In a press conference held in Kabul on Sunday, Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, the appointed defense minister of the Taliban, announced the successful operations of security forces in Afghanistan targeting individuals responsible for attacks against religious figures, the public, and mosques. Over the past 12 months, dozens of Tajik and more than 20 Pakistani nationals were reportedly killed, with scores of Tajiks and hundreds of Pakistanis arrested in connection to various incidents.

Mujahid urged neighboring and regional countries to enhance border monitoring in response to these developments. The announcement comes amidst heightened tensions between Kabul and Islamabad, triggered by the mass exodus of hundreds of thousands of Afghans from Pakistan. Pakistani authorities, in an effort to address illegal residency, initiated door-to-door checks on migrants' documentation after an October 31 deadline.

Additionally, Mujahid reported a significant 90% decrease in attacks by an Islamic State affiliate over the past year. The rival militant group has been responsible for major assaults on schools, hospitals, and mosques, particularly targeting Shiite areas across Afghanistan. Since the Taliban assumed control in August 2021, the IS affiliate has posed a formidable challenge, carrying out attacks in various regions.

The Taliban's harsh measures since coming to power, including restricting women from public life and limiting girls' education beyond the sixth grade, have drawn international attention. These measures were implemented as U.S. and NATO forces completed their withdrawal from Afghanistan, marking the end of two decades of conflict.