AGP Executive Report

Diplomacy: The EU appointed Danish diplomat Thomas Frellesen as its new special envoy for Afghanistan, while Kyrgyzstan called for continued regional support. Rights and accountability: A UN report recorded 4,582 grave violations against children in Afghanistan from 2023 to 2025, including 1,415 children killed or injured; UNAMA also reported that more than 50 women and a girl were detained in Kabul and Herat. Richard Bennett urged the ICC to continue its Afghanistan investigation despite new US sanctions on the court; Taliban authorities reject its jurisdiction and arrest warrants. Afghans abroad: Iran Human Rights says at least 233 Afghans have been executed in Iran since the Taliban’s return to power, including 84 in 2025. Women’s education: Afghan educator Shabana Basij-Rasikh donated $2.5 million to establish a permanent Oxford scholarship for Afghan women, as girls in Afghanistan remain barred from education beyond grade six.

Regional Diplomacy: Kyrgyzstan’s president called for continued support for Afghans, saying a peaceful, stable Afghanistan serves the region. France is also holding technical talks with the Islamic Emirate on returning some Afghans it considers irregular residents or security risks; Paris says women and asylum seekers are excluded. Security Dispute: Moscow Format talks ended without a joint statement as Pakistan pressed concerns about militant groups operating from Afghan soil, while Kabul objected to linking Afghanistan broadly with terrorism. Rights and Accountability: Kabul rejected ICC arrest warrants for Taliban leaders over alleged gender persecution. UNAMA also reported that 52 women and one girl were briefly detained in Kabul and Herat over alleged dress-code violations. Economic Links: Afghanistan and Iran signed 28 trade agreements, signaling an effort to deepen cross-border commerce.

Deportation Talks: France confirmed technical discussions with Taliban authorities to return Afghan nationals it considers security risks, while saying the talks do not signal recognition of the government. Regional Security: Pakistan again warned that armed groups operate from Afghan territory; Kabul has disputed such accusations, and disagreements over terrorism language stalled a joint statement at regional talks in Moscow. Trade and Diplomacy: Afghan and Iranian businesses signed 28 agreements worth $451.8 million, while Kyrgyzstan’s president called a peaceful Afghanistan essential to regional stability. Rights and Accountability: A US State Department report says the Taliban and other armed groups recruit and use children; UNAMA says Taliban authorities detained 52 women and a girl over alleged dress-code violations. Separately, new US sanctions target the International Criminal Court, which is investigating alleged crimes in Afghanistan.

Women’s Rights: UNAMA says Taliban authorities detained 52 women and one girl from July to September over alleged dress-code violations, including wearing makeup or colourful scarves, or appearing in public without a male guardian. The report also cites threats and abuse. International Justice: The Taliban rejected ICC arrest warrants against officials accused of gender-based persecution and said Afghanistan does not recognize the court’s jurisdiction. Regional Tensions: Pakistan’s interior minister told UN Secretary-General António Guterres that 25 militant groups operate in Afghanistan. Moscow talks between Kabul and Islamabad ended without a joint statement, while failed mediation has raised fears of wider violence. Deportation Talks: France has begun technical discussions with Taliban authorities on returning Afghans, putting the status and rights of deportees in focus.

Women’s Rights: UNAMA says Taliban authorities detained at least 52 women and one girl in Kabul and Herat from July to September over alleged dress-code violations, and warns the real toll may be higher. Accountability: The ICC’s arrest warrants for Taliban leaders over alleged persecution of women have drawn support from Afghanistan’s UN representative, who called for an independent investigative mechanism; Kabul rejects the court’s authority. Regional Tensions: Moscow-hosted Afghanistan talks ended without a joint statement amid the Taliban-Pakistan dispute. Russia offered to help ease the tensions, while Pakistan raised concerns about militancy and Kabul called for diplomacy. Deportation Talks: France has begun technical discussions with the Taliban on returning Afghan nationals, raising concerns about the safety of people sent back. War’s Legacy: On the 25th anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion, Afghans continue to face the consequences of decades of conflict, corruption and the Taliban’s return to power, alongside a deepening humanitarian crisis and restrictions on women and girls.

Deportation Talks: France has opened technical talks with the Taliban to return Afghans deemed a public-order concern; the discussions could affect hundreds, though Paris says they do not change its broader policy. Infrastructure: Afghan authorities approved 16 projects worth more than $107 million, including roads, hospitals and water networks, funded from the domestic budget. Taliban Control: Armed opposition groups say their attacks have spread across 26 provinces, but the UN has assessed that resistance does not yet threaten the Taliban’s territorial control. Accountability: The ICC has made arrest warrants public for four Taliban officials over alleged persecution of women and girls; the Taliban rejects the court’s authority. Regional Tensions: Russia says it is ready to help ease the Taliban-Pakistan dispute, as Islamabad again accused Afghanistan-based groups of threatening regional security.

ICC Warrants: Taliban authorities rejected the court’s jurisdiction after it unsealed arrest warrants for four officials over the persecution of women and girls, including supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. Cross-Border Tensions: UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged the safe, voluntary return of Afghans from Pakistan. Pakistani leaders again raised alleged militant threats from Afghanistan; the UN has reported civilian deaths in Pakistani airstrikes, and recent Moscow-format talks ended without agreement. Russia says it is ready to mediate. Security Ties: Taliban military officials met North Korean counterparts during Russian exercises, but no agreement was announced. Trade Links: Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar said Afghanistan wants to turn its borders into economic corridors, as Kabul promotes the Wakhan route to China and seeks regional investment.

Strait of Hormuz Incident: India says the Panamanian-flagged “MT On Peace” was hit by an unidentified projectile in the Strait of Hormuz; 17 Indian crew members were aboard and 12 were injured, with Omani authorities assisting treatment in Khasab. Regional Health Security: After a suspected plague-linked pneumonia case in Russia’s Irkutsk region, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Mongolia tightened border health checks while WHO said public risk looks low. Pakistan–Saudi Military Claims: Pakistan denied Reuters reports that it deployed 30,000–40,000 troops to Saudi Arabia, calling the figures fabricated and stressing “operational secrecy.” Afghanistan in Global Diplomacy: Russia’s Shoigu rejected any return of US/NATO military infrastructure to Afghanistan as “unacceptable,” while the Moscow Format ended without a joint statement amid Pakistan–Afghanistan tensions. Taliban Accountability at ICC: The ICC unsealed arrest warrants for multiple Taliban leaders over alleged gender-based persecution, including education ministers. Pakistan–Afghanistan Security Fallout: UN and Kabul-linked reporting continues to highlight civilian harm amid renewed cross-border strikes and accusations between the two sides. Counter-Narcotics: Pakistan’s ANF seized 3,825kg of drugs in Balochistan, alleging trafficking routes from Afghanistan via maritime corridors.

Afghanistan-Pakistan Security: Russia said it regrets Moscow Format talks failed to end Kabul-Islamabad tensions, amid claims linked to ISIS-K and cross-border militancy, as Lavrov warned NATO remains vigilant and Moscow keeps its guard up. ICC & Taliban Governance: The ICC reaffirmed follow-up arrest warrants tied to Afghanistan’s Taliban leadership over alleged gender-based persecution, while Taliban officials rejected the court’s authority. Diplomacy & Regional Trade: Kazakhstan’s Afghanistan envoy highlighted expanded trade and transport connectivity in Moscow Format discussions, alongside continued humanitarian support and counter-narcotics cooperation. Human Rights & Civilian Harm: UN reporting and rights groups again pressed for de-escalation after Pakistan-linked strikes in Afghan provinces reportedly killed civilians, mostly children, with UNAMA calling for adherence to international law. Taliban-Russia Ties: Taliban FM Muttaqi met Russia’s Shoigu in Moscow, seeking deeper security cooperation and economic links after Russia’s formal recognition. Domestic Afghanistan Social Strain: Reports also flagged ongoing restrictions and risks for women and girls under Taliban rule, including education and legal protections.

ICC Accountability: The International Criminal Court unsealed arrest warrants for Taliban leaders and ministers over crimes tied to persecution of women and girls, including education and higher-education officials, adding pressure to Afghanistan’s gender-rights crackdown. Afghanistan-Pakistan Tensions: Russia hosted Moscow Format talks where Pakistan and Kabul traded blame over terrorism and leverage; Moscow offered de-escalation help while Kabul insisted disputes be solved through dialogue. Cross-border Security: Reports of Pakistan-linked strikes and counterterror operations continued to dominate the security agenda, with UN and rights groups again raising civilian harm concerns. Regional Diplomacy & Connectivity: Afghanistan’s push for infrastructure and trade links—especially roads connecting the Wakhan Corridor to China—kept showing up as a governance and sovereignty priority. War Crimes Fallout (Australia): Australia’s Army chief flagged concerns about Afghanistan war-crimes investigations and psychosocial risks for families, underscoring how Kabul-era allegations keep shaping foreign policy and legal processes.

Moscow Format Diplomacy: Russia hosted fresh Afghanistan consultations in Moscow with a Taliban delegation plus India, China, Iran, Pakistan and others, with Lavrov praising Taliban anti-IS efforts and pledging regular humanitarian aid to Kabul. Taliban-Pakistan Rift: The talks ended without a joint statement after Taliban and Pakistani delegations disagreed over wording on terrorism, with Russia saying it regrets the failure and offering to help ease tensions if both sides ask. ICC Gender-Persecution Case: The ICC unsealed arrest warrants for four Taliban leaders, including education and higher-education ministers, accusing them of crimes against humanity tied to persecution of women and girls; Afghanistan’s spokesman rejected the court’s authority. Humanitarian Pressure: Russia said up to 17 million Afghans may face food shortages this winter and that millions have returned from Pakistan and Iran, urging non-politicized aid. Regional Connectivity: Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and the UAE backed a rail plan linking Central Asia to Pakistan’s seaports via Afghanistan. Rights and Education: UN Human Rights Council resolution urged the Taliban to repeal restrictions on women and girls, including bans on education beyond age 12.

Infrastructure & China Ties: Afghanistan’s Islamic Emirate officially opened the 121-kilometer Wakhan Corridor road linking the Boroghil border to China’s Xinjiang, built over two years at a reported cost of 365 million afghanis, with officials stressing Afghan-led engineering and hopes for trade and tourism. Heritage & Memory Politics: In Ghazni, residents and officials discussed the damaged palace of King Amanullah Khan and plans to turn it into a cultural center, while the Ministry of Information and Culture says it will collect and record “jihad artifacts” and create jihadi museums nationwide. Culture as State Narrative: The Emirate also announced museums and memorials to document past war events and equipment left behind, framing them as lessons for future generations. Security & Diplomatic Friction: Herat residents demanded a decisive response to Pakistan’s attacks, citing civilian casualties and UNAMA figures of widespread harm from cross-border strikes. Domestic Governance & Services: DABS says 850 power projects remain incomplete, warning delays could slow electricity access and raise costs; separately, Afghan authorities began a major road asphalting project in Farah. Human Rights Pressure: Human Rights Watch renewed calls for accountability 25 years after the 2001 war began, saying Afghans still lack real justice or reparation for abuses.

Cross-border diplomacy: Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi heads to Moscow for the eighth Moscow Format consultations on Afghanistan, with Pakistan sending Special Representative Mohammad Sadiq; talks are expected to focus on terrorism and regional security. Trade & infrastructure: Kabul inaugurated a 121-kilometer Wakhan Corridor road to China in Badakhshan, built in two phases with domestic funding, aiming to expand transit and trade; separate reporting also points to a wider Central Asia–South Asia railway corridor linking Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan’s seaports. Finance & banking: Afghanistan Banks Association says Kabul will host a major banking conference later this month with the central bank, private banks, ministries and international partners, including plans to push digital banking and improve money transfers. Security & governance: UNDP and partners continue clearing explosive remnants of war in Kunduz with mine-risk education, warning children remain especially vulnerable. Internal Afghan dissent: Taliban authorities detained a female poet in Takhar over critical poems, adding to concerns about restrictions on expression. Afghan-Pakistan tensions: Pakistan’s airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Helmand and Kunar again drew UN reports of civilian deaths, while Kabul and Islamabad trade conflicting casualty claims. Regional politics (Pakistan): PTI’s long march toward Islamabad began after government-opposition talks collapsed over counterterrorism and demands tied to jailed Imran Khan, as federal officials accuse KP leaders of backtracking and “sabotaging” negotiations.

Afghanistan–Pakistan Cross-Border Tensions: Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Kunar and Helmand, with Kabul saying civilians were killed while Islamabad claims it targeted militants—an escalation that has drawn fresh international concern, including from the Russian Embassy in Kabul. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governance Fight: In Pakistan, PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said the federal government is ready to impose emergency or governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but PPP is pushing for a political solution and talks with PTI before any constitutional “atomic bomb.” Taliban Violence Claims: A Taliban fighter, speaking to a British YouTuber, claimed he killed 14 people in a single day in Panjshir; the account was not independently verified. Afghan Humanitarian/Access Pressure: UN reporting highlights Afghan women and girls facing severe food insecurity risk, while separate coverage points to ongoing barriers for returnees and documentation. Regional Security Narrative: EU calls for dialogue between Afghanistan and Pakistan continue amid rising scrutiny over civilian harm and terrorism-linked attacks.

Afghanistan–Pakistan Cross-Border Strikes: Pakistan’s Thursday attacks inside Afghanistan are being disputed: the Taliban cites 9–10 civilian deaths, while Islamabad claims 22 militants killed and weapons depots hit; Russia’s Kabul embassy warned about civilian harm, especially children, as Afghan officials report houses destroyed in Kunar and Helmand. Taliban Governance & Rights: Taliban authorities detained an Uzbek female poet in Takhar for protest poetry, linking her to Rahila Dostum; separately, the Taliban health minister asked Russia for medicines and medical support after Kabul’s near-year-old ban on Pakistani drugs left supply gaps. International Deportations & EU–Taliban Talks: Belgium’s migration minister defended talks with the Taliban over deporting Afghan prisoners, saying around 60 illegal Afghans serving sentences could be removed after release, including people convicted of serious crimes. Regional Security Politics in Pakistan: PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari urged a political solution before governor’s rule or emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while warning terrorism must be treated as a national issue. Drug Trafficking Case: India announced the deportation of alleged narco-trafficking kingpin Navpreet Singh from Türkiye to India, linking the network to heroin and methamphetamine routes from Afghanistan.

UN Humanitarian Funding: The UN released $160M from the Central Emergency Response Fund, with $150M earmarked for Afghanistan and other major crises, and $10M for disability-inclusive aid—while UN officials warned money won’t reach people without political will and access. Afghan Women & Food Security: UN Women says Afghan women and girls are 60% of those at risk of food insecurity as Middle East-linked disruptions push up costs and strain humanitarian operations. Pakistan–Afghanistan Security Friction: Pakistan’s top military commanders again framed strikes in Afghanistan as counterterrorism and warned against any “May 9-like” unrest, while Islamabad also pushed for a regional approach to the Afghanistan war review. Cross-border Militancy Claims: Pakistan’s defence leadership accused Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s provincial government of failing to fight terrorism, escalating the domestic blame cycle tied to militancy and Afghanistan-linked threats. Regional Diplomacy: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye agreed in principle to convene an emergency defence meeting in Riyadh under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement amid the Houthi crisis. Afghanistan Governance & Rights: Reports highlight ongoing pressure on Afghan institutions and rights, including calls for accountability over airstrikes and continued attention to women’s rights in response planning.