Afghanistan

The Taliban say Pakistani army strikes on Dangam district in Kunar province killed three civilians, including women and children, and injured 14. A Taliban district official said two schools, a clinic and two mosques were destroyed.

Local sources said that on World Press Freedom Day, the Taliban’s Interior Ministry announced a meeting with journalists but omitted the word “freedom” from the official name, referring to it instead as “World Press Day.”

Local sources in Kandahar told Afghanistan International that over the past three days the Taliban have deployed hundreds of fighters and dozens of military vehicles to the districts of Spin Boldak, Shorabak and Registan along the Pakistan border.

Sources told Afghanistan International that the Taliban have decided to seize assets of those engaged in armed or political opposition, with a senior official saying such property will be placed under “legal control or supervision”.

The Taliban’s foreign ministry has refused to verify women’s academic documents. Two women in Kabul told Afghanistan International they were informed at the ministry gate that “verification of women’s documents is now banned”.

After recent remarks by the Taliban leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, demanding unconditional obedience, some Taliban members have criticised him, saying his comments suggest he sees himself “in the position of a prophet”.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry has rejected remarks by Richard Lindsay, UK special envoy as one-sided and lacking understanding, saying cross-border attacks have killed 52 civilians in Pakistan.

Afghanistan Green Trend led by Amrullah Saleh, former voice president, claims the Taliban have moved a large cache of military equipment, including about 23 containers, to Bagh-e Qazi in Kabul near a flour market.

The Taliban’s justice ministry says a special court has ruled that 6,180 acres of land in Khost province belong to the state and ordered their confiscation after reviewing ownership claims.

The Taliban’s high commission for migrants says Pakistan deported at least 5,178 Afghan nationals on Friday, May 1, returning them via the Torkham Border Crossing and Spin Boldak crossings.

Attaullah Tarar, Pakistan’s Information and Broadcasting Minister, accused the Afghan Taliban of deliberately targeting civilians in border districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, calling the attacks “inhumane”.

The Taliban have seized the Kabul home of Fawzia Koofi, a former member of parliament and prominent critic of the group, and detained three of her relatives, sources told Afghanistan International.

Organisation of Islamic Cooperation has called for urgent measures to prevent further deterioration of Afghanistan’s economic situation, warning the country remains in a critical phase.

Shapour Hassanzoy says his daughters have been “Kidnapped” in Kabul and that Taliban police have taken no action, warning he will protest over what he called security forces’ inaction.

International Committee of the Red Cross says tens of thousands faced food shortages after Taliban-Pakistan tensions in February and a two-month road closure cut off access to supplies.

Sources told Afghanistan International that informal talks between representatives close to the Taliban and Pakistan in Istanbul have concluded, with both sides reaching a general agreement on issues related to militant groups.

Pakistan’s army said it killed 13 militants over the past two days as they tried to cross from Afghanistan into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, amid rising tensions along the border.

Richard Lindsay, UK Special Envoy to Afghanistan, raised serious concerns with Taliban officials over restrictions on women and girls, warning Afghanistan cannot achieve stability while half its population is excluded from education, work and public life.