Pakistan with one of his brothers, although the latter does not appear to be directly connected to the Taliban, the media company said. There is also no suggestion that Balkhi or his immediate family members are engaged in any illegal activity, with members of the Afghan community in Hamilton describing them as well-educated, tolerant and devout Muslims.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said she is not yet aware if Balkhi was an NZ citizen or not, and that she had requested for more information regarding the individual from her officials. “The detail of his character and things like that are a matter I know that my ministry [the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade] have some awareness of. The issue that I’ve absolutely focused on is our Afghanistan emergency response,” she noted. “I’m seeking advice from officials around the detail of that particular individual.”
On several instances, Balkhi has shared images on Twitter, of meetings between Taliban officials and representatives of various countries, including New Zealand’s special representative to Afghanistan, Matthew Hawkins.
Speaking on Monday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern acknowledged that she has seen reports of Balkhi’s connection to the island nation. “As is the case with any issue that has national security implications, I won’t comment on the specifics,” she said. “Any New Zealand citizen or resident who is affiliated or associated with an organisation who is listed as a terrorist entity can be expected to face the consequences of New Zealand’s legislative framework.”
