Islamic Emirate Spokesman Dismisses Badakhshan Clashes as ‘Propaganda’

July 27, 2026 Current News Articles

Hadia Ziaei

Tolo News

27 July 2026

Mujahid also said no malicious elements would be allowed to carry out activities, adding that the Afghan people support the country’s political system.

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Islamic Emirate, described the recent clashes in Badakhshan as “propaganda” at the opening of the “Government in the Mirror of the Press” program.

Mujahid also said no malicious elements would be allowed to carry out activities, adding that the Afghan people support the country’s political system.

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, said: “No malicious agenda will be given the opportunity to operate. Such is the determination of the government and the security forces. Whenever people become aware of suspicious activities, they report them to the relevant authorities.”

Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate’s Minister of Information and Culture said opponents of the government have no clear objective for fighting and are engaged in violence without a defined purpose.

Khairullah Khairkhwa, Minister of Information and Culture, said: “Who is fighting this war? Who is physically involved in it? These are important questions. Who finances those who fight? Who provides them with shelter? What are their objectives?”

Sheikh Noor-ul-Haq Anwar, Director General of the Administrative Office of the Prime Minister, said: “As Mr. Mujahid pointed out, we have enemies who cannot tolerate the progress and development that Afghans are striving to achieve.”

Elsewhere, Abdul Latif Nazari, Deputy Minister of Economy, stressed that Afghanistan is a secure country in the region, saying the country’s enemies cannot tolerate its freedom, stability, and economic growth.

Nazari said: “No country in the Middle East is completely secure, and conflict continues in the Caucasus. Afghanistan is the only island of security. That is why our enemies cannot tolerate this freedom, this stability, and this progress.”

At the same event, Abdul Wasi Khadem, Director General of the Office of the Prime Minister, described the role of the media as valuable and stressed that the government’s achievements should be reflected accurately.

Abdul Wasi Khadem, Director General of the Office of the Prime Minister, said: “The Islamic Emirate is working to ensure the media has timely access to accurate and reliable information.”

According to officials, the “Government in the Mirror of the Press” program is intended to provide the public and the media with accurate information on the activities, services, and key achievements of government institutions. The program is scheduled to begin on Tuesday with presentations on the accomplishments of various government agencies.

Opposition Lacks Will & Ability To Fight, Says Taliban Culture Minister

July 27, 2026 Current News Articles

Afghanistan International

27 July 2026

The Taliban’s information and culture minister, Sher Ahmad Haqqani, discussed the group’s recent clashes with opposition forces in Badakhshan during a meeting with media officials in Kabul.

Referring to recent developments in Badakhshan, Haqqani said every war should be examined from five perspectives.

He said it was first necessary to identify the attackers and their financiers, determine who was providing them with shelter, establish their objectives and assess how much local support they had in the areas where they were fighting.

The Taliban’s information and culture minister said an examination of these factors showed that “in reality, nothing has happened”.

Haqqani claimed the Taliban administration could prove to the public, “even to opponents and foreigners”, that conditions in Afghanistan were better than before and that “the people are happy and satisfied”.

Speaking on Monday, 27 July, following opposition attacks in Badakhshan, Haqqani described the situation in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan as good and unprecedented.

He also claimed that the public was cooperating with the Taliban administration.

In his speech, Haqqani referred to Taliban opponents as “murderers, highway robbers and oppressors” and claimed they had no public support.

His remarks come as political and military groups opposed to the Taliban have carried out offensive operations in north-eastern Afghanistan, particularly in Badakhshan, in recent days.

The attacks began last week when the newly formed Sepah-e Mihan Front briefly seized Yaftal district for several hours.

The Afghanistan Freedom Front has also continued attacks against Taliban forces in Zebak district of Badakhshan.

The front says it has carried out continuous attacks over the past four days and destroyed two Taliban drones.

On Sunday, the Afghanistan Freedom Front claimed that its forces had advanced five kilometres towards the centre of Zebak district and captured two more Taliban posts.

Bipartisan Plan to Extend Temporary Protected Status for Afghans in the US

July 25, 2026 Current News Articles

Bibi Amina Hakimi

TOLOnews’ Reporter

25 July 2026

if passed, the bill would prevent eligible Afghans from being deported and allow them to continue living and working in the United States.

A group of Democratic and Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives has introduced bipartisan legislation to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghan nationals.

if passed, the bill would prevent eligible Afghans from being deported and allow them to continue living and working in the United States.

Under the proposed legislation, eligible Afghan nationals currently residing in the U.S. would remain protected from deportation and retain work authorization. The extension would remain in effect until July 1, 2029.

Rep. Jason Crow said:”This bill would extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghan nationals through July 2029. TPS allows foreign nationals fleeing violence, conflict, and instability to live and work in the United States.”

Meanwhile, The Washington Post has reported that some Afghan immigrants and human rights advocates in the United States have expressed concern over a federal government plan to interview about 800 Afghan immigrants.

According to the report, the interviews will include questions about applicants’ identities, their integration into American society, and the immigration status of their family members. The information collected could be retained for up to 15 years.

Mohammad Khan Talebi Mohammadzai, a migrant rights advocate, said:”Legally, such interviews are permitted under U.S. immigration law. However, they must be conducted in accordance with privacy protections, non-discrimination principles, proportional data collection, and safeguards for migrants’ legal rights.”

Some analysts also say that Afghans with pending immigration cases in the United States should not become entangled in political issues and that Washington should facilitate their relocation process.

Mohammad Aslam Danishmal, a university professor, said: “For Afghans waiting for U.S. visas in Qatar, Pakistan, or other countries in the region, the U.S. government should seriously address their cases. These issues should not be politicized.”

The development comes after the U.S. government previously suspended the processing of all green card (permanent residency) applications from nationals of 19 countries, including Afghanistan, whose entry into the United States has been restricted.

Pakistan Says Terrorism from Afghanistan Among Its Most Serious Security Challenges

July 25, 2026 Current News Articles

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

July 25, 2026

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar has described terrorism originating from Afghanistan as one of the country’s most serious security challenges, calling for stronger regional efforts to address the threat.

Dawn reported on Friday, July 24, that Dar made the remarks during a meeting of foreign ministers from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Kyrgyzstan.

According to the report, Dar said lasting peace and stability in the region could not be achieved without addressing what he described as the threat of terrorism emanating from Afghanistan.

Dar alleged that militant groups continue to recruit, train and operate from Afghanistan territory under the “oversight and facilitation” of Taliban authorities. He also claimed that Afghan nationals have been involved in terrorist attacks in Pakistan, although he did not provide further details or evidence for the allegations in the reported remarks.

Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Taliban authorities of allowing anti-Pakistan militant groups to operate from Afghanistan territory. Islamabad has particularly raised concerns over the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which it blames for a series of attacks inside the country.

The Taliban authorities have consistently rejected allegations that they provide shelter or support to militant groups seeking to carry out attacks against Pakistan or other countries. Taliban officials have said Afghanistan’s territory will not be used to threaten any foreign state.

The issue remains a major source of tension between Kabul and Islamabad. Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Taliban authorities to take action against militants it says are based in Afghanistan, while the Taliban has denied the allegations and called for dialogue to resolve security concerns.

Dar’s remarks come as Pakistan continues to raise the issue of cross-border militancy at regional and international forums. Relations between the two neighbouring countries remain strained by security concerns, border tensions and disagreements over the status and movement of Afghan nationals in Pakistan.

German Court Blocks Mass Cancellation of Afghan Resettlement Cases

July 24, 2026 Current News Articles

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

July 24, 2026

Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court has ruled that the government cannot collectively cancel previously issued resettlement commitments to Afghan nationals and must assess each affected case individually.

The ruling followed a complaint by an Afghan woman and her two sons, who had been selected for relocation to Germany under the country’s humanitarian admission program after the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021.

The court ruled that the Interior Ministry’s decision in December 2025 to end the program and cancel about 640 remaining commitments without examining the individual circumstances of those affected violated the constitutional prohibition against arbitrary state action.

The judges said the government has broad powers to determine immigration policy but must exercise those powers within the limits of Germany’s Basic Law.

Once German authorities formally inform a person that they have been accepted for admission to Germany, any decision to withdraw that commitment must be based on an assessment of the individual’s circumstances, the court said. A blanket decision affecting a group of applicants is not sufficient.

The court also ordered the competent administrative court to reconsider the Afghan family’s case.

Until the family receives visas or a new decision is issued that complies with constitutional requirements, the German government must continue providing financial support, according to the ruling. The family is currently in Pakistan, where Germany is covering the costs of accommodation and support.

The decision comes as the German government seeks to reduce migration and restrict humanitarian admission programs. The ruling does not prevent Berlin from changing its immigration policies or ending programs for future applicants. It does, however, limit the government’s ability to cancel commitments already made to individuals through a single collective decision.

The judgment could have implications for other Afghan nationals selected under Germany’s humanitarian admission program whose cases remained unresolved after the government moved to end the scheme.

The court did not order Germany to admit every person affected by the cancelled commitments automatically. Instead, it required authorities to examine individual cases and ensure that any decision to withdraw a previous admission commitment complies with constitutional requirements.

The ruling therefore establishes an important legal distinction between changing future migration policy and withdrawing commitments already made to individuals. While the government retains broad authority over immigration policy, that authority cannot be exercised in a manner that ignores the individual circumstances of people who have already received formal assurances of admission.

Iran, Pakistan Discuss Regional Tensions, Reaffirm Commitment to Peace and Stability

July 24, 2026 Current News Articles

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

July 24, 2026

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi have discussed recent regional developments and escalating tensions in the Middle East, with Islamabad calling for restraint and a renewed focus on diplomatic engagement.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry said on Friday, July 24, that Dar held talks with Araghchi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Kyrgyzstan.

According to the ministry, Dar expressed concern over the recent escalation of tensions in the region and stressed the importance of restraint and diplomatic engagement to prevent further instability.

Dar also called for the United States and Iran to return to diplomacy based on the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which was signed by Washington and Tehran in June.

The meeting comes as tensions between Iran and the United States have sharply escalated following a brief period of calm after the signing of the Islamabad understanding. The two sides have since returned to military confrontation, raising concerns about a wider regional conflict.

Pakistan has repeatedly called for dialogue and de-escalation amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran. Islamabad has also warned of the potential consequences of continued conflict for regional security, trade and maritime routes, particularly around the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

The latest diplomatic engagement comes as the Middle East remains tense, with military confrontations and competing security interests involving Iran, the United States and several Gulf countries. Any further escalation could affect energy supplies, international shipping and economic stability across the region.

The meeting between Dar and Araghchi underscores Pakistan’s efforts to encourage a return to negotiations at a time when diplomatic channels between Iran and the United States remain under severe strain.

Araghchi at SCO: Afghanistan’s Stability ‘Strategic for Regional Security’

July 24, 2026 Current News Articles

TOLOnews

TV Network

24 July 2026

Araghchi said Iran supports any initiative aimed at creating a stable Afghanistan and called for an end to tensions and clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) foreign ministers’ meeting in Kyrgyzstan that Afghanistan’s stability and security are among the region’s most important shared security and development issues, adding that Afghanistan’s security is of strategic importance to all countries in the region.

Referring to Tehran’s historical and cultural ties with Afghanistan, Araghchi said Iran supports any initiative aimed at creating a stable Afghanistan and called for an end to tensions and clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Abbas Araghchi, Iranian Foreign Minister, said: “We support any initiative that contributes to the establishment of a secure, stable, developed, and terrorism-free Afghanistan with an inclusive government. We also particularly call for an end to tensions and conflict between Afghanistan and our friendly and brotherly country, Pakistan.”

Political analyst Najibullah Bahadur said that Afghanistan’s stability and security are in the interest of regional countries and the wider world, particularly Iran, given the challenges it currently faces.

At the same meeting, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also described Afghanistan’s stability as important. However, during his remarks, he reiterated Pakistan’s longstanding allegations regarding Afghanistan.

Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, said: “Pakistan has always wanted, and continues to want, a peaceful, stable, prosperous, and regionally integrated Afghanistan—one that is at peace with itself and with its neighbors. This is in the interest of all SCO member states and beyond. At present, the terrorist threat emanating from Afghanistan remains one of our most serious security challenges.”

The remarks came as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan once again had no representative at the SCO foreign ministers’ meeting.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization has 10 full members: China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus. Afghanistan holds observer status in the organization.

Federal agency seeks to interview Afghan immigrants, alarming refugee groups

July 24, 2026 Current News Articles

By Ted Hesson

The Washington Post

July 24, 2026

A federal refugee resettlement office is quietly launching an effort to interview hundreds of Afghan immigrants living in the United States, raising alarms among refugee groups who worry the information they collect could be used for future immigration enforcement.

An internal email sent to staff in the Office of Refugee Resettlement on July 14 and reviewed by The Washington Post called for volunteers to conduct outreach calls to 800 Afghans who were brought to the U.S. in recent years and “may be in vulnerable situations.”

A questionnaire for the effort — called the Refugee Outreach and Wellbeing Initiative — shows the agency will gather detailed information about household members, including their names, jobs, languages spoken and immigration status.

Some refugee groups expressed concern at the idea because the Trump administration has taken steps to strip Afghans in the U.S. of legal status as part of the president’s broader immigration crackdown, a dramatic reversal of President Joe Biden’s welcome of more than 88,000 Afghans fleeing the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.

“This is one of the most vulnerable groups, with nearly every pathway closed to them and dwindling hope for reuniting with their families,” Beth Oppenheim, CEO of the refugee resettlement group HIAS, said in a statement. “The idea of collecting data on this population is something that could erode trust, particularly in a moment that feels precarious for so many.”

The questionnaire says the information collected will be used to “identify common challenges” and assess whether additional resources or support may be needed. The email said the push would run through Aug. 7, with calls expected to take 30 minutes each.

ORR, which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services, did not respond to a request for comment, nor did the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Nearly five years have passed since Biden’s chaotic exit from the two-decade conflict in Afghanistan and scramble to evacuate Afghans who aided the U.S. military during that time.

Shawn VanDiver, a Navy veteran who founded the group #AfghanEvac to aid Afghan resettlement, said he was concerned about the intent given the Trump administration’s past moves to block Afghans from legal status. VanDiver said he was told by a U.S. official there were worries by some within the federal government that the data collection could be used for future deportations.

“If the federal government wants to check on the well-being of Afghan families, it can do that without turning the process into a backdoor deportation operation,” he said.

ORR officials discussed the plan with refugee resettlement organizations in late May, according to two people familiar with the meeting, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to share details of the conversation. The officials said the effort would target people without permanent status.

Angie Salazar, the acting director of ORR, is a former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement official. She faced criticism from Democrats last year over her role in an effort to quickly deport unaccompanied children to Guatemala over a holiday weekend, a furtive operation that was blocked by a federal judge.

The questionnaire to be read to Afghan immigrants over the phone includes a consent notice that emphasizes the survey is not anonymous and that information may be retained for 15 years.

“There are minimal risks to participating in this survey. Some questions ask about challenges or difficult experiences, which may feel uncomfortable,” it reads. “You may skip any question you prefer not to answer.”

A section of the questionnaire titled “Assimilation and Integration” asks Afghans how well they feel they have adjusted to life in the United States, ranging from “very well” to “very poorly.”

In addition to asking for the immigration status of each household member, it requests the government-issued “alien number” for anyone in the household who may need additional support or be eligible for government benefits.

President Donald Trump suspended the issuance of all immigrant and nonimmigrant visas from Afghanistan as part of a broader travel ban in 2025.

A month later, his administration ended temporary protected status for some 12,000 Afghans who had been granted permission to live and work in the U.S. legally. In the termination notice, then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem said security and economic conditions had improved in Afghanistan enough to allow them to safely return.

The U.S. State Department currently advises U.S. citizens not to travel to Afghanistan due to the risk of civil unrest, terrorism, crime and kidnapping.

After an Afghan immigrant was accused of shooting two National Guard members blocks away from the White House in November, killing one and badly injuring another, the administration halted the processing of any pending Afghan immigration applications.

ORR first conducted outreach as part of its well-being initiatives in March, attempting to contact 1,800 White South Africans brought to the U.S. through the refugee resettlement program, a U.S. official said on condition of anonymity to share internal figures. But White South Africans entering as refugees — a priority group for Trump — have access to permanent residence and would not face the same risk of deportation.

Top German court says Afghan resettlement pledges cannot be revoked en masse

July 24, 2026 Current News Articles

By Miranda Murray and Markus Wacket

Reuters

July 24, 2026

BERLIN, July 24 (Reuters) – Germany’s top court ruled on Friday that the government could not simply cancel an entire swathe of resettlement places promised to Afghans, and that each case must be considered individually.

The Constitutional Court backed a complaint by an Afghan mother and her two sons who had been selected in 2021 for admission to Germany under a “human rights list” set up by the previous government after the ⁠Taliban returned to power.

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The decision by the current interior ministry to end the scheme in December 2025, voiding about 640 such promises without examining the individual cases, breached a constitutional ban on arbitrary state action, it said.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government imposed tougher controls when it took power last year, as support for the anti-immigration AfD party surged in the wake of former Chancellor Angela Merkel’s decision to admit around 1 million asylum seekers from countries including Syria and Afghanistan.

The admission programmes have been politically contentious, with security officials repeatedly raising concerns that some applicants’ identities could not be conclusively verified or that false information had been provided.

Human rights groups, meanwhile, have accused the ministry of ‌trying ⁠to undermine admissions for vulnerable Afghans.

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The government retains broad discretion over whether to admit foreigners under Germany’s residence law and may still decide not to admit the complainants, the court said.

However, it said any reversal of a previous commitment must take account of the individuals’ circumstances.

The ruling sends the case back to Berlin’s higher administrative court for reconsideration.

The interior ministry ⁠is now awaiting that court’s decision, a spokesperson said.

The Afghan woman and her family are currently staying in Pakistan, where they have been receiving support funded by Germany.

The court ruled that Berlin must continue supporting them in Pakistan until visas are issued ⁠or the ministry makes a new decision that is compliant with the constitution.

Germany’s Society for Civil Rights, which developed the model constitutional complaint on which the woman’s case was based, welcomed the ruling.

“This is good news for ⁠fundamental rights, but it is not enough,” lawyer Mareile Dedekind said in a statement.

“Germany must finally bring those seeking protection to safety from torture and death.”

The rights group said that around 30 similar cases were still pending before the Constitutional Court.

Reporting by Kirsti Knolle, Markus Wacket and Miranda Murray; Editing by Alison Williams

UNAMA Warns of Rising Censorship and Attacks on Journalists

July 21, 2026 Current News Articles

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

July 21, 2026

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said journalism is facing unprecedented pressure.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has warned that press freedom and independent journalism are facing growing global pressure from censorship, attacks on journalists, AI-generated misinformation and declining support for independent media.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Monday highlighted growing threats to journalism worldwide, citing a UNESCO-supported report on the challenges facing independent media and the importance of free journalism.

In a post on Facebook, UNAMA said the report examines the role of independent journalism in providing reliable information, promoting transparency, combating corruption and helping societies respond to crises.

The UN mission posed the question, “If free journalism is weakened, what will we lose?”, warning that the erosion of independent media could undermine the public interest and limit people’s access to accurate and reliable information.

The warning comes as journalists and independent media outlets in Afghanistan continue to face significant restrictions and pressure following the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021.

Media rights organisations have documented restrictions on journalists, limited access to information and growing challenges for independent media outlets. Economic pressures, reduced media funding and the departure of journalists from the country have also weakened Afghanistan’s media sector.

Journalists in Afghanistan have faced restrictions on reporting, while media organisations have repeatedly raised concerns about censorship and limited access to official information.

UNAMA’s warning also comes amid wider global concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on journalism. The rapid spread of AI-generated misinformation and disinformation has raised concerns about public trust in news, while declining financial support for independent media has placed additional pressure on news organisations.

The UNESCO-supported report cited by UNAMA highlights the broader importance of independent journalism in ensuring that citizens can access trustworthy information and hold institutions accountable.

RIGHTS GROUP WELCOMES RULING

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