Afghanistan: UN tells Taliban to open up on abuses committed by security forces

August 10, 2026

Five years into Taliban rule, Afghans still have almost no way of knowing whether soldiers, police and morality officers who abuse their power ever face consequences – and that secrecy is corroding trust in the State, the UN said Monday.

Headquarters of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in Kabul.
UN Photo/Tilak Pokharel Headquarters of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in Kabul.
Key points
  • The Taliban have taken steps to promote discipline and oversight according to a new report by the UN mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)
  • However, these steps have lack sufficient transparency on oversight and accountability measures, for such institutions as the Supreme Court
  • UNAMA recommendations include strengthening accountability by clarifying the rules governing the use of force, arrest, detention, searches and crowd policing

Five years after the Taliban seized power, such grave concerns as human rights violations, detention and discrimination against women and girls continue to be consistently raised by UN agencies and partners, from UN Women to the Security Council.

Since the takeover, UNAMA has monitored the situation of governance, rule of law, security and human rights across Afghanistan, including developments in domestic law, the criminal justice system and respect for victims’ rights.

UNAMA reports have already highlighted a significant lack of public information on the status of investigations or actions to hold perpetrators of human rights violations to account.

Insufficient transparency

While de facto authorities have taken some positive steps, there has not been enough transparency on oversight and accountability measures, the report highlights.

The findings examined bodies such as the so-called Security and Filtration Commission and the Ministry of Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, which were set up according to the Taliban’s strict interpretation of Sharia Law, replacing the former democratic constitution.

“The limited amount of public information on complaints received, investigations conducted and disciplinary or judicial actions taken by relevant de facto bodies undermine confidence and weaken deterrence,” said Georgette Gagnon, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNAMA.

She said the suspension of the constitution had resulted in “a blanket annulment of all former [existing] laws”.

Unresolved complaints

In the report, UNAMA documented instances where the de facto authorities conducted arrests and investigations of reported misconduct of security personnel – some of which were referred to Taliban military courts.

At the same time, many complaints reportedly remain unresolved, the report found.

Elements which are discouraging people from coming forward include fear of reprisals, lack of trust in institutions and barriers, particularly for women who are subjected to multiple restrictions in their daily lives, the report found.

Accountability

Ms. Gagnon said visible and consistent accountability measures should ensure that rules are applied equally and to every person, including those in positions of authority.

“Improving accountability is a legal obligation of the de facto authorities and a necessary step towards improving governance and respect for human rights, which support Afghanistan’s stability and its compliance with international obligations as a basis for the country’s reintegration into the international community,” she said.

UNAMA recommended de facto authorities strengthen accountability across all security institutions by ensuring that clear rules, procedures and codes of conduct are in place, consistent with international standards.

This includes clarifying the rules governing the use of force, arrest, detention, searches and crowd policing, establishing clear standards of professional conduct and requiring all personnel to report misconduct, with commanders responsible for enforcing discipline.

Read the full report here.

Afghanistan: UN tells Taliban to open up on abuses committed by security forces
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Pakistan Plans to Reopen Border Trade Routes With Afghanistan After 300 Days

August 10, 2026
Khaama Press

 

Pakistan has reportedly decided to reopen its major border crossings and transit routes with Afghanistan after nearly 300 days of restrictions that have disrupted bilateral trade, stranded cargo and imposed heavy costs on businesses and transporters on both sides.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi made the decision during a meeting with senior government officials and representatives of the country’s business community, according to the Pakistani newspaper Minute Mirror.

The reported decision calls for the reopening of major border crossings and transit routes between Pakistan and Afghanistan and measures to remove obstacles to bilateral trade and facilitate the movement of commercial goods.

The meeting also discussed facilitating legal travel between the two countries, although no specific decision on passenger movement was reported.

Pakistan’s government has not yet publicly confirmed the reported decision or announced a timetable for reopening the crossings.

The main trade routes between the two countries have remained heavily restricted since October 2025 amid escalating political tensions and border clashes. Key crossings affected include Torkham in Nangarhar, Spin Boldak-Chaman in Kandahar and Balochistan, Ghulam Khan in Khost, Kharlachi in Paktia and Angoor Adda in Paktika.

The prolonged restrictions have caused significant economic losses. Afghan and Pakistani traders, transport companies and businesses in border communities have reported declining activity, while large numbers of trucks and commercial consignments have remained stranded along the routes.

Pakistan’s customs authorities reported in October 2025 that hundreds of vehicles were stranded at Torkham and Chaman after trade was suspended, including transit consignments awaiting clearance.

The economic impact has also been felt in Pakistani border towns. Dawn reported in July that the prolonged closure of Torkham had severely affected businesses in Landi Kotal, with local traders describing the downturn as among the worst they had experienced since the closure began.

For Afghanistan, the disruption has pushed traders to seek alternative supply routes through Iran and Central Asia. Some businesses have indicated that they may be reluctant to immediately return to Pakistani routes even if commercial traffic resumes, after investing in alternative supply chains during the prolonged closure.

Torkham has previously been partially reopened to facilitate the return of Afghan migrants, but commercial traffic and regular passenger movement remained restricted.

A full reopening would therefore provide significant relief to traders, transporters and border communities and could restore one of the most important trade corridors between South and Central Asia.

However, the reported move remains closely tied to the broader security dispute between Islamabad and Kabul. Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) of using Afghanistan territory to plan and carry out attacks inside Pakistan. The authorities in Kabul have rejected the allegations and said Afghanistan territory will not be used against other countries.

The dispute over cross-border militancy has contributed to repeated border tensions and trade disruptions, making security arrangements a key factor in the restoration of normal commercial traffic.

Pakistan Plans to Reopen Border Trade Routes With Afghanistan After 300 Days
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9 Private Universities in Afghanistan Face Suspension or Licence Revocation

August 10, 2026
Khaama Press

 

Nine private higher-education institutions in Afghanistan have had their operating licences suspended or revoked over alleged “ghost students,” administrative deficiencies and violations of academic requirements.

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Higher Education, controlled by the Taliban, announced Sunday that the licences of seven institutions had been suspended for one year, while two others had their licences permanently revoked following an inspection and assessment conducted during the spring semester of the 1405 Afghanistan solar year.

The institutions whose activities have been suspended for one year are Barlas University in Jawzjan, Rah-e Saadat and Turkistan universities in Balkh, Azhar and Barna universities in Badakhshan, Rashad University in Faryab and Payam University in Kabul.

The ministry said the licences of Kohanduz University in Kunduz and Khana-e Danish University in Takhar had been permanently revoked.

According to the ministry, inspections found cases in which institutions allegedly maintained “ghost students,” failed to keep proper attendance records, admitted students who had been barred from education to final examinations and lacked required administrative and academic structures.

The ministry also cited inadequate laboratory equipment for medical students, failure to teach the curriculum approved by the ministry and insufficient opportunities for medical students to complete practical training in hospitals.

The ministry said some institutions had scheduled classes but classrooms were found to have no students attending.

The latest action comes amid wider pressure on Afghanistan’s higher-education sector, which has undergone major changes since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Restrictions on women and girls have had a particularly significant impact on universities and private higher-education institutions.

UNESCO has reported that the exclusion of women and girls from higher education has posed a major threat to the private higher-education sector. Female students and instructors have been forced to leave institutions, while private universities lost about 28% of their income after restrictions on women’s higher education took effect. UNESCO also reported that 31% of private universities were at risk of closure because of financial difficulties.

The decline in female participation has been accompanied by a broader contraction in higher education. According to UNESCO figures cited by international media, female university enrolment had fallen to zero by 2024, while overall male enrolment also declined significantly.

The authorities have also introduced tighter controls over university curricula and academic life, while international organisations have repeatedly called for Afghan girls and women to be allowed to return to secondary schools and universities.

More than 120 private higher-education institutions are operating across 34 Afghanistan provinces, according to the Ministry of Higher Education. A significant proportion of these institutions provide medical education.

The latest licensing decisions could add further pressure to an already weakened higher-education sector, although the ministry says the measures are aimed at addressing academic, administrative and regulatory violations.

9 Private Universities in Afghanistan Face Suspension or Licence Revocation
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Russia Eyes Railway Route to India Through Afghanistan

August 10, 2026
TOLOnews
TV Network
9 August 2026

Under this proposal, Afghanistan, due to its geographical location, could serve as a transit corridor connecting Central Asia, Iran and Pakistan.

Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister says Moscow is seeking to develop alternative railway routes to access the Indian Ocean, and Afghanistan could serve as a key link in such a route.

Marat Khusnullin, speaking to Russian media, stressed that given potential risks in the Strait of Hormuz, Russia should explore alternative options for transporting goods and accessing South Asian markets. One option, he said, could be a railway route connecting Russia to India through Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Marat Khusnullin, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister, said: “Rail access to the Indian Ocean should also be considered. If there are risks in the Bosporus and Hormuz straits, alternative routes through Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan may be needed. Any option for reaching India is acceptable.”

Under this proposal, Afghanistan, due to its geographical location, could serve as a transit corridor connecting Central Asia, Iran and Pakistan. If implemented, the project could also pave the way for Afghanistan’s railway network to connect with regional transportation networks.

Azrakhsh Hafizi, former head of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, said: “Afghanistan’s geo-economic importance will increase with the passage of this railway route, particularly because it will connect India and Russia. India is a major market for Russian products.”

In recent years, Russia has emphasized developing land and railway transport routes toward the south and reducing its dependence on maritime routes that are vulnerable to geopolitical developments.

Russia Eyes Railway Route to India Through Afghanistan
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Turabi: World Looking for Excuses Not to Recognize Islamic Emirate

August 10, 2026
Hadia Ziaei
Tolo News
9 August 2026
Turabi also said that dialogue is the only solution to tensions between Kabul and Islamabad.
Nooruddin Turabi, Director General of the National Disaster Management Authority, says, as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan approaches its fifth anniversary, that the world is looking for excuses not to recognize the Islamic Emirate.

In the interview, Turabi also cited internal conflicts and opposition from other countries, particularly the United States, to the establishment of an Islamic system in Afghanistan as factors behind the fall of the Islamic Emirate’s first government.

He said: “The Sharia should not be violated, and our relations with the world should also improve. We seek better relations with the entire world through dialogue, so that every country recognizes us and we recognize them.”

Turabi also said that dialogue is the only solution to tensions between Kabul and Islamabad.

He added: “Rather than complaining about each other, it is better to acknowledge the good we have done for one another and resolve these challenges through dialogue.”

Turabi also assured citizens, particularly those affected by natural disasters, that the authority provides timely and transparent assistance. However, he criticized what he described as a lack of transparency in humanitarian aid provided by international organizations.

Turabi said: “Some organizations have come to us that spend 70 percent of their total aid on administrative costs. We tell them that they should spend 30 to 50 percent out of every 100 on administrative costs, but no more than that. This is a challenge for us.”

In another part of his remarks, Turabi described climate change and natural disasters as among the challenges facing the country. He also criticized the exclusion of Islamic Emirate representatives from international meetings on climate change.

Turabi: World Looking for Excuses Not to Recognize Islamic Emirate
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Five Years On: How Afghanistan’s Provinces Fell One After Another

August 10, 2026
TOLOnews
TV Network
9 August 2026

Just nine days before the fall of Kabul, on 15 Asad, Nimroz became the first province to fall to Islamic Emirate forces.

Five years ago, during the third week of the solar month of Asad, Afghanistan’s provinces and districts fell one after another and came under the control of Islamic Emirate forces.

Just nine days before the fall of Kabul, on 15 Asad, Nimroz became the first province to fall to Islamic Emirate forces.

Zohoruddin Zahir, a political analyst, said: “Corruption had increased significantly in the country, and there was widespread crisis and chaos. No one’s life or safety was secure.”

On 17 Asad, the provinces of Sar-e-Pul, Takhar and Kunduz also fell one after another to Islamic Emirate forces.

Exactly five years ago today, on 18 Asad, Aibak city, the capital of Samangan province, also fell.

But what led to the fall of these provinces?

Qudratullah Badlon, a political analyst, said: “They lacked domestic legitimacy. When the foreign forces left, they faced economic problems, while internally there was war. More importantly, there was the corruption in which they were deeply involved.”

Khalil Ahmad Nadem, a political analyst, said: “The Taliban movement in Afghanistan had the motivation to fight. This was the main factor that ultimately led to the fall of the republic.”

The successive fall of provinces during those days was one of the most significant developments leading to the change of government in Afghanistan. Within a short period, the security situation changed in several provinces, and their capitals fell one after another from the control of the former government.

Five Years On: How Afghanistan’s Provinces Fell One After Another
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Gender Apartheid Moves Closer to Recognition as International Crime

August 8, 2026
Khaama Press

Amnesty International, the End Gender Apartheid Campaign and Human Rights Watch say efforts to recognize gender apartheid as an international crime have reached a significant stage, following the release of the first formal proposals to amend a draft United Nations treaty on crimes against humanity.

The organizations said the proposals, published on June 3, 2026, along with positions submitted by governments to the UN General Assembly’s Sixth Committee, will form the basis for negotiations on the treaty, scheduled to begin in January 2028.

Australia, Spain, Uruguay, Iceland, Mexico and Timor-Leste have proposed including gender apartheid in the draft treaty. Their proposal defines it as inhumane acts committed as part of an institutionalized system of systematic oppression and domination by one gender group over another, with the purpose of maintaining that system.

The three organizations said 14 countries have so far publicly supported recognizing gender apartheid as an international crime. They called on additional governments to endorse the proposal and submit formal recommendations before negotiations begin.

The organizations also highlighted the role of Afghan women in pushing for international recognition of gender apartheid, saying the campaign has emerged from years of advocacy by women seeking international accountability for what they describe as systematic and institutionalized discrimination under Taliban rule.

They said Afghan women have argued that the term accurately reflects the restrictions and abuses imposed on women and girls and provides a framework for addressing such systems of oppression under international law.

The organizations urged governments to use the period before the 2028–2029 negotiations to formally support the inclusion of gender apartheid in the proposed treaty.

If adopted, the provision would establish gender apartheid as a specific crime under the international legal framework governing crimes against humanity. However, the proposal remains subject to negotiations among UN member states and has not yet been adopted as international law.

Gender Apartheid Moves Closer to Recognition as International Crime
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Afghanistan-Pakistan Border Closures Reach 300 Days, Disrupting Trade

August 8, 2026
Khaama Press

The closure of major Afghanistan-Pakistan border crossings has reached 300 days, disrupting bilateral trade, raising transport costs and pushing Afghan businesses to rely more heavily on alternative trade routes.

The crossings, including Torkham in Nangarhar, Spin Boldak in Kandahar, Kharlachi in Paktia, Angoor Adda in Paktika and Ghulam Khan in Khost, were closed to trade and transit on October 12, 2025, amid worsening tensions between Kabul and Islamabad.

The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment says the prolonged closures have increased the cost and time required to transport goods. Afghan traders have increasingly turned to routes through northern Afghanistan, while Pakistani businesses have lost access to Afghanistan as a transit corridor toward Central Asian markets.

Khan Jan Alokozay, a board member of the chamber, said disruptions at Pakistan’s Karachi port had added to the difficulties facing Afghan importers and exporters.

The economic consequences are significant. World Bank data cited in the report shows that bilateral trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan had reached nearly $1.2 billion before the border closures. During the six-month period referenced in the data, Afghanistan exported about $318.9 million worth of goods to Pakistan and imported approximately $832 million.

The closures have particularly affected Afghan exports that depend on relatively short and established routes to Pakistani markets, including fresh and dried fruit, vegetables, spices, coal, cotton, talc and other natural products.

Pakistani exports to Afghanistan have also been affected. These include grains, medicines, sugar, construction materials, plastics and aluminium products.

The disruption has also increased pressure on Afghan consumers as longer and more expensive transport routes raise the cost of some imported goods. Traders and residents have reported increases in the prices of basic commodities, including rice.

At the same time, Afghanistan is accelerating efforts to diversify its trade routes and markets. India has emerged as its largest export destination, accounting for 34% of Afghanistan’s total exports in June, according to World Bank data cited in the report.

The prolonged border closures are therefore reshaping Afghanistan’s regional trade patterns while imposing costs on businesses and consumers in both countries. For Afghanistan, the restrictions have increased the urgency of reducing dependence on Pakistani transit routes; for Pakistan, they have reduced access to Afghan demand and an important corridor toward Central Asian markets.

The dispute has consequently developed beyond a border-management issue into a significant economic challenge for traders, transporters and consumers on both sides.

Afghanistan-Pakistan Border Closures Reach 300 Days, Disrupting Trade
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Uncertain Future for Afghan Refugees; Qatar Camp to Close

August 8, 2026
TOLOnews
8 August 2026
VanDiver said the camp is currently scheduled to close on September 30, 2026.
As thousands of Afghan refugees await relocation to the United States, AfghanEvac says uncertainty over their future continues.

Shawn VanDiver, president of AfghanEvac, says the Donald Trump administration had decided to close the camp in Qatar where a number of Afghan refugees are being accommodated, but according to him, no clear plan has been presented for what will happen to them.

VanDiver said the camp is currently scheduled to close on September 30, 2026.

Shawn VanDiver, president of AfghanEvac, said: “Right now, the camp is scheduled to close on September 30, 2026. I don’t think that’s going to happen. I think Qatar has been very generous and considerate with these people, and I imagine there will be an extension. But right now, the camp is scheduled to close on September 30, and these people are not being given any information about what is happening. As a result, they are extremely worried and afraid and remain stuck in limbo.”

AfghanEvac also said in a new report that more than 175,000 Afghans have received initial approval for Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), but due to existing restrictions, their interview process is not moving forward.

Meanwhile, a number of other Afghan refugees in Pakistan who are awaiting relocation to the United States have called for their immigration cases to be processed, amid continued arrests and deportations of migrants.

Aziza Azizi, a U.S. immigration case holder, said: “All stages of our process had been completed. We had also attended the interview, and our biometrics and medical examinations had been completed. We are facing many difficulties in Pakistan.”

Noorullah Ahmadi, another U.S. immigration case holder, said: “We ask the U.S. government to complete our cases as soon as possible. Two days ago, my son was taken away and was going to be deported. They came to our house at night, and we managed to escape with difficulty.”

AfghanEvac also announced yesterday that no Special Immigrant Visas have been issued to Afghan passport holders so far in 2026, further raising concerns about the future of thousands of applicants under the program.

Uncertain Future for Afghan Refugees; Qatar Camp to Close
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UN: More Than 600,000 Afghans Have Returned From Pakistan

August 8, 2026
Bibi Amina Hakimi
TOLOnews’ Reporter
8 Aug 2026

Migrant rights advocates say the return process should respect human rights and human dignity, particularly for vulnerable families.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says more than 600,000 Afghans have returned or been forced to return from Pakistan since the beginning of this year, with many entering Afghanistan through the Torkham crossing.

UNHCR spokesperson Charlie Goodlake said many returnees had faced detention, confiscation of belongings, and serious security and livelihood challenges while in Pakistan.

“We are here today at the Torkham crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Since the beginning of this year, more than 600,000 Afghan citizens have returned or been forced to return from Pakistan. Many of them have entered Afghanistan through this crossing,” Goodlake said.

Many returnees say they had spent years living in Pakistan, where they had homes, jobs, and children attending school, but are now being forced to rebuild their lives in Afghanistan.

“We ask the government to help us because we are facing difficulties and have nowhere to go. Employment opportunities should be provided for us and our children,” said Raidi Gul, a deportee from Pakistan.

Another returnee, Adam Khan, said Afghan migrants had faced repeated arrests and other hardships in Pakistan.

Migrant rights advocates say the return process should respect human rights and human dignity, particularly for vulnerable families.

They warn that without clear plans for housing, employment, education, and healthcare, the large-scale return of migrants could place additional pressure on both returnee families and host communities.

The development comes a day after the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that returning to Afghanistan is only the beginning of the journey, with more than 2.7 million returnees expected to need urgent humanitarian assistance this year.

UN: More Than 600,000 Afghans Have Returned From Pakistan
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