The Drug Control Agency of Tajikistan announced on Monday that it had seized 121 kilograms of methamphetamine from the cargo of two trucks transporting transit goods from Afghanistan to China.
In a report released the same day, the agency’s head, Zafar Samad, stated that the shipment was intercepted last month.
According to the report, part of the smuggled drugs was discovered in a truck carrying a powdered mixture of precious stones on the Dushanbe-Kulma highway, near the Chinese border. The vehicle was transporting the gemstone powder from Afghanistan to China.
Another portion of the illicit shipment was seized in the Murghab district of Tajikistan's autonomous Badakhshan province.
Samad noted that synthetic drug production in Afghanistan has surged, leading to a 59% increase in the seizure of Afghan-origin synthetic drugs in Tajikistan in 2024.
Hamed Saifi, a commander of the National Resistance Front, has called on anti-Taliban political leaders to put aside “self-interest and divisions” and to “unite.” In a statement on X on Tuesday, Saifi referred to reports of internal conflicts among Taliban leaders.
He wrote that focusing on disputes within the Taliban, such as which faction is involved in infighting or who has been “arrested, killed, or injured” among them, is a “futile thought.”
According to Saifi, despite internal tensions within the Taliban and the possible sidelining of some officials, ultimately, one faction of the Taliban will continue to rule Afghanistan. He warned that this would bring no positive change for the people and could even worsen their situation.
The resistance commander, while asserting that the Taliban’s defeat is inevitable due to the current circumstances, emphasised that this outcome depends on the unity of the Taliban’s political opponents and their willingness to set aside self-interest.
Saifi warned that if the Taliban’s opponents do not put aside their divisions and “self-interest,” then “post-Taliban Afghanistan will fall into the hands of foreign forces and their mercenaries.”
He wrote: “The guerrillas and fighters have kept the door of hope open for the people at the cost of their lives. Now, it is the turn of the country’s politicians to be ready to sacrifice and show selflessness for this cause.”
The National Resistance Front of Afghanistan began its resistance against the Taliban in Panjshir following the group’s takeover and, for more than three years, has been targeting Taliban forces across various provinces.
However, Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid dismissed the claims made by resistance groups about targeting Taliban forces as “media propaganda.” He compared their attacks to mere “firecrackers.”
In addition to the National Resistance Front, the Afghanistan Freedom Front has also been reporting multiple attacks against Taliban forces since February 2022.
Following the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, many of the group’s opponents, most of whom were officials of the previous government, have formed various political organisations in exile to continue their struggle against the Taliban.
Following reports of a shooting at the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) office in Kabul, reliable sources informed Afghanistan International that the incident occurred on Monday when a Taliban member shot and injured a foreign UNAMA employee.
According to sources, after the incident, the body of the Taliban member was discovered outside the UNAMA office. It is believed that he was killed in retaliatory fire by other Taliban personnel.
Abdul Mateen Qani, the Taliban’s Interior Ministry spokesperson, confirmed the incident, stating that a Taliban member had been killed and a UN employee had sustained minor injuries in the shooting within the UN compound.
Three reliable sources reported that the injured employee was a Nepali national employed as a security contractor for the UNAMA office.
Earlier, UNAMA released a statement confirming that "Taliban guards" were involved in the incident and that an investigation was underway. The statement also verified that one person had been killed and another injured but did not disclose their identities.
Following the shooting, UNAMA staff at the Pul-e-Charkhi office in Kabul were denied entry to their workplace on Monday morning. Officials instructed them to work from home due to security concerns.
A UNAMA employee told Afghanistan International that by Monday noon, they had received messages indicating that the issue had been resolved and that normal operations would resume soon.
The Taliban has extended its condolences to the leadership of Hamas following the reported death of Mohammed Deif, the commander of Hamas’s military wing, along with several other senior leaders of the group.
Israel had announced in January 2024 that it had killed Deif, but Hamas had not confirmed the news until three days ago.
On Monday, Hamdullah Fitrat, the Taliban’s deputy spokesperson, issued an official statement offering condolences to Hamas’s leadership and the people of Palestine.
The statement emphasised that Hamas leaders had left behind a legacy of resistance against Israel, which would serve as a symbol of honour, perseverance, and commitment to the group’s cause for future generations.
The Taliban also asserted that the Palestinian issue, particularly following the deaths of senior Hamas leaders, had once again gained global significance. The group stated that these developments had strengthened Hamas’s role in both political and military spheres.
The statement further stressed that conflicts and armed struggles do not end with the deaths of individuals but continue along their path.
Previously, Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s spokesperson, had criticised the people of Gaza, claiming that their current situation was the result of "wasting time and negligence." In a speech at a religious school, he stated that Gazans should strive for technological advancements similar to those achieved by Israelis.
Mujahid attributed Israel’s dominance over the Palestinians to its technological superiority.
On 31 January, Hamas’s spokesperson officially confirmed that Mohammed Deif, the head of its military wing—known as the Al-Qassam Brigades—had been killed.
Israel had previously announced Deif’s death in January 2024, but Hamas had refrained from confirming it until three days ago.
Israel considers Mohammed Deif one of the key figures responsible for planning the 7 October attacks in southern Israel.
Deif had long been regarded as the second-highest-ranking Hamas official in Gaza, following Yahya Sinwar.
Hours after a shooting at the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) office in Kabul, staff at the Pul-e-Charkhi location were unable to access their workplace on Monday morning.
At least three UNAMA employees informed Afghanistan International that, due to security concerns, officials had instructed them to work from home.
One UNAMA employee stated that at noon on Monday, they received a message from their office, which read: "The issue has been resolved, and work will resume as normal in the coming days."
In an official statement, UNAMA confirmed that one person was killed and another injured in the incident. The organisation also acknowledged that Taliban guards were involved and that an investigation is currently underway.
Thus far, the Taliban have not commented on the incident.
The temporary closure of the UNAMA office comes just six days after the Taliban’s Ministry of Economy announced that, following the suspension of U.S. foreign aid, 50 international organisations had ceased operations in Afghanistan.
On Tuesday, Abdul Latif Nazari, the Taliban’s Deputy Minister of Economy, told Pajhwok News Agency that, in recent days, the activities of 50 international organisations and aid agencies had been suspended across 28 provinces.
He attributed these suspensions to the U.S. decision to cut humanitarian aid.
The Taliban’s Supreme Court has announced that the group carried out public floggings of two individuals in Kabul and Kunduz provinces. The Taliban accused them of "illicit relationships" and "murder."
In separate statements, the Taliban’s Supreme Court stated that these individuals were sentenced to one year of imprisonment and 39 lashes, administered on Sunday and Monday.
The Taliban frequently report the implementation of corporal punishment for accused individuals across various provinces of Afghanistan.
Human rights organisations and the international community have repeatedly urged the Taliban to halt such punishments.
According to human rights groups, the Taliban’s judicial system lacks proper standards, and defendants are deprived of due process, including the right to legal representation.