The Taliban’s police command in Baghlan has confirmed that at least 10 people were killed in an armed attack on the “Sayed Padshah Agha” shrine in Nahrin district of Baghlan province.
The statement mentioned that several suspects have been arrested, and investigations into the incident are ongoing.
The Taliban police in Baghlan described the incident as a “mysterious” attack in a statement released on Friday, November 22.
According to the statement, the victims worked during the day and gathered at the shrine at night for worship.
Early Friday morning report indicated that armed individuals targeted a group of Sufi practitioners in a shrine in Nahrin district, opening fire on them.
The victims of this attack were followers of Sufism and praying during the Friday night in the Shrine.
This tragic incident underscores the persistent threat faced by religious minorities and spiritual communities in Afghanistan. The attack has raised concerns about the Taliban’s ability to ensure security in areas under their control and protect vulnerable groups from targeted violence.
International organizations and human rights groups have called for an impartial investigation into the attack and urged the authorities to take concrete steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Taliban arrests several suspects in Baghlan Shrine attack
The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights described the awards given to Julia Parsi, a women’s rights activist, and Nila Ebrahimi, an education activist, as inspiring. Richard Bennett called their efforts “strong and unwavering.”
On Friday, November 22, Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, wrote on his X account that the work of these two women in the face of “gender oppression in Afghanistan” is inspirational. He stated that their struggles deserve recognition in international communities.
Julia Parsi, a women’s rights activist, and Manuchehr Khaliqnazarov, a human rights lawyer in Tajikistan, jointly received the Martin Ennals Human Rights Award on Tuesday, November 21.
The Ennals Foundation stated that these two human rights defenders have “paid a heavy price for justice and equality in Afghanistan and Tajikistan.”
On the same day, the Children’s Rights Foundation awarded the prestigious International Children’s Peace Prize to Nila Ebrahimi, a 17-year-old Afghan girl, in recognition of her “advocacy for Afghan girls’ rights.”
Nila was selected from 165 nominees from 47 countries. This award has previously been given to notable figures such as environmental activist Greta Thunberg and Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai.
The recognition of Julia Parsi and Nila Ebrahimi highlights the critical role of Afghan women and youth in advocating for human rights despite facing significant challenges.
Their achievements send a powerful message of resilience and hope to those enduring oppression.
These awards underscore the importance of continued international support for individuals fighting for equality and justice in regions affected by conflict and gender-based discrimination. Such recognition not only empowers activists but also keeps global attention focused on the plight of marginalized communities.
UN Chief: Awards to Julia Parsi and Nila Ebrahimi inspire girls in Afghanistan
In the same meeting, Matiul Haq Khalis, NEPA head, also requested technical and financial cooperation for Afghanistan.
Matiul Haq Khalis, the head of the Islamic Emirate delegation at the COP 29 summit, held meetings on the sidelines with representatives from the United Nations Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN), the Green Climate Fund, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the UK Foreign Office, and delegations from Bangladesh and Qatar.
According to the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA), the Islamic Emirate delegation emphasized during the meeting with the UN Climate Technology Centre and Network that Afghanistan needs to identify and adopt climate-resilient technologies.
In the same meeting, Matiul Haq Khalis, NEPA head, also requested technical and financial cooperation for Afghanistan.
He discussed the suspended projects of the Green Climate Fund in Afghanistan with its representatives, urging them to restart work on the halted projects.
Discussions with the UK Foreign Office focused on restarting environmental projects, addressing the adverse effects of climate change, and ensuring the depoliticization of aid in this field.
The delegation also met with officials from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and urged them to approve Afghanistan’s proposed projects related to climate change.
The National Environmental Protection Agency stated in a press release: “During this meeting, discussions were held about Afghanistan’s proposed and ongoing environmental projects, and the officials of the Global Environment Facility were requested to approve Afghanistan’s proposals.”
According to the ministry’s press release, on November 20, Matiul Haq Khalis met with Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Qatar’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and sought technical cooperation and capacity-building programs in the field of environmental protection.
Qatar’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change stated in the meeting that Qatar plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% as part of its 2025–2030 agenda.
The Islamic Emirate delegation emphasized regional cooperation under the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network in their meeting with the Bangladesh delegation.
Afghanistan is among the countries that do not contribute to greenhouse gas emissions but has suffered the most from their effects.
The annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 29) began on November 11 this year in Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital, with representatives from 198 member countries, some heads of state, representatives of the private sector, multilateral and bilateral financial institutions, civil society organizations, and the media in attendance. The conference is set to conclude today.
Islamic Emirate Seeks Climate Cooperation at COP 29
Local sources reported the number of deaths as eleven, but Baghlan’s security command said in a statement that the number is ten.
Eleven people were killed in a nighttime shooting by unidentified individuals in the Nahrin district of Baghlan province.
According to reports, these individuals were killed while performing prayers in a mosque in the Shahr-e-Kohna area of the district. Local sources reported the number of deaths as eleven, but Baghlan’s security command said in a statement that the number is ten.
The Baghlan security command also mentioned that security forces have arrested several suspects in connection with the incident, and an investigation is underway.
Sher Ahmad Burhani, the spokesperson for the Baghlan security command, stated: “Last night, unidentified individuals attacked a mosque in Shahr-e-Kohna of Nahrin district in Baghlan province. In this mysterious attack, ten residents of Nahrin, who were engaged in worship at the mosque, were martyred. It should be noted that these individuals spent their days working to earn a livelihood and came to the mosque and khanqah for worship at night when they were attacked.”
Meanwhile, several residents of Baghlan are urging the Islamic Emirate’s forces to make efforts to ensure citizens’ security and bring the perpetrators of this incident to justice.
“Innocent people were martyred last night in Nahrin by unidentified individuals. We call on the leadership of the Islamic Emirate to hand over the perpetrators of this incident to the courts and the law,” said Zahidullah, a resident of Baghlan province.
So far, no individual or group has claimed responsibility for the incident.
Nighttime Mosque Attack in Baghlan Leaves Eleven Dead
Nader YarAhmadi, head of the Center for Foreign Nationals and Immigrants Affairs at Iran’s Ministry of Interior, stated that over 4,000 Afghan nationals with valid passports and visas enter Iran daily. He noted that more than 500,000 visas are issued annually to Afghans.
According to YarAhmadi, air travel capacity in Afghanistan is very limited, with only about 1% of Afghans entering Iran via air routes. Most rely on land crossings for their migration.
During a meeting with the governor of Kerman on Wednesday, November20, YarAhmadi attributed migration to “regional and natural crises” and estimated the number of Afghans in Iran to be nearly six million.
YarAhmadi criticized efforts by the UN and the UNHCR to grant legal status to anyone crossing borders, stating that the Islamic Republic does not accept such an approach. He also highlighted the high cost of obtaining passports in Afghanistan, claiming it contributes to nearly 20% of the country’s revenue.
The plight of Afghan refugees in Iran and Pakistan has worsened amid forced deportations, harassment, and human rights violations. Refugees face discrimination, limited access to legal work opportunities, and poor living conditions, leaving many in a state of despair.
The dire humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan exacerbates their struggles, with severe food shortages, lack of basic services, and political instability forcing many to flee. However, as winter approaches, the challenges for displaced Afghans in neighboring countries are expected to escalate.
The international community must urgently address the dual crises of refugee rights violations and the humanitarian emergency in Afghanistan. Enhanced support for refugees and diplomatic pressure on host countries to uphold human rights could provide relief and stability during these critical times.
4,000 Afghans enter Iran daily with Visas: Iranian Official
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called for greater attention to the plight of children in Afghanistan on the occasion of World Children’s Day, celebrated on November 20.
In a message shared on the social media platform X, UNICEF highlighted that “children pay the highest price for conflicts, natural disasters, and other emergencies.”
The organization emphasized that children, whose lives are at risk, have the right to be heard and to participate in decisions affecting their future.
The European Union, marking World Children’s Day, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Afghan children through educational programs, healthcare, and protective measures.
The EU further stressed that children are the future of Afghanistan and pledged to stand firmly by their side.
World Children’s Day is celebrated annually on November 20 to advocate for children’s rights globally.
The situation in Afghanistan is dire for children, particularly girls who are banned from attending school beyond sixth grade. This policy not only denies them their right to education but also contributes to a cycle of poverty and inequality.
The ongoing humanitarian crisis, worsened by these restrictions, has led to an increase in forced and underage marriages as families struggle to cope. Without urgent action, millions of Afghan children, especially girls, face a bleak future marked by limited opportunities and systemic oppression.
UNICEF urges focus on Afghan children’s plight on world children’s day
Mohammad Abbas Khan, Pakistan’s High Commissioner for Refugees, has called for an international conference to increase the acceptance of Afghan refugees living in Pakistan by Western countries.
According to a report by the Dawn newspaper, Pakistan’s High Commissioner for Refugees emphasized that Western countries should expedite the process of accepting Afghan applicants currently residing in Pakistan.
The report stated that Mohammad Abbas Khan suggested this conference should address challenges such as the voluntary return of refugees to Afghanistan and their resettlement in third countries.
He added that a trilateral meeting with the Kabul administration and the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) would soon be held to discuss the challenges faced by Afghan refugees and migrants.
The Pakistani official noted that around 600,000 Afghan applicants are currently registered with the UNHCR in Pakistan, seeking resettlement in Western countries.
He further stated that the resettlement quota for UN-registered Afghan applicants this year is only 8,000 people.
Mohammad Abbas Khan emphasized that Afghanistan’s capacity to absorb returning refugees is extremely limited.
The situation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan highlights the urgent need for global collaboration to address their resettlement challenges. Without adequate international support, both the refugees and the host countries face significant humanitarian and logistical burdens.
This call for an international conference underscores the importance of shared responsibility in dealing with the refugee crisis.
It is a pivotal moment for Western countries to step forward and provide sustainable solutions for displaced Afghan families, ensuring their safety, dignity, and a better future.
Pakistan proposes International Conference to address Afghan refugee issues
Malala Yousafzai has campaigned for women’s rights since she was shot by a Taliban gunman in 2012
A bullet failed to silence her, now Malala Yousafzai is lending her voice to the women of Afghanistan.
In just a few years since the Taliban retook control of the country, women’s rights have been eroded to the point where even singing is banned.
Malala has a personal history with the Taliban across the border in Pakistan, after a gunman from the hardline Islamist group shot her as she sat on a school bus.
The speed of change in Afghanistan, if not the brutality, has surprised Malala, who since that near-fatal shooting in 2012 has campaigned for equality.
“I never imagined that the rights of women would be compromised so easily,” Malala tells BBC Asian Network.
“A lot of girls are finding themselves in a very hopeless, depressing situation where they do not see any way out,” the 27-year-old Nobel Prize Winner says.
“The future looks very dark to them.”
In 2021, the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan, 20 years after a US-led invasion toppled their regime in the fallout of the 9/11 attacks in New York.
In the three-and-a-half years since Western forces left the country, “morality laws” have meant women in Afghanistan have lost dozens of rights.
A dress code means they must be fully covered and strict rules have banned them from travelling without a male chaperone or looking a man in the eye unless they’re related by blood or marriage.
“The restrictions are just so extreme that it does not even make sense to anybody,” says Malala.
But the rules have been defended by the Taliban, which claims they’re accepted in Afghan society and that the international community should respect “Islamic laws, traditions and the values of Muslim societies”.
Apple TV+
Malala’s worked on a new film that follows the lives of three Afghan women as their rights are stripped away
“Women lost everything,” says Malala.
“They [the Taliban] know that to take away women’s rights you have to start with the foundation, and that is education.”
It’s also reported a correlation between the lack of access to education and a rise in child marriage and deaths during pregnancy and childbirth.
“Afghan women live in very dark times now,” Malala says.
“But they show resistance.”
The Pakistan-born activist, who became the youngest person ever to win a Nobel Peace Prize, is an executive producer on an upcoming film, Bread & Roses, that documents the lives of three Afghan women living under the Taliban regime.
The documentary follows Zahra, a dentist forced to give up her practice, activist Taranom, who flees to the border, and government employee Sharifa, who loses her job and her independence.
But the film isn’t just about the stories of three women, Malala says.
“It’s about the 20 million Afghan girls and women whose stories may not make it to our screens.”
Bread & Roses was directed by Afghan filmmaker Sahra Mani and US actress Jennifer Lawrence was also brought on board as a producer.
Apple TV+
The Taliban were ousted when US-led troops invaded Afghanistan in 2001 but returned to power 20 years later
Sahra tells Asian Network her mission was “to tell the story of a nation under the Taliban dictatorship”.
“How slowly, all the rights have been taken away.”
Sahra managed to flee Afghanistan after the US-backed government collapsed following the withdrawal of troops in August 2021.
But she kept in touch with women back home, who would share videos which she then collected and archived.
“It was very important to find young, modern, educated women that have talent they were ready to dedicate to society,” says Sahra.
“They were ready to build the country but now they have to sit at home and almost do nothing.”
Retired US generals describe chaos of Afghan exit.
Afghan withdrawal was a dark chapter for UK – MP
Even though the film hasn’t been released yet, Sahra believes the situation in Afghanistan has already deteriorated to the point where it would be impossible to make if she started now.
“At that time, women could still go out and demonstrate,” she says.
“Nowadays, women are not even allowed to sing… the situation is getting more difficult.”
The first-hand footage shows the women at protests – they kept the cameras rolling while being arrested by the Taliban.
And Sahra says the project only got harder over time as more of their rights were stripped away.
“We were really honoured that these women trusted us to share their stories,” she says.
“And it was really important for us to put their security in our priorities.
“But when they were out in the street asking for their rights, it was not for the documentary.
“It was for them, for their own life, for their own freedom.”
Apple TV+
US actress Jennifer Lawrence produced the film which she says is about “the nature of resistance”
Malala says that, for women in Afghanistan, “defiance is extremely challenging”.
“Despite all of these challenges, they’re out on their streets and risking their lives to hope for a better world for themselves.”
All three of the women featured in the film are no longer living in Afghanistan and Sahra and Malala are hopeful the film will raise awareness of what women who remain endure.
“They are doing all that they can to fight for their rights, to raise their voices,” Malala says.
“They’re putting so much at risk. It’s our time to be their sisters and be their supporters.”
Malala also hopes the documentary prompts more international pressure on the Taliban to restore women’s rights.
“I was completely shocked when I saw the reality of the Taliban take over,” she says.
“We really have to question what sort of systems we have put in place to guarantee protection to women in Afghanistan, but also elsewhere.”
And as much as Bread & Roses deals with stories of loss and oppression, the film is also about resilience and hope.
“There’s so much for us to learn from the bravery and courage of these Afghan women,” says Malala.
“If they are not scared, if they are not losing that courage to stand up to the Taliban, we should learn from them and we should stand in solidarity with them.”
The title itself was inspired by an Afghan saying.
“Bread is a symbol of freedom, earning a salary and supporting the family,” Sahra says.
“We have a saying in my language that the one who gave you bread is the one who orders you.
“So if you find your bread, that means you are the boss of you.”
That’s exactly the future she hopes to see for the women of Afghanistan and, based on what she’s seen, one she believes they will achieve in the end.
“Women in Afghanistan, they keep changing the tactic,” she says.
“They keep searching for a new way to keep fighting back.”
Listen to an extended interview with Malala and Sahra on BBC Asian Network News Presents at 23:00 on 18 November or catch up on BBC Sounds.
Bread & Roses will be streamed globally on Apple TV+ from 22 November.
Additional reporting by Riyah Collins.
Malala: I never imagined women’s rights would be lost so easily
When the Taliban began a sweeping redevelopment drive in Kabul soon after returning to power three years ago, they claimed there was a need to modernise Afghanistan’s historic capital. A new investigation, however, reveals that the Taliban’s regeneration programme has left thousands of people homeless and had a brutal impact on the most vulnerable communities, with claims of properties being demolished with children still inside.
Using satellite imagery, social media footage and testimony from Afghan residents, the findings offer a first comprehensive insight into the Taliban’s ambitious redevelopment of Kabul – but also its true cost.
Satellite analysis indicates that 1.56 sq km (385 acres) of the city – the equivalent of more than 220 football pitches – was flattened within the city between August 2021 and August 2024.
The investigation, a collaboration between the Guardian, the Centre for Information Resilience’s Afghan Witness project, Lighthouse Reports and the Afghan news outlets Zan Times and Etilaat Roz also uncovered signs that the destruction is in part linked to ethnicity.
The satellite analysis, carried out by Afghan Witness, showed that of the six most-affected districts – where at least 50,000 sq metres (12 acres) of residential properties were demolished – three were areas populated by the minority Hazara community and two were populated by the minority Tajiks.
Most affected was Kabul’s District 13, a predominantly Hazara area.
The investigation also analysed the large-scale razing of “informal settlements”. In some cases, the destruction of the sprawling slums, which are typically inhabited by poorer communities displaced by conflict or climate change – have been conducted so brutally that residents reported injuries and deaths.
In at least two settlements, residents allege that homes were demolished with people still inside. In one large slum – in Kabul’s District 22 – evicted families alleged that a four-year-old and a 15-year-old died during its demolition.
“Women, children and elderly men were begging for them to stop the destruction until we can find a shelter, but they wouldn’t listen,” said a resident, who had spent a decade in the settlement after being displaced from Pakistan.
He claimed in the aftermath of the demolition his young niece also died from lack of shelter after their home was destroyed during the heat of summer.
Residents who attempted to film such demolitions were reportedly beaten.
In another significant destruction of an informal settlement in the north of the city, the Taliban’s administration in Kabul tweeted a series of photos in August 2024 chronicling bulldozers razing structures.
Residents described scenes of mayhem and desperation as the site was demolished. “It was like the earthquake in Herat [which killed thousands last year]. Houses were buried; all our belongings were also buried,” said one resident.
The crude shelter one resident’s family in District 4 has been living in since the demolitions.
Others testified that homes were demolished with people inside. “My nephew came by, crying that his mother and brother were inside the house and the loader was demolishing it,” said one.
Jalaluddin, who lived in the settlement with nearly 50 family members for two decades, said he could not afford to rent a new home and was now living in an abandoned factory.
“We don’t even have tents – we just have shelters made from plastic pieces. Some days we don’t have anything to eat. We sleep with an empty stomach,” he said.
Many of the land-clearance projects in residential areas are for building or widening roads.
Fakhrullah Sarwari, an urban planner who worked with the former Afghan government, said: “Most of these plans were part of previous government plans, but they were unable to be implemented because they couldn’t force people to evacuate the area.
“We do need better mobility, but with the majority of the population living below the poverty line, demolishing homes to build wider roads doesn’t address underlying issues,” he said.
Human rights groups say women are particularly vulnerable after eviction, warning it can increase gender-based violence.
One woman, interviewed by Zan Times, reveals the difficulties of female-led households. Offering cleaning services door to door, she earns between one and three dollars a day and has struggled to get compensation from the Taliban after they demolished her home in a residential area in north Kabul.
One reason is that she is not allowed into Kabul’s municipal offices without a male guardian to accompany her, under the Taliban’s rules of segregation.
Residents say fear has prevented them protesting over the loss of their homes. Photograph: X/Municipality status
Another woman who lost her home in the same area can no longer work due to Taliban restrictions. Denied compensation, her family must rely solely on her husband’s modest income repairing shoes.
Of a dozen people evicted who were interviewed for the investigation, only one had found permanent accommodation since their eviction. Residents say fear prevents them from protesting at the destruction of their homes.
The demolitions come months after the UN warned that Afghanistan’s economy had “basically collapsed” with rampant food insecurity and 6.3 million people displaced within the country.
One woman, whose family home of 40 years was demolished in August 2023, said: “At first, they told us that they would compensate us and not leave us homeless, but once the houses were demolished, nobody cared about us.”
Her family stopped travelling to the municipal offices to ask for their compensation when they could no longer afford the bus fare.
The Taliban authorities have not commented on the findings. They have previously justified the demolition of informal settlements as reclaiming stolen land acquired by “opportunists and usurpers”. They also state that residential land is often cleared for infrastructure projects.
* Additional reporting by Sabrina Slipchenko, Elyas Nawandish and Kreshma Fakhri
Revealed: the truth behind the Taliban’s brutal Kabul ‘regeneration’ programme
Pakistani media reported that Islamabad shared “compelling evidence” with China’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Yu Xiaoyong, regarding the presence of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other groups operating from Afghan territory.
According to The Express Tribune, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented this evidence during Yu Xiaoyong’s visit to Islamabad on Monday, November 18.
The report noted that the Chinese envoy’s trip to Islamabad came just days after Russian Special Envoy Zamir Kabulov’s visit, highlighting the growing international focus on Afghanistan’s role in regional security.
Citing sources, The Express Tribune stated that Pakistan briefed the Chinese envoy about the current situation in Afghanistan, detailing how terrorist groups such as the TTP have been using Afghanistan’s territory.
Pakistani officials reportedly shared compelling evidence about terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan and emphasized that it is time for a collective stance against the Taliban regime to ensure they fulfill their commitments to the international community.
The Afghan Taliban, however, have consistently denied Pakistan’s allegations, asserting that no terrorist groups are allowed to use Afghanistan’s soil against any country.
The conflicting narratives highlight the ongoing challenges in addressing regional security concerns and fostering trust among stakeholders.
These discussions underscore the growing frustration in Islamabad over what it perceives as the Taliban regime’s failure to act against militant groups that threaten regional stability.
Pakistan’s calls for a united international response indicate its desire to increase pressure on the Taliban government.
The involvement of China and Russia in these talks signals the international community’s recognition of the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan and its broader implications.
A coordinated regional approach may be critical to addressing the escalating threats posed by militant groups.
Pakistan provides China with fresh information on TTP activities in Afghanistan
The United Nations says aid workers are still in a “race against time” to remove rubble and rebuild after the devastating earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan last month, killing at least 2,200 people and cutting off remote areas.
The 6.0-magnitude quake on Aug. 31 was shallow, destroying or causing extensive damage to low-rise buildings in the mountainous region. It hit late at night, and homes — mostly made of mud, wood, or rocks — collapsed instantly, becoming death traps.
Satellite data shows that about 40,500 truckloads of debris still needs to be cleared from affected areas in several provinces, the United Nations Development Program said Wednesday. Entire communities have been upended and families are sleeping in the open, it added.
The quake’s epicenter was in remote and rugged Kunar province, challenging rescue and relief efforts by the Taliban government and humanitarian groups. Authorities deployed helicopters or airdropped army commandos to evacuate survivors. Aid workers walked for hours on foot to reach isolated communities.
“This is a race against time,” said Devanand Ramiah, from the UNDP’s Crisis Bureau. “Debris removal and reconstruction operations must start safely and swiftly.”
People’s main demands were the reconstruction of houses and water supplies, according to a spokesman for a Taliban government committee tasked with helping survivors, Zia ur Rahman Speenghar.
People were getting assistance in cash, food, tents, beds, and other necessities, Speenghar said Thursday. Three new roads were under construction in the Dewagal Valley, and roads would be built to areas where there previously were none.
“Various countries and organizations have offered assistance in the construction of houses but that takes time. After the second round of assistance, work will begin on the third round, which is considering what kind of houses can be built here,” the spokesman said.
Afghanistan is facing a “perfect storm” of crises, including natural disasters like the recent earthquake, said Roza Otunbayeva, who leads the U.N. mission to the country.
Afghanistan Peace Campaign
