Commission Urges Afghans Abroad to Return and Live Safely

May 18, 2026
Hadia Ziaei
Tolo News
17 May 2026

Wasiq added that some of the returnees are women and that efforts are ongoing to facilitate the return of other prominent figures as well.

The Commission for Contact with Afghan Figures says that more than 1,000 people have returned to the country since the commission was established.

The commission’s spokesperson added that some of the returnees are women and that efforts are ongoing to facilitate the return of other prominent figures as well.

Ahmadullah Wasiq, spokesperson for the Commission for Contact with Afghan Figures, said: “Our effort is that every Afghan who left the country because of negative propaganda should return to their homeland and live in a safe environment.”

Meanwhile, experts believe that the capacities of those who have returned to the country should be properly utilized in government institutions.

Mohammad Aslam Danishmal, a political analyst, said: “Specialists who left the country for various reasons can be encouraged to return if the government provides them with job opportunities inside the country.”

Idris Mohammadi Zazi, another political analyst, said: “After gaining access to their bank accounts, selling their properties, or receiving their loans, they leave the country again. They also have a responsibility to show love for the homeland and commitment to their fellow citizens by staying alongside the nation and their people.”

This comes as, following the return of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to power, alongside many citizens, a number of political figures from the former government also left the country. On September 14, 2021, the Commission for Contact with Afghan Figures was established to engage with Afghan figures abroad, encourage their return, reduce political tensions, strengthen national unity, and provide grounds for dialogue with political opponents.

Commission Urges Afghans Abroad to Return and Live Safely
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International Museum Day Highlights Afghanistan’s Cultural Heritage

May 18, 2026
TOLOnews
TV Network
18 May 2026

The National Museum of Afghanistan preserves more than 60,000 historical and cultural artifacts from different periods of the history.

May 18 marks International Museum Day, observed to highlight the role of museums in preserving historical, cultural, and artistic artifacts, as well as raising public awareness about the value of human heritage.

Yahya Mohebzada, head of restoration at the National Museum, said: “There are more than 60,000 artifacts, but not all of them are on display. Many are kept in the depots and storage sections of the National Museum of Afghanistan because, unfortunately, we lack sufficient space and facilities.”

In Afghanistan, International Museum Day is also marked with an emphasis on protecting the country’s historical artifacts.

The National Museum of Afghanistan, located in Kabul, is considered one of the country’s most important museums.

The museum preserves more than 60,000 historical and cultural artifacts from different periods of Afghanistan’s history.

Ahmad Zakaria Nasrati, director general of information and public relations at the National Museum, said: “Museums are undoubtedly among the greatest centers of a country’s civilization, history, and culture.”

The museum dates back more than a century and displays artifacts from various historical eras for public viewing.

Artifacts housed in the National Museum include items from the pre-Islamic era, the Greco-Bactrian period, the Kushan era, the Bronze Age, and the Islamic period.

The museum contains several sections and exhibitions, including:

  • Islamic-era artifacts
  • Mes Aynak exhibition
  • Ai-Khanoum exhibition
  • Bronze Age exhibition
  • Thousand Cities exhibition
  • Handicrafts exhibition
  • Coin exhibition
  • Ethnography exhibition
  • Vintage car exhibition

Mohammad Ibrahim, an employee of the National Museum, said: “The vehicle section includes more than 18 vehicles from different periods.”

Visitors also say that the existence of such museums is highly important for preserving the country’s history and culture.

Sayed Sediqullah, a university student, told TOLOnews: “We came from Laghman University to visit the National Museum so that we could see the country’s historical artifacts.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Information and Culture says it is committed to protecting historical artifacts and preventing their smuggling out of the country.

Khubaib Ghafran, spokesperson for the ministry, said: “The Ministry of Information and Culture of the Islamic Emirate has carried out comprehensive activities over the past year in surveying, professional excavations, restoration, and preservation of historical artifacts and heritage.”

The National Museum of Afghanistan was built during the reign of King Amanullah Khan, and it continues to attract visitors from داخل and outside the country, especially foreign tourists.

International Museum Day Highlights Afghanistan’s Cultural Heritage
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Women’s Health in Afghanistan Faces Severe Crisis Amid Restrictions and Dwindling Aid

May 18, 2026
 Mohammad
8AM media
Hasht e Subh
18 May 2026
Female doctor meets visitor. Photo Credit: IOM /Marjan Wafa

IOM /Marjan Wafa

The Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN) has reported that women’s health in Afghanistan is facing a serious crisis as a result of the closure of healthcare facilities, a shortage of female health workers, restrictions on girls’ education, and a decline in foreign aid.

In a new report published on Sunday, May 17, the network stated that women’s access to healthcare services, particularly in rural areas, has become increasingly difficult in recent years, as clinic closures, a lack of female doctors and midwives, and economic pressures on families have compounded the problem.

According to the organization, many women have been unable to afford even the cost of transportation to reach their nearest healthcare facility.

The report noted that the continuation of this situation poses a serious threat to the future of the women’s healthcare system, as the closure of secondary schools and universities to girls has halted the training of a new generation of female doctors, midwives, and health workers.

According to the report, since early 2025, the United States, which provided approximately 40 percent of aid to Afghanistan in 2024, has abruptly cut its assistance.

Furthermore, based on the World Health Organization (WHO) health bulletin from July 2025, 422 healthcare centers across Afghanistan have closed as a result of this reduction in funding.

The Afghanistan Analysts Network said that several other donors have also reduced their budgets, while the Taliban have allocated the bulk of financial resources to security institutions.

According to the report, the World Bank (WB), in its March 2026 economic report, noted that the Taliban’s Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defense, and Directorate of Intelligence received approximately 48 percent of the budget in fiscal year 2025, while the share allocated to public health stood at just 2.6 percent.

Another section of the report stated that Taliban restrictions on women’s travel and the requirement for a male guardian to accompany women in some areas when visiting healthcare facilities have made it even more difficult for women to access medical services.

The report warned that if girls’ schools are not reopened and women’s education in the health sector is not resumed, the state of women’s health in Afghanistan will follow a downward trajectory in the years ahead.

Women’s Health in Afghanistan Faces Severe Crisis Amid Restrictions and Dwindling Aid
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Afghanistan-Russia Joint Meeting Concludes in Kazan

May 17, 2026
 TOLOnews
TV Network
16 May 2026

The Kyrgyz delegation also stressed that stability and economic progress in Afghanistan would benefit the entire region.

The Deputy Minister of Economy described the joint Afghanistan-Russia meeting held in Kazan under the leadership of the Islamic Emirate’s Minister of Higher Education as productive and successful.

Abdul Latif Nazari said the high-level delegation of the Islamic Emirate, during its week-long visit to Russia, held intensive and constructive discussions with Russian officials on cooperation in mining, oil and gas, roads, railways, trade, transportation, and energy.

“Key issues such as trade, transportation, and energy were discussed in intensive, serious, constructive, and useful negotiations. The achievements of the Islamic Emirate delegation in all these areas are significant, and the results will soon be shared with the people of Afghanistan and will bring tangible outcomes,” Nazari said.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Neda Mohammad Nadeem, the Islamic Emirate’s Minister of Higher Education, met on the sidelines of the summit with the deputy prime ministers of Russia and Kyrgyzstan. The sides emphasized expanding economic relations and strengthening trade cooperation among Kabul, Moscow, and Bishkek.

The Kyrgyz delegation also stressed that stability and economic progress in Afghanistan would benefit the entire region.

Ziaullah Hashemi, spokesman for the Ministry of Higher Education, said the minister emphasized the continuation of relations between the Islamic Emirate and the Russian Federation, adding that both sides should work to further expand ties.

Political and economic analysts also believe that the continuation of such meetings could help expand economic cooperation and increase investment between the countries.

Political analyst Yusuf Amin Zazi told TOLOnews that Afghanistan seeks stable relations and should pursue a neutral, economy-centered, and independent foreign policy to secure its future interests.

Economic analyst Sayed Massoud said Afghanistan’s geostrategic position could once again be revived through such cooperation, adding that it would help protect the country’s interests, although Pakistan is also trying to strengthen its own regional position.

The Kazan Forum is an annual international economic summit hosted by Russia with the aim of expanding trade and economic ties among Asian countries, particularly members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Afghanistan-Russia Joint Meeting Concludes in Kazan
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Zalmay Khalilzad Calls for Political Solution Between Afghanistan, Pakistan

May 17, 2026
By Bibi Amina Hakimi
TOLOnews’ Reporter
16 May 2026

Zalmay Khalilzad, former US special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, warned about the consequences of continued mistrust between the two countries.

Following the killing of eight Pakistani security personnel in a car bombing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, concerns over rising tensions between Kabul and Islamabad have intensified once again.

Zalmay Khalilzad, former US special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, warned about the consequences of continued mistrust between the two countries.

Khalilzad said Islamabad may hold Afghanistan responsible for the attack, but stressed that continued dialogue and reaching a political solution are essential to prevent further escalation between the two sides.

“I have pleaded repeatedly for a negotiated solution: a new agreement between Afghanistan and Pakistan with commitments by both countries to not allow their territory to be used by individuals or groups to threaten the security of the other, with monitoring by a trusted 3rd party,” Khalilzad said.

Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur said the dispatch of a Pakistani delegation to Afghanistan has been delayed due to rising tensions in the Middle East.

He added that the security of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is directly linked to the situation in Afghanistan and that the delegation will soon travel to Afghanistan for talks and an assessment of the situation.

“We held a jirga yesterday with tribal elders and political leaders in Peshawar, and it was decided that a joint jirga should be convened because the security of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is directly connected to the situation in Afghanistan,” he said.

At the same time, several political analysts warned that the continued exchange of accusations between the two countries will not help resolve the crisis and could negatively affect political and economic ties, as well as the lives of people on both sides of the crossing.

Political analyst Sayed Muqaddam Amin said mistrust between Afghanistan and Pakistan remains strong, warning that if no mutually acceptable solution is found, tensions could further escalate and harm both countries.

Another political analyst, Shir Agha Rohani, said that according to the principles of international relations, both countries are obliged to maintain good neighborly relations to prevent people living along the Hypothetical Durand Line from suffering.

The remarks come as Pakistani officials have repeatedly claimed in recent weeks that some attacks inside Pakistan are being planned from Afghan territory, allegations consistently rejected by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

Zalmay Khalilzad Calls for Political Solution Between Afghanistan, Pakistan
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Taliban legalizes sick child marriages with special rules for ‘virgin girls’ in Afghanistan

May 17, 2026
Jeanne Erickson
New York Post
Published May 16, 2026

The Taliban has formally legitimized child marriages under a twisted new family law decree that sets out rules for marriages involving minors — treating the girls as sellable property.

It also establishes specific guidelines governing “virgin girls,” reported Afghan outlet Amu TV.

Approved by Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, the 31-article regulation — titled “Principles of Separation Between Spouses” — was published in the regime’s official gazette in mid-May.

In Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, girls can effectively be sold before they are even old enough to walk.

Desperate families, crushed by poverty, routinely strike “marriage” deals involving infants as young as 20 days old, exchanging their baby daughters for cash to pay debts or simply survive another day.

The price of a child bride reportedly ranges between $500 and $3,000, according to human rights groups.

Nearly one-third of Afghan girls are married before the age of 18, according to the charity Girls Not Brides.

Under the Taliban’s horrifying new rules, a female child legally married to an adult man may later seek an annulment “upon puberty” — but only if a Taliban court approves it.

Even worse, the regulations state that the silence of a “virgin girl” may be interpreted as consent to marriage.

The decree lays out the rules for dissolving marriages under a maze of religious and legal conditions, including child marriage, missing husbands, forced separation, breastfeeding relations and accusations of adultery.

The regulations give power over child marriages to fathers and grandfathers, claiming the marriages could be overturned if the guardians are considered abusive, mentally unfit or morally corrupt.

Since seizing power in August 2021, the Taliban regime has imposed what many international observers describe as a gender apartheid system against women and girls, report many humanitarian groups, such as Amnesty International.

The Taliban’s legal code reportedly does not prohibit sexual or psychological violence against women, reports British outlet GB News. Reports also state husbands are permitted to beat their wives, provided it does not leave obvious bodily harm.

“Child marriage is not marriage in any meaningful sense. A child cannot properly consent, and treating silence as consent is dangerous because it removes a girl’s voice completely,” political commentator Fahima Mahomed told the outlet.

“As a Muslim, I would also strongly reject the idea that this reflects Islam as a whole. The Qur’an itself speaks against compulsion and mistreatment of women, so the Taliban’s position should not be presented as ‘Islamic law’ in a broad sense.

“It is their political and extremist interpretation, enforced through power and fear.”

Taliban legalizes sick child marriages with special rules for ‘virgin girls’ in Afghanistan
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Militant threats linked to Afghanistan continue to concern US security agencies

May 17, 2026
Khaama Press

A senior United States military official said Afghanistan remains a central focus of American counterterrorism monitoring, warning that militant threats linked to the country continue to concern US security agencies.

US media reported Friday that senior commander Brad Cooper told lawmakers during a congressional hearing that Afghanistan remains “at the forefront” of terrorist activities being closely monitored by Washington and its regional partners.

The official said further details would be discussed in classified sessions but stressed that the United States continues working with regional allies to contain and disrupt threats emerging from Afghanistan.

According to Cooper, Washington is maintaining close surveillance of developments in the region and remains prepared to respond to potential security threats linked to militant organizations.

The remarks highlight continuing American concerns nearly five years after the withdrawal of US and NATO forces from Afghanistan in 2021, which ended two decades of military involvement in the country.

Taliban in Kabul have repeatedly denied the presence of foreign terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan territory and insist the country no longer poses a threat to regional or international security.

However, Western intelligence agencies and international monitoring bodies have continued to warn about the activities of extremist groups, including regional branches of Islamic State, inside Afghanistan and neighboring areas.

The comments also come amid growing geopolitical tensions surrounding engagement with Kabul authorities after Russia expanded contacts with Taliban officials, prompting earlier warnings from the US State Department against cooperation with what Washington described as “malign actors.”

Militant threats linked to Afghanistan continue to concern US security agencies
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Afghan mothers and children face worsening hunger crisis, WFP warns

May 17, 2026

United Nations

UN News

Afghan mothers and children face worsening hunger crisis, WFP warns
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CENTCOM Stresses Continued Focus on Afghanistan

May 15, 2026
 Bibi Amina Hakimi
TOLOnews’ Reporter
15 May 2026

These remarks come as officials of the Islamic Emirate have repeatedly stressed that they will not allow Afghan soil to be used against other countries.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has stated that Afghanistan remains one of Washington’s main security concerns, and that the United States is closely monitoring activities related to potential threats originating from the country.

Brad Cooper told a U.S. Senate committee hearing that Washington has not completely ignored Afghanistan and continues to work with its regional partners to contain and suppress potential threats.

“We have not completely ignored Afghanistan. The country remains an area of concern,” he emphasized.

These remarks come as officials of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan have repeatedly stressed that they will not allow Afghan soil to be used against other countries.

Hedayatullah Ahmadi, a political analyst, said: “Most countries in the region and the world are currently convinced that the Afghan government is fighting terrorist groups, and this is a very important decision for the Afghan government.”

This comes as the United States recently published its “2026 United States Counterterrorism Strategy,” a document that, unlike reports from previous years, does not mention the presence or activities of groups such as ISIS-K and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan.

CENTCOM Stresses Continued Focus on Afghanistan
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Deadly attack on Pakistan outpost puts Afghanistan ceasefire at risk

May 15, 2026
Al Jazeera
By AFP and Reuters
Published On 15 May 2026
Two assaults in the northwest region have killed more than 20 people in recent days, threatening Islamabad’s shaky truce with the Taliban.

An attack on a security compound in northwest Pakistan has killed several paramilitary officers, with the Afghan-based Pakistan Taliban (TTP) claiming responsibility.

An armed group rammed a vehicle filled with explosives into the Bajaur district camp’s gate on Thursday and then launched a gun battle, security sources said. It was the latest in a string of deadly incidents in the border region that threaten the fragile ceasefire between Islamabad and Kabul.

The vehicle triggered a “huge explosion,” one Pakistani official told Reuters news agency. The fighters then rushed the camp and opened “indiscriminate fire”.

Reports say that eight or nine Pakistani soldiers were killed in the attack. At least 10 of the attackers were killed, the AFP news agency reported, while about 35 security personnel were wounded.

A Reuters journalist in the town of Bajaur said the blast was felt at markets more than 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the compound. Images showed that most of the outpost’s structures had been destroyed or charred by flames.

Pakistani military troops reportedly shut down nearby roads and surrounded the compound, which is located on the mountainous border with Afghanistan.

Deadly attacks escalate

The Pakistan Taliban (TTP), which seeks to overthrow the Pakistani government via attacks launched from its base in the remote border area of Afghanistan, claimed responsibility for the attack.

The latest attack adds to several other assaults in the same region, which have killed more than 20 people in recent days.

A car bomb killed more than a dozen as it targeted a police post, while at least nine people were killed in an explosion at a market.

Three security personnel were wounded in Bajaur’s Inayat Killi area when a mortar shell landed inside another camp, officials told AFP.

Islamabad claims Afghanistan is harbouring the armed groups that carry out attacks inside Pakistan. Kabul denies the accusation, with tension between the South Asian neighbours surging since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in 2021.

From February, this friction escalated into cross-border clashes between the two countries, and then into what Pakistan’s defence minister declared was “open war“.

A pause was agreed to in March, but sporadic violence broke out again. Islamabad and Kabul agreed last month to avoid escalation in China-brokered discussions.

However, the talks have not resulted in a formal agreement or ceasefire, leaving the situation volatile. The series of attacks over recent days threatens to ignite further hostilities between the two states.

The cross-border conflict has killed at least 372 Afghan civilians and injured nearly 400 others in the first three months of 2026 alone, the United Nations said earlier this week.

Deadly attack on Pakistan outpost puts Afghanistan ceasefire at risk
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