Afghans Hold Rare Public Protests Against Taliban Rules

June 13, 2026

In Herat, Afghanistan, on Monday.

By Yaqoob Akbary and Zane Irwin

Yaqoob Akbary reported from Kabul, Afghanistan

The New York Times

June 12, 2026, 6:56 p.m. ET

The United Nations said it was “deeply concerned” about the arrests of dozens of women, and reported that two people were killed in protests organized to support them.

In a rare burst of public opposition to the Taliban’s severe restrictions on women, people organized protests in one of Afghanistan’s biggest cities, which authorities responded to with wide-ranging security measures on Friday.

Reports circulated online and in local media that demonstrators marched toward a government building in the western city of Herat, holding signs and chanting “Women, Work and Freedom!” Videos showing the demonstrations have not been independently verified.

Friday’s planned protests followed demonstrations on Tuesday that resulted in the death of two people, including a boy, and injuries to at least 20 others, according to the United Nations.

Sayed Masoud Hussaini, a police spokesman in Herat, has denied reports of arrests or injuries among what he called “agitators,” contradicting witness accounts and the United Nations.

During Tuesday’s protests, dozens of men and women gathered in a public square in Herat, one of the largest cities in the country, their faces hidden behind scarves and masks, chanting “education, work and freedom!”

The neighborhood in Herat, which has historically been more socially liberal than other parts of the country, is home to many of Afghanistan’s Hazara minority and Afghan refugees who were expelled by Iran last year. The slogans were inspired by Iran’s “Woman, life, freedom” protests of 2022.

The protests followed the arrest of at least 30 women in Herat on June 6 and 7, the United Nations said, by the Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice for violating laws requiring women to completely cover their bodies and forbidding women from wearing perfume.

A spokesman for the ministry told Taliban-operated outlets that reports of the dress code arrests were “rumors.”

A news conference at a mosque in Herat province on Thursday, in support of the Taliban’s strict rules over women’s clothing.

Activists on social media hoped to organize a fresh round of demonstrations, despite the crackdown and warnings against further protests by the Taliban.

The Taliban mobilized law enforcement in Kabul, the capital, and near Herat to discourage people from gathering. Armed government forces set up checkpoints around Herat, local religious leaders were instructed to discourage demonstrations, and clinics were warned against treating injured protesters.

Since taking control of Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban government has imposed some of the world’s toughest restrictions on women and girls, including education bans, limitations on work and movement, and many other facets of daily life.

Metra Mehran, an advocate with the rights group Amnesty International, said this week’s demonstrations stood out because Afghan men, not just women, had taken to the streets.

“The power comes because we see the people taking huge risks, knowing that it will subject them to persecution and even death by Taliban soldiers,” Ms. Mehran said. “And then, it’s men and women doing it together.”

In a phone interview, a teacher named Razia described a violent scene when she arrived at the protest on Tuesday, which she heard about on WhatsApp.

“I wanted to protest why the Taliban arrested four women from this neighborhood who had a proper hijab; their faces were covered with masks, their hair was covered and they even wore socks,” she said.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said in a statement that it was “deeply concerned” by the arrests in Herat.

While the women were released on Monday, the impact of such arbitrary arrests and detentions on women and their families is profound, the U.N. Mission said.

“A woman’s detention in Afghanistan carries enormous stigma, which can put women at risk of further violence and isolation in their families and communities even after they are released,” said Georgette Gagnon, the top United Nations official in Afghanistan.

Razia, whose last name is being withheld for fear of reprisal by the Taliban, said she fled the scene of the protest on Tuesday. She said that a friend who was injured was forced to seek treatment at a regional hospital after a local clinic turned her away, afraid of retaliation for treating dissenters.

A pharmacist in Herat said in a phone interview that several people came to him on Tuesday with bullet wounds. A mother brought her son, who had been shot in the knee while riding his bike near the protest, the pharmacist said.

Zane Irwin is an international reporter and a member of the 2026-27 Times Fellowship, a program for journalists early in their careers.

 

Afghans Hold Rare Public Protests Against Taliban Rules
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Major Fire Erupts Near Medical Facilities in Afghanistan’s Mazar-i-Sharif

June 12, 2026

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

 

 

A major fire broke out on Friday in Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of Afghanistan’s northern Balkh province, with witnesses reporting thick smoke, powerful explosions and ongoing efforts to contain the blaze.

Residents stated that the fire started in the Dasht-e Shor area near Journalist Square in the city’s second district and continued burning for several hours. The cause of the incident was not immediately known.

The affected area is located near several important facilities, including medical colleges, a veterinary clinic, the former military hospital and a number of private healthcare centers. Residents said the smoke could be seen from distant parts of the city.

Videos circulating on social media showed large flames and at least one powerful explosion, which witnesses said may have been caused by stored fuel or other flammable materials. Authorities have not yet released information about casualties or the extent of the damage.

 

 

The incident is the latest in a series of major fires reported across Afghanistan in recent months. Earlier this year, a large fire at a fuel and commercial market in Kabul destroyed dozens of shops and caused significant financial losses. Emergency services faced difficulties containing the blaze because of limited firefighting equipment.

Another major fire was reported in a market area in Herat, where warehouses and commercial properties were damaged. Local officials have repeatedly warned about inadequate fire safety standards, particularly in fuel depots, industrial areas and crowded markets.

Authorities had not announced the cause of Friday’s fire by the time of publication, and emergency teams were still working to bring the blaze under control. An investigation is expected to be launched once the site is secured.

Major Fire Erupts Near Medical Facilities in Afghanistan’s Mazar-i-Sharif
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Islamic Emirate Seeks Broader International Recognition, Relations

June 12, 2026
Bibi Amina Hakim
TOLOnews’ Reporter
12 June 2026

In return, the release of Afghanistan’s frozen assets remains one of Kabul’s key demands from the international community.

Suhail Shaheen, acting ambassador of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, says the current government seeks to expand bilateral relations with all countries based on the principles of engagement and mutual respect.

He called on countries around the world to give greater attention to recognizing the Islamic Emirate and to take steps toward strengthening political and economic ties with Afghanistan.

Shaheen said: “Over the past five years, the Islamic Emirate has demonstrated its ability to ensure security in the country, defend Afghanistan’s territorial integrity, and work toward economic growth. I do not believe there are any remaining obstacles to the recognition of the Islamic Emirate, and we urge other countries to pay attention to this issue.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Economy describes the lack of international recognition of the Islamic Emirate as one of the major challenges hindering the expansion of economic cooperation and the attraction of foreign investment.

Abdul Latif Nazari, Deputy Minister of Economy, said: “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan meets all the necessary conditions for recognition, and the international community should recognize it, as the continuation of the current situation has created limitations on investment and sustainable economic growth in the country.”

The international community has set several conditions for recognizing the Islamic Emirate, including the formation of an inclusive government, respect for human rights—particularly the rights of women and girls to education and employment—counterterrorism efforts, and preventing Afghan territory from being used against other countries.

In return, the release of Afghanistan’s frozen assets remains one of Kabul’s key demands from the international community.

Abdul Naser Shafiq, a political analyst, said: “Unless progress is made on women’s rights, especially education, the formation of an inclusive government, and constitutional issues, it is unlikely that the Islamic Emirate will gain recognition from more countries.”

On July 4 of last year, Russia became the first country to formally recognize the Islamic Emirate as the government of Afghanistan. Following that, Iran’s acting ambassador in Kabul told TOLOnews that there were no obstacles to Iran recognizing the Islamic Emirate and that such a move would take place soon; however, this has not yet happened.

Islamic Emirate Seeks Broader International Recognition, Relations
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MSF says one of its staff was among women detained in Afghanistan for violating dress code rules

June 12, 2026
By ELENA BECATOROS

Associated Press

June 12, 2026

A Doctors Without Borders paramedic was among women arrested during a recent crackdown for alleged dress code violations in Afghanistan, the medical aid organization said Friday.

The paramedic was arrested for not wearing a face covering while on her way to work at a hospital in the western city of Herat, and was detained for two days, according to Sarah Champion, the aid group’s program manager for Afghanistan.

The organization, also known by its French acronym MSF, said in a statement Thursday it was “outraged by the arrest and detention of one of its employees as part of the enforcement of dress code requirements in the city.”

“This incident is not isolated. Women in Afghanistan already face very severe restrictions on movement and access to public life, which have direct consequences on the access to care and delivery of healthcare services across the country,” it said.

The United Nations has said at least 30 women were arrested in Herat on Saturday and Sunday over alleged infringements of Afghanistan’s draconian dress code for women. The arrests and detentions sparked a rare protest in the city on Monday which was violently dispersed by Taliban police.

The U.N. mission in Afghanistan has said that at least one person was killed by gunfire and several others suffered injuries, including from beatings, in the police response to the protest.

Women face draconian restrictions in Afghanistan

Protests are very rare in Afghanistan, which has been run by the Taliban since 2021 in the wake of the chaotic withdrawal of U.S.-led forces. The government has since imposed rules governed by a strict interpretation of Islamic law, or Shariah. Dissent is not tolerated, and protests against government decisions are banned.

The regulations include draconian restrictions on women and girls, such as bans on education beyond primary school and on many jobs. Women are required to be accompanied by a male guardian when outside the home, and strict rules govern what women can wear. Healthcare is one of the few sectors where women are still allowed to work.

The rules stipulate that women can only go out in public when wearing full hijab — which includes a headscarf and long robe covering the entire body — as well as a face covering that leaves only the eyes visible. The regulations are policed by the feared Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice.

MSF staffer and her husband detained

The MSF staffer was being driven to work in a hospital in Herat by her husband when the couple was stopped at a checkpoint set up by the vice and virtue ministry, Champion said Friday.

The woman was told that not wearing a face covering was a violation of the dress code for women. However, she was wearing her work uniform, which has been approved for female hospital staff by Afghanistan’s Health Ministry, Champion told The Associated Press.

After explaining she was working at the hospital, the staffer left the checkpoint. But she and her husband were arrested when they arrived at the hospital, and were both detained for two days, Champion said.

The detention “is completely disproportionate,” Champion added. “You don’t go to jail for that. You don’t get arrested and detained for not covering your face.”

 

MSF says one of its staff was among women detained in Afghanistan for violating dress code rules
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13 Afghan Civilians Killed in Airstrikes on Pakistan Border, U.N. Says

June 12, 2026
By Zane IrwinSafiullah Padshah and Zia ur-Rehman

Safiullah Padshah reported from Kabul, Afghanistan, and Zia ur-Rehman from Islamabad, Pakistan.

The New York Times

13 Civilians Killed in Pakistani Airstrikes in Afghanistan

The United Nations said on Thursday that 13 civilians were killed in airstrikes this week in eastern Afghanistan, as Pakistan claims that it was targeting militant camps along the long border between the countries.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said in a statement on the social media platform X that it “documented 13 civilian deaths and 10 injuries, mainly children and women, from airstrikes carried out in Khost, Kunar, and Paktika provinces,” in airstrikes on the night spanning June 9 and 10.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban government, condemned the attack as an “act of aggression” in a statement on X.

A spokesman for Pakistan’s foreign ministry, Tahir Andrabi, told reporters that the strikes targeted militants whom Pakistan blamed for three earlier attacks, and that he was not immediately familiar with the U.N.’s findings.

The two nations have been trading attacks since February, when Pakistan launched a sweeping first wave of airstrikes and declared “open war” against its neighbor, whom it has accused of supporting terrorism in Pakistan.

Officials in Afghanistan’s Taliban government have acknowledged that some Afghan militants are joining the group responsible for most of the violence in Pakistan, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or T.T.P. But they say that while they share ideological ties with the T.T.P., they can’t control its leadership and deny hosting or facilitating the group.

Afghanistan has responded to Pakistani airstrikes with drone attacks and border raids, and the Taliban government has repeatedly accused Pakistan of targeting civilian areas, most recently a university campus in the country’s east on May 27.

Hundreds of civilians and militants have died since the conflict began. In March, airstrikes on a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital, killed at least 269 recovering drug addicts and injured 172 others, according to U.N. figures.

People in Khost Province described waking up in the early hours of Wednesday to the sound of aircraft, followed by a loud explosion.

Safiullah Zadran, a resident of a village that was struck, said in a phone interview that he saw thick, black smoke rising from the house of a farmer nearby.

Mr. Zadran said the farmer, along with six children, his wife and niece, had all been killed.

“We spent the remainder of the night outside our homes and in agricultural fields, fearing further airstrikes. We really don’t know what else is happening to us,” Mr. Zadran said.

While the scale of violence seemed to ease after peace talks mediated by China in April, persistent fighting has caused civilian casualties on a nearly weekly basis.

Zane Irwin is an international reporter and a member of the 2026-27 Times Fellowship, a program for journalists early in their careers.

13 Afghan Civilians Killed in Airstrikes on Pakistan Border, U.N. Says
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Afghanistan Ranked Seventh Least Peaceful Country in Global Peace Index 2026

June 12, 2026
Khaama Press

Afghanistan has been ranked the seventh least peaceful country in the world in the 2026 Global Peace Index, highlighting the country’s continued security and stability challenges despite a decline in large-scale armed conflict.

The latest report, released on Thursday, ranked Afghanistan among the bottom seven countries out of 163 nations assessed. Only South Sudan, Israel, Ukraine, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan and Russia ranked lower.

The index found that 99 countries experienced a deterioration in peace over the past year, while only 62 recorded improvements. It also noted that 119 countries are less peaceful today than they were in 2008, reflecting a broader global decline in security and stability.

Although Afghanistan’s ranking has improved compared with the years before the Taliban returned to power in 2021, the country continues to face serious challenges, including restrictions on rights and freedoms, economic hardship, humanitarian needs and concerns over militant activity. These factors continue to affect its overall peace and stability score.

In the 2025 Global Peace Index, Afghanistan also remained among the world’s least peaceful countries, reflecting persistent security, economic and humanitarian challenges.

The report said armed conflicts continue to be one of the main drivers of declining peace worldwide. Regionally, countries including Nepal, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Pakistan and Tanzania recorded some of the largest deteriorations in peace indicators.

The Global Peace Index, compiled annually by the Institute for Economics and Peace, measures levels of peace using indicators that include internal and external conflict, societal safety and security, militarization and political stability. Despite some localized improvements, the report concluded that the overall global trend remains one of declining peace.

Afghanistan Ranked Seventh Least Peaceful Country in Global Peace Index 2026
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Indian Envoy Urges Review of UN Sanctions on Afghanistan

June 12, 2026
 Ebadullah Ebadi
Journalist (Web Editor)
Tolo News
08 JUNE 2026

Harish also condemned Pakistan’s airstrikes on Afghan territory and, citing a UNAMA report, said the attacks had resulted in significant civilian casualties.

Parvathaneni Harish, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, told a UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan that the country’s political reality has changed over the past five years and “the current UN sanctions regime must take that into account.”

He said the United Nations and the international community need policy tools aimed at benefiting the Afghan people and steering policies in the right direction, rather than relying solely on punitive measures, which, according to him, are gradually losing their effectiveness.

Harish also condemned Pakistan’s airstrikes on Afghan territory and, citing a UNAMA report, said the attacks had resulted in significant civilian casualties.

He added, “Blaming neighbors for its own failures is an old Pakistani habit.”

The Indian envoy further accused Pakistan of imposing trade and transit restrictions on Afghanistan, arguing that blocking the trade routes of a landlocked country contradicts UN principles and declarations regarding landlocked developing nations.

According to Harish, this amounts to the instrumentalization of Afghanistan’s trade and transit vulnerabilities.

Meanwhile,Georgette Gagnon, Deputy Special Representative (Political) for Afghanistan in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), state at the meeting that Afghanistan remains stable under the current authorities and that there is no significant armed or political challenge to their rule. According to her, the Islamic Emirate considers this to be one of its most important achievements.

Gagnon added, however, that “The longer-term scenarios for Afghanistan, however, depend largely on internal dynamics within the de facto authorities’ governing structure,” and “for now, what exists is increasing control by the de facto authorities without a clear end-state.

Fu Cong, China’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, also said that Afghanistan’s situation is currently stable. However, he said that challenges related to humanitarian assistance and counterterrorism remain complex and serious.

He emphasized that Afghanistan’s current authorities and the international community should move forward on a shared path with mutual trust in order to take effective measures for the well-being of the Afghan people and to ensure lasting stability in the country.

The UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan was one of two meetings that UNAMA had previously announced. At the second meeting, scheduled for June 16th, the extension of UNAMA’s mandate will be discussed and reviewed.

Indian Envoy Urges Review of UN Sanctions on Afghanistan
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Diplomatic Talks Overshadowed by Renewed Afghanistan-Pakistan Tensions

June 12, 2026
 TOLOnews
TV Network
11 June 2026

However, on the final day of the talks, Pakistan’s military carried out airstrikes in parts of three Afghan provinces.

The second round of informal Afghanistan-Pakistan talks, titled “From Courtesy to Closeness,” was held in Istanbul, Türkiye, on June 8 and 9.

The Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) said the meeting took place in a constructive and friendly atmosphere and was aimed at strengthening mutual trust, enhancing shared understanding, and contributing to regional stability and prosperity.

In a statement, IHH said: “The second round of Afghanistan-Pakistan Track 1.5 informal dialogue was held in Istanbul on June 8 and 9 in a constructive and cordial environment. We hope this initiative will contribute to greater mutual understanding, stability, and prosperity between these two neighboring and brotherly countries.”

Enayatullah Hamam, a political analyst, said: “Holding such meetings is better than having no dialogue at all. At the very least, Afghanistan can use diplomatic channels to voice its concerns and objections.”

However, on the final day of the talks, Pakistan’s military carried out airstrikes in parts of three Afghan provinces. The attacks reportedly resulted in civilian casualties and damage to residential homes.

The incident occurred despite a series of previous formal and informal engagements between Afghan and Pakistani representatives, including talks in Urumqi mediated by China and meetings in Istanbul. While those efforts had contributed to a reduction in tensions between the two countries, political analysts say Pakistan’s renewed military action has raised questions about the effectiveness of such dialogues.

Najibullah Bahadur, a political analyst, said: “On the one hand, Pakistan seeks to influence domestic public opinion, and on the other, it wants to demonstrate to the international community that it is pursuing issues such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other concerns related to Afghanistan.”

Despite diplomatic efforts by regional countries, including Türkiye, Qatar, and China, to reduce tensions, relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan continue to face significant challenges. International representatives have repeatedly emphasized that these issues should be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue.

Diplomatic Talks Overshadowed by Renewed Afghanistan-Pakistan Tensions
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US lawmakers demand Trump officials halt plan to send Afghans to DRC

June 12, 2026
The Guardian/Reuters

11 Jun 2026

Government urged to reconsider proposal for 1,100 Afghans, currently stranded in Qatar, who worked with US forces

In a letter seen by Reuters, more than 80 House of Representatives members, including at least three Republicans as well as Democrats, appealed to secretary of state, Marco Rubio, to reconsider plans for 1,100 Afghans who have been stranded in Qatar awaiting relocation.

“It’s both a moral and a national security imperative that our country live up to its promise and watch out for those who put themselves in harm’s way to help keep us safe,” Jason Crow, a Democratic congressman of Colorado, a former army ranger who led the letter, said in a statement.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration was in talks to send the Afghans to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as they remained in limbo more than four years after the US withdrawal from Kabul.

The situation for Afghans in particular has been more difficult since late 2025, after an Afghan immigrant was accused of an attack in Washington DC that killed one national guard soldier and wounded another.

After the shooting, Trump’s administration pointed to a lack of vetting of Afghans and other foreign nationals during the term of former US president Joe Biden, although the suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was granted asylum under Donald Trump.

Trump signed an executive order preventing Afghan refugees, including those who worked with the military, from entering the US.

Many of Trump’s fellow Republicans in Congress have stepped back from what was once bipartisan support for efforts like the special immigrant visa program to clear Afghans who had worked with American forces to come to the United States.

Rubio was queried at congressional hearings last week about whether the administration still planned to send the Afghans to DRC, despite an Ebola outbreak there. Rubio responded that the US was talking with “multiple countries” about taking them in.

In the letter, the lawmakers stressed the service the Afghans had provided US forces.

“In our nearly 20-year mission in Afghanistan across four administrations, Afghan allies served in essential roles in support of US operations, fighting alongside our service members as interpreters, contractors and security personnel,” the letter said.

The letter also suggested that some of the Afghans be considered for US entry.

US lawmakers demand Trump officials halt plan to send Afghans to DRC
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Grave concern’ after dozens of women arrested in Afghanistan for dress violations

June 12, 2026
UN News

 

Gender equality agency UN Women is “gravely concerned” by the arrest of at least 30 women in Herat city last weekend in Afghanistan for allegedly violating dress requirements imposed by Taliban authorities.

The women allegedly violated decrees which include a requirement to wear a burka or chador with a face mask and a ban on perfume, according to UN independent human rights experts on Thursday.

The arrests come amid a growing human rights struggle for women in the country, with the de facto authorities – who returned to power on August 15, 2021 – placing increasing restrictions on women’s education, employment and other basic rights.

“While many women have since been released, the arrests have heightened fear and apprehension among women and girls across Afghanistan,” the UN agency dedicated to women’s rights and gender equality warned on Thursday.

The impact of arbitrary arrests and detentions on women and their families is profound and can have long-term impacts.

“A woman’s detention in Afghanistan carries enormous stigma, which can put women at risk of further violence and isolation in their families and communities even after they are released,” said the UN Deputy Special Representative currently leading the UN mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA, Georgette Gagnon.

Use of force at protests 

Adding to these fears, the UN Human Rights Council-appointed rights experts on Thursday expressed deep concern over reports of “excessive use of force” against demonstrators protesting the restrictive measures and the detention of dozens of women in Herat city on June 9.

According to the independent experts, Taliban security forces allegedly opened fire on protesters – men, women and children – administering beatings to some. At least two people, including a boy, were killed and more than 20 were injured.

The experts noted reports of stone-throwing by some protesters, but stated that such actions would not, in themselves, meet the strict threshold for the use of lethal force.

“As the de facto authority in Afghanistan, the Taliban must comply with the international human rights treaties to which Afghanistan is a party,” the experts said.

Right to freedom 

“Equality, peaceful assembly, freedom of expression and movement, and protection from arbitrary detention are fundamental rights essential to restoring public confidence and preventing further deterioration of the situation,” they added.

The experts urged de-escalation and warned that tensions must be reduced immediately to prevent further violence or harm.

The experts, who are not UN staff and receive no salary for their work, called on the Taliban to immediately release detainees, strictly avoid ill-treatment, refrain from any actions or rhetoric that prevent people with injuries from accessing medical care and end house searches.

Grave concern’ after dozens of women arrested in Afghanistan for dress violations
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