Afghanistan embassy in Japan to suspend operations from January 2026

December 26, 2025
Khaama Press

 

Afghanistan’s embassy in Japan said it will suspend all operations from January 31, 2026, following consultations with Japanese authorities amid ongoing diplomatic uncertainty.

The Afghanistan embassy in Japan has announced it will suspend operations after the end of January next year, marking another diplomatic closure following political changes in Afghanistan.

In a statement issued on Friday, December 26, the embassy said the decision was made after consultations with Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The embassy said that from January 31, 2026, all political, economic, cultural, and consular activities will be halted until further notice.

The Afghanistan mission in Tokyo is currently run by diplomats appointed by Afghanistan’s former government and has not been taken over by representatives of the Taliban.

The embassy is headed by Ambassador Shaida Mohammad Abdali, according to the statement.

Several Afghanistan diplomatic missions abroad have already suspended operations in recent years amid pressure from the Taliban on host countries and ongoing uncertainty over diplomatic recognition.

Japan has not formally recognised the Taliban administration but has maintained limited engagement, primarily through humanitarian assistance and regional diplomacy.

The suspension is expected to affect Afghan nationals living in Japan, particularly those requiring consular services such as passport renewals and legal documentation.

The move highlights the continued diplomatic isolation of Afghanistan and the growing challenges faced by Afghanistan missions abroad more than four years after the Taliban returned to power.

Afghanistan embassy in Japan to suspend operations from January 2026
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Severe Drinking Water Shortage in Kabul’s District 7 Raises Public Alarm

December 25, 2025
Khaama Press

December 24, 2025

Some of them say they have been struggling with a water crisis for months, a problem that has severely affected their daily lives.

In District 7 of Kabul city, the shortage of drinking water has become one of the most serious daily challenges for residents.

Some of them say they have been struggling with a water crisis for months, a problem that has severely affected their daily lives.

Mohammad Hassan, a Kabul resident, said: “People’s children are very young, and no one has the means to buy drinking water, firewood, or coal during this winter. Everyone is facing a water shortage. This problem isn’t limited to Kabul; it affects all people of Afghanistan.”

Several other residents, who are forced to walk long distances to fetch drinking water, shared their demands from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

Mohammad Akbar, another Kabul resident, told TOLOnews: “We brought our barrels from Qala-e-Muslim in Doghabad to fetch water. In some places where solar-powered pumps were installed for wells, they don’t work and there is no water. People are facing many difficulties.”

Payenda Mohammad, another Kabul resident, said: “The government should come and assess these areas, drill deep wells, as the land is dry and there is no water.”

While water is considered one of the most basic human needs, the ongoing shortage in the heart of the capital is a serious warning sign for the health and well-being of thousands of families.

Previously, the Kabul Urban Water Supply Authority had announced several projects aimed at addressing the city’s water shortage.

Severe Drinking Water Shortage in Kabul’s District 7 Raises Public Alarm
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Taliban minister says Afghanistan relied on Pakistan for 70% of medicines

December 24, 2025

by

AMU TV News

December 23, 2025

Taliban public health minister Noor Jalal Jalali. Archive photo.

Noor Jalal Jalali, the Taliban health minister, said on Tuesday that the country is seeking to reduce its reliance on medicines imported from Pakistan, which he said previously supplied up to 70% of Afghanistan’s pharmaceutical market.

Jalali, speaking at a news conference in Kabul after returning from a five-day visit to India, said a key goal of his visit to New Delhi was to find alternatives for Afghanistan’s medicines imports.

According to him, his ministry aims to diversify medicine supplies by boosting domestic production and increasing imports from other countries, including India and Iran.

“Afghanistan’s medicine market was 60% to 70% dependent on Pakistan,” Jalali said. “We do not want to rely on just one country. We want to meet our needs through domestic production as well as imports from several countries.”

Jalali said his ministry’s priority was combating disease rather than politics. “My enemy is illness,” he said. “Whoever provides effective medicine to fight disease is my friend.”

Taliban stopped the imports of medicines from Pakistan in November after heightened tensions with the neighboring country.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement following Jalali’s visit that New Delhi had reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Afghanistan’s medical needs as part of its humanitarian assistance.

“The Government of India reiterated its commitment to continued humanitarian assistance and cooperation in the medical sector, including long-term supply of medicines,” the statement said, adding that cancer drugs and vaccines were symbolically handed over during the visit.

The ministry said India would also send a larger shipment in the near future, including medicines, vaccines and a 128-slice CT scan machine to help strengthen Afghanistan’s healthcare system.

India has remained one of the key providers of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, including food assistance and medical supplies.

Taliban minister says Afghanistan relied on Pakistan for 70% of medicines
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Mujahid: Intelligence Shared by Afghanistan Led to ISIS Arrests in Pakistan

December 24, 2025
TOLOnews
TV Network
24 Dec 2025

According to Mujahid, the Islamic Emirate not only raised these concerns in meetings but also called for the destruction of these hideouts.

After Mohammad Goran, an ISIS-K member, was arrested by Turkish intelligence, Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, stated that the arrest of ISIS members across the hypothetical Durand Line is the result of intelligence provided by Afghanistan.

He emphasized that recent operations in which several ISIS-K affiliates have been arrested are essentially the outcome of intelligence shared and publicized by Afghanistan.

Zabihullah Mujahid said: “We had discovered information about ISIS hideouts on the other side of the Durand Line, and it was discussed and shared. In meetings, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan also formally objected and called for the elimination of these hideouts. The recent arrests of ISIS members are in some way the result of the intelligence we shared publicly and provided to all.”

According to Mr. Mujahid, the Islamic Emirate not only raised these concerns in meetings but also officially voiced its objections and called for the destruction of these hideouts.

The spokesperson added that these centers must be closed as soon as possible to prevent ISIS from being used against any country. He referred to ISIS as a “sinister phenomenon” and stressed that fostering ISIS must be completely ended.

Mr. Mujahid added: “These hideouts must be shut down as soon as possible, and ISIS and this sinister phenomenon must not be used against any country. The fostering of ISIS must end.”

Meanwhile, Al-Marsad media has reported that Mohammad Goran, an ISIS-K member arrested by Turkish intelligence, had been trained in Balochistan.
The outlet, citing its sources, stated that Goran, under the alias Yahya, traveled from Turkey to Iran, and from there to Balochistan, where he received six months of training.

This comes a day after Turkish media reported that Mohammad Goran had pledged to carry out attacks in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, and Europe before being arrested by Turkish intelligence.

Mujahid: Intelligence Shared by Afghanistan Led to ISIS Arrests in Pakistan
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Kabul Governor Denies Internal Divisions in Islamic Emirate

December 24, 2025
TOLOnews
TV Network
23 Dec 2025

Speaking at a community gathering in Kabul, Obaid stressed the importance of unity and maintaining the current system.

The Governor of Kabul, Aminullah Obaid, has emphasized that there are no internal disagreements among Islamic Emirate officials and urged the public not to believe rumors suggesting otherwise.

Speaking at a community gathering in Kabul, Obaid stressed the importance of unity and maintaining the current system.

He stated: “All ministers, governors, district chiefs, and department heads operate under the unified leadership of the Emir of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and are carrying out their duties accordingly. Certain corrupt and ill-intentioned circles are spreading false propaganda against the Islamic Emirate.”

Mohammad Idris Anwari, the Governor of Parwan, also spoke at the event, saying: “Our unity is solely based on Islam and the divine system of Allah. The current system in our country is a truly Islamic system, and its laws are derived from the Holy Quran.”

A Deputy Minister of Interior Affairs also addressed the gathering, asserting that Western countries have fueled ethnic and sectarian divisions in Afghanistan over the past two decades and are still spending millions of dollars to conduct propaganda against the Islamic Emirate.

Abdul Haq Makhdoom, Deputy Minister for Policy and Strategy at the Ministry of Interior, added: “Billions of dollars have been spent on propaganda aimed at misrepresenting the system to the people portraying good as evil and security as insecurity.”

At the conclusion of the event, several prominent families from Kohdaman, who had been in conflict for over 20 years, reconciled.

The spokesperson for the Parwan governor’s office said these long-standing hostilities were resolved through the mediation of religious scholars and local officials from both Parwan and Kabul provinces.

Kabul Governor Denies Internal Divisions in Islamic Emirate
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U.S. Afghan Allies Fear Deportation Amid Immigration Freeze, Afghan Pilot Voices Concern

December 24, 2025
Khaama Press

Afghan refugees evacuated for aiding U.S. forces face detention or deportation under strict immigration policies, leaving thousands uncertain about their safety and future.

Afghan allies who assisted U.S. forces in Afghanistan now fear deportation as Trump-era immigration policies halt visas, Green Cards, and Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), reports The Guardian.

Ali, a former Afghan Air Force pilot evacuated in 2021, described the chaos during Kabul’s fall. He flew his military aircraft to Uzbekistan to prevent Taliban capture and now works as an Uber driver in the U.S. while continuing aviation training.

Thousands of Afghan SIV applicants, including interpreters, journalists, human rights activists, and former government employees, remain in legal limbo, awaiting relocation to the U.S., according to Reuters. Many face uncertainty and fear during routine immigration appointments due to policy suspensions.

The Trump administration halted SIV processing, Afghan visa issuance, and Green Card approvals after security incidents in the U.S., leaving refugee families separated and unable to reunite. Legal experts warn these policies endanger lives and violate commitments to Afghan allies, reports CNN.

Humanitarian organizations have called for resuming refugee processing, emphasizing that delayed relocation risks lives of those who aided U.S. missions. Over 130 groups issued a joint statement urging policy reversal.

Ali highlighted the human toll; his family fled Afghanistan, his fiancée remains under Taliban rule, and his 13-year-old sister faces restricted freedoms. Despite fears, he expressed gratitude toward the American people who supported Afghan refugees.

The policy freeze has broader implications, undermining U.S. credibility as a reliable ally and creating widespread fear among Afghan-American communities. Refugees now navigate uncertainty while the threat of deportation looms.

Without urgent policy intervention, Afghan refugees face life-threatening risks if returned to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Advocates stress the U.S. must honor prior commitments to those who risked their lives alongside American forces.

U.S. Afghan Allies Fear Deportation Amid Immigration Freeze, Afghan Pilot Voices Concern
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Afghan Refugees in U.S. Face Christmas ICE Reporting Orders, Raising Legal and Humanitarian Concerns

December 24, 2025
Khaama Press

Afghan refugees in the United States have received ICE notices to report on Christmas Day, sparking concerns over legal access, stress, and enforcement during the holidays.

Afghan refugees in the United States have been asked to report to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) offices on Christmas Day, Afghan Evacuee Organization (Afghan Evac) said on Tuesday.

The letters, dated December 25, instruct recipients to comply with a “scheduled reporting” requirement, prompting concern from advocates who note that federal courts and legal offices are closed during the holiday period.

Shawn Vandiver, head of Afghan Evac, described the notices as “deeply troubling,” warning that refugees may face enforcement actions without access to legal counsel or support.

This move is part of intensified immigration policies under the Trump administration targeting Afghan nationals who entered the U.S. legally under refugee or humanitarian programs. Legal analysts have expressed concern over the potential impact on vulnerable populations.

ICE operations continue across multiple states, including Ohio and Minnesota, with at least 400 Afghan refugees reportedly detained in Minnesota alone, according to local media reports.

Many Afghan refugees arrived in the U.S. following the Taliban takeover in 2021. They often rely on U.S.-based humanitarian organizations and legal aid to navigate complex immigration proceedings. Past policies have generated uncertainty over visa renewals, resettlement support, and access to services.

Critics argue that scheduling enforcement on major holidays imposes unnecessary stress on displaced populations and undermines procedural fairness.

Human rights organizations are urging U.S. authorities to reschedule reporting requirements, ensuring Afghan refugees can access legal representation and avoid additional hardships.

These developments have attracted attention from national media and refugee advocacy groups, highlighting the tension between U.S. immigration enforcement and the humanitarian obligations toward Afghan evacuees.

Afghan Refugees in U.S. Face Christmas ICE Reporting Orders, Raising Legal and Humanitarian Concerns
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Pakistani Clerics Say Banning Girls’ Education Has No Religious Justification

December 23, 2025
Khaama Press

Pakistani religious scholars declared that banning girls’ education in Afghanistan has no religious basis, urging the Kabul administration to immediately reopen schools for female students.

A group of Pakistani religious scholars under the “Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam” umbrella criticized the Kabul administration on Monday for denying girls access to education. The meeting was held in Karachi and presided over by Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

In a statement issued after the gathering, the clerics stressed that “depriving girls of education has no justification in Islam” and urged the Kabul administration to immediately reopen schools and educational institutions to female students. They emphasized that education for both men and women is a “religious obligation,” warning that ongoing restrictions harm Afghanistan society, future generations, and the country’s international standing.

The clerics also condemned the use of Afghanistan territory for launching attacks against Pakistan and called for resolving disputes through dialogue. They denounced armed militancy and TTP activities inside Pakistan, describing them as both legally and religiously unacceptable. Maulana Fazlur Rehman added that regional tensions should be addressed through negotiations and restraint rather than military action.

Since returning to power, the Kabul administration has banned girls from attending schools beyond grade six, as well as universities and higher education institutions. This policy has drawn condemnation from Afghanistan citizens, the broader Islamic community, and the international community, all of whom have repeatedly called for the reinstatement of women’s educational rights.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) maintains a presence along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, complicating relations between Islamabad and Kabul. Pakistan has accused Taliban authorities of providing safe haven to TTP militants, a claim denied by the Kabul administration but partially confirmed by UN reports.

Pakistani scholars highlighted that continued restrictions on female education in Afghanistan violate Islamic principles and urged immediate corrective measures. They also emphasized the moral and social obligations of the Kabul administration to safeguard the rights of girls and women.

The clerics’ statement came amid heightened regional tensions following Pakistani military operations in Afghanistan border areas in recent months. These operations, intended to target TTP militants, have escalated cross-border clashes and strained bilateral relations.

Political parties in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have also urged both Pakistan and the Kabul administration to resume dialogue to resolve tensions and reopen border crossings, stressing the importance of trade and cross-border cooperation for regional stability.

Pakistani Clerics Say Banning Girls’ Education Has No Religious Justification
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Red Cross Says Nearly Half of Afghanistan’s Population Is Needing Aid in 2025

December 23, 2025

Nearly half of Afghanistan’s population will need humanitarian assistance in 2025, the Red Cross said, warning that conflict, poverty, climate shocks and mass returns are worsening conditions.

Afghanistan remains gripped by one of the world’s gravest humanitarian crises, with nearly half of its population expected to depend on aid in 2025, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned.

In a report released on Monday, the ICRC said about 22.9 million people will need humanitarian assistance next year, reflecting the deepening impact of decades of war, economic collapse and recurring natural disasters.

The organisation said widespread unemployment, the erosion of livelihoods and limited access to healthcare have sharply worsened living conditions, particularly in rural and conflict-affected areas.

According to the report, the crisis is hitting the most vulnerable hardest, including malnourished children, elderly people, persons with disabilities, female-headed households and daily wage labourers.

Climate-related shocks such as earthquakes, droughts and floods are compounding the emergency, while the large-scale return of migrants from Pakistan and Iran is placing additional strain on fragile communities.

The ICRC said the influx of returnees is increasing pressure on essential services, including healthcare, water supply, food systems and shelter, especially in border provinces already struggling to cope.

In response, the ICRC said it is expanding emergency relief, healthcare support, livelihood assistance, mine victim services, water and electricity projects, prison programmes and aid for displaced people and returnees, while urging sustained international support.

Red Cross Says Nearly Half of Afghanistan’s Population Is Needing Aid in 2025
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Pakistani Opposition Parties Urge Improved Ties with Afghanistan

December 23, 2025
TOLOnews
TV Network
22 Dec 2025

The Pakistan Awami Workers Party, during the meeting, called for the reopening of trade routes and the resumption of commerce with Afghanistan.

A two-day meeting of opposition parties in Pakistan and several political figures was held in Islamabad from December 20 to 21.

In a 13-point resolution issued at the end of the conference, participants expressed concern over rising tensions between Kabul and Islamabad and called for the improvement of relations with Afghanistan.

The deputy leader of Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islami party, Liaqat Baloch, also voiced concern over the worsening ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan, emphasizing the need for stronger bilateral relations.

He stated: “Relations with Afghanistan are deteriorating. The growing distance between Afghanistan and Pakistan has become dangerously concerning for our future, and this is a matter for the government. If relations between Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan are improved, the path to political and economic stability will become clearer.”

The Pakistan Awami Workers Party, during the meeting, called for the reopening of trade routes and the resumption of commerce with Afghanistan.

A member of the party said: “I urge the government and ministers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to play their part in reopening all closed trade routes between Pakistan and Afghanistan.”

Several former security officials from tribal regions criticized Pakistan’s approach toward Afghanistan and expressed concern over the continuation of current policies.

Mahmood Shah, former security chief of the tribal areas, remarked: “I believe it was a major mistake to engage in a conflict with Afghanistan as part of the western front. Furthermore, the internal situation of the country is also alarming, we are collapsing from within.”

The Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sohail Afridi, stressed the need to implement the decisions of the “Aman Jirga” (Peace Assembly) regarding ties with Afghanistan. He warned that secretive decisions by the central government on sensitive issues could fuel public dissatisfaction.

Afridi emphasized: “In the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Aman Jirga, it was recommended that all stakeholders, from the provincial government to parliament and tribal elders, be consulted, and that decisions be made collectively to achieve positive results. This country cannot move forward with such practices. People are growing more hostile toward institutions, which leads to their weakening and greater public discontent.”

Previously, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had insisted during the “Aman Jirga” that relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have a direct impact on the province, and therefore, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should be included in dialogue processes with Afghanistan.

Pakistani Opposition Parties Urge Improved Ties with Afghanistan
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