WORLD

The Taliban has introduced several 'conditions' to restrict protests in Afghanistan after forming a new government in the country. These conditions include taking permission from the Ministry of Justice while purpose, slogans, place, time and all 'other' details of the protest need to be shared with the government authorities, as reported by Pajhwok News.

Details of the protest need to be shared with the security agencies 24-hours prior to the protest. The interim Taliban government added that any consequences for those who protest without approval would be their own responsibility.

The developments came amid an increase in the protests against the Taliban in the country. The Taliban gunmen recently fired into the air to disperse anti-Pakistan protesters in Kabul.

Two people were shot dead and eight wounded in a protest in the western Afghan city of Herat on Tuesday, a doctor said.

The bodies were brought to the city’s central hospital from the site of the protest, the doctor, who asked not to be named out of fear of reprisals, told an international agency. “They all have bullet wounds,” he said.

Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund is set to lead the new Taliban ‘caretaker government’ in Afghanistan, and the militant group’s co-founder Abdul Ghani Baradar will be the deputy Afghan leader, Taliban said in a press conference today.

The Taliban on Monday claimed total control over Afghanistan, saying they had won the key battle for the Panjshir Valley, the last remaining holdout of resistance against their rule.

Following their lightning-fast victory in mid-August over the former Afghan government's security forces and the withdrawal of US troops after 20 years of war, the Taliban turned to fighting the forces defending the mountainous Panjshir Valley.

As the Islamist hardliners claimed victory, their chief spokesman warned against any further attempts to rise up against their rule while urging former members of the security forces to join their regime's ranks.

China has sought common ground with Iran on the formation of the Taliban government in Afghanistan with foreign minister Wang Yi saying Beijing and Teheran should strengthen communication on a smooth transition of power in Kabul.

Noting that the Afghan Taliban may announce the formation of a new government in the near future, Wang, who is also state councillor, told Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian that China hopes the new government in Kabul would reflect openness and inclusiveness, completely cut off ties with all terrorist organisations and establish good relations with all countries, especially neighbours.

“As common neighbours of Afghanistan, China and Iran need to strengthen communication and coordination to play a constructive role in achieving a smooth transition and peaceful reconstruction of Afghanistan,” he said in a phone conversation.

The majority of Americans who support the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan disapprove of how US President Joe Biden handled it, according to a new poll. Biden has been facing criticism from the international community over the hasty troops’ pullout from Afghanistan which led to a humanitarian crisis in the war-torn country following the Taliban’s lightning push to capture Kabul.

In a Washington Post-ABC News poll, an overwhelming majority supported Biden’s decision to end the two decades of war in Afghanistan but disapproved of the manner in which the situation was handled. While 77% of respondents voiced support for the withdrawal, the chaotic evacuation including the deaths of 13 US service members hit the popular decision hard.