The connection between the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) remains strong and mutually beneficial for all the parties involved with the Taliban as current rulers of Afghanistan acting as the nucleus of the entire set-up harbouring terror activities, a latest UN report has indicated.

The connection between the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) remains strong and mutually beneficial for all the parties involved with the Taliban as current rulers of Afghanistan acting as the nucleus of the entire set-up harbouring terror activities, a latest UN report has indicated. The report highlights that terrorist groups are now able to freely operate under the Taliban's authority in Afghanistan, posing a significant threat of terrorism in the country and the wider region. The report further describes that the Taliban's relationship with Al-Qaeda and TTP remains robust and symbiotic, enabling other terrorist groups to operate more freely under the Taliban's rule except for the ones that it sees as its rival. The UNSC’s Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team submitted its 14th annual report about the Taliban’s impact on the security situation in Afghanistan this month, in which it accused the regime of reverting to its "autocratic" policies of the late 1990s. Taliban is allowing Afghanistan to be used for attack against other nations Contrary to the Taliban's promises and subsequent claims of not allowing Afghan soil to be used for attacks against other countries, the report reveals that they have been harboring and actively supporting the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). In another contradiction, while the Taliban maintains ties with various terrorist entities, it has sought counter-terrorism assistance from member states in its fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province (ISIL-K), which it considers its primary rival. “The Taliban leadership shows no signs of bending to pressure for reform or compromise, in the hope of earning international political recognition,” the report said, adding that Taliban chief Hibatullah Akhundzada has been “proudly resistant” to external pressure to moderate his policies. Taliban is not honoring Doha agreement: UN report The Taliban has failed to fulfill its counter-terrorism obligations as outlined in the Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan between the United States and the Taliban, the UN report said. Moreover, the Taliban is helping Al-Qaeda rebuild its operational capability even amid a crisis of leadership after its leader Al-Zawahiri’s death in 2022. What does the Taliban in Afghanistan mean for Pakistan? Unlike the popular optics of August 201 showing Pakistani establishment mingling with Taliban as an apparent mark of US’ departure from the region, the snakes Islamabad has fed for decades have come to bite Pakistan itself. The report underscores that the tight bond between the Afghan Taliban and TTP, similar to their relationship with Al-Qaeda, is unlikely to dissipate. This situation puts Pakistan to the test and raises the risk of heightened violence on both sides of the border. Taliban shows no signs of reform The report, the first to cover the entirety of the Taliban's period in power, indicates that the Taliban leadership shows no intention of reform or compromise to gain international political recognition. With no significant political opposition, the Taliban's unchecked authority has allowed foreign terrorist fighters sheltered by the group to become an increasingly significant security threat to neighboring countries. Taliban, Al-Qaeda ties: Afghanistan a safe haven for terror While the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Aiman al-Zawahiri in a Kabul house connected to Taliban's acting Interior Minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani, did lead to a sense of distrust among its members, according to the latest UN report, Afghanistan continues to be a safe haven for Al-Qaeda. Also watch | Afghan women speak to WION from the ground: 'We want our freedoms back' | WION Originals × Al-Qaeda aims to strengthen its position in Afghanistan and has been collaborating with the Taliban, supporting the regime, and safeguarding senior Taliban figures. Al-Qaeda maintains a low profile, utilising the country as an ideological and logistical hub for mobilisation, recruitment, and covertly rebuilding external operational capabilities. Al-Qaeda finances its activities through core funding and donations, including the use of hawala services and cryptocurrencies. ISIL-K 'most serious terrorist threat' ISIL-K has been identified as the most serious current terrorist threat in Afghanistan, neighboring countries, and Central Asia, according to member states. Also read | Exclusive: 'Why is the world neglecting Afghan women?' The group has enhanced its operational capabilities and freedom of movement within Afghanistan, aiming to sustain a high pace of mostly low-impact attacks while sporadically executing high-impact actions to incite sectarian conflicts and destabilise the region in the medium to long term. Over the past year, ISIL-K has claimed responsibility for more than 190 suicide bomb attacks targeting major cities, resulting in the death or injury of approximately 1,300 people. Taliban rule in Afghanistan so far Barely a month after coming to power, the Taliban banned girls from secondary education in September 2021. On December 21, 2022, the Taliban banned women from attending universities. WION first reported in January 2023 when the Taliban-ruled in Balkh province that male doctors can no longer treat female patients. The Taliban stormed to power virtually unchallenged after the withdrawal of US-led forces from the country in the first week of August 2021. The regime has not received international recognition especially due to its imposition of anti-women decrees. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained | Taliban have put Afghan clock back to 1990s’ autocracy: UN report

“You know, I used to look out of the window and tell my mother that one day someone will send a plane that I can hop on and flee,” says the once rebellious Zahra*** about her survival tactics. She, in her 20s, has worked towards the betterment of Afghan women and children through several NGOs in the past, and had a steady job in finance before the Taliban asked working women to shut shop.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“But I want to go out, eat out with my friends. I don’t want to wear a&nbsp;burqa!” she screams, almost. In an exclusive interview with WION—this girl, a&nbsp;headstrong persona, hiding somewhere in the deep pockets of the troubled country—she tells us some women are supporting the Taliban and&nbsp;are party to&nbsp;a confused war, why Taliban’s definition of the female population angers her and what she would do if help doesn’t come sooner.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Edited excerpts from this&nbsp;video-recorded conversation:&nbsp;&nbsp;

WION: You have worked with NGOs of international repute, and also served as finance &amp; marketing executive in a private company. Now, you say, you have been forced into being a homebody. How are you coping with this drastic transition?&nbsp;

ZAHRA:&nbsp;This horrible, horrifying condition was unexpected. It's like everything went upside down. Jobs are closed for females and coping in such conditions is never easy. And I can say that we, who are currently living in Afghanistan, are the survivors. And everyone knows that it's really hard to cope mentally. It's like we are living&nbsp;in our own homeland as&nbsp;prisoners. After&nbsp;higher&nbsp;studies and all that hard work, we have reached a point where we can&nbsp;contribute towards our country. But the Taliban has pushed us back&nbsp;and changed everything; sitting home and doing household chores. That is always the perspective of a male-dominant, patriarchal society and Afghanistan is one now. And, we, the females, who have always faced challenges, are just homebodies.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wion-exclusive-life-under-taliban-living-in-the-land-of-zombies-416292">WION exclusive: Life under Taliban- ‘Living in the land of zombies’</a>

WION: You mentioned that the Taliban looks down upon women who work and their choice of language to describe them is objectionable, to put it subtly. What is the word on the street about their opinion of career-oriented ladies?&nbsp;

ZAHRA:&nbsp;&nbsp;As I mentioned previously, Afghanistan was a male-dominated&nbsp;society. But,&nbsp;we do have male members who support female empowerment&nbsp;and help them chase their dreams in different career paths like photography, theatre, sports, among others. But Taliban’s opinion of women working in different sectors is unacceptable. They themselves had announced that doctors and teachers can go to work. And, despite that, they have banned teachers who used to teach in boys' schools. Taliban (has) point (ed) out that women are s**ts for working&nbsp;in (the) photography field, filmmaking and sports. Of course, they banned sports, too, because women wear clothes, and the body is visible. This is a stupid idea.&nbsp;&nbsp;

They say that women are doing unethical actions at&nbsp;their workplace. They cannot put&nbsp;labels on&nbsp;women as being sluts. They have no right to say that. And our people, who have enough knowledge&nbsp;and those who have enough understanding of women, always support us: both&nbsp;in&nbsp;and outside of Afghanistan. But people who are in&nbsp;Afghanistan, it's not easy for them to support the idea of women working in any&nbsp;field, because it may end up in&nbsp;death (for them). And even I don't want to lose that kind of men in my society (who support women), because that's (for) our next generation. And I don't want them to lose&nbsp;their lives.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wion-exclusive-life-under-taliban-women-run-studio-forced-to-shut-down-in-kabul-417039">WION exclusive- Life under Taliban: Women-run studio forced to shut down in Kabul</a>

WION: Despite the mayhem, the Taliban has found sympathizers within the country, and some are women. What’s the logic behind those who support them? How are they looking at this so-called victory, especially the female population?&nbsp;

ZAHRA: Women&nbsp;who support the Taliban, they went on the street and claimed victory, saying ‘this is the victory of Islam. This is the victory of Afghanistan’. Because they think or their thinking (is) that Afghanistan was overpowered&nbsp;by foreigners for 20 years (referring to the presence of Americans). And now, all of Afghanistan is banned in a wrong way, in a non-Muslim way, which is not right. And these women&nbsp;think&nbsp;they're (helping) the Taliban claim victory for them and help them live in a Muslim society. These are women who were not comfortable wearing colourful dresses and would wear black burqas instead. And, we (the liberal women of Afghanistan) didn't say, ‘Come on, wear colourful dresses because this is Afghanistan. Foreigners are ruling this country.’ That has never happened and now they are telling the media that Taliban's takeover&nbsp;is the victory of Islam. Okay, no one is against Islam in Afghanistan, we are all Muslims. 
&nbsp;&nbsp; 
And we all know that in Islam we don't wear tight clothes as they attract (male gaze). These women are thinking that the Taliban has 'allowed' them to wear black burqa from head-to-toe. I'm not comfortable wearing black burqa. I'm comfortable in wearing my own type of dress, my own choice of colour, not black. And these women, I don't know what to say to them--I don't have the right to insult them--because they're not aware of their own rights, and they're just throwing women’s freedom away over some&nbsp;colours. What kind of freedom is this? And they are so&nbsp;limited: even in their ideas. I can say that they are insane. They only know how to read the Quran or go to Madrasa. But Islam is beyond that. Once they get to know about their rights, I'm sure they will go against the idea of Taliban (rule).&nbsp;

WION: You have tried fleeing the country but couldn’t. Also, you think media professionals (female) find it easier to leave Afghanistan as opposed to those who come from other backgrounds. Why so?&nbsp;

ZAHRA:&nbsp;We all know that working as a TV reporter means you need to showcase what the truth is, without any fear or hesitation. And, for the past 20 years, our female reporters have done that. They try to show what the truth is on TV and have always been trying to bring about&nbsp;change. And their identity is so visible to everyone: their names, their last names and even their faces. And they're known by everyone in the country. So, in this regime of Taliban, it's not easy for them to hide under such&nbsp;conditions as anything could happen at any moment. So, that's why, they&nbsp;can flee to other countries sooner and be evacuated after say two days of petition. But, for other people like us, who come from different professional backgrounds, we are not allowed. It's not easy for us to be evacuated soon. This condition is horrible.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-wion-exclusive--afghan-actor-warina-hussain-i-dont-blame-women-who-have-taken-up-arms-in-afghanistan-409865">WION exclusive | Afghan actor Warina Hussain: I don't blame women who have taken up arms in Afghanistan</a>

WION:&nbsp;&nbsp;If help doesn’t come sooner—or at all—what’s your plan of action?&nbsp;

 
ZAHRA:&nbsp;I don't know what will happen (to my life). It's so uncertain. I don't know. I cannot go to work and have to stay only at home. It's not&nbsp;easy for me. But then I cannot go anywhere with my friends. I cannot go for walks. I cannot go to restaurants with my friends, male and female. Something&nbsp;I used to do just two months ago.&nbsp;And I don't know how to explain it. It's beyond horrible. And every&nbsp;woman in this country is uncertain as to what will happen next, and when. The government is focusing on Islam. Not in (its) politics and politicians. Even when a&nbsp;reporter asks&nbsp;them a question (about women),they change&nbsp;the topic to Islam. They're not answering it politically, which the people are dying (to know about) each day. Our economy is zero now. People are dying because&nbsp;of lack of food. There's so much uncertainty. I don't know. I really don't know what I will do if help doesn't come sooner.&nbsp;

***The name of the interviewee has been changed and other information withheld for security reasons.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

“You know, I used to look out of the window and tell my mother that one day someone will send a plane that I can hop on and flee,” says the once rebellious Zahra*** about her survival tactics.

“You know, I used to look out of the window and tell my mother that one day someone will send a plane that I can hop on and flee,” says the once rebellious Zahra*** about her survival tactics. She, in her 20s, has worked towards the betterment of Afghan women and children through several NGOs in the past, and had a steady job in finance before the Taliban asked working women to shut shop. “But I want to go out, eat out with my friends. I don’t want to wear a burqa!” she screams, almost. In an exclusive interview with WION—this girl, a headstrong persona, hiding somewhere in the deep pockets of the troubled country—she tells us some women are supporting the Taliban and are party to a confused war, why Taliban’s definition of the female population angers her and what she would do if help doesn’t come sooner. Edited excerpts from this video-recorded conversation: WION: You have worked with NGOs of international repute, and also served as finance & marketing executive in a private company. Now, you say, you have been forced into being a homebody. How are you coping with this drastic transition? ZAHRA: This horrible, horrifying condition was unexpected. It's like everything went upside down. Jobs are closed for females and coping in such conditions is never easy. And I can say that we, who are currently living in Afghanistan, are the survivors. And everyone knows that it's really hard to cope mentally. It's like we are living in our own homeland as prisoners. After higher studies and all that hard work, we have reached a point where we can contribute towards our country. But the Taliban has pushed us back and changed everything; sitting home and doing household chores. That is always the perspective of a male-dominant, patriarchal society and Afghanistan is one now. And, we, the females, who have always faced challenges, are just homebodies. Also read | WION exclusive: Life under Taliban- ‘Living in the land of zombies’ WION: You mentioned that the Taliban looks down upon women who work and their choice of language to describe them is objectionable, to put it subtly. What is the word on the street about their opinion of career-oriented ladies? ZAHRA: As I mentioned previously, Afghanistan was a male-dominated society. But, we do have male members who support female empowerment and help them chase their dreams in different career paths like photography, theatre, sports, among others. But Taliban’s opinion of women working in different sectors is unacceptable. They themselves had announced that doctors and teachers can go to work. And, despite that, they have banned teachers who used to teach in boys' schools. Taliban (has) point (ed) out that women are s**ts for working in (the) photography field, filmmaking and sports. Of course, they banned sports, too, because women wear clothes, and the body is visible. This is a stupid idea. They say that women are doing unethical actions at their workplace. They cannot put labels on women as being sluts. They have no right to say that. And our people, who have enough knowledge and those who have enough understanding of women, always support us: both in and outside of Afghanistan. But people who are in Afghanistan, it's not easy for them to support the idea of women working in any field, because it may end up in death (for them). And even I don't want to lose that kind of men in my society (who support women), because that's (for) our next generation. And I don't want them to lose their lives. Also read | WION exclusive- Life under Taliban: Women-run studio forced to shut down in Kabul WION: Despite the mayhem, the Taliban has found sympathizers within the country, and some are women. What’s the logic behind those who support them? How are they looking at this so-called victory, especially the female population? ZAHRA: Women who support the Taliban, they went on the street and claimed victory, saying ‘this is the victory of Islam. This is the victory of Afghanistan’. Because they think or their thinking (is) that Afghanistan was overpowered by foreigners for 20 years (referring to the presence of Americans). And now, all of Afghanistan is banned in a wrong way, in a non-Muslim way, which is not right. And these women think they're (helping) the Taliban claim victory for them and help them live in a Muslim society. These are women who were not comfortable wearing colourful dresses and would wear black burqas instead. And, we (the liberal women of Afghanistan) didn't say, ‘Come on, wear colourful dresses because this is Afghanistan. Foreigners are ruling this country.’ That has never happened and now they are telling the media that Taliban's takeover is the victory of Islam. Okay, no one is against Islam in Afghanistan, we are all Muslims. And we all know that in Islam we don't wear tight clothes as they attract (male gaze). These women are thinking that the Taliban has 'allowed' them to wear black burqa from head-to-toe. I'm not comfortable wearing black burqa. I'm comfortable in wearing my own type of dress, my own choice of colour, not black. And these women, I don't know what to say to them--I don't have the right to insult them--because they're not aware of their own rights, and they're just throwing women’s freedom away over some colours. What kind of freedom is this? And they are so limited: even in their ideas. I can say that they are insane. They only know how to read the Quran or go to Madrasa. But Islam is beyond that. Once they get to know about their rights, I'm sure they will go against the idea of Taliban (rule). WION: You have tried fleeing the country but couldn’t. Also, you think media professionals (female) find it easier to leave Afghanistan as opposed to those who come from other backgrounds. Why so? ZAHRA: We all know that working as a TV reporter means you need to showcase what the truth is, without any fear or hesitation. And, for the past 20 years, our female reporters have done that. They try to show what the truth is on TV and have always been trying to bring about change. And their identity is so visible to everyone: their names, their last names and even their faces. And they're known by everyone in the country. So, in this regime of Taliban, it's not easy for them to hide under such conditions as anything could happen at any moment. So, that's why, they can flee to other countries sooner and be evacuated after say two days of petition. But, for other people like us, who come from different professional backgrounds, we are not allowed. It's not easy for us to be evacuated soon. This condition is horrible. Also read | WION exclusive | Afghan actor Warina Hussain: I don't blame women who have taken up arms in Afghanistan WION: If help doesn’t come sooner—or at all—what’s your plan of action? ZAHRA: I don't know what will happen (to my life). It's so uncertain. I don't know. I cannot go to work and have to stay only at home. It's not easy for me. But then I cannot go anywhere with my friends. I cannot go for walks. I cannot go to restaurants with my friends, male and female. Something I used to do just two months ago. And I don't know how to explain it. It's beyond horrible. And every woman in this country is uncertain as to what will happen next, and when. The government is focusing on Islam. Not in (its) politics and politicians. Even when a reporter asks them a question (about women),they change the topic to Islam. They're not answering it politically, which the people are dying (to know about) each day. Our economy is zero now. People are dying because of lack of food. There's so much uncertainty. I don't know. I really don't know what I will do if help doesn't come sooner. ***The name of the interviewee has been changed and other information withheld for security reasons.

WION exclusive: Life Under Taliban- 'They call women s**ts'

Long queues were witnessed outside banks. The price of food and fuel has gone up by 50 percent and the residents are really cautious and uneasy.

Afghans cautious, uneasy under Taliban rule

According to reports, Taliban’s co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar is likely to become the head of the executive council. Earlier, reports claimed that the Taliban's top religious leader Mullah Hebatullah Akhundzada will be 'supreme authority'.

Mullah Baradar, Taliban co-founder, to lead new govt in Afghanistan: Report

Amid many uncertainties, the Taliban is all set to form the new Afghan government. As per the latest reports, Taliban’s co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar is likely to become the head of the executive council.

Report: Taliban co-founder Mullah Baradar to become head of new Afghan govt

Big day in Kabul today. Amidst many uncertainties, the Taliban is gearing up to establish its regime. How does the Taliban intend to rule? Which Taliban leaders will be retaining control? WION's Anas Mallick brings you more details.

Taliban fine-tunes the contours of new government, will the world accept it?

Over two weeks after taking over Afghanistan and celebrating the official end of the war, the Taliban is gearing up to form a new government. Reportedly, it is all set to unveil the new government soon. How does the Taliban intend to rule?

Taliban preparing to set out their new Islamic government in Afghanistan

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