Ahmad Masoumifar, the head of Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs representative office, has warned that by the end of this year, 2.5 million undocumented Afghan migrants will be expelled from Iran.
According to the state-run news agency IRNA, the reduction in the entry of illegal Afghan migrants into Iran has been significant.
He emphasized that the deportation of unauthorized nationals does not require an agreement with any country and that, based on decisions made within the Iranian system, Afghan nationals without legal documentation must leave Iran.
The Iranian official also stated, “If their return is voluntary, that is preferred; otherwise, the relevant authorities will take action.”
The report mentioned that the de facto administration also understands this situation and it is natural for them not to defend individuals who have entered Iran illegally and remained there.
In recent months, the process of expelling Afghan migrants from Iran has intensified.
According to statistics from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), currently, 4.5 million Afghan migrants, both with legal migration documents, long-term visas, or no legal documentation, are living in Iran.
The Iranian government’s decision to expel undocumented Afghan migrants has sparked significant concerns about the well-being of those affected. Many fear the hardship they will face upon their return to Afghanistan, which remains in a state of instability and economic difficulty.
While Iran justifies these measures on the basis of maintaining national security and managing migration flows, the issue also raises questions about regional cooperation and the role of international organizations in supporting vulnerable populations. As the deadline for expulsion approaches, the situation is likely to remain a sensitive and complex issue for both Iran and Afghanistan.
Iran to expel 2.5 million undocumented Afghan migrants by year-end
Yue explained that China’s efforts have contributed to a growing consensus among nations to engage with the Islamic Emirate.
Yue Xiaoyong, China’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, said that China is engaging in consultations with regional countries regarding the recognition of Afghanistan’s caretaker government.
In an exclusive interview with TOLOnews, Yue explained that China’s efforts have contributed to a growing consensus among nations to engage with the Islamic Emirate.
“The recognition issue, the time will be right when it will be realized. China to do this, I would think, will have the full consultation not only with you, but also with the neighbors and with the regional countries. The good thing is, now, after China’s effort, together with the neighbors, together with the regional efforts and the regional countries, and actually together with your internal government,” he said.
The Chinese envoy also addressed concerns from certain countries regarding the presence of specific groups in Afghanistan, which could affect Kabul’s relations with them. He emphasized the importance of resolving this issue in a way that satisfies those nations.
Regarding tensions between Kabul and Islamabad, Yue emphasized that the two countries could resolve their issues without the intervention of a third party.
He added: “Our policy for both Pakistan and Afghanistan are the same, that is to build together the shared future of the neighbors, the shared future of the region, the shared future of all of us in this region, for stability, peace, reconstruction, and common prosperity.”
Yue Xiaoyong further noted that despite its challenges, Afghanistan has become a regional economic hub.
He remarked: “It is very attractive. This country turned from what you suffered in the past as an outside big power’s wrestling center, whatever you call it, become the hub of economic development, or some other countries call it hub of economic connectivity.”
The Chinese envoy also highlighted that trade between Kabul and Beijing in 2023 had increased by 125% compared to the previous year.
Yue Xiaoyong: Beijing in Dialogue Over Islamic Emirate Recognition
After three years into the re-establishment of the Islamic Emirate’s rule in the country, the media law and other related media regulations have yet to be ratified.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has released a report detailing the state of the media in the country over the past three years.
The report, which covers four main sections: access to information, media closures, restrictions, and the status of women in media, highlights that the lack of clear procedures and the use of arbitrary arrests and detentions have had a negative impact on freedom of expression.
“The report, titled Media Freedom in Afghanistan, covers the period from 15 August 2021 to 30 September 2024. During this period, it documented instances of human rights violations affecting 336 journalists and media workers – including 256 instances of arbitrary arrest and detention, 130 instances of torture and ill-treatment, and 75 instances of threats or intimidation,” UMAMA said.
Zabihullah Sharifi, a journalist, said: “Access to information is crucial for journalists in order to provide accurate reporting. The demand from journalists and the media community is for the government to provide the necessary facilities and not impose any restrictions in this regard.”
The UNAMA report further said that before August 2021, 543 media outlets with over 10,000 employees were operating in Afghanistan. However, by November 2021, about 43% of these outlets ceased operations, and the number of media employees decreased to 4,360, with 84% of female media workers losing their jobs.
In response, the Ministry of Information and Culture has rejected the report, saying that it has made considerable efforts to ensure access to information. The ministry also claimed that no journalist has been detained for media-related activities in the past three years.
Khabib Ghafran, spokesperson for the Ministry of Information and Culture, said: “These reports attempt to associate incidents unrelated to journalism or issues related to security with the work of journalists. However, this is not the case, and no journalist has been detained as a journalist.”
It should be noted that more than three years into the re-establishment of the Islamic Emirate’s rule in the country, the media law and other related media regulations have yet to be ratified.
UNAMA Reports Challenges Facing Media Freedom in Afghanistan
Nila Ibrahimi beat 165 other nominees to be named this year’s International Children’s Peace Prize winner
When Nila Ibrahimi set out to build a website telling the stories of Afghan girls, it wasn’t just to give them a voice.
The 17-year-old Afghan refugee was also determined to remind her fellow Gen Zs in her adopted country, Canada, that they were similar – they even listened to Taylor Swift just like other teenage girls around the world.
“I want to make them as real as possible so that other people, especially young people, Gen Z specifically, can put themselves in their shoes,” she told the BBC.
Nila spoke to the BBC earlier this week, before picking up the International Children’s Peace Prize previously won by education campaignerMalala Yousafzai and climate activist Greta Thunberg.
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The rules Afghan women are living under in Afghanistan have been described as “gender apartheid” by the United Nations
Nila’s is, perhaps, not an easy task. The plight of Afghanistan’s women and girls can feel a world away to young people living in Canada, where Nila found a home after fleeing her home country as the Taliban took over three years ago.
In that time, the Taliban have banned teenage girls from education, banned women from travelling long distances without a male chaperone, and now ordered them to keep their voices down in public – effectively silencing half the population.
The Taliban have defended the rulings to the BBC previously by saying they align with religious texts.
“The differences [between Afghanistan and Canada] are vast, so it makes it hard for them to feel connected,” acknowledges Nila.
That is why she helped set up HerStory – a place where she and others help share the stories of Afghan women and girls in their own words, both inside and out of the country.
“So many times we are lost in the differences that we don’t see the similarities and that’s our goal, to show that to the world.”
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Nila Ibrahim was chosen from 165 nominees as the 20th winner of the prestigious prize.
The award recognises not just the work done on HerStory, but also her passion for standing up for women’s rights in Afghanistan.
Nila’s first stand for women’s rights came in March 2021, when she joined other young Afghan girls in sharing a video of her singing online.
“That was when I really understood the importance of performing, the importance of speaking up and talking about these issues,” explains Nila, who was part of a group called Sound of Afghanistan.
But less than six months later, everything would change – and, aged 14, she would have to flee with her family as the Taliban arrived.
The family – who are part of Afghanistan’s Hazara minority – made the difficult journey to Pakistan, where they spent a year before being granted asylum in Canada.
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Taliban defends new law that curbs women’s freedoms
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It was, after 12 months without education, a “breath of fresh air”, she says.
There, Nila was reunited with her friends from the singing group.
She was also invited to speak at events, about her experiences of Afghanistan, allowing her to advocate for all the girls left behind.
People, she says, were surprised at how eloquent she was. But Nila knew there were millions of women and girls in Afghanistan who were just as capable – although with less access to the opportunities she had.
“So I thought if my potential can surprise these people and they don’t know about how educated girls from Afghanistan can be, what if that information was accessible to them?”
Afghan women have faced increasing restrictions since the Taliban returned to power – including on how loud they can be in public
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HerStory – the website which grew out of this thought – started in 2023. It features interviews and first person accounts from both refugees and women inside Afghanistan.
The idea is to create a safe space where a group of people who “grew up with the stories of the first period of Taliban and how horrible the lives of women were at the time” share their stories – and their “shock and anger” at finding themselves in an increasingly similar situation.
The anger is a feeling Nila tries to keep separate from her work.
“When you see Afghanistan going back in time in 20 years, of course it makes you fear,” she says.
“It’s a shared feeling. It’s a shared experience for girls anywhere.”
The award, she says, is a chance for Afghan girls to once again remind the world about the restrictions they face on a daily basis – a reminder “not to forget Afghan girls”.
Marc Dullaert, founder of the KidsRights Foundation, which runs the award, pointed out that a “staggering” number of young women were currently being excluded from education.
“Nila’s inspirational work to provide them with a voice that will be heard across the world makes her a truly worthy winner of this year’s 20th International Peace Prize,” he added.
It is also a reminder that her generation – while young – can make a difference, Nila hopes.
“I think so many times when we talk about issues and different causes, we talk about it with the very adult like approach of oh, this is very serious,” she says.
“The world is a very scary place, but there is an approach that is more Gen Z-like… and we can take little steps and… do whatever we can.”
‘Don’t forget us’: Teenage refugee reminds Gen Z of silenced Afghan girls
The Secretary-General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) stated that a significant number of terrorist groups remain active in Afghanistan.
Imangali Tasmagambetov described terrorist activities in Afghanistan as a serious problem and announced that a plan to strengthen the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border would be approved on November 28.
In an interview with Belarus’s STV network, Tasmagambetov said the CSTO’s program to enhance the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border will be finalized during a meeting in Astana on November 28.
He expressed concerns about Afghanistan’s security situation, highlighting its implications for Central Asia. Strengthening the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border, he said, would allow CSTO member states to collectively ensure the security of the region.
Over the past three years, the CSTO has repeatedly raised alarms about Afghanistan’s security conditions. It has conducted several military drills in Tajikistan, near the Afghanistan border, as part of its preparations to address potential threats.
The escalating tensions in Afghanistan and the region have been marked by a surge in attacks by militant groups. Recent incidents include deadly bombings in Afghanistan’s cities such as Kabul and Kandahar, as well as cross-border strikes targeting Pakistani forces. In Pakistan, militant groups have increased their activities, with 55 personnel killed in November alone.
These developments highlight the fragile security situation in the region. Collaborative efforts, such as the CSTO’s border-strengthening initiatives, are essential to counter the growing threats posed by these militant groups. However, a broader international response is needed to address the root causes of instability in Afghanistan and neighboring countries.
The CSTO member states includes Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
CSTO raises concerns over terrorist activity in Afghanistan
Zabihullah Mujahid said that some countries are creating obstacles to the recognition of the Islamic Emirate.
The Islamic Emirate stated that one year after the preparation of an independent assessment of Afghanistan’s situation by the UN, no progress has been made toward its implementation.
Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, told TOLOnews that despite holding various meetings about Afghanistan, there has been a delay in reintegrating Afghanistan into the international community.
A year ago, at this time, TOLOnews obtained a copy of this assessment, in which Feridun Sinirlioğlu, the UN Secretary-General’s special coordinator, outlined a roadmap for reintegrating Afghanistan into the global community.
The spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate said: “It was expected that this roadmap would succeed, but after a year, it is evident that significant progress has not been made. Although different meetings were held with hopes of garnering support from various sectors, and efforts were expected to position Afghanistan as a country that is a member of the United Nations and the international community, it now seems that delays have occurred.”
Zabihullah Mujahid said that some countries are creating obstacles to the recognition of the Islamic Emirate.
He also accused Western countries, especially those that were present in Afghanistan over the past twenty years, of harboring animosity toward Afghanistan.
The spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate stated that the roadmap would only succeed in Afghanistan if the demands of the Islamic Emirate and the Afghan people are considered.
Zabihullah Mujahid said: “The demands of the Afghan people, the system, and the government of Afghanistan must be considered. If these demands are not addressed, ineffective meetings and reports, creating obstacles to Afghanistan’s diplomatic progress, and continuing the policy of pressure and sanctions will lead nowhere and are failed experiences.”
“It is the United Nations’ responsibility to implement such programs practically, rather than leaving them on paper. Therefore, they must be implemented as soon as possible so that the Afghan people can escape the dire economic situation they face,” said Salim Paigir, a political analyst.
In 2023, the United Nations Security Council called on the UN Secretary-General to conduct an independent assessment of Afghanistan’s situation. Following this request, the Secretary-General appointed Feridun Sinirlioğlu as his special coordinator for Afghanistan.
After seven months of traveling to Afghanistan and neighboring countries, Sinirlioğlu prepared an independent assessment that addressed engaging with Afghanistan’s interim government, the Islamic Emirate’s adherence to international conventions, intra-Afghan dialogue, inclusive governance, security cooperation, and other issues.
Mujahid: No Implementation of UN’s Independent Assessment
Meanwhile, several United Nations officials have called for immediate action to end violence against women in Afghanistan on this occasion.
Coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the Islamic Emirate announced its commitment to ensuring women’s rights in Afghanistan.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, told TOLOnews that over the past three years, the Islamic Emirate has made significant efforts to safeguard women’s rights in the country. However, Mujahid acknowledged that these efforts are not sufficient and stressed the need for further work in this area.
He stated: “Other entities are also active in various areas, both in the provinces and the center, raising awareness among women about their rights, addressing their legal concerns, and hearing their complaints. We are trying our best overall, but it is not enough. More efforts are needed, especially to address challenges in remote and rural areas where intervention is essential.”
“The Islamic Emirate must address the demands of the Afghan people, particularly women, reopen schools and universities, and listen to the demands of women who want to fulfill their responsibilities to their country and themselves,” said Tafsir Siyahpoosh, a women’s rights activist.
Meanwhile, several United Nations officials have called for immediate action to end violence against women in Afghanistan on this occasion.
Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Afghanistan, stressed the need for urgent action to end violence against women and girls in Afghanistan. In a statement, UNAMA quoted Otunbayeva as saying: “We are at a critical juncture for the women and girls of Afghanistan. We need urgent action for justice to end violence against women and girls in Afghanistan.”
Additionally, the UN’s special representative for women in Afghanistan called for increased international support for women and emphasized investing in women’s empowerment.
Alison Davidian, the Special Representative for UN Women in Afghanistan, said: “The fact that Afghan women and girls have less rights today than generations ago is a devastating reminder of the urgency of their struggle and the need for the international community to double down our efforts to stand with them, investing in their resilience, leadership and empowerment.”
“If UNAMA were truly interested and concerned about Afghan women’s situation, they would have undertaken practical actions inside Afghanistan based on the current realities to shape their destiny,” said Lamia Shirzi, another women’s rights activist.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International announced its 16-day global campaign against gender-based violence, which will conclude on December 10, coinciding with International Human Rights Day.
Efforts for Women’s Rights Being Made, But More Needed: Mujahid
The date for the fifth foreign ministers’ meeting of Afghanistan’s neighboring countries has not yet been announced.
China has requested the Islamic Emirate to participate in the fifth meeting of foreign ministers of Afghanistan’s neighboring countries.
Yue Xiaoyong, China’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, in a meeting with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting Foreign Minister of the Islamic Emirate, evaluated Kabul-Beijing relations positively and added that China respects the values and choices of the Afghan people, according to the Foreign Ministry.
Zia Ahmad Takal, Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said: “He (Xiaoyong) stated that his country respects the values and choices of the Afghan people. He also emphasized that the acting foreign minister of Afghanistan should attend the foreign ministers’ meeting of Afghanistan’s neighboring countries.”
According to the Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two sides also discussed regional and economic cooperation between the two countries.
Zia Ahmad Takal stated: “In this meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral relations between Afghanistan and China, economic cooperation, and regional issues.”
“China is one of the countries in the region that seeks stability in Afghanistan and the region because they aim to define a new political order at the global level,” said Samiullah Ahmadzai, a political analyst.
The date for the fifth foreign ministers’ meeting of Afghanistan’s neighboring countries has not yet been announced. However, in the fourth meeting held in Samarkand in April 2023, the acting minister of Foreign Affairs represented the Islamic Emirate.
China Calls for Islamic Emirate’s Participation in Regional Meeting
Afghanistan has received its first direct shipment from China via rail, facilitated by trade efforts with China, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, marking a milestone in regional economic connectivity.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Afghanistan announced that, as a result of efforts and visits by Nooruddin Azizi, acting minister of the ministry, to China, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, and the expansion of trade relations with these countries, Afghanistan has received its first imported shipment via rail from China.
The ministry stated in a press release on Saturday, November 23 that this large shipment, loaded into 55 containers in China, was transported through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and arrived in Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh province, this afternoon.
According to the press release, a ceremony was held in Balkh province to mark the occasion, attended by the acting minister of industry and commerce and his team, the deputy governor of Balkh province, the head of the Balkh Chamber of Commerce and Investment, and other officials.
The shipment took approximately 22 days to travel from its origin to Afghanistan. It is planned that on the return journey, the rail line will transport Afghanistan’s export goods to targeted countries.
This milestone represents a significant achievement in Afghanistan’s trade relations, strengthening its economic ties with neighboring and regional countries. Enhanced connectivity through rail will further facilitate trade flow and contribute to regional integration.
By establishing efficient transport links like this, Afghanistan can potentially boost its export capacity, expand its trade network, and gain access to larger markets in the region, thus fostering economic growth and stability in the country.
on the other hand, the long-term success of this regional economic connectivity depends heavily on ensuring stability and security within Afghanistan and across the region. A secure environment is crucial for maintaining trade routes, attracting further investment, and realizing the full potential of these economic partnerships.
Afghanistan receives First Direct Shipment from China
The US general who was photographed as the last American soldier to leave Afghanistan is seeing a promotion blocked by a sole Republican senator, multiple outlets reported.
The move comes amid Markwayne Mullin stalls promotion of Lt Gen Christopher Donahue, photographed as last US soldier to leaveseparate reports that the incoming Trump administration is considering courts martial, for offenses including treason, for officers involved in the evacuation.
Trump’s Pentagon pick Hegseth wrote of US military taking sides in ‘civil war’
The US general who was photographed as the last American soldier to leave Afghanistan is seeing a promotion blocked by a sole Republican senator, multiple outlets reported.
The senator reportedly placing a “hold” on Donahue’s promotion, Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, did not comment. Citing a Senate aide, Military.com said Donald Trump’s transition team requested the move.
A Pentagon spokesperson said: “Lt Gen Donahue is a graduate of the US Military Academy at West Point and has served his country for more than 30 years.
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“His appointment comes at an extremely critical time in the European region. We urge the Senate to confirm all of our highly qualified nominees. Holds on our nominees undermine our military readiness.”
The US withdrew from Afghanistan in August 2021, just short of 20 years after invading in response to the 9/11 terror attacks. The withdrawal proved costly: a US drone strike killed 10 Afghan civilians, seven of them children, while a suicide bomb at Kabul airport killed 13 Americans and more than 170 Afghans.
At the very end of the operation, Donahue was seen in a picture taken through a night-vision device, boarding the last plane out. Then commanding the 82nd Airborne Division, he was a much-decorated two-star general. The promotion now held up in Washington would give him a fourth star, the highest rank in the peacetime army.
Mullin, 47, is a former plumber and cage fighter who entered Congress in 2013 and won a Senate seat in 2022. Famously pugnacious, in September 2021 he stirred controversy by trying to enter Afghanistan on a private mission to rescue US citizens and Afghans who worked with the US, as Taliban forces advanced.
“I’m not Rambo,” Mullin was moved to say. “Never pretended to be Rambo … I’m the low man on the totem pole. And I understood that.”
He added: “Have we been helping get Americans out of Afghanistan? Yes … Am I extremely disappointed in how we [the US] left Americans behind? … That would be an understatement.”
Trump set the US evacuation in motion. In February 2020, his administration and the Taliban agreed that US forces would leave by 1 May the following year. After losing the 2020 election to Biden, Trump ordered the rapid withdrawal of all troops but was blocked by senior officials. Instead, the US began to swiftly reduce its presence.
In April 2021, Biden announced that all US troops would leave Afghanistan by 11 September that year, the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Citing Trump’s agreement with the Taliban, he said: “We will not conduct a hasty rush to the exit. We’ll do it responsibly, deliberately, and safely.”
Trump initially sought credit for starting “the move out of Afghanistan” but changed his tune after the evacuation proved chaotic. At home, amid controversy over the Kabul airport bombing and Biden’s interactions with grieving families, the withdrawal became a political football.
Though a US Central Command review found the bombing was unpreventable, Trump this year used the third anniversary of the attack to claim he would have overseen a withdrawal “with dignity and strength”. He also accused Biden and Kamala Harris, the vice-president who became Trump’s rival for the White House, of overseeing “the most embarrassing day in the history of our country” and causing “the collapse of American credibility and respect all around the world”.
Pete Hegseth, the military veteran and Fox News host Trump has nominated for secretary of defense, has called the Afghanistan withdrawal a “humiliating retreat” and accused the generals who oversaw it of lying, mismanagement, violating their oaths and “disgrac[ing] our troops and our nation”.
News of Mullin’s block on promotion for Lt Gen Donahue caused a stir in Washington, particularly given a recent NBC report which said Trump transition staff were making “very serious” moves towards “creating a commission to investigate” the withdrawal.
Such moves, NBC said, included “gathering information about who was directly involved in the decision-making for the military, how it was carried out and whether the military leaders could be eligible for charges as serious as treason”.
That echoed comments before the election by Mark Milley, the retired army general who was Trump’s last chair of the joint chiefs of staff. As reported by the author Bob Woodward, Milley fears that with Trump back in power, retired senior military figures could be called back into uniform, in order to be court-martialed.
Republican blocks promotion of general involved in Afghanistan withdrawal
Afghanistan Peace Campaign
