U.S. Federal Court Rules in Favor of Afghan Refugee Families

August 3, 2026
Ebadullah Ebadi
Journalist (Web Editor)
3 August 2026

The report noted that the families of these Afghan nationals had already been approved to enter the United States.

A U.S. federal court has ruled that travel restrictions imposed by the White House cannot prevent the families of Afghan refugees who supported U.S. forces in Afghanistan from reuniting with them in the United States.

The U.S. newspaper Stars and Stripes reported that a federal district judge has given the U.S. State Department 15 days to respond to a lawsuit filed by seven Afghan nationals.

According to Stars and Stripes: “U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga’s decision Wednesday gave the State Department 15 days to issue travel documents to the families of five of the seven refugee plaintiffs.”

The report noted that the families of these Afghan nationals had already been approved to enter the United States.

Under the court’s ruling, the U.S. State Department has also been ordered to review the cases of other Afghan families seeking reunification.

“The agency must also reconsider travel eligibility for the other relatives waiting to reunite with loved ones, and it was ordered to disregard the ban in its reassessment,” Trenga said.

The court also ordered the U.S. State Department to submit progress reports every two weeks until the families arrive in the United States.

The U.S. State Department has not yet commented on the ruling or indicated whether it plans to appeal.

The lawsuit was filed in the state of Virginia in October last year. The defendants include the U.S. government, the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

U.S. Federal Court Rules in Favor of Afghan Refugee Families
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Islamic Emirate Calls for Expanded UN Engagement, Representation

August 3, 2026
Bibi Amina Hakimi
TOLOnews’ Reporter
3 August 2026

Experts emphasize that resolving the issue of Afghanistan’s representation at the United Nations depends on decisions by UN member states.

Zakir Jalali, the Second Political Director at Islamic Emirate’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, says engagement between Afghanistan and the United Nations is effective, but believes it should be expanded at all levels, including Afghanistan’s representation at the UN.

In an interview with TOLOnews, Jalali said that the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in Kabul enjoys all the privileges required for the diplomatic mission of an international organization. However, he noted that Afghanistan’s current government still has no official representative at the United Nations.

“The person currently occupying Afghanistan’s seat at the United Nations is not even a representative of the previous government,” Jalali said. “Therefore, our position is that UNAMA should consider this issue responsibly and, after nearly five years, expand and deepen its engagement with the Afghan government, just as UNAMA has maintained engagement with the government in Kabul and previously through the Doha process.”

Some analysts believe that continued engagement between Kabul and the United Nations could pave the way for expanding Afghanistan’s diplomatic relations with the international community.

“It is very important for Afghanistan to have its place at the United Nations and a permanent representative,” said political analyst Khalil Ahmad Nadim. “The United Nations should help create conditions for countries around the world to engage with Afghanistan and ultimately recognize it.”

Experts emphasize that resolving the issue of Afghanistan’s representation at the United Nations depends on decisions by UN member states and the organization’s formal procedures.

“Representation at the United Nations is achieved through the lawful accreditation of member states’ seats, based on specific legal and political criteria and after meeting the relevant requirements regarding the legitimate representation of governments,” said Sharif Ghalib, former policy adviser at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Afghanistan’s former representative to the United Nations. “It is the primary gateway through which countries connect with the international system and its institutions.”

Recently, UN Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Rabab Fatima, a Bangladeshi diplomat, as his Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA.

The question now is whether the new head of UNAMA will be able to play an effective role in expanding engagement between Kabul and the United Nations and advancing the issue of Afghanistan’s representation at the organization.

Islamic Emirate Calls for Expanded UN Engagement, Representation
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Delawar: Islamic Emirate Honored Doha Commitments

August 1, 2026
Bibi Amina Hakimi
TOLOnews’ Reporter
1 August 2026
Delawar said that one of the main points of disagreement during the implementation of the Doha Agreement.
Shahabuddin Delawar, head of the Commission for Contact with Afghan Personalities, president of the Afghan Red Crescent Society, and a member of the Islamic Emirate’s negotiating team for the Doha Agreement, told TOLOnews that the Islamic Emirate has fulfilled its commitments under the agreement, particularly regarding maintaining security and preventing Afghan territory from being used against other countries.

Delawar said that one of the main points of disagreement during the implementation of the Doha Agreement was the timeline for the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan.

“We were committed to ensuring nationwide security in Afghanistan, and we were committed to ensuring that no country would be harmed from Afghan territory. Afghanistan has never wanted to interfere in the internal affairs of any other country, and the Islamic Emirate has honored all of its commitments. The US initially said it would withdraw within 14 months, but that period was extended to 18 months,” Delawar said.

Analysts say that while the Islamic Emirate insists it has fully implemented its commitments, the United States continues to assess those commitments in light of developments related to security, human rights, and Afghanistan’s domestic policies.

Former Afghan ambassador to France Omar Samad said: “It is very difficult to determine who is to blame. Under the current circumstances, this issue cannot be resolved without launching a process of dialogue to determine exactly who violated the agreement, in what way, and under what conditions.”

Political analyst Sayed Ebadullah Sadiq said: “The United States and Western countries criticize Afghanistan or the Islamic Emirate on issues such as human rights, saying they have not been ensured, while security has been maintained in the country.”

The Doha Agreement was signed on February 29, 2020 (10 Hoot 1398) in Doha, the capital of Qatar, between the United States and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

The agreement was signed on behalf of the United States by Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, and on behalf of the Islamic Emirate by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs. Representatives of Qatar and several other countries also attended the signing ceremony.

Delawar: Islamic Emirate Honored Doha Commitments
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China, Türkiye Discuss Afghanistan, Stress Regional Cooperation

August 1, 2026
Bibi Amina Hakimi
TOLOnews’ Reporter
1 August 2026

Islamic Emirate spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told TOLOnews that consultations among influential regional countries on Afghanistan are important.

Afghanistan has once again become a key topic in regional diplomatic discussions. China’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Yue Xiaoyong, met with Cihad Erginay, Director General for South Asia at Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, the country’s peaceful reconstruction, and ways to strengthen regional security and stability.

Political analyst Faiaz Safi said the talks could be significant, noting that both China and Türkiye have played active roles in Afghanistan-related initiatives, including the Doha process, regional meetings with neighboring countries, and international conferences. “Both countries are in a position to influence the international community and regional states regarding Afghanistan,” he said.

Meanwhile, Islamic Emirate spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told TOLOnews that consultations among influential regional countries on Afghanistan are important and reiterated Kabul’s desire for positive relations with all countries in the region.

“Regional discussions, particularly among powerful countries with strong economies and greater capabilities, are important for Afghanistan. Afghanistan enjoys security and stability, and maintaining this security and stability requires regional support. The region should politically support and preserve this stability, as it contributes to regional growth and cohesion. Afghanistan seeks good relations with all countries in the region,” Mujahid said.

At the same time, a number of international relations experts believe that increasing consultations among China, Türkiye, and other regional countries on Afghanistan could strengthen the country’s position in regional affairs.

Najib-ur-Rahman Shamal, an expert on international relations, said: “Consultations among officials from China, Türkiye, and other Eurasian countries regarding peace, stability, and security in Afghanistan can further enhance Afghanistan’s geopolitical importance and regional standing.”

Over the past five years, China and Türkiye have been among the countries that have maintained diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan. Beijing has also repeatedly stressed at the United Nations Security Council its support for Afghanistan and the importance of ensuring peace and stability in the country.

China, Türkiye Discuss Afghanistan, Stress Regional Cooperation
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Afghanistan Shifts Trade Routes Toward Iran, Central Asia Amid Pakistan Disruptions: World Bank

August 1, 2026
Khaama Press
World Bank on glass building. Mirrored sky and city modern facade. Global capital, business, finance, economy, banking and money concept 3D rendering illustration.

The World Bank says disruptions affecting Afghanistan’s trade routes through Pakistan have pushed Afghan businesses to rely more heavily on alternative transit corridors through Iran and Central Asia, while warning that economic pressures on households remain severe.

In its latest report, the World Bank said changes in Afghanistan’s trade patterns have increased the importance of northern and western routes, with Iran and Central Asian countries playing a growing role in the movement of imported goods.

The report noted that Pakistan’s role as a traditional trade gateway for Afghanistan has declined as businesses seek alternative routes following repeated border disruptions, trade restrictions and tensions between Kabul and Islamabad.

For decades, Pakistan served as one of Afghanistan’s main commercial links, providing access to ports, regional markets and international trade networks. However, recent challenges affecting Afghanistan-Pakistan trade have encouraged importers and traders to diversify supply routes through neighbouring countries.

The World Bank said the shift highlights Afghanistan’s increasing reliance on multiple trade corridors to maintain access to essential goods. It added that improved regional connectivity and predictable transit arrangements would be important for supporting long-term economic stability.

Despite some signs of economic stabilization, the World Bank warned that Afghanistan’s recovery remains fragile. The institution said economic growth has not kept pace with population growth, particularly after the return of large numbers of Afghan migrants from neighbouring countries.

The report also highlighted declining real per capita income compared with previous years, saying reduced household purchasing power has contributed to continued economic hardship for many Afghans.

The World Bank said limited employment opportunities, rising population needs and weak economic conditions remain major barriers to sustainable recovery. It stressed that stronger trade links, regional cooperation and economic reforms will be necessary to improve Afghanistan’s long-term prospects.

Afghanistan Shifts Trade Routes Toward Iran, Central Asia Amid Pakistan Disruptions: World Bank
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Spate Of Attacks In Northern Afghanistan Pose Test For Taliban

August 1, 2026

By Daud Khattak and Mustafa Sarwar

Raio Fee Europe/Radio Liberty

During the 1990s, Afghanistan’s vast and mountainous province of Badakhshan was a bastion of resistance to the rule of the Taliban.

Now, the resource-rich region is again becoming a thorn on the side of the Islamist militant group, which regained power in the war-torn country almost five years ago.

Bordering Tajikistan, China, and Pakistan, Badakhshan has witnessed a spate of attacks in recent weeks. Experts say anti-Taliban armed groups are feeding off ethnic tensions, disputes over control of resources, and local grievances against the Taliban.

“The attacks could develop into a serious and persistent problem in Badakhshan, but they do not yet threaten Taliban rule nationally or point to the imminent loss of the province,” said Ted Callahan, a former adviser to the US military in Badakhshan.

‘Checkpoints Everywhere’

In the latest attack to hit the province, a local Taliban official was gunned down on July 28. Zabihullah Amiri, head of the provincial information and culture department, was killed by two men on motorbikes on a major road in Badakhshan, the Taliban said.

Zabihullah Amiri
Zabihullah Amiri

The attack was claimed by the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) extremist group, which has posed the biggest threat to Taliban rule since 2021.

On July 17, a new opposition group, Sipahiyan-e Mihan (Soldiers of the Homeland Front) briefly seized control of the Yaftal-e Payeen district in Badakhshan. The group is believed to be led by Qayum Malang, an officer in the former Afghan Army.

Two other opposition groups, the National Resistance Front (NRF) and the Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF), have also claimed attacks in the province’s districts of Yaftal-e Payeen, Zebak, and Darayem in recent months.

In response, the Taliban has imposed new security measures and made arrests, locals said.

“Since the recent events here, severe restrictions have been imposed on the people,” a resident of Yaftal-e Payeen, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, told RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi.

“Here in Yaftal, a large number of Pashto-speaking brothers have also arrived, and they have transferred several longtime local [Taliban] to other areas.”

A mostly Pashtun militant group dominated by clerics, the Taliban seized power in Kabul in August 2021 after previously ruling most of Afghanistan from 1996 until December 2001, when its regime collapsed following the US-led invasion. Since returning to power, it has monopolized authority and sidelined many of the country’s ethnic and religious groups as well as political factions.

Badakhshan is made up predominately of ethnic Tajiks. Many Taliban commanders in Badakhshan are ethnic Tajiks, although that appears to be changing.

“There are checkpoints and searches everywhere,” said the resident of Yaftal-e Payeen district. “The Taliban inspect people’s phones. There are night patrols. They come and search people’s homes without giving a reason.”

Disputes Over Resources

Badakhshan is rich in natural resources, including gold, silver, and semiprecious stones.

The extraction of those minerals has intensified in recent years, and the Taliban’s cash-strapped and unrecognized government has sought to centralize control over mining revenues. The move has fueled local resentment and infighting among Taliban commanders.

The Taliban’s decision in 2022 to ban the production of opium — a lifeline for impoverished farmers in much of the country — has also triggered anger.

Taliban Enforces ‘Proper Hijab’ With Detentions And Beatings Of Women

In 2024, protests broke out in Badakhshan over the Taliban’s forceful enforcement of its ban on illicit drugs. The hard-line group violently clamped down on the rallies, shooting and killing several protesters and rounding up dozens of locals.

Since returning to power, the Taliban has also increasingly marginalized Afghanistan’s Shi’ite religious minority, which makes up around 15 percent of the population. Badakhshan is home to a sizeable Ismaili Shi’a community.

“Poppy eradication campaigns, disputes over control of gold and lapis lazuli mines, restrictions over Ismaili communities and the Taliban’s own differences — Pashtun versus Tajik — have created deep resentment among people and the opposition groups have cashed the opportunity,” said Callahan.

‘Continuing Insurgency’

Several small armed groups have waged a low-level insurgency against the Taliban, carrying out sporadic hit-and-run attacks and the assassination of Taliban officials.

Experts say the groups have not yet shown that they can recruit on a large scale, maintain dependable supply lines, unify their various fronts, or govern territory after capturing it. The Taliban, experts say, has advantages in personnel, transport, intelligence, and heavy weapons.

“The likeliest outcome is therefore a contained but continuing insurgency,” said Callahan.

Sami Yousafzai, a London-based Afghan analyst, said the “anti-Taliban groups don’t have the power to seize and hold areas.” But he said the spike in attacks in Badakhshan have succeeded in denting the Taliban’s “image of invincibility.”

Daud Khattak is a senior international correspondent covering the Near East in RFE/RL’s Central Newsroom. He was previously the managing editor of RFE/RL’s Radio Mashaal.

Mustafa Sarwar is a senior news editor for RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi, one of the most popular and trusted media outlets in Afghanistan. Nearly half of the country’s adult audience accesses Azadi’s reporting on a weekly basis.

Spate Of Attacks In Northern Afghanistan Pose Test For Taliban
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Amnesty Urges EU to Halt Forced Returns and Deportations to Afghanistan

July 31, 2026
Khaama Press

Amnesty International has urged the European Union and its member states to halt efforts to forcibly return Afghan nationals to Afghanistan, warning that the country cannot currently be considered safe for forced returns.

In an open letter to EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner and interior ministers of EU member states, Amnesty said cooperation with Taliban authorities on the readmission of Afghans could conflict with European governments’ obligations under international refugee and human rights law, particularly the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning people to places where they face a real risk of serious harm.

Amnesty said it was particularly concerned about efforts by EU governments to establish technical arrangements with the Taliban for returning Afghans, including people with criminal convictions or those considered security risks.

The organisation said Afghanistan was not considered a safe destination for forced returns even before the Taliban seized power in 2021 and that conditions have since deteriorated. It cited restrictions on fundamental rights, arbitrary detention, torture and mistreatment, limits on freedom of expression and serious restrictions affecting women, girls and ethnic and religious minorities.

The rights group also pointed to Afghanistan’s continuing humanitarian crisis, including poverty, drought, natural disasters and reduced humanitarian assistance. It said Afghans returning from Iran and Pakistan can face severe difficulties finding shelter, employment, healthcare and other basic services, increasing the risks associated with forced returns.

Amnesty’s intervention follows a June 23 visit by a Taliban delegation to Brussels for discussions with European Commission officials on the return and readmission of Afghan nationals. The talks took place amid pressure from some EU governments to increase the number of rejected asylum seekers being returned.

The organisation warned that establishing formal readmission cooperation initially focused on people convicted of crimes or considered security threats could eventually create mechanisms for the return of other Afghans whose protection claims remain unresolved.

Amnesty called on EU governments to stop efforts to restart forced deportations and readmission cooperation with the Taliban and to ensure that every protection decision takes into account Afghanistan’s current human rights, security and humanitarian conditions.

It also urged European governments to ensure that engagement with the Taliban remains focused on protecting human rights and people at risk rather than facilitating deportations.

The debate comes as European governments face domestic pressure to increase the number of rejected asylum seekers returned to their countries of origin. Amnesty said such political pressure must not override states’ legal obligations to prevent the return of people who could face persecution or serious harm in Afghanistan.

Amnesty Urges EU to Halt Forced Returns and Deportations to Afghanistan
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Pakistan To Extend Stay for 16,000 Afghan Women, Children and Elderly on Humanitarian Grounds

July 31, 2026
Khaama Press

Pakistan will extend the stay of about 16,000 Afghan women, children and elderly people on humanitarian grounds, while authorities continue reviewing the status of tens of thousands of other Afghans whose legal residency documents are not currently valid.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the extension was approved to address humanitarian concerns and protect vulnerable groups. Pakistani officials have previously said that more than 16,000 Afghans had been identified for temporary exemption from repatriation following screening and due diligence.

At the same time, authorities are reviewing the cases of about 89,000 Afghan nationals who do not currently have valid legal residency documents. Andrabi said decisions on their cases would be taken after the relevant procedures are completed.

The decision comes as Pakistan continues its campaign to return Afghan nationals who lack valid legal status. Islamabad has said foreign nationals without valid travel or residency documents remain liable for repatriation, while stressing that humanitarian considerations can be taken into account in vulnerable cases.

The policy has drawn concern from humanitarian organisations, particularly over its impact on access to healthcare. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has reported that the threat of arrest and deportation has created a climate of fear among Afghan refugees in Pakistan, with some delaying or skipping medical appointments because they fear being detained.

MSF has called on Pakistan to ensure that Afghan refugees can travel safely to healthcare facilities and receive treatment without facing arrest or deportation. The organisation has warned that the pressure surrounding the repatriation campaign is worsening the humanitarian and health conditions of vulnerable Afghan families.

Pakistan’s latest decision provides temporary relief to a sizeable group of vulnerable Afghans, but it does not represent an end to the wider repatriation campaign. The future of tens of thousands of other Afghan nationals remains uncertain as their cases continue to be reviewed.

The issue has become a major humanitarian and diplomatic concern, with Pakistan balancing its immigration and security policies against calls from humanitarian organisations to protect vulnerable Afghans and ensure access to essential services.

Pakistan To Extend Stay for 16,000 Afghan Women, Children and Elderly on Humanitarian Grounds
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UNAMA Calls for Reopening Girls’ Schools and Universities in Afghanistan

July 31, 2026
Khaama Press

The United Nations has again called on the authorities to reopen secondary schools and universities to girls and ensure women and girls in Afghanistan can access education at all levels without restrictions.

Georgette Gagnon, the acting head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), made the call during a recent visit to Istalif, north of Kabul, where she visited a girls’ primary school equipped with computers through a UN Development Programme-supported initiative.

Gagnon highlighted the importance of girls having access to information and communications technology and urged the Taliban authorities to remove restrictions preventing girls from continuing their education beyond primary school.

Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where secondary and higher education is formally prohibited for girls and women. UNESCO and UNICEF said in January that about 2.2 million adolescent girls were excluded from secondary school as a result of the restrictions.

The wider education crisis is even larger. In a June 2026 briefing to the UN Security Council, Gagnon said an estimated 3.8 million girls aged 7 to 18 were out of school, including more than 2.6 million adolescent girls. She said about 250,000 additional girls are permanently excluded from secondary education each year.

The prolonged restrictions have consequences beyond access to classrooms. UNESCO and UNICEF have warned that excluding girls from education is weakening Afghanistan’s future workforce and contributing to shortages in professions and essential public services.

UNESCO has also warned that Afghanistan’s education crisis extends beyond the ban on girls’ secondary schooling. More than 2.13 million primary-school-age children were out of school in 2024, while learning outcomes remain extremely weak, with more than 90% of 10-year-olds unable to read a simple text, according to its 2025 education report.

The UN has repeatedly urged the Taliban authorities to lift restrictions on women and girls, arguing that education is a fundamental right and essential to Afghanistan’s social and economic development. Gagnon has also warned that the continued exclusion of women and girls carries long-term generational consequences for the country.

The latest appeal comes as international officials continue to warn that prolonged restrictions risk leaving Afghanistan without a generation of women equipped to enter skilled professions, weakening the country’s education, healthcare and wider economy.

UNAMA Calls for Reopening Girls’ Schools and Universities in Afghanistan
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US uses dormant court to seek deportation of Afghan woman accused of aiding terror plot

July 31, 2026
By  ERIC TUCKER and MICHAEL KUNZELMAN
Associated Press
July 29, 2026

WASHINGTON (AP) — An Afghan woman accused of supporting an Islamic State-inspired plot in the U.S. is the first person facing deportation through the Trump administration’s use of an obscure court that remained dormant for 30 years, according to court records filed Wednesday.

The Alien Terrorist Removal Court is scheduled to hold a hearing on Thursday in Washington, D.C., for the government’s petition to deport Nazira Haji Zada, of Fort Worth, Texas. Nazira was arrested earlier this week.

An FBI memo dated July 15 said it “developed information” that Nazira is an Islamic State supporter who had her children pledge their loyalty to the terrorist group. Nazira “supported” a plot by relatives to carry out an ISIS-inspired attack in the U.S., the memo says.

Court filings identify Nazira as the mother and mother-in-law of two Afghan men who were convicted in Oklahoma for their roles in the 2024 Election Day plot. Her son, Abdullah Haji Zada, was sentenced last November to 15 years in prison and court records show he previously agreed to be removed from the U.S. after he is released from prison.

Her son-in-law, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, previously worked as a security guard for an American military installation in Afghanistan. He pleaded guilty to conspiring and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State group, and prosecutors have said he took steps to advance his attack plans by ordering AK-47 rifles, liquidating his family’s assets and buying one-way tickets for his wife and child to travel home to Afghanistan.

The Alien Terrorist Removal Court was established in 1996 but had never received a petition until this month, when the Justice Department filed an application seeking Nazira’s removal. Documents in support of that application were unsealed Wednesday night ahead of a scheduled hearing Thursday.

The long-dormant court has a specific authority to conduct deportation proceedings for individuals whom the Justice Department classifies as “alien terrorists.”

The court is comprised of five federal judges from different districts across the country who are appointed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court, with all proceedings, at least for now, taking place at the federal courthouse in Washington.

“Congress created the Alien Terrorist Removal Court three decades ago to remove from the United States alien terrorists who never should have been here in the first place,” acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement.

“The allegations in this case show the matriarch of an ISIS-sympathizing family aiding in a plot to launch a mass casualty attack on American voters on Election Day. The Department’s application in this court makes clear that terrorists have no place in the United States of America,” Blanche added.

 

US uses dormant court to seek deportation of Afghan woman accused of aiding terror plot
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