Islamic Emirate Urges UN Neutrality in Afghanistan’s Internal Affairs

January 31, 2026
Bibi Amina Hakimi
TOLOnews’ Reporter
31 Jan 2026

According to Mujahid, Afghanistan’s internal issues are solely the concern of its people.

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, has emphasized the need for the United Nations to maintain neutrality toward Afghanistan, stating that assessments of the country’s situation should be fair and free from prejudice.

According to Mujahid, Afghanistan’s internal issues are solely the concern of its people, and the United Nations as an institution responsible for defending the rights of states at the global level should have a responsible and realistic understanding of Afghanistan’s conditions.

Referring to past experiences, Mujahid added that Afghanistan has gone through various political structures and witnessed the presence of different groups and segments of society; however, this diversity has failed to ensure lasting security, stability, and peace.

He said: “Our society and our people need unity and cohesion. They require real stability and peace, as well as unity. This can only be achieved when a single government, under a single leadership, governs with responsibility and strong commitment.”

Jannat Fahim Chakari, a political analyst, believes: “In Afghanistan’s constitution, any international provision that contradicts Islamic law is rejected and not accepted. Under such a framework, Afghanistan can be integrated into the international community.”

Some political analysts argue that the Islamic Emirate’s emphasis on national sovereignty and internal unity is part of an effort to consolidate its political legitimacy at the international level.

They note that while stability and security are among the fundamental needs of the Afghan people, the international community and the United Nations simultaneously expect such stability to be accompanied by respect for human rights, inclusive participation, and political accountability.

Moien Gul Samkani, another political analyst, stressed: “The United Nations can play a strategic role between the Islamic Emirate and the international community and, through dialogue, offer solutions that would allow Afghanistan to obtain an active seat at the United Nations.”

Meanwhile, Hema yatullah Ahmadi, another political analyst, said: “The three main issues emphasized by the international community are human rights, ethnic participation in governance, and political accountability. The Afghan government has largely been able to protect the lives, property, and dignity of the people, and all ethnic groups have a share in governance an important achievement in itself.”

At the same time, yesterday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced that the United Nations is pursuing four main objectives in Afghanistan: inclusive representation of all ethnic groups in institutions, respect for human rights, particularly the rights of women and girls preventing the activities of terrorist groups, and managing drug trafficking.

Islamic Emirate Urges UN Neutrality in Afghanistan’s Internal Affairs
read more

UK Envoy Says a Peaceful Afghanistan Requires Respect for All Rights

January 31, 2026
Khaama Press

Britain’s envoy for Afghanistan warned that new court rules threaten justice and peace by discriminating against women, ethnics and dissenting citizens.

Richard Lindsay, the UK’s representative for Afghanistan, said a just and peaceful Afghanistan requires respect for the rights of all citizens.

He said the Taliban’s newly approved criminal code for their courts shows the opposite, institutionalising discrimination against women, minorities and those defying imposed social norms.

Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada recently endorsed the group’s “criminal code for courts,” making it binding across the country.

Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have steadily imposed strict legal and social restrictions, particularly targeting women’s rights and religious freedoms.

The code has triggered widespread criticism from political groups and rights advocates, who warn it could deepen repression and erode basic protections.

Under the code, violence against women and children is narrowly defined as severe physical harm, while psychological and sexual abuse are not explicitly prohibited.

The Taliban justice ministry has rejected criticism, saying opposition to its laws is a religious crime and that all legislation is derived from Hanafi jurisprudence, the Quran and Sunnah.

UK Envoy Says a Peaceful Afghanistan Requires Respect for All Rights
read more

Qatar Reaffirms Key Role in UN-Led Efforts on Afghanistan

January 30, 2026
TOLOnews
TV Network
30Jan 2026

The two sides discussed cooperation between the United Nations and Qatar, particularly in the humanitarian and development sectors related to Afghanistan.

Qatar has once again reaffirmed its pivotal role in hosting dialogues and supporting international efforts to address the situation in Afghanistan.

In this context, Mariam bint Ali bin Nasser Al-Misnad, Qatar’s Minister of State for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met with Indrika Ratwatte, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and Resident Coordinator in Afghanistan.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed cooperation between the United Nations and Qatar, particularly in the humanitarian and development sectors related to Afghanistan.

The Qatari minister emphasized Doha’s position as a key platform for Afghanistan-related dialogue and assured that Qatar will continue to host these discussions. She reiterated that Qatar remains a political, humanitarian, and logistical partner of the UN and will support UNAMA’s mission in Kabul.

A portion of the Qatari Foreign Ministry’s statement reads: “The Minister of State for International Cooperation affirmed that Doha would remain a platform for dialogue and a logistical, political, and humanitarian partner for the United Nations to facilitate its missions in Afghanistan.”

She also stressed Qatar’s ongoing commitment to supporting the Afghan people and called for continued and enhanced international cooperation to respond to Afghanistan’s urgent humanitarian needs, particularly in health, education, and economic empowerment.

Khalil Ahmad Nadim, a political analyst, stated: “Qatar acts as a protector of U.S. interests and holds a strong position in the international community. It has consistently coordinated UN and global aid to Afghanistan.”

This meeting comes as the Doha Process continues to serve as one of the most important diplomatic frameworks for discussions on Afghanistan’s future. Qatar is actively working to maintain its mediating role and host these processes to enhance coordination between the United Nations and the global community.

Qatar Reaffirms Key Role in UN-Led Efforts on Afghanistan
read more

UN Chief Highlights Women’s Rights, Security and Inclusion in Afghanistan

January 30, 2026
Bibi Amina Hakimi
TOLOnews’ Reporter
30 Jan 2026

António Guterres added that engagement with the Islamic Emirate in some areas has had positive effects.

António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, said at a press conference in New York that the organization is pursuing four objectives in Afghanistan.

He said a fundamental condition for sustainable peace in Afghanistan is that the country’s institutions must be genuinely inclusive and represent all ethnic groups and all segments of Afghan society. He also stressed respect for human rights, especially the rights of women and girls, as well as preventing the activities of terrorist groups and combating drug trafficking, noting that progress has been made in some areas.

Guterres said: “We remain totally committed to four essential objectives in Afghanistan. First, to make sure that the Afghan institutions are really inclusive and that all ethnic groups are represented and all sectors of society are represented. We consider that a basic condition for the consolidation of peace. Second point, we believe, it’s absolutely essential to respect human rights, but essentially rights of women and girls. Rosemary DiCarlo managed to guarantee the possibility of our staff women to work in the field, but not in our headquarters, and we are very frustrated with that.”

He added that engagement with the Islamic Emirate in some areas has had positive effects. Referring to cooperation with the Islamic Emirate to support the private sector, he said this has made it possible for women to work in several fields in Afghanistan.

However, he criticized that these efforts are still not sufficient, and described restrictions on girls’ education and women’s access to UN offices as worrying.

The UN Secretary-General said: “This is a dilemma that we face every day. Should we go on engaging in some specific areas? Some of them with some positive impact, namely in relation to the private sector, it has been possible to have women working in several areas of Afghanistan. But at the same time, we are deeply frustrated by the fact that we remain without our staff, our female staff, not being able to go to our headquarters. They are able to work in the field, but not in our headquarters, what is unacceptable. And the fact that we still do not have access of girls to, I would say, standard secondary education and above.”

Meanwhile, some political analysts say the presence of UN representatives in Afghanistan is beneficial in improving the country’s links with the international community.

Abdul Sadiq Hamidzoy, a political analyst, said: “The presence of UN representatives in Afghanistan affects the political and economic environment and can help develop Afghanistan’s relations with countries in the region and the world.”

Enayatullah Homam, another political analyst, said: “The United Nations can act as a megaphone and a channel for agreements between the two sides. Both sides can negotiate there, but the UN alone cannot make decisions, and decisions made are not enforceable.”

Last Friday, Rosemary DiCarlo, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, visited Kabul on a three-day trip and held meetings with officials of the Islamic Emirate to review ongoing challenges and explore ways for constructive engagement.

UN Chief Highlights Women’s Rights, Security and Inclusion in Afghanistan
read more

Australia to Suspend Afghanistan Embassy Operations

January 30, 2026

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

Australia’s Foreign Ministry announced the Afghanistan embassy in Canberra will be suspended after June 30, 2026, following an agreement on an orderly and dignified transition process.

The ministry and Afghanistan embassy issued a joint statement Friday saying the transition will occur without compromising either party’s principled positions on Afghanistan’s current situation.

The Afghanistan embassy in Australia has been among the last diplomatic missions worldwide still operating under credentials from the pre-August 2021 government. Most countries have closed Afghanistan embassies or allowed them to operate in diplomatic limbo, neither recognizing Taliban authority nor fully severing ties, creating challenges for Afghanistan’s citizens abroad who need consular services like passport renewals and document authentication.

Australia’s Foreign Ministry emphasized the country has no intention of accepting any diplomat, honorary consul, or representative appointed by the Taliban regime in Kabul.

Australia to Suspend Afghanistan Embassy Operations
read more

US Senate Committee Approves Bill to Block Access to American Aid in Afghanistan

January 30, 2026

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

 

The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee has approved a bill aimed at cutting off Taliban access to US financial assistance to Afghanistan, according to a committee statement.

Committee Chairman Jim Risch said the legislation was passed on Thursday and is designed to ensure that not a single dollar of US taxpayer money reaches terrorist organizations operating in Afghanistan.

Risch said US forces fought the Taliban for years, noting that more than 2,000 Americans were killed and over 20,000 wounded during the war. He added that any US funds reaching the Taliban would insult veterans and their families.

The bill, titled “No Tax Dollars for Terrorists,” was previously approved by the US House of Representatives and now moves one step closer to becoming law.

Risch said the measure must still pass a full Senate vote before being sent to President Donald Trump for signature. The legislation was introduced last year by Republican Congressman Tim Burchett, who has argued that US aid mechanisms lack sufficient safeguards against Taliban misuse.

Under the bill, the US State Department would be required to develop and enforce strict policies governing any foreign assistance that could benefit the Taliban, including oversight of trust funds and Afghanistan’s central bank.

The move follows earlier reports by the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), which found that the Taliban had benefited from US-funded assistance. Since the Taliban returned to power, the United States has provided about $3.8 billion in aid to Afghanistan, much of it intended for humanitarian purposes.

US Senate Committee Approves Bill to Block Access to American Aid in Afghanistan
read more

Missing in Kabul: The U.S. Citizen Witnesses Say Was Held by the Taliban

January 29, 2026

Them New York Times

Jan. 28, 2026

Taliban officials deny holding a U.S.-Afghan citizen, who witnesses and U.S. officials say was detained by Afghanistan’s intelligence services in 2022.

On a summer morning in 2022, Afghan men blindfolded a U.S.-Afghan citizen on a street of Kabul, the country’s capital, and drove him away in his own S.U.V. to an unknown location.

The men said they were from the Taliban’s intelligence services, according to three witnesses whose statements were obtained by The New York Times. The officers stormed the apartment that the U.S.-Afghan citizen, Mahmood Shah Habibi, had just left. They seized his laptop, some books and paperwork, and departed.

It was the last time Mr. Habibi was seen in public. His arrest and unknown whereabouts remain at the center of tensions between the Trump administration, which has made the release of U.S. citizens held abroad a priority, and a Taliban government seeking to forge diplomatic and economic ties with the United States.

Afghan officials deny holding Mr. Habibi, or even knowing where he is. They have not responded to questions from the Times about his arrest.

At least five cars carrying Afghan intelligence officers blocked the street leading to the apartment building where Mr. Habibi lived, and which he had just left, according to the statements. The men stopped Mr. Habibi as he was about to drive to his office and later searched the apartment.

Mr. Habibi disappeared about a week after the C.I.A. — in a 2022 strike in Kabul — killed Ayman al-Zawahri, Al Qaeda’s leader and a key plotter of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. Whether he is alive or not remains unclear.

Mr. Habibi worked as a contractor for Asia Consultancy Group, a Kabul-based telecommunications company, according to the F.B.I. He and his driver were detained with 29 other employees of the firm, all of whom, except one, have since been freed.

U.S. officials would not discuss whether Mr. Habibi had a role in the strike, nor on the nature of his or his colleagues’ work. But his father, Ahmadullah, and brother, Ahmad, have denied that he was involved.

“The Taliban saying they never heard of my brother is contradicted by witness statements, technical data and other information that shows without a doubt that they both arrested him and held him with 30 other colleagues at G.D.I. headquarters,” said Ahmad Habibi, referring to the initials for Afghanistan’s intelligence agency.

In an interview with the Times this month, Mr. Mujahid said that Afghanistan was ready to release two U.S. prisoners — identified by U.S. officials as Dennis Walter Coyle, a U.S. citizen from Colorado held since last January, and Polynesis Jackson, a former U.S. Army soldier whose reasons for being in the country remain murky.

In exchange, Mr. Mujahid said the Taliban wanted the release of the last Afghan held at Guantánamo Bay, Muhammad Rahim, who is accused by the C.I.A. of having been a courier and translator to Osama Bin Laden within Al Qaeda. Mr. Rahim, 60, has never been charged.

Discussing Mr. Habibi’s fate or whereabouts is off the table as long as Mr. Rahim is not freed, said an Afghan official with direct knowledge of the negotiations who insisted on anonymity to discuss ongoing release efforts.

According to a direct witness of the arrest, the Taliban blindfolded Mr. Habibi in the back of his own white S.U.V. before driving him away. “I asked one of the guys who they were, and he said they are G.D.I. Mujahideen,” one witness said in a statement, referring to the term for fighters used by the Taliban.

One of the men who stormed the apartment and introduced himself as the G.D.I. unit’s leader told an eyewitness that Mr. Habibi was a U.S. spy and that G.D.I. had been tracking him for months.

Blindfolded, Mr. Habibi and a co-worker were driven to a facility where they were interrogated about the C.I.A. strike on Mr. al-Zawahri, according to the co-worker’s statement.

At least five U.S. prisoners have been freed from Afghanistan over the past year, but negotiations for the release of remaining detainees have stalled in recent months. The Trump administration says Mr. Rahim’s release is off the table and has accused the Taliban of hostage diplomacy.

Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Afghan foreign minister, denied the accusations in an interview with The Times. He instead called on the Trump administration to reopen the U.S. Embassy in Kabul and develop trade with Afghanistan — including through the country’s vast reserves of copper, aluminum and rare earth minerals.

A participant in the negotiations, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss release efforts, said the Trump administration would not consider any further public engagement with the Taliban until all remaining U.S. citizens, including Mr. Habibi, are freed.

Elian Peltier is an international correspondent for The Times, covering Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Adam Goldman is a London-based reporter for The Times who writes about global security.

Missing in Kabul: The U.S. Citizen Witnesses Say Was Held by the Taliban
read more

Russia and Islamic Emirate Deepen Defense Cooperation Talks

January 29, 2026
TOLOnews
TV Network
29 Jan 2026

The report added that both sides agreed to establish structured and ongoing defense cooperation.

Mohammad Qasim Farid, Deputy Minister for Strategy and Policy at the Ministry of Defense of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, held official talks in Russia with his Russian counterpart, discussing regional security, bilateral cooperation, and ways to prevent security threats.

According to the Deputy Spokesman of the Ministry of Defense, both sides highlighted the importance of maintaining ties, expanding formal interactions, and ensuring long-term cooperation.

Sediqullah Nusrat stated: “During this meeting, both parties held comprehensive discussions on key topics, including regional security, mutual cooperation, and ways to prevent security challenges. Both sides also emphasized the importance of strengthening relations, enhancing formal engagement, and continuing durable cooperation.”

Russian media, quoting their country’s Ministry of Defense, reported that Vasily Osmakov, Deputy Minister of Defense of Russia, met with officials from the Ministry of Defense of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to assess the current situation and explore future cooperation in mutual areas of interest.

The report added that both sides agreed to establish structured and ongoing defense cooperation.

Russian Ministry of Defense stated: “The two parties discussed the current situation and the prospects for expanding military cooperation in areas of mutual interest. Following the meeting, both sides agreed on further joint measures to establish systematic collaboration.”

Yousuf Amin Zazai, a military analyst, noted: “Our policy is one of neutrality, and we seek to build relations with other countries based on this principle. However, many countries do not observe this approach, which compels us to consider military cooperation and the strengthening of our defense forces.”

Russia is the only country to have officially recognized the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan after four years.

Just days earlier, the Russian President had emphasized Afghanistan’s regional importance, stating that cooperation between Moscow and Kabul has significantly grown in recent years.

Russia and Islamic Emirate Deepen Defense Cooperation Talks
read more

SIGAR to End Mission in Afghanistan After 17 Years of Oversight

January 29, 2026
Liluma Qadiry
Tolo News
29 Jan 2026

The Islamic Emirate stated that SIGAR was created during the U.S. presence to monitor American spending and had nothing to do with Afghans.

The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) has announced that it will formally end operations on January 31, 2026.

With the conclusion of SIGAR’s mission, one of the most critical U.S. oversight bodies monitoring aid and expenditures in Afghanistan will be officially shut down.

Over 17 years of activity, SIGAR released dozens of investigative and audit reports, many of which exposed corruption, mismanagement, financial waste, and the failures of major reconstruction projects.

In its final years, SIGAR focused on the consequences of foreign troop withdrawal, the collapse of the former Afghan government, and the fate of U.S. military equipment and assets left behind.

Mirshakar Yaqubi, an Afghan economic analyst, said: “Although SIGAR wasn’t a donor agency, its work significantly influenced the decisions of donors. It played an important role in transparency, oversight, documenting corruption, and evaluating project efficiency.”

According to SIGAR’s reports, the United States spent over $145 billion on Afghan reconstruction a large portion of which, due to weak oversight, systemic corruption, and poor decision-making, failed to yield lasting results.

While the mission’s end marks the closure of an era of oversight, major questions regarding accountability, transparency, and the fate of billions of dollars in expenditures remain unanswered.

Another economist, Sayed Masoud, commented: “Since U.S. aid for Afghanistan’s reconstruction has stopped, SIGAR’s role came to an end. There is no longer a significant amount of money left that would require independent review, and specific reports have already been published.”

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan stated that SIGAR was created during the U.S. presence to monitor American spending and had nothing to do with Afghans.

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, emphasized: “If this agency stops its activities, it will have no impact on Afghanistan. It wasn’t for Afghanistan, nor did it bring any benefit. In recent years, its reports were exaggerated and based on distant hearsay without proper investigation.”

SIGAR was established by the U.S. Congress in 2008 to independently oversee how U.S. funds were spent on reconstruction, security, governance, and development in Afghanistan.

In its final statement, SIGAR expressed appreciation to all organizations, media outlets, researchers, and individuals who supported or used its reports and findings throughout its mission.

SIGAR to End Mission in Afghanistan After 17 Years of Oversight
read more

Over 14 Million People in Afghanistan to Need Health Services in 2026: UN Report

January 29, 2026
Khaama Press

The UN predicts 14.4 million people in Afghanistan will require health services in 2026, highlighting the country’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has forecast that 14.4 million people in Afghanistan will need health services in 2026.

According to a report released on Thursday, January 29, OCHA said that only 7.2 million of these individuals are expected to be covered by existing programs.

OCHA noted that 54 percent of those needing services are children, 24 percent are women, and 10 percent are persons with disabilities. The office emphasized that addressing these health needs will require more than $190 million in funding.

OCHA also stressed that Afghanistan remains the world’s largest humanitarian crisis this year, with approximately 22 million people dependent on humanitarian aid.

Years of conflict, economic instability, and natural disasters and incompetent government in the country have left Afghanistan’s health system fragile, making it difficult to reach remote and vulnerable populations.

International organizations and NGOs have been scaling up programs to provide vaccinations, maternal care, and emergency medical services, but significant funding gaps remain.

Over 14 Million People in Afghanistan to Need Health Services in 2026: UN Report
read more

Recent Posts