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Hanafi: Opponents Seeking to Discredit the Islamic Emirate

June 18, 2026
TOLOnews
TV Network
18 June 2026

Hanafi stated that opponents are seeking to discredit the Islamic Emirate and influence the mindset of young people.

Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, Acting Minister for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, said at the conclusion of a conference for the ministry’s inspectors that divisions previously created among Afghans by what he described as “enemies of the faith” had been removed following the establishment of the Islamic system.

Hanafi stated that opponents are seeking to discredit the Islamic Emirate and influence the mindset of young people. He also described the hijab as a religious obligation for women and rejected recent criticism from the international community.

“The inspectors of the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice advise their sisters about hijab in a respectful manner. This is for their benefit and in the interest of our brothers and sisters. Why should others interfere in our religious affairs?” Hanafi said.

He called on religious preachers and ministry inspectors to implement Islamic teachings with kindness and patience, stressing the importance of self-reform before attempting to guide others.

“We must first reform ourselves. If we fail to correct our own shortcomings, how can we speak about reforming others?” he said.

Hanafi also said that knowledge without action is of little value, adding that knowledge can serve as a source of guidance but may also lead people astray if not applied properly.

Hanafi: Opponents Seeking to Discredit the Islamic Emirate
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Afghanistan Issues Ban on Smartphones for Civil Servants and Military

June 18, 2026

Reporting from Kabul and Kandahar, Afghanistan, and from Islamabad, Pakistan

The New York Times

Afghanistan’s leader has ordered all civil servants and members of the country’s armed forces to stop bringing their smartphones to work as of Wednesday, the latest restriction on individual freedoms imposed by the Taliban government.

Some government agencies have scrambled for alternatives, reverting to regular cellular calls instead of WhatsApp, which they overwhelmingly rely on as they try to keep a country of 45 million running amid economic isolation, devastating aid cuts and a conflict with neighboring Pakistan.

Afghanistan’s highest court issued the order, but it did not provide a justification for it.

Government representatives did not respond to requests for comment, but eight civil servants, police officers and education professionals in five provinces confirmed the authenticity of the ban and said that it had begun taking effect in their offices.

“We have received the order and are in the process of implementing it,” Khalid Ahmad Fazli, a communications official in Daikundi Province, told The New York Times.

Those caught using their smartphones will have them smashed and face punishment, according to a copy of the order circulating online.

As news of the ban ricocheted across social media, civil servants and security personnel posted videos of colleagues smashing their smartphones to comply with the new rule.

In the clips, some workers said, “Our work shows obedience to the Emir’s order,” in a reference to Sheikh Haibatullah Akhundzada, the ultraconservative cleric who rules Afghanistan and ordered the ban.

A police officer in Samangan Province, in northern Afghanistan, said that the Supreme Court had sent a letter announcing the ban to his headquarters and that a senior police official had told officers on Tuesday, “Be careful not to use smartphones, this is an order from the Emir and we cannot oppose it.”

In Nangarhar Province, in the east, a high school teacher said that officers from the Taliban’s morality police had begun confiscating smartphones at the school’s gate on Wednesday. A WhatsApp group for teachers and administrative staff has gone silent, he said.

Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, they have stifled freedom of expression by repressing protests, controlling what people wear, and restricting access to social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Snap. Last September, the government imposed a countrywide internet blackout for two days under the guise of preventing “immoral behavior” online.

A similar rationale seems to be at play with the latest ban.

During a meeting earlier this month in the southern city of Kandahar, religious scholars and judges from a military court asked Sheikh Haibatullah to issue a countrywide ban on smartphones to prevent what they described as the spread of pornography and corruption, according to one participant and another person briefed on the meeting.

Other religious and administrative leaders also asked Sheikh Haibatullah for a total ban in a separate meeting the following day.

Sheikh Haibatullah then issued a mandate that he said would target, as a first step, all soldiers, civil servants, teachers and government officials, according to the Supreme Court order. Those seeking exemption must obtain written permission from the supreme leader.

It was not immediately clear how the order would be implemented: Hundreds of thousands of people work in the Taliban-ruled administration or serve in its security forces.

An employee in the financial department of Herat Province said that his office had received the order from the Ministry of Finance but that as of Thursday, he and his colleagues were still using their smartphones at work.

Many members of the Taliban movement do not bring their smartphones to government offices as they deem them immoral and distracting, even though most of them own one. As of 2024, there were 25 million mobile subscriptions in Afghanistan, according to the World Bank.

Asadullah, a civil servant in central Afghanistan, said the ban had already left him struggling to complete his daily tasks. He said, “Out of habit, I checked my pocket several times today and it felt as if I had lost something.”

Elian Peltier is The Times’s bureau chief for Pakistan and Afghanistan, based in Islamabad.

Afghanistan Issues Ban on Smartphones for Civil Servants and Military
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New Smartphone Curbs Target Civil and Military Employees in Afghanistan

June 17, 2026
Khaama Press

A nationwide ban on the use of smartphones by civilian and military government employees has been approved in Afghanistan, with violators facing legal punishment and confiscation of their devices.

Sources in the Kabul provincial administration confirmed on Wednesday that a ban on smartphone use by government and security personnel has been formally approved and will be implemented across civilian and military institutions.

According to the sources, a meeting involving senior officials was held at the Kabul governor’s office following the issuance of the directive, where authorities agreed to fully enforce the measure. Employees who fail to comply could be referred to a military court.

The ban was initially communicated verbally to eight security zones in Kabul last week, but it is now set to be expanded to all government departments. A written directive obtained by local media states that employees who violate the order could face “legal and religious punishment,” while their smartphones may be confiscated and destroyed.

The move is part of broader efforts by the authorities to tighten control over communications within state institutions. Officials have not publicly explained the reasons behind the measure, but critics argue that such restrictions could further limit access to information and reduce transparency within government offices.

The decision comes amid continuing concerns from rights groups and media organizations about restrictions on access to information and freedom of expression in Afghanistan. Journalists and civil society activists have repeatedly warned that growing limitations on communications and information-sharing have made independent reporting and public oversight increasingly difficult.

International organizations have also expressed concern over measures affecting digital access and communications in the country. Rights advocates argue that restricting access to modern communication tools can hinder the flow of information, limit government accountability and further isolate public institutions from citizens.

The directive is expected to take effect from the beginning of the Islamic month of Muharram, corresponding to June 17, with authorities indicating that compliance will be closely monitored across government agencies.

New Smartphone Curbs Target Civil and Military Employees in Afghanistan
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OCHA Warns Restrictions Limiting Afghan Women’s Access to Life-Saving Healthcare

June 17, 2026
Khaama Press

The UN humanitarian agency has warned that growing restrictions on Afghan women and girls are further limiting access to critical healthcare services in a country already facing one of the world’s highest maternal mortality rates.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has expressed concern that restrictions imposed on women and girls in Afghanistan are undermining access to essential and life-saving services, particularly healthcare.

Olga Cherevko, an OCHA official for Afghanistan, said the country continues to record one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally, with nearly 600 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. She warned that humanitarian challenges are disproportionately affecting women and girls.

According to OCHA, restrictions on women’s participation in public life and employment are reducing both the effectiveness of humanitarian operations and the ability of women and girls to access critical services. The agency stressed that female healthcare workers remain indispensable to maternal and newborn care across Afghanistan.

Cherevko highlighted a hospital in Bamyan that operates the region’s only neonatal intensive care unit, noting that many female health workers there continue to provide life-saving care for mothers and newborns despite mounting challenges.

The warning comes as Afghanistan’s healthcare system faces growing pressure from funding shortages and staffing gaps. OCHA has repeatedly called for greater investment in the training, recruitment and retention of female health professionals to reduce preventable maternal and infant deaths.

The concerns also follow recent warnings from UNICEF, which said Afghanistan could face a shortage of 25,000 female teachers and healthcare workers by 2030 if restrictions on women’s education and employment continue. UNICEF has additionally warned of major funding shortfalls that threaten essential humanitarian and health services across the country.

International agencies have also raised alarm over deteriorating humanitarian conditions in several provinces, including remote areas of Badakhshan, where difficult terrain, limited medical infrastructure and shortages of skilled personnel continue to restrict access to healthcare. The World Health Organization recently emphasized the need to expand life-saving health services in underserved communities across the province.

Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have imposed sweeping restrictions on women and girls, including bans on secondary and higher education, limits on employment and restrictions on movement. UN agencies say these measures are not only affecting women’s rights but are also weakening Afghanistan’s healthcare, education and humanitarian sectors.

OCHA stressed that sustaining health services, supporting female medical staff and ensuring women and girls can safely access healthcare remain essential to addressing Afghanistan’s worsening humanitarian crisis.

OCHA Warns Restrictions Limiting Afghan Women’s Access to Life-Saving Healthcare
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EU Reiterates Call for Inclusive Government in Afghanistan

June 17, 2026
Tolo News
17 June 2026

The EU delegation stated that an inclusive political framework could help Afghanistan achieve lasting peace and stability.

The European Union has once again emphasized the need for an inclusive government in Afghanistan during a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The EU delegation stated that an inclusive political framework could help Afghanistan achieve lasting peace and stability.

The bloc also called for unhindered humanitarian access across Afghanistan and for guarantees that women can participate in the delivery of humanitarian assistance throughout the country.

Political analyst Moeen Gul Samkanai said: “First, the concept of an inclusive government must be clearly defined. If the EU’s objective is the return of former political figures to the current system, I believe that is unrealistic. However, a structure in which responsibilities are entrusted to qualified individuals could be acceptable to some extent.”

The EU’s renewed call comes as the Islamic Emirate has consistently described the issue as an internal Afghan matter and has regarded comments by foreign countries on the subject as interference in domestic affairs.

Nevertheless, the formation of an inclusive government has been a recurring demand over the past four years, raised not only by Western countries but also by regional states.

Previously, member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), in a joint statement issued on September 2, 2025, following a two-day summit in China, also stressed that the establishment of an inclusive government in Afghanistan is the only path toward lasting peace and stability in the country.

EU Reiterates Call for Inclusive Government in Afghanistan
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Pakistan Defense Minister: Talks with Afghanistan Have Failed

June 17, 2026
Mitra Majeedy
Journalist
Tolo News
17 Jine 2026

Responding to calls for continued dialogue, he urged Pakistani politicians to visit Afghanistan and obtain guarantees.

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has told parliament that all talks held with Afghanistan have yielded no results.

Asif claimed that during negotiations between the two countries, Islamabad was prepared to accept the Islamic Emirate’s demands, but said the Islamic Emirate refused to provide written guarantees.

Responding to calls for continued dialogue, he urged Pakistani politicians to visit Afghanistan and obtain guarantees.

He stated: “If any member of this house who advocates dialogue can secure guarantees and travel there with a delegation, we are ready. But they should not return empty-handed. We have tried every avenue and failed to obtain assurances and commitments.”

During the same session, parliament member Khushhal Khan Kakar criticized the defense minister, arguing that Afghanistan is not Pakistan’s enemy.

Emphasizing the importance of trade with Afghanistan, he called for the reopening of trade routes between the two countries.

Kakar said: “You described Afghanistan and Afghans as your enemies. We accept that some of our policies may have angered Afghans, but they are not your enemies.”

Another parliamentarian, Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, stated that if negotiations between the United States and Iran can succeed, talks with Afghanistan can also be productive, urging serious and meaningful dialogue.

The Islamic Emirate has not yet commented on Asif’s remarks. Previously, however, it attributed the failure of Afghanistan-Pakistan talks to the lack of authority of Pakistani delegations and the existence of elements within Pakistan’s system that seek to undermine bilateral relations.

The remarks come a day after the leader of Pakistan’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam also criticized his country’s policy toward Afghanistan and called for a review of it.

Pakistan Defense Minister: Talks with Afghanistan Have Failed
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Trump says US may recover all the equipment left behind in Afghanistan by Biden admin

June 17, 2026

By James Cirrone 

Fox News
Published 
During the G7, President Trump said he may regain US military equipment left in Afghanistan after 2021 withdrawal.

President Donald Trump criticized former President Joe Biden’s foreign policy record at the G7 Summit, while touting the forthcoming agreement with Iran.

President Donald Trump suggested he may be able to get back the equipment the U.S. military left behind during Joe Biden’s withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

Trump made these comments at the G7 Summit while taking questions from reporters about the forthcoming agreement with Iran to end the war and open the Strait of Hormuz.

In response to a question about how the deal will address Iran’s nuclear program, Trump repeatedly said he would “bomb them” if they do not comply with proposed restrictions.placeholder

He then transitioned into criticizing Biden’s foreign policy record, spotlighting the Democratic former president’s decision to withdraw from Afghanistan and abandon dozens of military aircraft, thousands of ground vehicles and more than 300,000 weapons, according to the House Budget Committee.

“Our country has become the most respected country in the world,” he said. “Look at what happened in so many different locations. Afghanistan, that horrible retreat that these people made. Leaving equipment behind. They weren’t under any pressure. Take your time.”

“I was going to get out,” he continued. “We were going to get out with dignity and pride. Take 100% of the equipment. I was even taking the tents down. But then [Biden] got in and they just left. They left all the equipment. I may get all that equipment back. Now, here’s the thing. It’s more symbolic because it’s a little old now, but we may get it all back. Afghanistan is kissing our a–.”

In June 2022, the Department of Defense estimated that $7.12 billion worth of military equipment ended up in the hands of the Taliban, which quickly seized control of the country after American troops departed.

TRUMP: ‘WE DON’T RUN FROM ANYBODY’ IN BLASTING BIDEN OVER AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL

Trump and his allies have long been critical of what they view as Biden’s hasty decision to end the war in Afghanistan, which lasted for nearly 20 years.placeholder

Biden officials at the time defended the withdrawal by pointing out that the equipment seized by the Taliban was in the hands of the U.S.-aligned government in Afghanistan that ended up surrendering.

Biden himself said he believed that the Afghan fighters supported by the U.S. were going to do a better job at holding the country.

“The assumption was that more than 300,000 Afghan National Security Forces that we had trained over the past two decades and equipped would be a strong adversary in their civil wars with the Taliban,” he said on Aug. 31, 2021. “That assumption — that the Afghan government would be able to hold on for a period of time beyond military drawdown — turned out not to be accurate.”

Members and supporters of the Taliban stand on a U.S. flag during a rally marking the third anniversary of the fall of Kabul in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 14, 2024.

Under Taliban rule, women and girls remain repressed. More than 1 million girls have been banned from secondary school and university. An April UNICEF report claimed that Afghanistan risks losing more than 25,000 teachers and healthcare workers due to the new government’s restrictions on female employment.

The country is also dealing with a hunger crisis, with roughly 17.4 million Afghans at risk for severe food insecurity this year, according to the World Food Programme.

Trump says US may recover all the equipment left behind in Afghanistan by Biden admin
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UN Security Council Extends UNAMA Mandate in Afghanistan Until 2027

June 16, 2026
Khaama Press

The United Nations Security Council on Monday unanimously extended the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for another year, keeping the mission’s existing responsibilities and priorities largely unchanged.

The resolution extends UNAMA’s mandate until June 17, 2027, following discussions among council members on possible adjustments to the mission’s work.

The 15-member council adopted the resolution unanimously, preserving UNAMA’s core responsibilities, including coordinating international assistance, supporting political engagement, monitoring human rights, and facilitating humanitarian efforts.

China’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Fu Cong, welcomed the decision, saying the resolution maintains and strengthens UNAMA’s key functions while streamlining outdated elements where necessary. He also stressed the importance of counterterrorism cooperation and regional security.

The extension comes as Afghanistan continues to face one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. According to UN agencies, millions of Afghans require humanitarian assistance, while funding shortages have forced aid organizations to scale back critical food, health and protection programs across the country.

The renewal also comes amid continuing international concerns over human rights, particularly restrictions on women and girls. Since 2021, Afghan women have faced sweeping limitations on education, employment and public participation, prompting repeated calls from the United Nations and rights groups for the restoration of fundamental freedoms.

UN Security Council Extends UNAMA Mandate in Afghanistan Until 2027
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Newly Appointed UN Deputy Special Representative Begins Mission in Afghanistan

June 16, 2026
Khaama Press

Bruno Lemarquis on Tuesday officially assumed his duties as the United Nations’ deputy special representative, resident coordinator and humanitarian coordinator for Afghanistan, as the country continues to face severe humanitarian and development challenges.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said Lemarquis began his mission in Kabul on June 16 and will oversee the coordination of all UN agencies, funds and programmes operating in Afghanistan. He will also lead UNAMA’s development activities in the country.

Lemarquis brings decades of UN experience to the role. Most recently, he served as deputy special representative of the UN Secretary-General, resident coordinator and humanitarian coordinator in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He previously held senior positions in Haiti and at the UN Development Programme (UNDP), focusing on crisis response and recovery.

His appointment comes at a time when Afghanistan remains one of the world’s largest humanitarian emergencies. Millions of Afghans rely on humanitarian assistance, while aid agencies have repeatedly warned of growing food insecurity, malnutrition and funding shortages affecting vulnerable communities across the country.

The country also continues to face major development challenges, including high unemployment, widespread poverty and limited economic opportunities. Humanitarian organizations say the prolonged economic downturn has left many families struggling to meet basic needs.

Restrictions on women and girls remain a key concern for the international community. Limits on education, employment and public participation have significantly affected women’s rights and have also complicated the delivery of humanitarian and development programmes in parts of the country.

The United Nations has repeatedly stressed that access to education for girls and greater participation of women in public life are essential for Afghanistan’s long-term stability, economic recovery and sustainable development.

Before joining the United Nations in 1992, Lemarquis worked with an international non-governmental organization in Haiti and Ethiopia. He holds a degree in tropical agriculture engineering from France and speaks both French and English.

UNAMA’s leadership transition comes as the UN continues efforts to coordinate international assistance and support millions of Afghans affected by economic hardship, humanitarian needs and ongoing social restrictions.

Newly Appointed UN Deputy Special Representative Begins Mission in Afghanistan
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UN calls on Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers to reverse crackdown on women

June 16, 2026
By EDITH M. LEDERER

Associated Press

June 15, 2026

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution Monday calling on Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers to swiftly reverse their crackdown on women and to combat militant groups inside Afghanistan that Pakistan accuses of carrying out cross-border attacks.

China’s U.N. Ambassador Fu Cong, whose country sponsored the resolution, said the hope is that the Afghan government will “take more proactive measures to protect human rights, especially the rights of women, and project an image of openness, inclusivity and responsibility.”

The resolution extends the U.N. political mission in Afghanistan until June 17, 2027, and authorizes it to support humanitarian aid deliveries “without discrimination” and to promote national and local governance “without any discrimination based on sex, religion or ethnicity, with the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women, … minorities, youth and persons with disabilities.”

The resolution’s adoption follows the arrest of at least 30 women in the western city of Herat this month for allegedly violating the Taliban’s strict dress code. A rare protest sparked by the arrests was violently dispersed by Taliban police, who shot and killed one person and injured several others, according to the U.N. mission known as UNAMA.

The Taliban have run Afghanistan since 2021 in the wake of the chaotic withdrawal of U.S.-led forces and have imposed a strict interpretation of Islamic law, or Shariah, including draconian restrictions on women and girls, such as bans on education beyond primary school and on many jobs. Minorities have also been impacted.

The resolution authorizes the U.N. mission to facilitate talks between the Taliban and regional countries and the wider international community,

“For that political process to succeed, the Taliban must act,” U.S. deputy ambassador Jennifer Locetta said. “The Taliban must meet their counterterrorism commitments, respect Afghanistan’s international obligations, end hostage diplomacy, and cease their unconscionable abuses of the human rights of women and girls.”

Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harboring militants who carry out deadly attacks inside Pakistan, which the Taliban denies. Hundreds of people have been killed in fighting between the two countries since February, when Afghanistan attacked Pakistan in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan.

Pakistan’s U.N. Ambassador Asim Ahmad said the “resolution expresses the council’s serious concern over the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, which continue to constitute a threat to international peace and security.”

The new resolution also authorizes UNAMA to advance Afghanistan’s economic development, including by facilitating commercial and financial activity and supporting efforts to return assets belonging to the Central Bank “for the benefit of the Afghan people.”

 

UN calls on Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers to reverse crackdown on women
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