Survivor of US Airstrike in Wardak Demands Justice, Compensation

April 21, 2025
Farid Ahmad Atiqi
Tolo News
20 April 2025

According to him, he has clear evidence and documentation of the injustice done to him and is demanding compensation from the US government.

The only surviving member of a family that was killed in a US airstrike in Jaghatu district of Maidan Wardak is seeking justice.

Masihur Rahman said that on September 22, 2018, a US airstrike killed twelve members of his family, including women and children.

Speaking to TOLOnews, Masihur Rahman said: “My wife, four daughters, three sons, and four cousins (two daughters of one uncle and two daughters of another) were sitting with my children here when they were all victims of this tragic incident.”

According to him, he has clear evidence and documentation of the injustice done to him and is demanding compensation from the US government.

Masihur Rahman said: “An impartial investigation should be conducted into why my house was targeted and bombed. We especially urge the US government, which has committed a grave injustice against us, to urgently compensate me and all other citizens who have suffered similarly.”

Relatives of the victims described the scene of the airstrike based on what they witnessed.

Rahimullah, a relative of the deceased family, said: “The house was completely destroyed; nothing remained. His children and my cousins were all buried under the rubble. We retrieved them from under the debris.”

“When we arrived, the situation was very bad. The walls were all destroyed. The bomb had been dropped in such a way that the entire garden was filled with debris. The whole village was covered in dust. It was a tragic day—we made an announcement, people gathered, we pulled the martyrs out from under the debris and then laid them to rest,” said Rahmatullah, another relative.

During the 20-year military presence of foreign forces in Afghanistan, families of civilian victims of numerous tragic incidents are still awaiting justice. However, no decisive actions have been taken by the US or other countries in this regard.

Survivor of US Airstrike in Wardak Demands Justice, Compensation
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Russia Accuses West of Fueling Instability in Afghanistan

April 19, 2025
TOLOnews
TV Network
19 April 2025

These remarks come just a day after Russia’s special envoy for Afghanistan expressed Moscow’s interest in formal engagement with Kabul.

Sergey Naryshkin, director of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Russia, says Western countries, in pursuit of their geopolitical goals, are supporting opposition groups in Afghanistan to create instability in the country.

Speaking at a conference in Baku, Naryshkin described Afghanistan’s geopolitical position as significant and emphasized that the West is deliberately trying to keep the country in a state of chaos.

He stated: “Western intelligence agencies are actively seeking ways to support anti-government forces in Afghanistan. The West’s desire to maintain instability in the country is part of its broader geopolitical strategy. Countering this interference will pave the way for Afghanistan’s recovery.”

Wais Naseri, a political analyst, commented: “The removal or suspension of the Taliban’s name from Russia’s terrorist list doesn’t mean it has been permanently cleared. It’s a temporary and experimental move.”

These remarks come just a day after Russia’s special envoy for Afghanistan expressed Moscow’s interest in formal engagement with Kabul.

Mohammad Aslam Danishmal, another political analyst, said: “Russia wants to pursue a constructive policy with Afghanistan’s interim government.”

Janat Faheem Chakari, political affairs expert, said: “The removal of Islamic Emirate members from US blacklists and the temporary delisting of Taliban leaders by Russia’s Supreme Court can be viewed as a constructive, meaningful, and positive geopolitical rivalry.”

Russia, a key regional power, has previously voiced support for sustainable engagement with Afghanistan’s interim government and recently removed legal barriers to formal interaction.

Russia Accuses West of Fueling Instability in Afghanistan
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Pakistan: No Extension for Illegal Afghan Migrants

April 19, 2025
Shabnam Amini
Tolo News
19 April 2025

Talal Chaudhry stated at a press conference that since the beginning of April, more than 84,000 Afghan migrants have been deported from Pakistan.

Pakistan intensifies the deportation of Afghan migrants, the country’s minister of state for interior announced that no further deadlines will be granted for illegal migrants—especially Afghans—to leave the country.

Talal Chaudhry stated at a press conference that since the beginning of April, more than 84,000 Afghan migrants have been deported from Pakistan.

He said: “From now on, no more deadlines will be given, and the current deadline will not be extended. No illegal migrant—Afghan or from any other country—will be allowed to rent or lease property, stay in hotels, or make any form of investment, whether movable or immovable.”

Meanwhile, Nooruddin Azizi, acting minister of industry and commerce of Afghanistan, stated that in his meeting with Pakistani officials, emphasis was placed on addressing the challenges facing Afghan migrants, including the transfer of personal property, protection of investments, legal matters, and ownership rights.

Azizi said: “Our compatriots returning from Pakistan should do so through an organized process, not forced deportation. The fact that their properties, assets, shops, and factories remain in Pakistan is painful for our nation and for the migrants themselves.”

Issues such as arrests, mistreatment, and forced deportations of Afghan migrants by the Pakistani government persist.

Malik Shinwari, an Afghan migrant in Pakistan, said: “Afghan migrants are leaving various parts of Pakistan for their homeland, but all of their assets and lands are left behind.”

Save the Children has reported that in just the first 16 days of April, nearly 50,000 Afghan children have crossed back into Afghanistan from Pakistan.

Pakistan: No Extension for Illegal Afghan Migrants
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US weapons left in Afghanistan sold to militant groups, sources tell BBC

April 18, 2025
Yasin Rasouli & Zia Shahreyar
BBC Afghan Languages
18 April 2025
US military equipment and vehicles, including abandoned Humvees, fell into the hands of the Taliban in 2021

Half a million weapons obtained by the Taliban in Afghanistan have been lost, sold or smuggled to militant groups, sources have told the BBC – with the UN believing that some have fallen into the hands of al-Qaeda affiliates.

The Taliban took control of around one million weapons and pieces of military equipment – which had mostly been funded by the US – when it regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, according to a former Afghan official who spoke to the BBC anonymously.

As the Taliban advanced through Afghanistan in 2021, many Afghan soldiers surrendered or fled, abandoning their weapons and vehicles. Some equipment was simply left behind by US forces.

The cache included American-made firearms, such as M4 and M16 rifles, as well as other older weapons in Afghan possession that had been left behind from decades of conflict.

Sources have told the BBC that, at the closed-door UN Security Council’s Sanctions Committee in Doha late last year, the Taliban admitted that at least half of this equipment is now “unaccounted” for.

A person from the committee said they had verified with other sources that the whereabouts of half a million items was unknown.

In a report in February, the UN stated that al-Qaeda affiliates, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, and Yemen’s Ansarullah movement, were accessing Taliban-captured weapons or buying them on the black market.

The BBC put this to Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson for the Taliban government, who told the BBC it took the protection and storage of weapons very seriously.

“All light and heavy weapons are securely stored. We strongly reject claims of smuggling or loss,” he said.

A 2023 UN report said the Taliban allowed local commanders to retain 20% of seized US weapons, and that the black market was thriving as a result. These commanders are affiliated to the Taliban but often have a degree of autonomy in their regions.

The UN noted that the “gifting of weapons is widely practiced between local commanders and fighters to consolidate power. The black market remains a rich source of weaponry for the Taliban”.

A former journalist in the city of Kandahar told the BBC that an open arms market existed there for a year after the Taliban takeover, but has since gone underground via the messaging service WhatsApp. On it, wealthy individuals and local commanders trade new and used US weapons and equipment – mostly the weapons left by US-backed forces.

The number of weapons recorded by the US body tasked with overseeing Afghan reconstruction projects, known as Sigar, is lower than those cited by our sources, but in a 2022 report it acknowledged it was unable to get accurate information.

The reason given for this was that equipment has been funded and supplied by various US departments and organisations over the years.

Sigar added that there had been “shortfalls and issues with DoD’s [Department of Defense] processes for tracking equipment in Afghanistan” for more than a decade.

It also criticised the State Department, adding: “State provided us limited, inaccurate, and untimely information about the equipment and funds it left behind.” The department denied this was the case.

This is very much a political issue, and US President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that he will reclaim weapons from Afghanistan. He said that $85bn (£66bn) of advanced weaponry was left there.

“Afghanistan is one of the biggest sellers of military equipment in the world, you know why? They’re selling the equipment that we left,” Trump said during his first cabinet meeting of the new administration.

“I want to look into this. If we need to pay them, that’s fine, but we want our military equipment back.”

The president’s figure has been disputed, as money spent in Afghanistan also funded training and salaries. Also, Afghanistan did not feature in the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s top 25 largest exporters of major arms last year.

In response to Trump’s comments, Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s chief spokesperson, told Afghan state TV: “We seized these weapons from the previous administration and will use them to defend the country and counter any threats.”

The Taliban regularly parades US weapons, including at Bagram Airfield, which served as the main US-Nato base, and frame them as symbols of victory and legitimacy.

After withdrawing in 2021, the Pentagon claimed US equipment left in Afghanistan was disabled, but the Taliban have since built a capable military using US weapons and gained superiority over rival groups, such as the National Resistance Front and Islamic State Khorasan Province – the regional affiliate of the Islamic State group.

A source from the former Afghan government told the BBC that “hundreds” of unused Humvees, mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles (MRAPs), and Black Hawk helicopters remain in Kandahar warehouses.

The Taliban has showcased some of this captured equipment in propaganda videos, but their ability to operate and maintain advanced machinery, such as Black Hawk helicopters, is limited due to a lack of trained personnel and technical expertise. Much of this sophisticated equipment remains non-operational.

However, the Taliban have been able to utilise more straightforward equipment, like Humvees and small arms, in their operations.

While Donald Trump appears determined to reclaim US weapons from Afghanistan, the former head of Sigar, John Sopko, says such an attempt would be pointless.

At a recent event hosted by the Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies, he said that “the cost would exceed its actual value”.

Whether Trump will take any action remains to be seen, but, in the meantime, concerns about the spread of weapons in the region and access by militant groups remain unresolved.

US weapons left in Afghanistan sold to militant groups, sources tell BBC
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Pakistan confirms its expulsion of more than 80,000 Afghans since April 1

April 18, 2025
Al Jazeera
Published On 18 Apr 2025

Pakistan has confirmed to have repatriated more than 80,000 Afghan nationals since April 1, before an extended April 30 deadline for the country’s largest migrant group in an initiative labelled as “forced deportation” by Afghanistan.

Talal Chaudhry, Pakistan’s Interior Ministry adviser, told reporters in Islamabad on Friday that there would be no more extensions to the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan launched in late 2023 for more than three million Afghans.“We have communicated clear instructions to all provinces, if anyone gives a shop, house, or any kind of space to an illegal foreigner, they will be held accountable under the law,” he said.

Those lacking valid documents or holding Afghan Citizen Cards had initially been ordered to leave by March 31. That deadline was later extended by a month.

On Tuesday, the International Organization for Migration, a UN entity, said Pakistan has expelled nearly 60,000 Afghans since the start of April.

“With a new wave of large-scale returns now under way from Pakistan, needs on the ground are rising rapidly – both at the border and in areas of return that are struggling to absorb large numbers of returnees,” Mihyung Park, head of the IOM’s Afghanistan mission, said at t

On Saturday, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is due to visit Kabul, where he will head a delegation for high-level talks with the Taliban-led government.

“The talks will cover the entire gamut of the Pakistan-Afghan relationship, focusing on ways and means to deepen cooperation in all areas of mutual interests, including security, trade, connectivity, and people-to-people ties,” said a statement from Pakistan’s foreign office.Earlier this month, Akber Khan, who owns a restaurant in the northwest Pakistani city of Peshawar, told The Associated Press news agency: “I have been here for almost 50 years. I got married here, so did my children, and 10 of my family members are buried here. That’s why we have no desire to leave.”

At least a third of the Afghans Pakistan wants to expel this year live in the northwest province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“Afghans can never be completely repatriated, especially from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as they return using illegal channels or exploiting loopholes in the system despite fencing at the border,” said Abdullah Khan, managing director of the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, to Al Jazeera.

‘Security threat’

Islamabad has frequently linked Afghan refugees to rising security threats and criminal activity within its borders – allegations rejected by Kabul, which has described the campaign as forced deportation and politically motivated.

Most are being transported to the Torkham border crossing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the key route into eastern Afghanistan.

Human rights groups have criticised the repatriation drive, warning that mass expulsions risk endangering vulnerable people, particularly women and children, who may face insecurity or persecution upon return.

Despite these concerns, Pakistani officials maintain that the crackdown targets only those who remain in the country without legal authorisation, insisting the policy is a matter of national security.

Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies

Pakistan confirms its expulsion of more than 80,000 Afghans since April 1
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Afghanistan Journalists Center calls for release of detained Journalist Sayed Rashid Kashifi

April 18, 2025
Khaama Press

The Afghanistan Journalists Center has demanded the immediate release of journalist Sayed Rashid Kashifi, detained by intelligence forces in Kabul.

The Afghanistan Journalists Center has expressed deep concern over the arrest of freelance journalist Sayed Rashid Kashifi in Kabul and has called for his immediate release from Taliban custody.

According to a statement released on Thursday, April 17, the center reported that Kashifi was arrested three days ago by Taliban intelligence forces in Kabul, allegedly due to his cooperation with exiled media outlets.

The statement also revealed that Taliban intelligence had confiscated Kashifi’s mobile phone nearly a month prior to his arrest, indicating that he may have been under surveillance for some time.

The Afghanistan Journalists Center emphasized that at least nine journalists and media workers are currently detained by the Taliban, highlighting a continuing pattern of repression against media professionals.

Among those detained, six individuals have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from seven months to three years, raising alarms over due process and freedom of the press in the country.

Since their return to power, the Taliban have systematically cracked down on media freedom in Afghanistan—shutting down outlets, silencing dissenting voices, and subjecting journalists to arrests, intimidation, and even torture.

The ongoing suppression of journalists by the Taliban not only threatens the safety of individual reporters but also undermines the public’s access to truthful and timely information. International human rights groups and press freedom advocates continue to call for urgent action and accountability.

Afghanistan Journalists Center calls for release of detained Journalist Sayed Rashid Kashifi
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Brutal Deportation from Pakistan: Sabera’s Journey with her 13-day-old baby at Torkham

April 18, 2025
Khaama Press
Sabera, a young mother, was brutally deported from Pakistan with her 13-day-old baby, now stranded helplessly at Torkham border.
Standing in the dust and chaos of the Torkham border crossing, a young mother named Sabera clutches her 13-day-old baby tightly. Her face hidden behind a veil, Sabera has been waiting for four days with her children after being forcibly deported from Pakistan. Her story is one among hundreds of thousands, emblematic of the mass expulsion of Afghan nationals under Pakistan’s “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan.”

Sabera recounted how Pakistani authorities forced her family out without warning. “Because of these heartless people, I had to leave Pakistan with my newborn,” she said, referring to the police who evicted them from their home and sent them toward the border. Her husband, the family’s sole breadwinner, had made a living scavenging for recyclables—a meager but vital source of income.

That fragile livelihood was destroyed overnight. “My husband collected old items. Now we have nothing,” Sabera said, lamenting the fact that they were unable to bring even the little they had. Their belongings, and any sense of stability, were left behind in Pakistan. Now, the family faces extreme hardship with no financial means or shelter.

At the border, Sabera and her children share a cramped tent with three other families—16 people in total—under dire conditions. “I’m suffering from postpartum complications,” she said. Without access to proper medical care, her condition and that of her newborn are deteriorating. The overcrowded, unsanitary setting offers no relief for the vulnerable families gathered there.

Sabera’s children, all of whom are still very young, remain by her side in uncertainty. “I have nowhere to go,” she says with a voice heavy with fear and exhaustion. Though she dreams of returning to her native Baghlan province, the journey seems nearly impossible for a mother burdened with an infant and no resources.

Her situation reflects a broader humanitarian crisis. Between September 2023 and February 2025, more than 844,499 Afghans were expelled from Pakistan, with approximately 80% being women and children. Since April 1, 2025, over 44,900 people—the majority children—have returned through Torkham and Spin Boldak crossings. Most arrive with nothing but the clothes they wear, returning to a country where two-thirds of the population relies on humanitarian aid.

The UNFPA has reported that at least 17 women have given birth in border clinics since the second phase of deportations began—underscoring the acute medical needs on the ground. Aid agencies warn that without urgent funding, millions will lose access to health services. Child malnutrition and mortality could soar dramatically, given the scale of need and lack of infrastructure.

In response to the growing crisis, the humanitarian group Aseel launched the “2025 Afghan Returnee Emergency Campaign,” aiming to support families like Sabera’s. The initiative provides food, shelter, clothing, and medical aid to returnees stranded at border points and beyond. Aseel is calling for global support to sustain these life-saving efforts.

Additionally, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with UN Women, UNHCR, and other partners, is actively delivering humanitarian aid. This includes cash grants, hygiene kits, medical check-ups, food packages, and vaccinations for children—essential services to stabilize lives thrown into turmoil.

Sabera’s story is not an isolated tragedy—it is a mirror reflecting the suffering of hundreds of thousands. Her plea for help echoes the needs of many Afghan women and children cast into uncertainty by sudden deportation. Addressing this crisis requires sustained humanitarian support and international attention.

The situation at Torkham is a test of global solidarity. As organizations race to provide emergency relief, long-term solutions, including resettlement, rehabilitation, and economic support, must be prioritized to avoid an escalating humanitarian disaster.

Without concrete policy shifts and adequate funding, families like Sabera’s may face not just a loss of home, but a loss of hope. It is now the responsibility of the international community to respond with compassion, urgency, and resolve.

Brutal Deportation from Pakistan: Sabera’s Journey with her 13-day-old baby at Torkham
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Afghan Evac President: Afghan Refugees in US Given 7-Day Notice to Leave

April 18, 2025
Khaama Press

Afghan refugees in the U.S. have been given a seven-day notice to leave, according to the Afghan Evac president.

Shawn VanDiver, president of Afghan Evac—a U.S.-based organization supporting Afghan refugees—has stated that the U.S. government has given Afghan refugees with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) a seven-day deadline to leave the country.

According to VanDiver, a number of Afghan refugees in the United States have already received official notices from the government ordering them to depart.

He has urged Afghan refugees not to leave the country without first consulting with their legal counsel.

U.S. media reported on Thursday, April 17, that some Afghan refugees received an email from the Department of Homeland Security giving them a one-week deadline to leave the country. The email warned that failure to comply would lead to federal arrest.

This development follows earlier reports by U.S. media quoting Tricia McLaughlin, spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, who confirmed that the Trump administration has revoked Temporary Protected Status for 14,600 Afghan nationals in the United States.

According to these reports, the affected individuals now face the risk of deportation by May 2025.

McLaughlin stated that Kristi Noem, the new Secretary of Homeland Security, has determined that the current conditions in Afghanistan no longer meet the criteria for granting protected status.

The U.S. TPS program is intended for individuals from countries experiencing natural disasters, armed conflict, or extraordinary circumstances. Termination of this status could place thousands at risk of removal, despite ongoing instability in their home country.

Meanwhile, The Washington Post has reported that the order to deport Afghan migrants has been issued at an inappropriate time, criticizing the decision. The newspaper emphasizes that this policy comes when Afghanistan is still facing severe instability and humanitarian challenges.

The report further highlights that deporting Afghan migrants, many of whom have fled violence and insecurity, could exacerbate the already dire situation in the country. Critics argue that such a decision disregards the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the need for continued international support for those affected.

Human rights advocates have warned that forcibly sending Afghan refugees back amid continued humanitarian and security crises violates international protection norms. Many of these individuals fled persecution and may face serious threats if returned.

Legal and humanitarian organizations are calling on the U.S. government to reconsider the decision, urging renewed assessments of conditions in Afghanistan and the reestablishment of protected legal pathways for vulnerable individuals.

Afghan Evac President: Afghan Refugees in US Given 7-Day Notice to Leave
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Over 5,000 Afghan Migrants Deported from Pakistan in a Day

April 18, 2025
Bibi Amina Hakimi
TOLOnews’ Reporter
17 April 2025

According to the commission’s data, approximately 3,500 of these individuals entered Afghanistan through the Torkham border crossing.

The High Commission for Addressing Migrants’ Issues has reported that more than 5,000 Afghan migrants were deported from Pakistan in the past day.

According to the commission’s data, approximately 3,500 of these individuals entered Afghanistan through the Torkham border crossing.

The head of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), who visited Torkham to assess the situation of the deported migrants, assured that necessary services would be provided to those affected.

Nazar Nazari, a refugee rights activist, stated: “UNHCR plays a vital role in supporting refugees and internally displaced persons. The first step must be to provide increased aid and facilities such as shelter, healthcare, and emergency assistance, while also ensuring access to educational opportunities.”

Meanwhile, Maulana Fazlur Rahman, leader of Pakistan’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party, criticized the forced deportation of Afghan migrants and labeled Pakistan’s decision as emotional. He called on the international community to address the issue.

In a meeting, he said: “Migrants who have invested in Pakistan, are educated, or are currently studying should not be deported. I proposed that the government classify them into three categories: First, educated migrants such as doctors and engineers whose skills can benefit Pakistan. Second, those who have invested in the country for the past 35 to 40 years; deporting them could harm Pakistan’s economy and lead to the collapse of banks. Third, students in grade 12, undergraduate, or master’s programs who, if deported, would have to restart their education from scratch. Education is a fundamental human right.”

Elsewhere, the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation announced that Norway has also criticized Pakistan for the deportation of Afghan migrants and reaffirmed its commitment to continue supporting them.

Abdulmutalib Haqqani, the ministry’s spokesperson, said that the Chargé d’Affaires of Norway’s Embassy for Afghanistan emphasized the importance of bilateral relations during a meeting with the acting minister.

Haqqani said: “Mawlawi Abdul Kabir described the forced deportation of Afghan migrants from Pakistan as a violation of all principles and called for international assistance to find a permanent solution for migration issues in Afghanistan. He noted that the Islamic Emirate is working on a permanent housing plan for the migrants and requires the support of humanitarian organizations in this regard.”

Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported yesterday that nearly 60,000 Afghan migrants entered the country through the Torkham and Spin Boldak crossings during the first two weeks of the current month.

Over 5,000 Afghan Migrants Deported from Pakistan in a Day
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Magnitude 5.6 earthquake strikes Hindu Kush region, Afghanistan, EMSC says

April 17, 2025

By Reuters

April 16, 2025
(Reuters) – An earthquake of magnitude 5.6 struck the Hindu Kush region in Afghanistan on Wednesday, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said.
The quake was at a depth of 121 km (75 miles), EMSC said, and the epicentre 164 km east of Baghlan, a city with a population of about 108,000.
EMSC first reported the quake at a magnitude of 6.4.

Reporting by Mrinmay Dey in Bengaluru; Editing by Tom Hogue

Magnitude 5.6 earthquake strikes Hindu Kush region, Afghanistan, EMSC says
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