic counterbalance to Pakistan&rsquo;s influence. India also aims to limit Chinese dominance in Afghanistan through infrastructure and diplomatic presence. Pakistan had initially expected the authorities in Kabul to act decisively against the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and dismantle terrorist sanctuaries on Afghan soil. However, Islamabad has repeatedly <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-raises-concerns-over-indiaafghanistan-statement-rejects-afghan-ministers-remarks" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">expressed concern</a> that no effective measures were taken despite its cautions over rising cross-border terrorism. The 37th report of the UN Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, issued on Feb. 4, endorsed Pakistan&rsquo;s position that Afghan territory continues to be used by terrorist groups to launch attacks. The report noted an <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/un-warns-ttp-emerging-as-significant-regional-threat-from-afghan-soil" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">increase in TTP attacks against Pakistan from Afghanistan</a>, leading to heightened regional tensions. It further stated that while the Afghan de facto authorities claimed no terrorist groups were operating inside the country, no UN member state supported this view. The report observed that the TTP was accorded greater operational freedom, resulting in a surge in attacks inside Pakistan. It also highlighted that Al Qaeda continued to benefit from patronage in Afghanistan and provided training and advisory support to militant groups, particularly the TTP. The group has been linked to many attacks, particularly in the latter half of 2025, contributing to heightened tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier. Last week, at least 33 people were martyred and around 169 others injured in a suicide blast at Imambargah Khadijah al-Kubra during Friday prayers. Just this week, two police officers were martyred, and six others were injured in separate attacks in two districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Pakistan has taken firm steps to safeguard its national security, including targeted actions against militant hideouts and stricter border management measures. Officials maintain that durable peace in the region requires concrete action against terrorist elements operating from Afghan soil.

Afghan Interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi stands with his counterpart S. Jaishankar during his official visit to India on October 10, 2025. (File photo: X/Afghanistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

The growing outreach comes at a time when ties between Pakistan and the Afghan interim government have faced challenges since the fall of Kabul in August 2021.


India deepens outreach to Afghanistan amid strains in Islamabad-Kabul ties

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Security Council on Thursday extended the mandate of its sanctions monitoring team overseeing measures against the Taliban for another year, keeping the group under UN sanctions amid ongoing concerns about security and human rights in Afghanistan. All 15 members of the Security Council unanimously adopted the resolution under the 1988 sanctions regime, which targets the Taliban and affiliated entities deemed to threaten Afghanistan&rsquo;s peace, stability, and security. The draft resolution was prepared by the United States, renewing the Monitoring Team&rsquo;s mandate until Feb. 17, 2027.&nbsp;The decision means the UN monitoring team will continue to track implementation of sanctions, including asset freezes, travel bans, and arms embargo measures.&nbsp; Travel-ban exemptions previously granted to several Taliban leaders were not renewed. The Taliban has repeatedly urged the international community to lift sanctions, arguing that restrictions hinder economic recovery and diplomatic engagement.&nbsp; However, members of the Security Council cited persistent concerns over the presence of militant groups in Afghanistan, sweeping restrictions on women and girls, and the absence of an inclusive political framework as reasons to maintain the measures. Diplomats said the extension reflects the Council&rsquo;s view that conditions on the ground have not improved sufficiently to justify easing the sanctions regime.&nbsp; The monitoring team will continue reporting regularly to the Council on compliance and developments related to security threats and governance in Afghanistan.&nbsp; As there is an ongoing threat from Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), ISIL-Khorasan (ISIL-K), Majeed Brigade, and Al-Qaeda. The report pointed to growing concern across the region about cross-border attacks, the radicalization of vulnerable communities, and the use of commercial satellite communications and artificial intelligence by militant groups to advance their operations. &nbsp;While Afghan authorities emphasize no terrorist groups are present in the country, the Monitoring Team stated that &ldquo;no UN member state supported that assessment.&rdquo; On Al-Qaeda, the report said the group&rsquo;s intent and capability for external operations remain unchanged. It continues to serve as a training and advisory hub, particularly for TTP, and &ldquo;favors spectacular attacks aimed at attracting global media attention,&rdquo; highlighting the continued threat beyond the immediate region. The Monitoring Team warned that TTP could deepen cooperation with Al-Qaeda-aligned groups, potentially expanding the threat beyond the region.&nbsp;

UN monitoring team will continue to track implementation of sanctions overseeing measures against the Taliban for another year; all 15 members of the Security Council, unanimously, adopted the resolution under the 1988 sanctions regime, which targets the Taliban and affiliated entities deemed to threaten Afghanistan’s peace, stability, and security.

UN Security Council extends Afghanistan sanctions monitoring mandate

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has documented the killing of 14 former Afghan government forces in the final three months of 2025, according to its latest human rights report released on Sunday. The report details alarming patterns of violence against former officials and security personnel despite the Taliban&#39;s announced &quot;general amnesty&quot; for members of the previous government.&nbsp; Between October and December 2025, UNAMA recorded 28 cases of arbitrary arrest and detention, along with at least seven instances of torture and ill-treatment targeting former government personnel. According to UNAMA, some of those targeted had recently returned to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan. The UN mission urged the de facto authorities to take concrete steps to protect their lives and rights. The report also highlighted broader human rights concerns, including severe restrictions on women&#39;s work and movement, executions and floggings, and disruptions to internet and telecommunications services. President Zardari warns of pre-9/11 conditions in AfghanistanThe findings come amid growing regional and international concern over the situation in Afghanistan under Taliban rule.&nbsp; In a statement released Sunday,&nbsp;Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari issued a stark warning that conditions in Afghanistan under Taliban rule have become similar to or worse than the period before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.&nbsp; He criticized the Taliban regime for creating an environment where terrorist organizations can operate and pose threats to regional and global peace. Economic crisis deepens under Taliban regimeThe UN Development Program reports that Afghanistan&#39;s economy contracted by 27% following the Taliban takeover and remains at an unstable, low-level equilibrium. <span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Google Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;'>Over 10 million Afghans remain displaced globally, including both refugees in neighboring countries and those internally displaced in Afghanistan due to ongoing conflict, poverty, and hunger. The Taliban&#39;s restrictions on women&#39;s education and employment have significantly exacerbated the crisis. Girls remain banned from secondary education, entering their fifth year of restrictions, and women&#39;s employment in the public sector remains low. The UNDP estimates that excluding women from the economy could cost Afghanistan 5.8% of its GDP between 2024 and 2026. Afghanistan&#39;s humanitarian needs are growing while international assistance is declining sharply. After reaching $3.8 billion in 2022, aid fell dramatically in 2024, with only 31% of the required $3 billion secured by October. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization warns that 17.4 million people are projected to face acute food insecurity in 2026, with 4.7 million affected by acute malnutrition. The Taliban have previously rejected allegations of systematic abuses, insisting that their amnesty policy remains in force. However, UN officials and rights groups say the latest figures point to a persistent gap between official statements and realities on the ground.

The report flags persistent rights abuses in Afghanistan, citing detentions, torture, and social restrictions, as economic contraction, mass displacement, and shrinking aid worsen humanitarian conditions nationwide.

UN reports killing of 14 former Afghan personnel despite Taliban amnesty

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday said India has significantly expanded funding for terrorist groups operating against Pakistan, stating that New Delhi is relying on proxy warfare as it &ldquo;cannot fight a conventional war&rdquo; with Pakistan.&nbsp;Speaking to media, Naqvi said militant operatives who were previously paid around $500 are now receiving up to $1,500, reflecting what he described as a threefold increase in funding.&nbsp;He said India is channeling these resources to destabilize Pakistan through terrorism rather than engaging in direct military confrontation.&nbsp;On Friday, city officials said the attacker attempted to enter the Imambargah Qasr-e-Khadijatul Kubra mosque in Tarlai area on the outskirts of Islamabad but was stopped at the main gate, where the explosion occurred as worshippers gathered for Friday prayers. At least 32 people were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pm-sharif-condemns-mosque-blast-orders-probe" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">martyred</a>&nbsp;and 179 others injured.&nbsp;&ldquo;India avoids direct confrontation and instead wages indirect warfare through terrorism,&rdquo; the interior minister said, adding that Pakistan&rsquo;s security forces are actively dismantling these networks.&nbsp;Naqvi confirmed that several facilitators involved in recent terrorist incidents have been arrested.&nbsp;He said facilitators linked to the Islamabad suicide bombing were apprehended during operations in the northwestern cities of Nowshera and Peshawar.&nbsp;The interior minister further disclosed that the main mastermind of the attack, an Afghan national associated with Daesh, has also been arrested and is currently in custody.&nbsp;According to preliminary investigations, the attackers received training from Daesh elements operating in Afghanistan, he said.&nbsp;Naqvi added that during overnight operations, a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police assistant sub-inspector embraced martyrdom, while three other security personnel were injured.&nbsp;Describing the security situation, the minister said Pakistan is facing a &ldquo;state of war against terrorism&rdquo; and stressed the importance of community cooperation.&nbsp;He urged citizens to report suspicious individuals and unfamiliar visitors in their neighborhoods to law enforcement agencies.&nbsp;Training from AfghanistanEarlier, Pakistan Information Minister Attaullah Tarrar said individuals involved in the recent suicide bombing had travelled to Afghanistan for training, reiterating that the use of Afghan soil against Pakistan would not be tolerated.&nbsp;Addressing a media briefing at Idara Minhajul Hussain, Tarrar said terrorists have &ldquo;no religion, faith, color, or race,&rdquo; adding that their sole ideology is to &ldquo;spread terror.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;On behalf of the State of Pakistan and the prime minister, I fully assure the public that the government is taking, and will continue to take, full measures for the protection of mosques, Imambargahs, and all religious centers,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Tarrar said &ldquo;significant progress&rdquo; has been made in identifying the facilitators of the attacker involved in the Islamabad bombing.&nbsp;Condemning the attack, he said, &ldquo;It is unacceptable that on the blessed day of Friday, inside an Imambargah during prayers, when Allah is being remembered and people are worshipping, Muslims are targeted in this manner.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;I say this with full conviction: there will be no leniency towards extremism and terrorism. We will properly rein them in, pursue them, and hunt them down,&rdquo; he said, adding that the state considers such elements as Kharijites (terrorists) and is fully resolved to eliminate them for the welfare of Pakistan.&nbsp;Commenting on the evolving tactics of militant groups, Tarrar said terrorists have &ldquo;lost the capacity&rdquo; to attack hardened targets and are now targeting suburban and remote areas.&nbsp;&ldquo;This is a sign of their weakness,&rdquo; he said, adding that security forces have largely traced facilitators and handlers.&nbsp;He also said approximately 170 injured individuals are currently under treatment in hospitals, with efforts underway to provide the best possible medical care.&nbsp;Progress in investigationEarlier, according to the sources, intelligence and law enforcement agencies conducted raids in Peshawar and Nowshera based on technical and human intelligence.&nbsp;The sources said four facilitators of the suicide attacker, along with the Afghan mastermind, have been arrested.&nbsp;They added that the planning, training, and indoctrination for the attack were carried out in Afghanistan, warning that under the patronage of the Afghan Taliban, ISIS and other terrorist groups pose a serious threat to regional and global peace.&nbsp;Further intelligence-based operations are ongoing, they said.&nbsp;State Minister for Interior Tallal Chaudry said the attacker had been identified and claimed the blast was sponsored by &ldquo;Indian- and Afghanistan-based terrorist groups.&rdquo;&nbsp;He said the bomber had travelled to Afghanistan prior to the attack.&nbsp;&ldquo;These terrorists operate in two forms: those who misuse religion and others like the BLA who weaponize ethnicity. Both are funded in dollars, not ideology,&rdquo; Chaudry said.&nbsp;Rejecting any religious justification for the attack, he added, &ldquo;How can anyone use the name of religion to kill people standing before Allah? No Muslim can do this.&rdquo;&nbsp;

Authorities arrest facilitators and an Afghan Daesh mastermind after the Islamabad suicide bombing at a mosque, where worshippers were killed during Friday prayers

India expands proxy warfare funding against Pakistan, says minister after Islamabad blast

ISLAMABAD: The Taliban in Afghanistan increased repression of women and girls in 2025 and imposed new restrictions limiting media freedom, Human Rights Watch said in its World Report 2026 released on Tuesday. &ldquo;Governments need to press the Taliban to end their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/afghanistan-bans-women-from-heavy-labour-in-nuristan-province" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">horrific abuses</a>,&rdquo; said Fereshta Abbasi, an Afghanistan researcher at HRW.&nbsp; &ldquo;The Taliban&rsquo;s unrelenting repression should push governments to support efforts to hold all those responsible for serious crimes in Afghanistan to account.&rdquo; In its 36th edition, the 529-page World Report 2026 reviewed human rights practices in more than 100 countries.&nbsp; Executive Director Philippe Bolopion wrote in the report&rsquo;s introductory essay that breaking the global wave of authoritarianism is &ldquo;the challenge of a generation.&rdquo;&nbsp;&lsquo;Gender apartheid&rsquo;HRW said the Taliban issued new laws restricting women&rsquo;s freedom of movement and access to public spaces, while enforcing existing bans on post-primary education and limitations on employment, abuses United Nations experts have called &ldquo;gender apartheid.&rdquo;&nbsp; In July, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for senior Taliban leaders for the crime against humanity of gender persecution.&nbsp; On Oct. 6, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution creating an independent mechanism to investigate past and ongoing human rights abuses in Afghanistan.&nbsp;&lsquo;Morality&rsquo; lawsThe report also detailed new restrictions on media freedom, arbitrary detentions of critics, and arrests for alleged violations of &ldquo;morality&rdquo; laws, including improper hijab use or failing to maintain separate workplace facilities for men and women.&nbsp; HRW noted that fewer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/afghanistan-revokes-licenses-of-media-journalists-due-to-unprofessionalism" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">journalists</a>&nbsp;were working due to foreign aid cuts and Taliban policies. The organization urged governments to continue pressuring the Taliban to end human rights violations.

Human Rights Watch says the Taliban issued new laws restricting women’s freedom of movement and access to public spaces, while enforcing existing bans on post-primary education and limitations on employment, abuses United Nations experts have called ‘gender apartheid.’

Taliban tighten restrictions on women, media in Afghanistan: HRW

ISLAMABAD: United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo concluded a high-level visit to Kabul on Sunday, where she pressed the Taliban to lift restrictions on women&rsquo;s access to education, employment, and public life, according to a United Nations statement. During talks with senior Taliban officials, DiCarlo raised deep concerns over the increasingly severe limits placed on women&rsquo;s roles, including restrictions affecting female UN staff and broader societal bans on women&rsquo;s participation in public life. She urged the authorities to immediately rescind these measures to improve the humanitarian and human rights situation in the country.&nbsp; DiCarlo praised the vital role Afghan women working for the United Nations play in supporting humanitarian and development efforts across the country.&nbsp; According to the UN statement, she also met separately with Afghan women and civil society representatives to discuss the human rights situation in Afghanistan, underscoring the UN&#39;s concern over the status of women and girls in the country. The meetings come as Afghanistan remains under Taliban rule, with girls banned from attending school beyond the sixth grade and severe restrictions on women&#39;s employment and movement. Afghanistan remains heavily dependent on humanitarian assistance amid economic isolation, banking restrictions, and widespread poverty, with UN agencies warning of prolonged vulnerability for millions. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that 21.9 million people (roughly 45% of the population) will require assistance in 2026. Doha process meetingIn a separate development during the visit, Taliban officials said DiCarlo and Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani discussed continued engagement on the UN-led Doha Process, a diplomatic framework aimed at easing Afghanistan&rsquo;s political, security, and humanitarian crises.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2015276343949459966&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=be69938480a04f03355573a307aee5882e3a6c03&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2015276343949459966"></iframe></div></div> According to the Taliban&rsquo;s Ministry of Interior, the talks covered international engagement, counter-narcotics cooperation, economic stability, and private-sector restrictions, as well as the effectiveness of UN humanitarian assistance, Bakhtar News Agency reported on Saturday. The Taliban statement said that DiCarlo announced that the next round of Doha Process working group meetings will be held in Kabul. The United Nations has not formally confirmed the location of the next working group sessions, which have previously been held in Qatar&#39;s capital.

Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo concluded her visit to Kabul, Afghanistan, on 25 January. (Photo/United Nations)

United Nations Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo discusses humanitarian access, economic conditions, and continued political engagement, while Taliban authorities said Kabul would host the next Doha process working group meeting.

Articles tagged with "Afghanistan"

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