Afghanistan Peace CampaignCURRENT NEWS ARTICLES
What we know about Pakistan-Afghanistan ceasefire, will it hold?
By Al Jazeera Staff Published On 19 Oct 2025 Islamabad and Kabul commit to ceasefire mediated by Qatar and Turkiye, but will it hold amid mutual distrust? Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to an “immediate ceasefire” after a week of deadly clashes along their border, as the ties between the two South Asian neighbours plunged
Taliban and Pakistan agree to ceasefire after days of deadly clashes
Rachel Hagan The Guardian 19 Oct 2025 Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban government have agreed to an “immediate ceasefire” after more than a week of deadly fighting. The foreign ministry of Qatar, which mediated talks alongside Turkey, said both sides had agreed to establish “mechanisms to consolidate lasting peace and stability”. Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for
Undocumented Afghan Migrants Fear Expulsion After Pakistan’s New Decision
TOLOnews 19 Oct 2025 Following a new decision by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to accelerate the process of returning undocumented Afghan migrants, concerns have grown among Afghans residing in Pakistan. Some Afghan migrants say that this decision has placed thousands of families at risk of forced expulsion. According to them, the government announced yesterday through
Pakistan confronts a new reality: It may have lost the Taliban
By Rick Noack, Haq Nawaz Khan and Shaiq Hussain The New York Times October 18, 2025 Clashes between the Afghan Taliban and Pakistan, their former protector, are threatening to open a lasting rift that could spark more turmoil in the region. The now-uneasy neighbors exchanged fire again on Friday, according to Taliban-controlled media, days after
A Fragile Cease-fire Between Afghanistan and Pakistan Ends Violence, for Now
By Elian Peltier The New York Times Oct. 19, 2025 The two committed to stop attacking each other after the worst outbreak of hostilities in years. But the underlying causes remain, analysts warn. A cease-fire announced by Afghanistan and Pakistan on Sunday has brought respite from the worst flare-up of tensions between the neighboring countries
Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan spike as truce is extended
By Al Jazeera Staff and News Agencies 17 Oct 2025 Tensions are mounting between Pakistan and Afghanistan amid reports of separate attacks along the border, as a fragile truce between the neighbours, and once allies, is extended for another 48 hours. An initial 48-hour ceasefire between the two sides came into effect this week after days of bloody cross-border
Pakistan reports a new clash with Afghan forces along border
By RIAZ KHAN Associated Press Updated 9:40 PM EDT, October 14, 2025 PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Clashes erupted Tuesday between Pakistani and Afghan forces in a remote northwestern border region, with state-run media in Pakistan accusing Afghan troops of opening “unprovoked fire” that was repulsed. Pakistani forces responded, damaging Afghan tanks and military posts, according to
The Turbaned Traders: The Taliban take over the urban economy
Sharif Akram Afghanistan Analysts Network 14 Oct 2025 After the Taliban seized power in 2021, many of the movement’s fighters and supporters migrated from their rural strongholds into Afghanistan’s urban centres to assume control of the government and the cities. This marked a major shift following two decades of insurgency, when the Taliban and many
‘An environment of terror’: deadly resurgence of Pakistan Taliban gathers pace
Hannah Ellis-Petersen South Asia correspondent, and Shah Meer Baloch in Peshawar The Guardian Mon 13 Oct 2025 Surge in militancy in region bordering Afghanistan is now one of greatest security threats facing Islamabad Tariq Ahmed never lets his pistol out of his sight these days. Sitting cross-legged on a woven charpai, his face concealed with a scarf, the 26-year-old looks
Trade Concerns Mount as Afghanistan-Pakistan Crossings Remain Closed
Liluma Qadiry Tolo News 14 Oct 2025 The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment has described Pakistan’s move as a violation of accepted international trade norms. As four days have passed since the closure of key trade crossings between Afghanistan and Pakistan, concerns are growing over the serious impact on trade and economic activities between
Suhail Afridi Urges Rethink of Pakistan’s Afghanistan Strategy
TOLOnews TV Network 14 Oct 2025 Speaking during a provincial assembly session, Afridi stressed the importance of maintaining good relations with Afghanistan. Suhail Afridi, the newly appointed Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has urged Pakistan’s central government to review its policy toward Afghanistan. Speaking during a provincial assembly session, Afridi stressed the importance of maintaining
Afghanistan Denies Visa for Pakistani Officials Amid Airspace Dispute
TOLOnews TV Network 13 Oct 2025 However, Kabul has repeatedly rejected their requests to visit Afghanistan. Reliable sources within the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan have confirmed to TOLOnews that over the past three days, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Pakistan’s Defense Minister; Asim Malik, the head of intelligence; and two other generals each submitted separate requests for
Afghan earthquake triggers contradictory Taliban tactics on rescuing women
Diaa Hadid and Fariba Akbari National Public Radio October 14, 2025 As earthquakes devastated parts of Afghanistan in late August, Taliban officials asked aid agencies to send more female health workers to assist female survivors. They also briefly barred female U.N. staffers from reaching earthquake-devastated areas. The flurry of contradictions in the wake of the earthquake
The U.S. saved him from the Taliban, but now it wants to send him back
By John Woodrow Cox The Washington Post 15 Oct 2025 He supported America’s war, escaped Afghanistan and started a family in the U.S. Then ICE arrested him. If he is deported, he expects the Taliban to kill him. In his cell, the light glows all night, so he pulls a blanket over his head and
Afghans Rally Behind Islamic Emirate Forces After Clashes with Pakistan
TOLOnews TV Network 12 Oct 2025 Some citizens stated that they stand firmly with the country’s security forces and will support them under any circumstances. Following recent clashes between the forces of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and the Pakistani military, a number of Afghan citizens expressed strong support for the Islamic Emirate’s forces and
Muttaqi: Girls’ Education Not Banned in Afghanistan, Only Partially Suspend
Mursaleen Muwahed Multilingual Journalist & Social Media Editor Tolo News 12 Oct 2025 He clarified that certain areas of girls’ education have been temporarily suspended until further notice. The Foreign Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has stated that Kabul is not opposed to education and that girls’ education has not been declared forbidden
Afghanistan says it has killed 58 Pakistani soldiers in overnight border operations
By RIAZ KHAN Associated Press October 12, 2025 KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghanistan said Sunday it killed 58 Pakistani soldiers in overnight border operations, in response to what it called repeated violations of its territory and airspace. Pakistan’s army gave far lower casualty figures, saying 23 troops were killed. Earlier in the week, Afghan authorities
Border Clash Between Afghanistan and Pakistan Threatens a Wider Conflict
By Zia ur-Rehman, Yaqoob Akbary, Safiullah Padshah and Elian Peltier The New York Times Oct. 12, 2025 Isolated confrontations have intensified over the past week into the sharpest escalation of violence between the two countries in years. Tensions along the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan surged on Sunday after a deadly overnight clash between the countries’ militaries,
Social Media Restrictions and 2-Day Internet Shutdown Rattle Afghanistan
By Elian Peltier The New York Times Oct. 12, 2025 Airports and banks were forced to shut down. Government employees idled aimlessly in the corridors of their ministries. Teenage girls, barred from attending school, lost much of their access to the outside world. In shutting down the internet and cellphone services across Afghanistan last month,
Khalilzad Warns Pakistan’s Airstrike on Kabul Could Spark Broader Regional Conflict
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press October 11, 2025 Former U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad warned that Pakistan’s airstrike on Kabul could ignite broader conflict and increase instability across the region. Former U.S. Special Envoy for Afghanistan Peace Zalmay Khalilzad warned that Pakistan’s airstrikes on Kabul risk triggering a broader conflict, describing the operation as a failure
Etihad Airways to Resume Direct Flights Between Abu Dhabi and Kabul
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 11 Oct 2025 Continuing the resumption of international flights between Kabul and various countries, Etihad Airways of the United Arab Emirates has announced that it will begin direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Kabul starting December 18, 2025. According to the airline, flights will operate on Saturdays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays,
Putin Warns Afghanistan Still Faces Serious Security and Stability Challenges
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press October 10, 2025 President Vladimir Putin warned that Afghanistan continues to face serious security and stability challenges, urging stronger regional cooperation to prevent extremist threats from spreading. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that the Taliban is attempting to stabilize Afghanistan but acknowledged that significant problems continue to
Pakistan Defence Minister Says Afghan Refugees Must Leave Immediately
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press October 10, 2025 Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said millions of Afghan refugees must leave, warning Islamabad can no longer bear the economic and security costs of hosting them. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said late Thursday that millions of Afghan refugees must return home, warning that the
Key Takeaways from Afghanistan–India Foreign Ministers’ Press Conference
Mursaleen Muwahed Multilingual Journalist & Social Media Editor Tolo News 10 Oct 2025 Dr. S. Jaishankar stated that India is fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Afghanistan. India’s Minister of External Affairs, in a joint press conference with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, announced
Taliban blame Pakistan after explosions in Kabul, amid outreach to India
By Abid Hussain Al Jazeera Published On 10 Oct 2025 The attacks come amid rising tensions with Islamabad, which accuses the Taliban of sheltering anti-Pakistan armed groups. |Islamabad, Pakistan – The Taliban have blamed Pakistan for an explosion in Kabul and another in the eastern Afghanistan province of Paktika on Thursday, amid mounting tensions between the neighbours
Taliban Expands Ties with India, While Accusing Pakistan of Bombing Afghanistan
By Mujib Mashal Reporting from New Delhi The New York Times Oct. 10, 2025 India and the Taliban government in Afghanistan announced expanded diplomatic ties on Friday, after the sides held their most high-powered talks in the four years since Taliban forces overran the U.S.-backed republic in Kabul, which New Delhi had supported. India said
Deported Afghans Face Hardship After Returning Empty-Handed from Iran
Naseer Ahmad Salehi Tolo News 9 Oct 2025 According to them, all their belongings remain in Iran, and they have returned to the country empty-handed. A number of Afghan migrants recently deported from Iran have expressed concerns over extreme poverty and severe economic challenges. Abdul Ahad, one of these migrants, was deported from Iran along
Russia and Tajikistan Discuss Afghanistan’s Future in Key Bilateral Talks
TOLOnews TV Network 9 Oct 2025 It is worth noting that Russia is the first country to have officially recognized the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The presidents of Russia and Tajikistan held talks on Afghanistan during their recent meeting. According to a report by RIA Novosti, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized the need for an
Russia Issues Afghanistan Warning After Trump Says US Wants Bagram Air Base
By Gabe Whisnant Breaking News Editor Newsweek October 7, 2025 Russia warned Tuesday that it would consider any new foreign military presence in Afghanistan or nearby countries “categorically unacceptable,” delivering the message during a high-level meeting in Moscow that included Afghanistan’s Taliban government. Why It Matters The statement came weeks after President Donald Trump said the
UN to investigate suspected abuses in Afghanistan
By Emma Farge Reuters October 6, 2025 Summary Investigation’s scope includes the Taliban and foreign troops Trump opposed to ‘unlawful jurisdiction’ over US forces China voices doubts over the investigation GENEVA, Oct 6 (Reuters) – The United Nations Human Rights Council is to investigate abuses in Afghanistan, which could eventually enable criminal investigations into suspected
World Bank Says Afghanistan’s Modest Economic Growth Overshadowed by Rising Poverty and Fragility
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press October 8, 2025 World Bank on glass building. The World Bank says Afghanistan’s economy shows modest growth, but rising poverty, weak governance, and declining aid continue to threaten long-term stability and recovery. The World Bank has reported that Afghanistan’s economy shows modest signs of recovery, but deep poverty, displacement, and
Consequences of the United States’ 20-Year Presence in Afghanistan
TOLOnews TV Network 7 Oct 2025 After 20 years, the threat of terrorism did not end; instead, the emergence of the ISIS-Khorasan group after 2010 created a new wave of violence in the country. On October 7, 2001, the United States and its NATO allies entered Afghanistan with three main goals: fighting terrorism, combating narcotics,
Moscow Format Discusses Afghanistan’s Political and Economic Future
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 7 Oct 2025 Representatives from Afghanistan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan attended the meeting. The 7th consultative meeting of the Moscow Format on Afghanistan, focusing on national reconciliation and regional cooperation in political and economic fields, was hosted by Russia today (Tuesday). Representatives from Afghanistan,
Regional powers signal objection to US reclaiming Afghanistan’s Bagram base
By Stephen Quillen and Reuters Al Jazeera 8 Oct 2025 Afghanistan’s regional neighbours, including India, have voiced a rare unified front by opposing foreign attempts to deploy “military infrastructure” in the country, as United States President Donald Trump presses to regain control of the Bagram airbase. In a joint statement on Tuesday, members of the Moscow Format
Social media content restricted in Afghanistan, Taliban sources confirm
Hafizullah Maroof and Doug Faulkner BBC News 8 Oct 2025 Restrictions have been placed on content on some social media platforms in Afghanistan, Taliban government sources told BBC Afghan. Filters have been applied to restrict certain types of content on sites including Facebook, Instagram and X, the sources at the Ministry of Communications and Information
Russia hosts Taliban delegation and warns against foreign military presence in Afghanistan
By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV Associated Press October 7, 2025 MOSCOW (AP) — Russia hosted a delegation of Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban government Tuesday and issued a strong warning against a foreign military presence in the country. Speaking at the start of an international meeting on Afghanistan in Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov praised the Taliban government for efforts
After finding refuge in Australia, a trailblazing judge fears the Taliban will take revenge on her family
Adeshola Ore Community affairs reporter The Guardian Sat 4 Oct 2025 The Taliban commander, armed with a machine gun, hopped out of a tan Ford ranger the US troops had left behind. Flanked by fighters, he knocked on the door of the female judge who had put him behind bars. It was 17 August 2021 – two days
Muttaqi Leaves for Russia to Attend Moscow Format Meeting
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 6 Oct 2025 This is the first time he is participating as an official member of the format, and he will discuss the expansion of Afghanistan’s relations with regional countries. Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, has traveled to Russia to attend the “Moscow
UN rights body orders probe into human rights in Afghanistan, with a focus on women and girls
Associated Press October 6, 2025 GENEVA (AP) — The U.N.’s top human rights body agreed Monday to set up an ongoing probe of human rights violations in Afghanistan under the Taliban, including against women and girls, in a measure pushed for by the European Union. With no opposition and only China opting out of the
Afghans awaited U.S. resettlement. Pakistan sent them back to the Taliban.
By Rick Noack The Washington Post 6 Oct 2025 More than 1 million Afghans have been pressured to leave or deported by Pakistan. Many were former U.S. contractors approved for U.S. resettlement, now on hold under Trump. For Mursal, the nightmares began in late January. That’s when the 28-year-old Afghan woman learned that President Donald
Iran may release hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees into Iraq and Turkey
Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor The Guardian Thu 2 Oct 2025 Iran is considering releasing hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees across its western borders with Iraq and Turkey. It would be part of what officials describe as a necessarily more offensive and unpredictable strategy in the wake of the bombing of its nuclear sites and
U.S. Officials Deny Rumors of Returning to Bagram Airbase, Say No Troops in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press October 4, 2025 Two senior U.S. officials dismissed rumors of American troops returning to Afghanistan, confirming that the United States has no military presence or plans to reoccupy Bagram airbase. Two senior U.S. officials have categorically dismissed claims that American troops have returned to Afghanistan or regained control of the
Recognition of the Islamic Emirate Tops Agenda of Muttaqi’s Visit to India
TOLOnews TV Network 4 Oct 2025 According to Indian media reports, Amir Khan Muttaqi will arrive in New Delhi on October 9 after attending the Moscow Format meeting. During Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit to India, the issue of recognizing the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has been identified as one of the main
UN: Nine Million in Afghanistan Face Severe Food Insecurity
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press October 2, 2025 The United Nations warns that more than nine million people in Afghanistan face severe food insecurity, with worsening malnutrition threatening children and vulnerable families nationwide. The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that recent earthquakes in Afghanistan have worsened an already dire food security and nutrition crisis
Global Reactions Positive as Afghanistan Restores Internet
TOLOnews TV Network 2 Oct 2025 Zabihullah Mujahid added that he himself did not have internet access during the past 48 hours. The resumption of telecommunications and internet services in Afghanistan has been met with a global welcome. The spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, in a press briefing, welcomed the restoration of internet services in
UNSC Grants Travel Exemption for Amir Khan Muttaqi to Visit India
TOLOnews TV Network 2 Oct 2025 According to a statement issued by the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee, Muttaqi is allowed to travel to New Delhi from October 9 to 16, 2025. The United Nations Security Council has granted permission for Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, to travel
Afghans rejoice as internet returns after Taliban blackout
Dearbail Jordan, Hafizullah Maroof and Caroline Davies BBC News 1 Oct 2025 Afghans have taken to the streets to rejoice in the restoration of internet and telecom services after the Taliban government shut them down, provoking widespread condemnation. Local reporters said communications were resuming, while internet monitor Netblocks said network data showed a “partial restoration” of
New York Times Exposes Double Standards in U.S. War Crimes in Afghanistan
TOLOnews TV Network 1 Oct 2025 According to the report, cases related to alleged war crimes by American soldiers in Afghanistan have been handled with double standards. The New York Times, in a recently published investigative report, has revealed the culture of immunity granted to some U.S. forces accused of committing war crimes in Afghanistan.
New EU Envoy Pledges Strong Support for Afghanistan’s Women and Girls
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press October 1, 2025 Gilles Bertrand, the new EU Special Envoy for Afghanistan, pledged strong support for Afghan women and girls, prioritizing rights protection and humanitarian engagement amid ongoing restrictions. Gilles Bertrand, the newly appointed European Union Special Envoy for Afghanistan, has declared that supporting Afghan women and girls facing unprecedented
How Pakistan misread the Taliban and lost peace on the frontier
By Abid Hussain Al Jazeera Published On 1 Oct 2025 As Kabul resists action against the Pakistan Taliban in wake of Quetta suicide bomb, Islamabad is left to weigh military strikes and expulsions. Islamabad, Pakistan – When Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived at the military hospital in Bannu in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan,
Flights in Afghanistan grounded after internet shutdown
Mahfouz Zubaide,Hafizullah Maroof and Anbarasan Ethirajan, Global Affairs Reporter BBC News 30 September 2025 Afghanistan’s main airport is at a standstill as the country grapples with the fallout of a nationwide internet shutdown imposed by the Taliban government. The Taliban has yet to give an official reason for the decision, which took effect on Monday, but
Five Takeaways About the Culture of Lawlessness in the U.S. Special Forces
By Matthieu Aikins The New York Times Sept. 30, 2025 Until now, many of the troubling events that took place during the war in Afghanistan have been shrouded in secrecy. In Afghanistan, during the United States’ longest war, special operators like the Green Berets shouldered a disproportionate share of the fighting. At home, they were
Afghan Internet Back After 2-Day Blackout Tied to Taliban
By Elian Peltier and Safiullah Padshah Reporting from Islamabad, Pakistan, and Kabul, Afghanistan The New York Times Oct. 1, 2025 No reason was immediately given for why service resumed after a blackout rare in scope, even for a government that has drastically curtailed individual freedoms. Internet access was restored across parts of Afghanistan on Wednesday, two days after
Kabul’s wells run dry, driving children out of class and into water queues
By Mohammad Yunus Yawar Reuters September 29, 2025 Summary Families in the Afghan capital queue for hours for water Experts warn Kabul groundwater will be exhausted by 2030 Tanker costs drain poor households’ income Wells run dry, some 120 metres deep KABUL, Sept 30 (Reuters) – Eight-year-old Noorullah and his twin, Sanaullah, spend their days
Shehbaz Sharif Urges Inclusive Political Framework for Afghanistan at UNGA
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 27 Sept 2025 He added that Pakistan has a direct stake in Afghanistan’s peace and stability, considering it a key to regional prosperity and enhanced economic connectivity. At the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Shehbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, once again highlighted Afghanistan as one
Up to 5,000 Afghans Deported Daily from Iran via Islam Qala Border
Nasir Ahmad Salehi TOLOnews Reporter 28 Sept 2025 According to statistics, up to 5,000 people enter Afghanistan daily through the Islam Qala border crossing from Iran. Local officials in Herat say that in recent days, the deportation and forced return of Afghan migrants from Iran has once again increased. According to statistics, up to 5,000
Taliban’s ban on women’s education is extremism, threatens Afghanistan’s future: UN envoy Bennett
ANI The Tribune North India Sep 28, 2025 New York [US], September 28 (ANI): UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, has warned that the Taliban’s ban on women’s education constitutes extremism and threatens the country’s stability, development, and international standing, Tolo News reported. Speaking on the sidelines of the UN General
American man detained in Afghanistan has been released
By Alireza Hajihosseini and Piper Hudspeth Blackburn CNN September 28, 2025 An American man who had been detained in Afghanistan by the Taliban since December 2024 has been released, the US State Department announced Sunday. Amir Amiry, 36, was released Sunday after months of negotiations led by Qatari and US mediators and is now headed
Did restrictions on women workers hamper Afghanistan’s earthquake response?
By Ruchi Kumar Al Jazeera Published On 27 Sep 2025 Shortage of female medical staff, aid workers created challenges. But victims say male aid givers often helped them. A devastating magnitude 6.0 earthquake in eastern Afghanistan on August 31 killed more than 2,200 people and injured some 3,600, according to the Taliban authorities. Nearly half
UN, EU Warn ISIS-K May Recruit Afghan Returnees Amid Mass Deportations
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press September 25, 2025 UN and EU officials warn ISIS-K could recruit among millions of Afghans deported from Iran and Pakistan, as returnees face poverty, unemployment and instability in Afghanistan. United Nations and European security officials have warned that Islamic State’s affiliate in Afghanistan could exploit mass deportations of Afghans from
Analyst Says Trump’s Bagram Push Risks Dangerous Scenarios, Including Seizure or Destruction
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press September 25, 2025 An analyst warns Donald Trump’s push to retake Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan carries dangerous risks, including possible U.S. seizure or destruction, endangering lives and regional stability. U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that “bad things will happen” if the Taliban refuse to hand over control of Bagram
Afghanistan’s Trade Volume Rises by 30% Compared to Last Year
TOLOnews TV Network 25 Sept 2025 According to these figures, Afghanistan’s exports during this period amounted to 748 million dollars, indicating a 9% growth. he Ministry of Industry and Commerce has announced that in the first six months of 1404 (solar year), Afghanistan’s trade volume reached more than 6.783 billion dollars, showing a 30% increase
‘Send your daughters or you get no aid’: the Taliban are making religious schools girls’ only option
Sara Ibrahim and Hadis Habibyar for Zan Times The Guardian September 22, 2025 Food handouts and employment are increasingly tied to Afghan families’ agreement to strict Islamic education When the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, Nahid, 24, was midway through an economics degree. She had hoped to work in a university after she
‘It kept our spirits alive’: Taliban’s internet blackout leaves girls in despair
Khadija Haidary for Zan Times The Guardian September 23, 2025 Many Afghan women and girls can no longer communicate or study online after the internet is cut off in 12 provinces Last week, 17-year-old Marjaneh* sat at her computer, waiting for her nightly online English lessons to begin. At 7pm, the scheduled start time, her
Afghanistan Loses UN Voting Rights For Third Year, Faces Growing Global Isolation
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press September 24, 2025 Afghanistan has lost its UN General Assembly voting rights for the third year running after failing to pay membership dues, deepening its political isolation worldwide. The United Nations has confirmed that Afghanistan has once again lost its voting rights in the General Assembly after failing to pay
Russian Daily: China to Assess Taliban’s Readiness Against Possible U.S. Military Operation in Afghanistan
By Khaama Press September 24, 2025 Russian daily Nezavisimaya Gazeta reports that China has invited Taliban defence chief Mullah Yaqoob to Beijing to evaluate the group’s readiness against potential U.S. operations in Afghanistan. Russian daily Nezavisimaya Gazeta has reported that China has issued an unexpected invitation to Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, the Taliban’s acting defence minister, to visit Beijing. The
First Meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Afghanistan Held
TOLOnews TV Network 24 Sept 2025 The Islamic Emirate has not yet commented on the first meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Afghanistan. The first meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) Contact Group on Afghanistan was held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. This meeting took place in New
Global Leaders Call for Support and Inclusion in Afghanistan at UN Assembly
TOLOnews TV Network 24 Sept 2025 The President of Turkey emphasized global support for Afghanistan and called on the Islamic Emirate to adopt an inclusive approach based on human values. Afghanistan was discussed in the speeches of several world leaders during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The President of Turkey emphasized
Sima Bahous: UN Has Neglected Rights of Afghan Women
TOLOnews TV Network 23 Oct 2025 This comes as the high-level UN General Assembly session began on September 23 and will continue until the 29th of this month. The United Nations Under-Secretary-General and UN Women’s third Executive Director, stated at the 80th UN General Assembly that women and girls in Afghanistan bear the heaviest burden
UNICEF Repeats Call for Reopening Girls’ Schools in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press September 23, 2025 UNICEF urged the Taliban to reopen girls’ schools, warning Afghanistan’s future depends on education to prevent child marriage, empower women, and address the worsening humanitarian crisis. UNICEF has renewed its call on the Taliban to reopen secondary schools for girls, stressing that Afghanistan’s future depends on equal
Islamic Emirate Reviewing Damages from Fiber Optic Disruptions
TOLOnews TV Network 23 Sept 2025 Experts believe that appointing a delegation to assess the damages of fiber optic services is a positive step toward strengthening digital governance Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, told TOLOnews that a delegation has been appointed to assess and prevent damages caused by disruptions to fiber optic services
Islamic Emirate Reaffirms Support for Journalists Within Islamic Values
TOLOnews TV Network 23 Sept 2025 Other officials of the Islamic Emirate described access to information and support for the media as fundamental responsibilities of the current system. Officials of the Islamic Emirate have emphasized support for journalists within the framework of journalistic principles and Islamic values. In Kabul, a gathering titled “True Journalism, Informed
Armed Clash in Bamyan Injures 10 People
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press September 22, 2025 An armed clash in Bamiyan’s Shibar district left 10 people injured, including a young woman, as authorities reported arrests and ongoing tensions in the area. Local officials in Bamiyan province reported that ten people, including a young woman, were injured during an intra-community clash that broke
Bagram: From Soviet Stronghold to U.S. Military Powerhouse in Afghanistan
TOLOnews TV Network 20 Sept 2025 Thousands of containers, barracks, restaurants, hospitals, shops, and even gyms were built within the base. Bagram Air Base was first constructed in the 1950s with assistance from the Soviet Union. During the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan between 1979 and 1989, the base became the primary hub for Soviet air
Afghanistan Stripped of UN Voting Rights for Third Consecutive Year
TOLOnews TV Network 21 Sept 2025 Some political analysts warn that the continuation of this situation could isolate the country from global processes. Afghanistan has been deprived of its voting rights at the United Nations for the third consecutive year. Some political analysts warn that the continuation of this situation could isolate the country from
My three boys starved to death. I hope angels bring them home, says Afghan mother
Yogita Limaye South Asia and Afghanistan correspondent BBC News 21 Sept 2025 Gusts of wind blew dust up off the ground as Ghulam Mohiddin and his wife Nazo walked towards the graveyard where all their children are buried. They showed us the graves of the three boys they lost in the past two years –
Taliban Bans Books by Women in Afghanistan’s Universities
By Pranav Baskar The New York Times Sept. 21, 2025 The Taliban government is purging books written by women from Afghanistan’s male-only university system and outlawing gender studies courses, the latest blows in a campaign against women’s rights since the group returned to power four years ago. Over 600 books, many of them written by
Taliban rejects Trump’s bid to take over Afghan air base that U.S. controlled for almost 20 years
CBS News/AP September 21, 2025 The Taliban government on Sunday rejected U.S. President Trump’s bid to retake Bagram Air Base, four years after America’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan left the sprawling military facility in the Taliban’s hands.Mr. Trump on Saturday renewed his call to reestablish a U.S. presence at Bagram, even saying “we’re talking now to Afghanistan” about
The Taliban are reaching out — and some countries are responding
By Rick Noack and Shaiq Hussain The Washington Post September 21, 2025 Anti-immigrant sentiment in Europe, concerns about militancy in Asia and acceptance that the Taliban regime is unlikely to collapse soon present a diplomatic opening. ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Four years into its second stretch in power, Afghanistan’s Taliban government has been recognized by only one country: Russia.
Thousands of Pakistani Vehicles Stuck at Afghanistan Border After Dropping Migrants
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press September 19, 2025 Nearly 18,000 Pakistani vehicles remain stranded in Spin Boldak after transporting Afghan migrants, as border restrictions and mass deportations worsen humanitarian and economic pressures. Nearly 18,000 Pakistani vehicles that carried Afghan migrants to the border are now stranded in Spin Boldak, unable to return due to restrictions
Trump’s Dream of Retaking Bagram Could Resemble an Afghan Re-Invasion
Reuters, 19 Sept 2025 Trump, speaking to reporters on Thursday during a trip to London, said “we want that base back” and cited what he called its strategic location near China. U.S. President Donald Trump’s goal of re-occupying Bagram air base in Afghanistan might end up looking like a re-invasion of the country, requiring more
UNAMA: $13 Billion in Aid Provided to Afghanistan Since 2021
TOLOnews TV Network 18 Sept 2025 Some economic experts also have differing views regarding the $13 billion in UN aid to the country. Roza Otunbayeva, the Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), has stated that since 2021, the international community has provided $13 billion in aid to Afghanistan. In her latest
Taliban Releases British Couple Detained for Months in Afghanistan
By Elian Peltier and Lynsey Chutel Elian Peltier reported from Karachi, Pakistan, and Lynsey Chutel reported from London. The New York Times September 20, 2025 A picture released by the Qatari government show Peter and Barbara Reynolds, on the right, with British and Qatari diplomats on a plane after they were released from custody in Afghanistan. Credit…Qatar
Trump says he is working to get Afghan air base from Taliban
By Adam Taylor and Susannah George The Washington Post September 19, 2025 Such an outcome would signify a remarkable rapprochement after the U.S. fought a 20-year war against the militant group. LONDON — The United States is working to regain control of Bagram air base from the Taliban in Afghanistan, President Donald Trump said Thursday, describing
Taliban Rebuffs Trump’s Effort to Regain Air Base in Afghanistan
By Elian Peltier Reporting from Karachi, Pakistan The New York Times Sept. 19, 2025 An Afghan official rejected the idea of a renewed presence for the U.S. military in the country, but left the door open for “political and economic relations.” Taliban officials late Thursday rejected a suggestion by President Trump that the United States
Internet Shutdowns Hit Parts of Afghanistan Amid Talk of a Crackdown
By Taimoor Shah and Elian Peltier Taimoor Shah reporting from Kandahar, Afghanistan, and Elian Peltier from Karachi, Pakistan. The New York Times Sept. 18, 2025 Some provincial officials said the country’s leader instructed them to switch off Wi-Fi in their area to limit the “misuse of the internet” and diffusion of “immoral acts.” Internet shutdowns hit several
Return of Over Four Million Migrants Deepens Afghanistan’s Economic Crisis
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press September 18, 2025 The return of more than four million Afghan migrants from Iran and Pakistan since 2023 has intensified Afghanistan’s economic crisis, worsening unemployment, displacement, and humanitarian pressures. Since September 2023, more than four million Afghans have been forced to return from Iran and Pakistan, including nearly 1.5 million
‘Race against time’ to remove rubble after recent earthquake in Afghanistan’s east, says UN
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS September 18, 2025 The United Nations says aid workers are still in a “race against time” to remove rubble and rebuild after the devastating earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan last month, killing at least 2,200 people and cutting off remote areas. The 6.0-magnitude quake on Aug. 31 was shallow, destroying or causing extensive damage to low-rise
Trump says US ‘trying’ to get Afghan airbase back
By Paul McLeary Politico 09/18/2025 12:20 PM EDT The first Trump administration negotiated an American withdrawal from the country by 2021 and didn’t mention keeping the base. President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the U.S. is trying to reclaim the Afghanistan airbase that American troops abandoned in 2021 during their withdrawal from the country. Trump
‘My wife died giving birth after Trump cut funding to our clinic’
Yogita Limaye South Asia and Afghanistan correspondent BBC News 14 Sept 2025 When Shahnaz went into labour, her husband Abdul called a taxi to take them to the only medical facility accessible to them. “She was in a lot pain,” he says. A 20-minute drive away, the clinic was in Shesh Pol village in Afghanistan’s
UNICEF Calls for End to Restrictions as Mental Health Issues, Child Marriages Rise in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press September 17, 2025 UNICEF warned that restrictions on girls’ education in Afghanistan are fueling rising mental health problems and early marriages, urging authorities to lift the ban immediately. Catherine Russell, UNICEF’s Executive Director, has raised alarm over worsening mental health challenges and rising early marriages among Afghan girls barred from
Khalilzad Slams Hekmatyar’s Legacy, Labels Him ‘Butcher of Kabul’
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press September 17, 2025 Former U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad slammed Gulbuddin Hekmatyar’s violent legacy, labeling him the “Butcher of Kabul,” citing wartime atrocities, failed political ambitions, and foreign ties. Former U.S. envoy for Afghanistan peace Zalmay Khalilzad sharply criticized Gulbuddin Hekmatyar on Wednesday, Septermber 7, in a post on X,
UN Warns Budget Cuts Are Deepening Afghanistan’s Humanitarian Crisis
TOLOnews TV Network 16 Sept 2025 In another part of his remarks, Fletcher expressed concern over the ban on female staff working with UN-affiliated agencies in Afghanistan. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that budget reductions have inflicted the greatest impact on the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. The UN’s
Taliban shut down WiFi, a lifeline for women and girls, in Afghan province
By Tobi Raji and Rick Noack The Washington Post September 17, 2025 Afghan government workers in Balkh province appeared to have been taken by surprise by the WiFi ban. The Taliban have stopped fiber-optic internet services in a northern Afghanistan province, an official said Tuesday, leaving tens of thousands of Afghans without internet access and
Pakistan–Afghanistan Ties Hit New Low as Islamabad Warns Kabul Over TTP, Says Dawn
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press September 15, 2025 Pakistani media reported that officials in Islamabad have hinted at widening air operations deeper into Afghanistan territory if militant attacks continue, heightening fears of escalation. Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities have sunk to a new low, with Islamabad voicing alarm over Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants operating
UN Says Over Three Million in Afghanistan Face Displacement and Humanitarian Crisis
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press September 16, 2025 The United Nations reported more than three million people in Afghanistan are displaced by conflict and instability, warning urgent international aid is needed to address the humanitarian emergency. The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Tuesday that Afghanistan is grappling with a deepening humanitarian and displacement crisis,
UN Security Council to Hold Quarterly Meeting on Afghanistan
ByFidel Rahmati Khaama Press September 16, 2025 The UN Security Council will convene its quarterly meeting on Afghanistan Wednesday, with Special Envoy Roza Otunbayeva presenting her final report as humanitarian, economic, and rights crises intensify. The United Nations Security Council announced it will hold its quarterly meeting on Afghanistan on Wednesday. Special Representative of the
Taliban leader bans Wi-Fi in an Afghan province to ‘prevent immorality’
Associated Press September 16, 2025 JALALABAD, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban leader banned fibre optic internet in an Afghan province to “prevent immorality,” a spokesman for the administration said Tuesday. It’s the first time a ban of this kind has been imposed since the Taliban seized power in August 2021, and leaves government offices, the private sector, public
‘My village is a graveyard’: Afghans describe devastation after earthquake
By Sorin Furcoi Al Jazeera 13 Sep 2025 Thousands have been displaced and many have nowhere to shelter, just weeks before winter hits. Khas Kunar, Afghanistan – Stoori was pulled out from under the rubble of his house in Kunar province after it was destroyed by the magnitude 6 earthquake which struck on the night of August 31.
UN agency appeals for funds to help tens of thousands of quake-hit Afghans, many still homeless
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS September 11, 2025 BRUSSELS (AP) — The U.N.’s migration agency is appealing for funds for around 134,000 people who need help in Afghanistan, nearly two weeks after an earthquake killed more than 2,200 people in the country’s mountainous east. Many of the quake-hit Afghans are homeless, sleeping in the open and desperate to
Baradar Calls for Continued Aid, Reconstruction After Kunar Earthquake
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 12 Sept 2025 Twelve days ago, a deadly earthquake struck Kunar and neighboring provinces, causing heavy casualties and massive financial losses. Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, during a visit to Kunar, expressed condolences to earthquake survivors and stressed the continuation of humanitarian aid, the reconstruction
UN: 4.7M Afghan Women and Children Face Severe Malnutrition
TOLOnews TV Network 12 SEPTEMBER 2025 Most of the malnourished children are being brought from various provinces to Indira Gandhi Children’s Hospital in Kabul for treatment. The spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General has stated that one in every four people in Afghanistan is facing severe food insecurity, and more than 4.7 million women and children
Afghanistan: New restrictions on women nationals working for UN, put aid efforts at risk
UN News 11 September 2025 The United Nations in Afghanistan called on Thursday for the de facto Taliban authorities to lift restrictions barring women national staff from entering its premises. © UNOCHA/Charlotte Cans A staff member with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) speaks with displaced women in the eastern province of Nangahar
Woman held by Taliban warns British couple ‘dying’ in prison
Freya Chappell and Maia Davies BBC News September 13, 2025 An American woman detained by the Taliban alongside a British couple has told the BBC they are “literally dying” in prison and that “time is running out”. Faye Hall was arrested with Peter, 80, and Barbie Reynolds, 76 on 1 February when returning to Bamiyan
With little aid, Afghanistan’s quakes spell ‘inter-generational’ crisis
By Ariba Shahid, Mohammad Yunus Yawar and Sayed Hassib Reuters September 11, 2025 Summary Quake destroys Afghan homes, livestock, livelihoods Families shelter under tents as winter nears UNDP claims 1.3 mln animals affected in quake NRC: 7,000 livestock killed, irrigation damaged KARACHI/BAMBA KOT, Afghanistan, Sept 11 (Reuters) – Earthquakes that flattened villages in eastern Afghanistan this month destroyed
UNICEF Appeals for $22m to Aid Children Affected by Afghanistan Earthquakes
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press September 10, 2025 UNICEF has launched a $22 million appeal to aid over 212,000 children in eastern Afghanistan, providing healthcare, clean water, education, nutrition, and psychosocial support after devastating earthquakes. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced a $22 million humanitarian programme to meet the urgent needs of vulnerable
Bitter Return: Afghan Migrants Share Painful Tales of Forced Deportation
Sadaqat Ghorzang TOLOnews Reporter 9 Sept 2025 Local officials say that every day, thousands of families are being deported through the Torkham crossing into Afghanistan. With the launch of the third phase of the forced deportation of Afghan migrants from Pakistan, the process of returning Afghans has intensified. Local officials say that every day, thousands
Afghanistan quake destroyed 5,230 homes in 49 villages — but the UN hasn’t gotten to 362 others
By EDITH M. LEDERER The Associated Press September 8, 2025 UNITED NATIONS (AP) — An initial United Nations assessment of the impact of Afghanistan’s recent deadly earthquake found 5,230 homes destroyed and 672 damaged in 49 villages — but the U.N. hasn’t been able to get to the vast majority of the remote villages. Shannon
China Sends $7 Million Aid Shipment to Afghanistan’s Earthquake Victims
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press – September 7, 2025 China has delivered its first $7 million aid consignment to Afghanistan, including 3,000 blankets and 350 tents, as survivors of the 6.1-magnitude quake urgently seek shelter. A powerful 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck Kunar and neighboring eastern provinces of Afghanistan, destroying thousands of homes and leaving hundreds
Afghan Lives in the Wake of Disaster and Deportation
ByVaishali Basu Sharma Khaama Press September 7, 2025 On the night of August 31, eastern Afghanistan was struck by a powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake with its epicenter near Jalalabad in Nangarhar province. The tremor, recorded at 11:47 p.m. local time, devastated the mountainous terrain, flattening villages and reducing thousands of homes to rubble. More than 1,400
Over 5,000 Tents Set Up for Earthquake Survivors in Kunar
Sadaqat Ghorzang TOLOnews Reporter 7 Sept 2025 According to local officials, all basic necessities have been provided for survivors in these temporary camps. More than 5,000 tents have been installed in temporary camps for the earthquake-affected people of Kunar province. According to local officials, all basic necessities have been provided for survivors in these temporary
Kunar Earthquake Survivors Face Deep Psychological Trauma
Sadaqat Ghorzang TOLOnews Reporter 6 Sept 2025 The continuous aftershocks have disrupted and made daily life difficult for residents of Deh-e-Gul valley in the Suki district. Sadaqat Ghorzang, a TOLOnews reporter who has been in Kunar since the earthquake struck, says that many survivors of last week’s deadly quake are grappling with severe psychological problems.
Afghan survivors struggle in the wake of deadly earthquake
Al Jazeera Published On 6 Sep 2025 More than 2,200 deaths recorded as southeast Afghanistan grapples with aftermath of a powerful magnitude 6.0 earthquake. In the mountains of southeast Afghanistan, whole villages have been reduced to piles of stone and mud. Nearly one week after a devastating earthquake struck Kunar province, residents are mourning their
Two powerful aftershocks pummel Afghanistan after earthquakes kill 2,200
By Mohammad Yunus Yawar Reuters September 5, 2025 Summary Two powerful aftershocks strike within 12 hours More than 6,700 homes destroyed, survivors stay in the open Rescuers slowed by landslides, blocked roads, rough terrain WHO warns of disease, overcrowding, lack of sanitation UN says money running low, plans emergency funding appeal JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Sept 5
US yet to approve any help following Afghanistan earthquake, sources say
By Jonathan Landay Reuters September 6, 2025 Summary Trump administration ended virtually all aid to Afghanistan in April UN aid chief says quake latest crisis to expose impact of funding cuts on humanitarian work UN says initial donations received from multiple countries, but more aid needed WASHINGTON, Sept 6 (Reuters) – Nearly a week after
Afghanistan Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 1,457 as Rescue Efforts Continue
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press September 4, 2025 Four days after Afghanistan’s Kunar earthquake, official reports confirm 1,457 deaths and 3,394 injuries. Over 6,700 homes destroyed as international aid struggles to reach remote communities. The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck Afghanistan’s eastern Kunar province has risen to 1,457, Taliban officials confirmed on
Sharp Rise in Forced Deportations of Afghan Migrants from Pakistan
TOLOnews TV Network 4 Sept 2025 According to them, after the expiration of the designated deadline (August 31), the Pakistani government has intensified the forced removal of Afghan migrants. A number of Afghan migrants in Pakistan report a sharp increase in forced deportations from the country in recent days. According to them, after the expiration
UN: Aftershocks Deepen Humanitarian Crisis in Kunar
TOLOnews TV Network 4 Sept 2025 However, earthquake survivors in Kunar say they have lost everything and now desperately need immediate assistance, especially shelter. As the crisis in Kunar continues, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced that following the recent earthquake in eastern Afghanistan, assessments and relief operations are ongoing
Third quake strikes Afghanistan as deaths rise
Joel Guinto BBC News September 4, 2025 A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Afghanistan’s remote south-eastern region on Thursday night, the third quake in six days, as the death toll from the first continued to rise. The shallow quake hit at 20:56 local time (15:36 GMT) and sent people in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces scampering out
Afghanistan earthquake death toll rises to 2,200
Al Jazeera Published On 4 Sep 20254 Sep 2025 Rescuers have recovered hundreds of bodies from mountainous areas of southeastern Afghanistan, which was hit by a major earthquake at the weekend, taking the death toll to more than 2,200, according to a Taliban government spokesperson. Previous estimates said some 1,400 people were killed. Taliban spokesperson
After Afghan Quake, Many Male Rescuers Aided Men but Not Women
By Fatima Faizi The New York Times Sept. 4, 2025, 1:04 p.m. ET A prohibition on contact between unrelated women and men meant many women’s wounds went untended and some were left trapped under rubble after a deadly earthquake, witnesses said. The first rescue workers reached Bibi Aysha’s village more than 36 hours after an earthquake
Fresh Tremor of Magnitude 4.7 Jolts Eastern Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press September 4, 2025 A 4.7-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan near Jalalabad, days after Kunar’s deadly tremors, deepening fears as survivors await aid amid ongoing devastation and blocked relief access. At 9:40 a.m. local time on Thursday, September 4, another earthquake measuring 4.7 struck eastern Afghanistan, according to the U.S. Geological
How to help those impacted by the Afghanistan earthquake: Charities, organizations to support relief efforts
By Megan Forrester ABC News September 2, 2025 The 6.0 magnitude quake has killed over 1,400 people, officials said. The earthquake that struck Afghanistan on Sunday has killed over 1,400 people, injured over 3,000 and destroyed several villages, according to officials. The 6.0 magnitude quake — which was followed by a second 5.2 magnitude earthquake on
Aid effort underway after Afghanistan quake ‘wipes out’ villages
UN News September 4, 2025 The aftermath of the deadly earthquakes that hit Herat province in October 2023. The latest disaster is believed to have devastated hard-to-reach rural communities on the other side of the country. © WHO/Zakarya Safari By Daniel Johnson After a magnitude six earthquake struck remote areas of eastern Afghanistan overnight reportedly killing at least
Afghanistan earthquake death toll tops 2,200, survivors face aid crunch
By Mohammad Yunus Yawar, Sayed Hassib and Charlotte Greenfield Reuters September 4, 2025 Summary At least 2,205 dead, over 3,600 injured, Taliban says About 84,000 affected, thousands displaced, says aid agency Some Kunar villages saw 98% of buildings destroyed or damaged Funding cuts, Taliban policies worsen aid situation KABUL/MAZAR DARA, Afghanistan, Sept 4 (Reuters) – Rescue workers on
Death Toll and Damage Rise in Kunar Earthquake
Sadaqat Ghorzang TOLOnews Reporter 3 Sept 2025 Tremors are still being felt in the quake-affected areas, and rescue operations continue with efforts from both the Islamic Emirate and local residents. The death toll from Sunday night’s deadly earthquake has risen to nearly 1,457, with more than 3,900 injured. One of the residents of Andarlach village
Rescue Efforts for Earthquake Victims Underway in Kunar
TOLOnews TV Network 3 Sept 2025 Dozens of homes have been destroyed, leaving many families to spend cold and terrifying nights under the open sky. Rescue and relief operations are still ongoing in Kunar following Monday night’s deadly earthquake. After the devastating quake, a number of victims remain trapped under the rubble. “In Mazar Valley
Afghanistan death toll passes 1,400 as second earthquake strikes
Hannah Ellis-Petersen and Haroon Janjua The Guardian Tue 2 Sep 2025 Taliban appeal for aid, with casualties expected to increase as rescue teams struggle to reach isolated areas The Taliban have called for international aid as Afghanistan reels from an earthquake that killed more than 1,400 people and left thousands more injured. Rescuers searched into the night for survivors
WFP Sends Aid to Quake-Hit Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press September 2, 2025 The World Food Programme is rushing emergency aid to Afghanistan’s quake-hit Kunar and Nangarhar provinces, where over 800 lives were lost and thousands injured. The World Food Programme (WFP) is swiftly delivering emergency aid to Afghanistan, dispatching food and High Energy Biscuits to quake-hit communities in Kunar
SCO Emphasizes Formation of Inclusive Government in Afghanistan
Najibullah Lalzoy Manager, Online 2 Sept 2025 The statement also notes that SCO member states support international efforts aimed at assisting Afghanistan on the path to peace and development. The members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) have emphasized in a joint statement that the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan is the only
Qatari Diplomat: Doha Continues Efforts to Bridge Kabul–Washington Relation
By TOLOnews TV Network 2 Sept 2025 Al-Qashouti added that his country remains committed to supporting stability, economic cooperation, and Afghanistan’s political process. Mirdaf Al-Qashouti, Qatar’s Chargé d’Affaires to Afghanistan, told TOLOnews that Qatar’s efforts to improve relations between Kabul and Washington have been ongoing since 2014. Al-Qashouti added that his country remains committed to supporting
Death Toll in Kunar Earthquake Rises Above 1,400, Thousands Injured
Sadaqat Ghorzang TOLOnews Reporter 2 September 2025 The disaster also resulted in the destruction of 5,412 houses. The death toll from the earthquake in Kunar has so far risen to more than 1,400 people. According to Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate, in this devastating earthquake in the districts of Nurgal, Suki, Chapa
The Quake That Rocked Afghanistan ‘Like Doomsday’
By Safiullah Padshah and Elian Peltier The New York Times Sept. 2, 2025 Villages remain cut off in the remote, mountainous areas in the east that have been hardest hit by the disaster, which has killed at least 1,400 people. When what sounded like an explosion jolted Mirza Gul Sayar out of bed on Sunday night, he
Funding cuts to Afghanistan obstruct earthquake response
By Mohammad Yunus Yawar and Charlotte Greenfield Reuters September 1, 2025 Summary Quake response hampered by funding cuts Deadly tremor the latest of multiple crises Dozens of clinics shut in worst-hit provinces KABUL, Sept 1 (Reuters) – The shrinking of funding for Afghanistan, led by U.S. aid cuts, was hampering the response on Monday to a powerful earthquake
Afghanistan Excluded from SCO Summit for Fourth Year
ByFidel Rahmati Khaama Press September 1, 2025 Afghanistan was not invited to the 2025 SCO summit in Tianjin, as member states stressed an inclusive government is essential for peace and regional stability. The main session of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) convened today, September 1, 2025, in Tianjin, China, without Afghanistan’s participation. Despite being an
Afghanistan earthquake: What we know – and what we don’t
Ariana News Afghanistan 1 Sept 2025 Many homes in the affected areas are built with mud bricks and wood, making them highly vulnerable to collapse A 6.0 magnitude earthquake has struck Afghanistan’s mountainous eastern region, with authorities saying hundreds of people have been killed. The quake hit at 23:47 local time on Sunday (19:17 GMT)
Earthquake in Afghanistan Leaves More Than 800 Dead
By Safiullah PadshahElian Peltier and Mike Ives Safiullah Padshah reported from Kabul, Afghanistan. The New York Times Sept. 1, 2025, 8:52 a.m. ET The quake, near the border with Pakistan, injured more than 2,500 people, the authorities said. The death toll was expected to rise. More than 800 people were killed and 2,500 were injured after a
Taliban launch crackdown on Afghanistan’s secret beauty salons
Zahra Joya and Hania Forotan The Guardian 30 Aug 2025 The Taliban have issued an order targeting underground beauty salons operating in secret across Afghanistan, warning the women running them that they have one month to stop or face arrest. Officially, all beauty salons were closed by the Taliban in August 2023, shuttering 12,000 businesses with the
UN Security Council to Hold Briefing on Afghanistan in September
Hadia Ziaei, Tolo News 1 Sept 2025 According to the Council’s statement, this will be Otunbayeva’s final quarterly report before the end of her mandate in September. The UN Security Council has announced that it will hold its quarterly briefing on Afghanistan in September. According to the Council’s statement, Roza Otunbayeva, head of UNAMA, will
Pakistan’s Deportation Deadline Ends: Thousands of Afghans Return
Sadaqat Ghorzang TOLOnews Reporter 1 Sept 2025 Contrary to international refugee principles, forced deportations and mistreatment by police have left refugees returning empty-handed. On the last day of Pakistan’s deadline for the forced return of Afghan refugees holding PoR (Proof of Registration) cards, nearly 2,000 families returned to Afghanistan through the Torkham border crossing. The
August 31: End of America’s Longest War in Afghanistan
Tolo News 1 Sept 2025 The Doha Agreement between the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and the United States, paved the way for the withdrawal of foreign forces. August 31 is not just another date on the calendar; it marks the end of the United States’ 20-year presence in Afghanistan, a presence that began under the
Strong earthquake strikes southeastern Afghanistan
Hindustan Times Sept 01, 2025 According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the epicentre of Afghanistan earthquake was located near Jalalabad. A strong earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale struck Afghanistan’s mountainous Hindu Kush region late Sunday, US seismologists reported. The tremor occurred near the country’s eastern border with Pakistan, raising concerns in
Severe Drought Slashes Afghanistan Wheat Harvest by 60%, Aid Group Warns of Worsening Food Crisis
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press August 30, 2025 German aid group HELP warns Afghanistan’s severe drought has cut wheat harvests by 60% in the west, pushing millions closer to hunger amid worsening climate-driven crises. The German aid organization HELP has warned that Afghanistan is facing one of its most severe food crises in recent years,
SCO to Hold Consultative Meeting in Dushanbe with Afghanistan’s Security and Stability on Agenda
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press August 30, 2025 The Shanghai Cooperation Organization will convene in Dushanbe on September 11–12, focusing on Afghanistan’s security, terrorism threats, and the need for an inclusive political settlement amid regional concerns. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will hold a consultative meeting of its member states on September 11–12 in
UN Survey: 92% of Afghans Support Girls’ Education
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 30 Aug 2025 While girls above grade six have been banned from attending school for nearly four years, the latest UN Women survey highlights Afghan society’s strong support for education. The survey, conducted among around 2,000 people across Afghanistan, shows that 92% believe girls’ education is vital and essential. Details
Defense Minister Says Taliban Cut Ties with al-Qaeda After U.S. Invasion
Hayatullah Rahimi Journalist & Digital Editor Tolo News The Defense Minister also said that the Islamic Emirate has 150,000 forces, most of whom are equipped with modern American weapons. Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, the Defense Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, says that the roots of all terrorist groups, including ISIS, have been eliminated
Rights groups urge UN to create legal pathways for justice in Afghanistan
Harjaap Ahluwalia | Osgoode Hall Law School, CA JURISTnews August 28, 2025 107 rights organizations signed an open letter published Thursday that implored the UN Human Rights Council to establish an international mechanism to hold Afghanistan accountable for past and ongoing human rights violations. Organizations argued that the UN Human Rights Council has failed to institute measures to address
Contract breach or banditry? Inside the collapse of the Taliban’s oil deal with China
By Anthony Kuhn and Vincent Ni National Public Radio/NPR August 29, 2025 Turbaned Afghan officials and hard-hatted Chinese engineers gathered in Afghanistan’s Sar-e-Pul province in 2023 to mark the opening of Chinese-invested oil fields. The fields are located in the Amu Darya River basin, a major Central Asian watershed that includes glacier-capped mountains and vast, arid
Taliban blames Pakistan for airstrikes that kill 3 people in eastern Afghanistan
Associated Press August 28, 2025 ISLAMABAD (AP) — Airstrikes that Afghanistan’s Taliban blamed on neighboring Pakistan struck two eastern provinces of the country, killing at least three people, wounding seven others and damaging homes, officials and witnesses said Thursday. The Taliban foreign ministry decried the strikes that took place late Wednesday in Nangarhar and Khost
EU Warns of Urgent Water Crisis in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press August 28, 2025 The European Union has warned of severe water shortages in Afghanistan, particularly Kabul, pledging support for local partners to address the crisis threatening agriculture, health, and livelihoods. The European Union office in Afghanistan has raised concerns over the country’s shrinking water resources, particularly in Kabul, warning that
Trump Cuts U.S. Funding for Afghan Allies’ Resettlement Programs
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press August 28, 2025 Trump’s decision to cut funding for Afghan resettlement programs leaves thousands vulnerable, raising concerns over U.S. credibility, future alliances, and the safety of women in Afghanitsan. U.S. President Donald Trump has reduced funding for programs that support the relocation and resettlement of Afghan allies in the United
22 Million in Afghanistan Need Urgent Aid as Health Crisis Deepens, WHO Warns
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press August 29, 2025 WHO warns Afghanistan faces a severe health crisis as 22 million need aid, funding gaps shut clinics, and mass refugee returns threaten to overwhelm fragile systems. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Afghanistan faces a worsening humanitarian crisis, with more than 22 million of the
Pakistan Airstrikes Hit Nangarhar and Khost, Civilians Killed, Injured
Sadaqat Ghorzang TOLOnews Reporter 28 Aug 2025 Local residents say this incident not only terrified the people of Raghzi village but also shocked dozens of families several kilometers away. Pakistani drones once again carried out airstrikes on parts of Nangarhar and Khost provinces last night (Wednesday). According to reports, in the Pakistani airstrike on the
U.S. Lawmakers Push to Restart Afghan Refugee Relocation
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 28 Aug 2025 American media reported that the proposal, titled the “Enduring Welcome Act”, was introduced in the House of Representatives last week. Several members of the U.S. Congress and civil society activists have called for the approval of a law that would restart the process of transferring Afghan refugees
The world is learning to live with the Taliban
The Economist Aug 21st, 2025 Four years after the fall of Kabul, governments are quietly recognising the insurgents As insurgents, the Taliban spent 20 years wearing down the world’s most powerful army. As diplomats they needed just four to break out of their international isolation. Since seizing power in August 2021, most countries have refused
Hegseth Anticipates Full Review of Kabul Airport Attack Circumstances by Mid-2026
By Matthew Olay DOD News August 26, 2025 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he anticipates that a Defense Department special review panel looking into the circumstances surrounding the Aug. 26, 2021, suicide bombing attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, should be ready to present its findings by sometime in mid-2026. The attack, carried out by a bomber
U.S. Veterans Demand Accountability on Kabul Abbey Gate Attack Anniversary
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press August 27, 2025 On the fourth anniversary of the Kabul Abbey Gate attack, U.S. veterans urged government accountability, honoring 13 fallen soldiers and 170 Afghan civilians killed during America’s chaotic withdrawal. On the fourth anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the deadly Abbey Gate suicide bombing, American veterans
Afghanistan Urges Global Support to Tackle Climate Change
TOLOnews TV Network 27 Aug 2025 NEPA officials also called on the international community to support Afghanistan in tackling climate challenges. The head of Afghanistan’s National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) says Afghanistan has a very small role in producing greenhouse gases but has suffered heavily from the global phenomenon of climate change. Speaking at a
Concern Over Women’s Neglect in Islamic Emirate 5-Year Plan
TOLOnews TV Network 27 Aug 2025 They emphasized that women make up half of society and that every national program must consider their needs and participation. After the five-year development strategy for Afghanistan was finalized by the leadership of the Islamic Emirate, a number of female students in Kabul said that the program did not
9/11 Victims’ Relatives Lose Legal Battle Over Afghan Reserves
TOLOnews TV Network 27 Aug 2025 The ruling marks a setback for some victims who had previously sought to claim a portion of the Afghan assets through legal action against groups like al-Qaeda. The U.S. Court of Appeals has ruled that victims of the September 11 attacks and the U.S. embassy bombings in East Africa
Trump honors fallen US service members and criticizes Biden to mark Afghanistan bombing anniversary
By WILL WEISSERT Associated Press August 25, 2025 WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Monday marked the fourth anniversary of the suicide bombing that killed 13 U.S. service members during the chaotic withdrawal at the end of the Afghanistan War by signing a proclamation honoring the fallen. Surrounded by about 35 family members of those killed, including one
Afghan Migrants Face Uncertainty Amid Forced Deportations
TOLOnews TV Network 26 Aug 2025 Afghan migrants say the forced deportations have left families facing fear, uncertainty, and a livelihood crisis. Amid the continued forced deportation of Afghan migrants from Iran and Pakistan, concerns have grown among migrant families. Afghan migrants say the forced deportations have left families facing fear, uncertainty, and a livelihood
Islamic Emirate Releases a 5-Year Development Strategy for Afghanistan
TOLOnews TV Network 26 Aug 2025 This strategy has been formulated in 15 sectors, based on Sharia rulings, scientific standards, and reliance on domestic capacities. Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, stated Afghanistan’s development strategy has been finalized by the leader of the Islamic Emirate and will now enter the implementation phase. According to
Trump Calls Afghanistan Withdrawal ‘Most Embarrassing Day in U.S. History’
TOLOnews TV Network 26 Aug 2025 Trump stressed that American forces should have been stationed at Bagram Air Base instead of Kabul airport. Four years after the deadly attack at Kabul airport, questions and criticism over how the United States withdrew from Afghanistan remain unresolved inside the country. Donald Trump, strongly criticizing former U.S. Former
Germany to resume entry of vulnerable Afghans after legal, diplomatic pressure
By Riham Alkousaa Reuters August 26, 2025 Summary Some 2,000 Afghans stranded in Pakistan after Germany paused scheme to admit them Pakistan aims to expel Afghan refugees by September 1 deadline Government had faced several lawsuits challenging freeze on admissions BERLIN, Aug 26 (Reuters) – Germany is set to lift its months-long ban on the
UN Warns ISIS-K Still Threatens Afghanistan, Europe, and Central Asia
TOLOnews TV Network 24 Aug 2025 Natalia Gherman said that the group is actively working to recruit new members and raise funds through propaganda tactics and online campaigns. The Executive Director of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee has stated that the Khorasan branch of ISIS (ISIS-K) continues to pose a significant threat to Afghanistan, Europe,
Da Afghanistan Bank: Afghani Value Up 21% Against Foreign Currencies
By Liluma Qadiry Tolo News 23 Aug 2025 The bank’s data further show that banking sector financing has increased by 71 percent compared to the previous year. Da Afghanistan Bank says that in the past four years, the value of the Afghani has increased by 21 percent against foreign currencies, especially the US dollar. Bank officials
Can China make Pakistan and the Taliban friends again?
By Abid Hussain Al Jazeera 21 Aug 2025 As China pushes to expand the CPEC, Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions continue to cast a shadow over trilateral diplomacy Islamabad, Pakistan – With clasped hands and half-smiles, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, China and Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban posed as they gathered in Kabul on Wednesday for a trilateral meeting. It
Afghanistan: Focal Point of Regional, Global Diplomatic Efforts
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 22 Aug 2025 Meanwhile, Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, met with his British counterpart Andrew McCoubrey. Four years after the collapse of the republic and the return of the Islamic Emirate to power, Afghanistan remains at the center of regional and global diplomatic discussions. In Moscow, Russian Foreign
U.S. Official: Taliban Have ‘Relatively’ Cooperated in Counterterrorism
TOLOnews TV Network 23 Aug 2025 Sebastian Gorka added that there are groups in Afghanistan that pose a threat to the current ruling authority as well. Sebastian Gorka, Deputy Assistant to the U.S. President and a senior member of the National Security Council on counterterrorism affairs, has said that the “Taliban” have cooperated with the
Peace Changed the Village Where War Changed Me
Joao Silva Reporting from Deh-e Kuchay, Afghanistan The New York Times Aug. 21, 2025, 8:58 a.m. ET Fifteen years after a combat photographer lost his legs to a land mine, he returned to the place in Afghanistan where it happened. The village elder was out in his pasture, as he is every morning, crouched low in
Humanitarian Crisis: Afghan Refugees with Legal Papers Forced to Live in Islamabad Parks
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press August 21, 2025 Afghan refugees with legal documents, expelled from homes in Islamabad, now live in public parks without food, shelter, or medical care, creating a growing humanitarian crisis. Afghan refugees with legal documents who were evicted from their homes in Islamabad are now spending nights in a city park, struggling
Don Brown Appointed as U.S. Chargé d’Affaires for Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press August 21, 2025 Don Brown, a career diplomat and former deputy chief of mission, has been appointed U.S. Chargé d’Affaires for Afghanistan, succeeding Karen Decker after her dedicated service. The United States Embassy for Afghanistan, now operating from Doha, announced the appointment of Don Brown as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim on
Afghanistan Afghan, Pakistani Diplomats Urge Resolution of Bilateral Tensions
TOLOnews TV Network 21 Aug 2025 The Islamic Emirate’s ambassador in Islamabad, emphasized the Emirate’s balanced and economy-focused foreign policy. The Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad held an online discussion reviewing four years of the Islamic Emirate’s rule in Afghanistan. Speaking at the event, Sardar Ahmad Shakib, the Islamic Emirate’s ambassador in Islamabad, emphasized
UN, China, Pakistan Voice Concern Over Terrorist Presence in Afghanistan
Hayatullah Rahimi Journalist & Digital Editor Tolo News 21 Aug 2025 The Chinese envoy further urged regional countries to make use of existing initiatives, such as SCO, to strengthen regional counterterrorism efforts. Although the Islamic Emirate has repeatedly denied the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, Pakistan’s representative to the UN Security Council, Asim Iftikhar
Lawmakers announce legislation to restore office for Afghan relocation
By Riley Ceder Military Times Aug 20, 2025 Lawmakers introduced new legislation Tuesday that would reinstate a previously dissolved U.S. government office that led relocation efforts for Afghan allies and refugees. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Calif. — along with several other lawmakers — announced the Enduring Welcome Act, which would legally codify the Office of the Coordinator for
China, Afghanistan hold talks on mining, Belt and Road participation
By Reuters August 20, 2025 KABUL, Aug 20 (Reuters) – China told Afghanistan on Wednesday that Beijing was keen on exploring and mining minerals in Afghanistan and wanted Kabul to formally join its Belt and Road Initiative, the Afghan Taliban foreign ministry said. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is visiting Kabul and held talks with Afghanistan’s
‘Economic suicide’: Afghan expulsions spark labor crisis in Iran
Maryam Sinaiee Iran International Aug 20, 2025 Iran’s economy is reeling from an acute labor shortage following the mass deportation of undocumented Afghan migrants, with key industries such as construction and agriculture struggling to function. For decades, Afghans have formed the backbone of Iran’s low-wage workforce, filling jobs few Iranians were willing to take. Their
Effort to Revive Afghan Relocations to US Garners Bipartisan Support
By Rebecca Kheel Military.com Published August 19, 2025 Afghan evacuees exit a U.S. Air Force Boeing C-17 Globemaster III at Naval Air Station Sigonella during Operation Allies Refuge Aug. 22, 2021. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Daniel M. Young) A program to relocate vulnerable Afghans, including allies who helped the U.S. during
More Than 70 Afghans Returning From Iran Die in Fiery Bus Crash
By Yaqoob Akbary, Elian Peltier and Safiullah Padshah Yaqoob Akbary reported from Kabul, Afghanistan. The New York Times Aug. 20, 2025 More than 70 Afghans died in a bus accident in northern Afghanistan on Tuesday, local officials said, after the vehicle collided with a truck and a motorbike in Herat Province, on the border with Iran. It was
Drought, dams and diplomacy: Afghanistan’s water crisis goes regional
France 24/AFP 17/08/2025 But as Taliban authorities swept to power and tightened their grip on the country, they have pushed for Afghanistan’s water sovereignty, launching infrastructure projects to harness precious resources in the arid territory. Dams and canals have sparked tensions with neighbouring states, testing the Taliban authorities’ efforts to build strong regional ties, as
US military vets are helping Afghans fight deportation
Author,Regan Morris BBC News in San Diego, California 20 August 2025 As a journalist in Afghanistan, Abdul says he helped promote American values like democracy and freedom. That work, he said, resulted in him being tortured by the Taliban after the US withdrew from the country in 2021. Now he’s in California applying for political
China FM in Afghanistan, offers to deepen cooperation with Taliban rulers
Al Jazeera Published On 20 Aug 2025 Mining, Belt and Road participation feature in trilateral meetings between China, Afghanistan and Pakistan in Kabul. China wants to explore mining in Afghanistan and have Kabul formally join its Belt and Road Initiative, a massive infrastructure plan, which is a central pillar of President Xi Jinping’s bid to expand his country’s global influence,
Chinese and Pakistani Foreign Ministers Arrive in Kabul for Trilateral Talks
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press August 20, 2025 Chinese and Pakistani foreign ministers arrived in Kabul for trilateral talks with Taliban officials, focusing on security, economic cooperation, and political dialogue to shape Afghanistan’s regional role. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistani Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar arrived in Kabul on Wednesday to participate in a
Afghanistan War Commission: Dependence, Corruption, Delayed Talks Weakened U.S. Mission
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press August 20, 2025 A U.S. Congressional report says strategic failures; dependence, corruption, and delayed peace talks, undermined Afghanistan’s institutions, leading to the Taliban’s rapid takeover after America’s withdrawal. On the fourth anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power, the U.S. Congressional Afghanistan War Commission released its second report, concluding that
Afghans Mark Independence Day, Call for Freedom and Progress
TOLOnews TV Network 20 Aug 2025 On the occasion of Independence Day, people say that freedom must be safeguarded and the country’s progress prioritized. As Afghanistan marks the 106th anniversary of its regained independence, many citizens share diverse views about the significance of this day. On the occasion of Independence Day, people say that freedom
106th Anniversary of Afghan Independence Commemorated in Kabul
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 19 Aug 2025 Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, stressed internal unity and avoiding divisions. In a ceremony marking the 106th anniversary of Afghanistan’s independence from British colonial rule, senior officials of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan gathered to commemorate this historic day. During the
Cyber-attack on MoD-linked contractor exposes data of Afghans in resettlement scheme
Faisal Ali and agencies The Guardian 16 Aug 2025 Breach at the Jet Centre is latest in series of leaks involving private information of Afghan refugees A contractor linked to the UK Ministry of Defence has been hit by a cyber-attack, exposing personal data linked to Afghan resettlement efforts. It is the latest in a series of breaches
U.S. Issues Travel Warning for Citizens on Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press August 19, 2025 The U.S. State Department has strongly advised citizens against traveling to Afghanistan, citing a heightened risk of arbitrary detention. The U.S. Department of State has issued a strong advisory urging American citizens to avoid traveling to Afghanistan, citing heightened risks to their safety and security. In a
Mes Aynak Copper Mine Contract Extended for More 15 Years with Chinese Firm
Liluma Qadiry Tolo News 18 Aug 2025 The ministry emphasized that with this extension, all core conditions of the contract remain unchanged. The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum announced that the contract for the exploration and extraction of the Mes Aynak copper mine in Mohammad Agha district of Logar province has been extended for another
Veterans’ voices shape a report on the Afghanistan War’s lessons and impact
Julie Carr Smyth and Patrick Aftoora-Orsagos The Independent (UK) Tuesday 19 August 2025 U.S. veterans of the war in Afghanistan are telling a commission reviewing decisions on the 20-year conflict that their experience was not only hell, but also confounding, demoralizing and at times humiliating U.S. veterans of the war in Afghanistan are telling a commission
UNAMA Chief Warns of Crisis From Mass Deportation of Afghan Refugees
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press August 18, 2025 UNAMA chief Roza Otunbayeva warned that mass deportation of Afghan refugees from Iran and Pakistan could trigger a humanitarian crisis, straining Afghanistan’s fragile infrastructure and impoverished population. Roza Otunbayeva, head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), has warned that the large-scale return of Afghan
Afghanistan’s Climate Crisis Displaces Nearly 400,000 in 2025
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press August 18, 2025 Afghanistan faces worsening climate disasters, with droughts and floods displacing nearly 400,000 people this year. Over five million have been affected, deepening the country’s humanitarian crisis. Afghanistan is experiencing increasing displacement as droughts, flash floods, and other climate change impacts continue to devastate communities, according to
Fazlur Rehman: Forced Deportation of Afghans Hurts Kabul–Islamabad Ties
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 18 Aug 2025 He warned that the Pakistani government must categorize Afghan refugees and refrain from deporting Afghan investors and students. The leader of Pakistan’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), Maulana Fazlur Rehman, said in a joint press conference with other parties in Islamabad that the forced expulsion of Afghan refugees would
After 1,400 Days, Afghan Girls Remain Locked Out of Schools
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 18 Aug 2025 Education experts believe this deprivation has not only crushed the hopes of thousands of girls but also cast a dark shadow over the country’s future. With the Islamic Emirate marking its fourth year in power in Afghanistan, schools above the sixth grade remain closed for girls. Sana
Afghan Women Still Barred from Education and Work, UN Says
TOLOnews TV Network 18 August 2025 According to UN findings, half of female employees in civil society organizations have lost their jobs this year due to reduced funding. The UN Special Representative for Women in Afghanistan has said that four years into the current rule, women remain excluded from government structures as well as the
Pakistan Army Chief Urges Kabul to End Policies Destabilizing Pakistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press August 17, 2025 Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir urged Kabul to halt destabilizing policies, warning that cross-border unrest endangers Pakistani citizens and regional stability amid ongoing security tensions. Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, has called on the Taliban to stop policies that destabilize Pakistan, warning the group is accountable for
UN warns of funding shortages amid mass deportations of Afghan Refugees
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press August 17, 2025 UNHCR warns its funds are depleting as 2.2 million Afghans are expelled from Iran and Pakistan, urging urgent aid amid worsening poverty and dire humanitarian crisis. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has warned that its budget is running out as the mass expulsion of Afghan
Qane: Afghan Attacks Orchestrated Abroad with Foreign Involvement
By TOLOnews TV Network 17 Aug 2025 The ministry’s spokesperson adds that the Ministry of Interior is working to also neutralize anti-security incidents planned outside Afghanistan’s borders. The Ministry of Interior says that some of the anti-security incidents that occurred in Afghanistan over the past year were planned outside the country’s borders, and some citizens
Pakistan Shifting Course by Hosting Afghan Opposition?
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press August 16, 2025 Pakistan hosting Afghan opposition in Islamabad signals a potential policy shift, raising questions about its changing approach toward Afghanistan and the broader regional dynamics at play. Pakistan is preparing to host a two-day meeting of Afghan opposition figures, including young leaders, political activists, party representatives, and women,
Khalilzad: Pakistan to Host Meeting of Taliban Opponents
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press August 16, 2025 Zalmay Khalilzad criticized Pakistan’s plan to host Afghan opposition leaders, calling it unwise and provocative, warning it could worsen mistrust and undermine fragile Afghanistan-Pakistan relations. Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, said on Saturday that Pakistan will host a meeting of exiled Afghan
Mujahid: Work on Girls’ Education Continues Pending Religious Approval
TOLOnews TV Network 16 Aug 2025 In another part of his remarks, Mujahid said that the Islamic Emirate has decided to remove the term “acting” from government titles and structures. Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, stated that the matter of girls’ education is still under consideration, pending the issuance of a clear religious
Global Criticism Marks Four Years of Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan
TOLOnews TV Network 16 Aug 2025 The United Nations and several European countries, in response to the fourth anniversary of the Islamic Emirate’s rule in Afghanistan, have emphasized the need to uphold women’s rights and Afghanistan’s international commitments. The UN Secretary-General said that the current government in Afghanistan has deprived women and girls of their
Over 4 years since the Taliban took Kabul, millions of Afghans have been sent back to a country in crisis
By Trisha Mukherjee ABC News August 16, 2025 Over 1.5 million Afghans have returned so far this year, a UN agency says. Over the course of the past four years since the Taliban took control of Kabul, plunging Afghanistan into a humanitarian crisis and stripping away women’s rights, millions of Afghans who initially fled have
‘They do not teach us what we need’: Inside the expansion of religious schools for girls across Afghanistan
Story by Isobel Yeung and Mick Krever Video by Li-Lian Ahlskog Hou andMar k Baron CNN Aug 4, 2025 Girls study at a religious school, or madrasa, where the curriculum is largely set by the Taliban government and devoted to Islamic studies. Mick Krever/CNN EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is part of As Equals, CNN’s ongoing series
Travel influencers boost tourism to Taliban-run Afghanistan
By Astha Rajvanshi NBC News August 5, 2025 The influencers gain attention by gushing over visits to the Central Asian nation, although one critic notes that their trips legitimize its “gender apartheid.” The influencers gain attention by gushing over visits to the Central Asian nation, although one critic notes that their trips legitimize its “gender
Afghanistan’s Healthcare System Near Collapse Amid Aid Cuts and Facility Closures
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press August 15, 2025 Afghanistan’s healthcare system nears collapse as aid cuts force closure of 425 facilities, leaving 23 million people in urgent need of food, clean water, and medical care. Afghanistan’s healthcare system is on the verge of collapse following the Taliban’s return to power, as international aid, once the
Hundreds of Afghans in Pakistan Arrested and Deported After Germany Halts Resettlement Program
Advertisement By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press August 15, 2025 Around 400 Afghans awaiting relocation to Germany have been arrested in Pakistan, with several deported to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, sparking urgent calls from rights groups to halt removals and resume transfers. Hundreds of Afghans awaiting relocation to Germany have been arrested in Pakistan following Berlin’s suspension of
August 15 Marked with Calls for Stability and Balance
TOLOnews TV Network 15 Aug 2025 The acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amir Khan Muttaqi, also stressed the Islamic Emirate’s balanced foreign policy during the event. At a ceremony in Kabul marking the fourth anniversary of the Islamic Emirate’s return to power, the acting Minister of Interior described the preservation of the current system as
Achievements, Challenges As Fifth Year of Islamic Emirate Rule Begins
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 15 Aug 2025 The fourth year of the Islamic Emirate’s rule was a year between consolidating power internally and seeking legitimacy externally. The fifth year of the Islamic Emirate’s rule arrives as the caretaker government faced serious challenges in both domestic and foreign policy over the past year. The fate
Kabul Citizens Celebrate 4th Anniversary of Islamic Emirate Rule
TOLOnews TV Network 15 Aug 2025 From the early hours of the morning, thousands of citizens holding Islamic Emirate flags paraded through various parts of Kabul. Alongside the people, both civilian and military members of the Islamic Emirate also widely celebrated the fourth anniversary of the Islamic Emirate’s takeover in Afghanistan on the 24th of
My family may be killed if deported, says son of Afghan caught in UK data breachand end four years of injustice and impunity
Azadeh Moshiri Pakistan correspondent Reporting from Islamabad BBC News 15 Aug 2025 An Afghan man, whose details were accidentally leaked by the UK in a major data breach, has been detained in Pakistan for imminent deportation alongside several family members, his son told the BBC. The BBC has seen documents which appear to confirm the man
Men celebrate fourth anniversary of Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan
Guardian staff and agencies Fri 15 Aug 2025 Thousands gathered for Kabul ‘flower showers’ while women, banned from the events, staged protests Thousands of men gathered across Kabul on Friday to watch flowers being scattered from helicopters to mark the fourth anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power – a celebration that women were barred
Afghanistan is starting its fifth year of Taliban rule. Here are 5 things to know
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS August 15, 2025 The Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in 2021 for the second time. Since then, the former insurgents have consolidated their grip on power, excluded women and girls from public life, stamped out internal dissent and external challengers, and gained debut recognition as the country’s official government from Russia, a permanent member of
Kabul Is Running Dry and Solutions Might Come Too Late
By Elian Peltier Reporting from Kabul, Afghanistan. The New York Times Aug. 13, 2025 The six million people living in the Afghan capital could be out of water by 2030. The government is scrambling for solutions, but financial reserves are as dry as Kabul’s water basins. As the sunset enveloped Kabul on a recent summer
UN report says its female staff in Afghanistan have received death threats
Al Jazeera Published On 10 Aug 2025 Taliban rulers say they are not behind the threats and are investigating, according to the United Nations. Explicit death threats have been made against dozens of Afghan women working for the United Nations in Afghanistan, according to a new UN report, where their rights have been severely curtailed
UN: Risk of Complete Erasure of Afghan Women from Public Life ‘Serious’
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 12 August 2025 Meanwhile, some women once again call on the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to provide them with opportunities for education and work. The UN Women warns that the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan has become increasingly unbearable, and the risk of their complete removal from public
Afghanistan’s Tourism Boom Boosts Economy, Promotes Culture
TOLOnews TV Network 11 August 2025 Tourism is also an opportunity to present Afghanistan’s culture and history to the world. The significant increase in tourists visiting Afghanistan in recent years has created a new opportunity to boost the economy and promote the country’s culture. According to the Ministry of Information and Culture, in the past
Iran Criticized for Expelling Migrants Holding Legal Residency Documents
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press August 9, 2025 Iran’s social workers say authorities deport Afghan migrants without verifying legal status, citing cases of mistaken identity, family separation, and alleged abuse during mass expulsions. The head of Iran’s Association of Social Workers, Hassan Mousavi Chelik, says officials have failed to distinguish between “legal” and “illegal” Afghan
Mujahid: We Asked US to Hand Over Afghan Embassy to Islamic Emirate
TOLOnews TV Network 10 August 2025 In an interview with National Television, he called for the handover of Afghanistan’s embassy in Washington to the caretaker government. On the eve of the fourth anniversary of the Islamic Emirate’s return to power in the country, Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the caretaker government, spoke about direct talks
Afghanistan’s Taliban have ‘weaponized’ the judicial system to oppress women, UN expert says
By EDITH M. LEDERER Associated Press August 6, 2025 UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers have “weaponized” the legal and judicial system to oppress women and girls in what amounts to “crimes against humanity,” the independent U.N. investigator on human rights in the country said. Richard Bennett said in a report to the U.N.
IOM Warns of Crisis as 1.5 Million Afghans Deported in 2025
By TOLOnews TV Network 8 Aug 2025 Meanwhile, the UN Women stated in a report that women and girls make up nearly half of the migrants deported from neighboring countries. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has warned that Afghanistan is facing one of the largest waves of forced deportations of migrants from neighboring countries, with
Texas man indicted for fatally shooting Afghan refugee who had helped US troops defuse bombs
By JUAN A. LOZANO Associated Press July 31, 2025 HOUSTON (AP) — The brother of an Afghan refugee who helped U.S. forces defuse bombs during the war in Afghanistan expressed frustration Thursday that it took more than three months for the Texas man accused of fatally shooting his sibling over a parking dispute to be
UN Experts Warn ISIS-K Growth in Afghanistan Threatens Global Security
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press July 31, 2025 UN experts told the Security Council ISIS-K is recruiting online and drawing foreign fighters to Afghanistan, calling it the “most serious threat” to U.S., Europe, and regional stability. UN experts have warned that Afghanistan is again becoming a hub for foreign terrorists, posing new dangers to both
Mes Aynak Copper Project Nears Launch After Years of Delays
Liluma Qadiry Tolo News 31 July 2025 The total cost of the project has risen from $2.8 billion to $5 billion due to changes in extraction technologies and methods. The contracting company for the Mes Aynak copper project in Logar province has announced efforts to begin practical operations on the project this year. According to
Afghan Red Crescent Warns of Aid Decline Due to Political Non-Recognition
TOLOnews TV Network 31 July 2025 Officials also reported that in the past year, six psychological therapy centers have provided care and mental health services to 2,383 patients. The Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) states that the international community’s failure to recognize the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has had a negative impact on humanitarian aid
Trump Pledges Support to Afghan Allies Amid Program Backlash
TOLOnews TV Network 31 July 2025 Trump said that individuals who faithfully fulfilled their assigned duties would be given attention and recognition. Donald Trump, President of the United States, emphasized Washington’s loyalty to those who served alongside U.S. forces in Afghanistan, responding to concerns over the risks Afghan allies face if returned. Trump said that
Iran drives out 1.5 million Afghans, with some branded spies for Israel
BBC News Afghan & BBC Global Disinformation Unit 31 July 2025 Some Afghans in Iran have been accused of espionage in the wake of the 12-day conflict with Israel. Ali Ahmad’s eyes fill with tears as he lifts his shirt to show deep bruises across his back. While he was detained, Iranian officers struck him
UK to Resettle Afghan Soldiers Who Aided British Forces
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press July 30, 2025 The UK will resettle former Afghan soldiers and their families in Blackburn, honoring their service alongside British troops and helping them integrate as permanent, contributing residents. Former Afghan soldiers who fought alongside British troops during the war in Afghanistan will soon resettle in Blackburn with Darwen, now
The Taliban are sending workers to Qatar to ease unemployment in Afghanistan
By The Associated Press July 29, 2025, 10:07 AM ISLAMABAD — The Taliban are exporting Afghan workers to fill jobs in the Gulf nation of Qatar to ease unemployment in Afghanistan, and say talks are underway to send labor to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Turkey, and Russia. Registration opened Tuesday for 2,000 skilled
Britain’s self-inflicted Afghanistan data leak disaster
by Eliot Wilson opinion contributor The Hill 07/29/25 When a news story bursts into the headlines in the U.K. and consumes all the oxygen for several days, it can be difficult to know whether it is a domestic uproar or something that is reaching an international audience. For all the fevered debate here, it seems
A trans-Afghan railway chugs toward reality with new agreement
Alexander Thompson Eurasianet Jul 28, 2025 Railway terminal in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan. (Photo: ADB via Wikipedia)😊 Hundreds of bridges, half-dozen tunnels and financing challenges. After eight years of talk, regional governments are taking concrete steps toward building a trans-Afghan railroad from doubly landlocked Uzbekistan to Pakistani ports after all three countries signed a framework agreement. The
Female tour guides in Afghanistan lead women-only groups as some travelers return
By ELENA BECATOROS Associated Press July 30, 2025 KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — They wandered through the museum, listening attentively as their guide explained the antiquities in display cabinets. It could have been any tour group, anywhere in the world. But there was something unusual about this one. The group of foreigners visiting the National Museum of Afghanistan was
Shackled, malnourished and suffering convulsions: son of UK couple imprisoned in Afghanistan warns situation ‘escalating’ and they could die
Jessica Murray Social affairs correspondent The Guardian Sat 26 Jul 2025 Barbie and Peter Reynolds, who were arrested by the Taliban in February, were kept underground for six weeks without daylight, their son says At one point in the five and a half months they have been imprisoned in Afghanistan, Barbie and Peter Reynolds were kept
The Taliban’s top environment official wants the UN to include Afghanistan in climate talks
Associated Press Monday 28 July 2025 From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive
Water Supply Project Launched to Address Kabul’s Growing Water Crisis
TOLOnews TV Network 28 July 2025 This project, implemented in cooperation with UNICEF, spans 11 kilometers and is expected to provide drinking water for 60,000 to 70,000 families in Kabul. As part of efforts to improve access to drinking water in Kabul, the Afghanistan Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Company has inaugurated a project to
Over 1.5 Million Afghans Returned from Neighboring Countries in 2025
TOLOnews TV Network 28 July 2025 The UN body also noted that the pace of deportations from Iran has gradually declined. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported that more than 1.5 million Afghan migrants have returned from neighboring countries to Afghanistan between the start of this year and
Iran Deports Over 700,000 Afghans in One Month, Kabul Demands Coordination
TOLOnews TV Network 26 July 2025 The Commission for Refugee Affairs has announced that over 700,000 Afghan migrants were forcibly deported from Iran over the past month. Ahmadullah Wasiq, spokesperson for the commission, criticized Iran’s inappropriate treatment of Afghan migrants and called on the Iranian government to coordinate the deportation process with the Afghan government.
Germany Clarifies Its Position on Relations with Afghanistan’s Interim Govt
TOLOnews TV Network 26 July 2025 Géza Andreas von Geyr (also known as Gräf Lambsdorff) cited the human rights situation in Afghanistan as the main reason for this position. Germany’s ambassador to Russia has emphasized that his country will not recognize Afghanistan’s interim government in the near future. Géza Andreas von Geyr (also known as
Ishaq Dar: Not the Right Time to Recognize Afghan Interim Government
By TOLOnews TV Network 26 July 2025 Responding to Russia’s decision to recognize the Islamic Emirate, Dar said that the move was made independently and based on Russia’s national interests. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Ishaq Dar, says that the appropriate time to recognize Afghanistan’s interim government has not yet arrived. Responding to
With no access to education beyond the 6th grade, girls in Afghanistan turn to religious schools
By ELENA BECATOROS Associated Press July 24, 2025 KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — For six hours every day after school, Nahideh works in a cemetery, collecting water from a nearby shrine to sell to mourners visiting loved ones’ graves. She dreams of becoming a doctor — but knows it is a futile dream. When the next
Zalmay Khalilzad: “A Solution Must Be Found for the Durand Line”
Mursaleen Muwahed Multilingual Journalist & Social Media Edito 25 July 2025 Khalilzad also emphasized his disagreement with the view that no Afghan president is capable of solving this issue. The former U.S. Special Envoy for Afghan Peace, Zalmay Khalilzad, says a solution must be found for the Durand Line between Afghanistan and Pakistan. In a
EU and Japan Voice Concern Over Human Rights in Afghanistan
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 25 July 2025 So far, the interim government has not officially responded to the EU–Japan statement. In a joint statement, the European Union and Japan voiced deep concern over what they described as the deteriorating humanitarian conditions and human rights situation in Afghanistan. The statement emphasized that Afghanistan’s interim government
Trump pledges to advocate for Afghans stuck in UAE who aided US forces
By Lara Korte Stars and Stripes July 21, 2025 President Donald Trump said July 20, 2025, that he will “try to save” more than two dozen Afghans facing expulsion from the United Arab Emirates and return to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. (White House) More than two dozen Afghans who assisted the U.S. military during 20 years of
Taliban say efforts to release a British couple from Afghan prison not yet complete
Associated Press July 23, 2025 ISLAMABAD (AP) — The Taliban said Wednesday that efforts to free a British couple from an Afghan prison are not yet complete and denied that their rights were being violated despite concerns from their families and U.N. officials. Peter and Barbie Reynolds, who are in their 70s, were arrested in early February after being
Afghan translator who worked for US military detained by Ice in Connecticut
Nina Lakhani and agencies The Guardian Wed 23 Jul 2025 ‘Zia S’ translated for US troops in Afghanistan before fleeing Taliban takeover in 2021 and arriving stateside legally An Afghan wartime translator granted a US immigration visa after risking his life to help US troops has been detained by masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) agents,
U.S. Aid Cut Threatens Afghan Mothers’ Access to Life-Saving Maternity Care, Warns UN
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press July 23, 2025 The UN warns that millions of Afghan women may lose access to maternity care after U.S. aid cuts, risking a rise in maternal deaths. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has issued an urgent warning that the recent halt in U.S. financial aid could severely jeopardize maternal
Afghanistan Ranked Lowest in 2025 Global Passport Index Once Again
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press July 23, 2025 In 2025, Afghanistan’s passport ranks lowest globally, offering visa-free access to only 26 countries, reflecting deepening isolation and limited global mobility. The Henley Passport Index for 2025 has once again ranked the Afghanistan passport as the least powerful in the world. According to this year’s report, Afghanistan
Da Afghanistan Bank Reports Gross Reserves Reach $10 Billion
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 23 July 2025 Da Afghanistan Bank has announced that its gross foreign reserves have now reached $10 billion. Speaking at a conference outlining the one-year achievements of the Islamic Emirate’s institutions, Ahmad Jawad Sadat, Head of the Monetary Policy Department at Da Afghanistan Bank, reiterated that the country’s frozen assets
Inside Iran’s crackdown on Afghan migrants after the war with Israel
By Maziar Motamedi Al Jazeera Published On 22 Jul 2025 Before the war, the official number of Afghan refugees and migrants in Iran was at least 6.1 million people; only about 780,000 have been given refugee status Tehran, Iran – The wave of Afghan refugees and migrants being sent back from Iran has not stopped, with more
Visa Processing for Afghan Allies of U.S. Forces Begins in UAE
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press July 22, 2025 Visa processing has officially started in the UAE for Afghan allies who worked with U.S. forces, aiming to secure their safe relocation. The Trump administration has reached an agreement with the United Arab Emirates to halt the deportation of Afghan interpreters and soldiers who worked alongside U.S.
British Special Envoy: Afghanistan’s Progress Depends on Inclusive Dialogue
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press July 22, 2025 The British Special Representative emphasized that Afghanistan’s future hinges on inclusive dialogue, involving all groups to ensure lasting peace and development. Richard Lindsay, the newly appointed British Special Representative for Afghanistan, recently made a visit to Kabul to engage with a broad spectrum of Afghan society, including
UN Allocates $10 Million to Aid Vulnerable Afghan Returnees from Iran
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press July 22, 2025 The UN has dedicated $10 million to protect vulnerable Afghan returnees from Iran, addressing urgent needs and preventing exploitation at the borders. Tom Fletcher, Deputy UN Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, announced on Tuesday that the UN Emergency Relief Fund is allocating $10 million to support Afghan
For the first time in modern history a capital city is on the verge of running dry
By Alysha Bibi, Rhea Mogul and Masoud Popalzai CNN Published Jul 21, 2025 “We don’t have access to (drinking) water at all,” Raheela, who goes by one name, told CNN. “Water shortage is a huge problem affecting our daily life.” (CNN) — As the sun rises over Kabul’s parched mountains, a family’s daily struggle to
UN concerned by Taliban’s arrest of Afghan women and girls for dress code violations
Associated Press July 21, 2025 ISLAMABAD (AP) — The United Nations on Monday expressed concern about the Taliban’s arrest of Afghan women and girls for their alleged failure to comply with the authorities’ dress code. In May 2022, the Taliban government issued a decree calling for women to show only their eyes and recommending they wear a
Elderly British couple face dying in Afghanistan detention, UN experts warn
Jessica Murray Social affairs correspondent The Guardian Mon 21 Jul 2025 Human rights officials demand Peter and Barbie Reynolds be moved to hospital and out of ‘degrading’ jail conditions UN human rights experts have warned that an elderly British couple detained in Afghanistan may die in “degrading conditions” as they demand they be moved to hospital for
Pakistan Will Not Renew Afghan Refugee ID Cards, Minister Confirms
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press July 19, 2025 Pakistan’s Interior Minister confirmed the government will not renew Afghan refugee ID cards, and deported individuals will be blacklisted from re-entering the country. Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, has announced that the government will not extend the Proof of Registration (POR) cards issued to Afghan refugees. He
Richard Bennett: Deportations from Germany to Afghanistan Violate International Law
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press July 19, 2025 Richard Bennett, UN Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, condemned Germany’s deportation of 81 Afghan citizens, warning of more deportations and urging a halt to the process. Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Afghanistan, expressed deep concern on Saturday regarding the deportation of 81 Afghan
UN Human Rights Chief: Over 1.9 Million Afghans Deported from Iran and Pakistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press July 19, 2025 Over 1.9 million Afghan migrants were deported from Iran and Pakistan in seven months, prompting UN calls to halt forced, unsafe returns immediately. Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, has reported that more than 1.9 million Afghan migrants have been deported from Iran
Kabul Faces One of Its Most Severe Water Crises
TOLOnews TV Network 18 July 2025 According to a report by (UN-Habitat), the dramatic decline in Kabul’s water levels has put nearly six million people at risk of water scarcity. Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, is currently grappling with one of the most critical water crises in its history. According to data, water levels in many central
Merz: Diplomatic Recognition of Islamic Emirate Is Not Under Consideration
TOLOnews TV Network 19 July 2025 Without providing details about the nature of these talks, he added that Qatar played a key role in facilitating them. Friedrich Merz, the Chancellor of Germany, stated that recognizing Afghanistan’s interim government is not on Germany’s agenda. This statement comes amid questions raised within Germany regarding the nature of
In ‘Retrograde’ lawsuit, war-zone filmmaking could face a legal test
By Manuel Roig-Franzia The Washington Post July 18, 2025 The estate of an Afghan man who was killed after appearing in the acclaimed documentary “Retrograde” is suing, claiming negligence.W The complexities of reporting in conflict zones are getting a public airing in a negligence lawsuit working its way through a Los Angeles court against the
Personal details of UK special forces and spies were included in Afghan data breach
BBC News 17 July 2025 Summary The personal details of serving and former members of UK special forces, and the security services, were included in the Afghan data breach, it can now be reported In total, the details of more than 100 British officials were released in February 2022, alongside thousands of Afghans’ details The breach
Germany deports 81 Afghan men to their homeland in 2nd flight since the Taliban’s return
By GEIR MOULSON Associated Press July 18, 2025 BERLIN (AP) — Germany deported dozens of Afghan men to their homeland on Friday, the second time it has done so since the Taliban returned to power and the first since a new government pledging a tougher line on migration took office in Berlin. German authorities said a flight
Germany and EU allies push for ‘tougher, stricter’ asylum rules
Al Jazeera Published On 18 Jul 2025 EU nations push stricter migration measures Germany’s interior minister has hosted five of his European counterparts to discuss ways of tightening the region’s asylum rules, as his country deported 81 Afghans to their Taliban-controlled homeland. The European Union’s immigration system needed to be “tougher and stricter”, Minister Alexander Dobrindt said
‘We were lucky to escape Afghanistan alive – nine months later, we’re still waiting to be brought to safety’
Holly Bancroft Social Affairs Correspondent The Independent Thursday 17 July 2025 Rayan and his family have spent the past 271 days staring at the same four walls of their cramped and sparse hotel room in Pakistan. They were found to be eligible for sanctuary in the UK nine months ago due to his father’s former service alongside
Tajikistan Begins Forced Deportation of Afghan Refugees Ahead of Expiry of 15-Day Deadline
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press July 17, 2025 As the 15-day deadline set by Tajik authorities for Afghan refugees nears its end, reports indicate that the government has already begun forcefully deporting more individuals. According to multiple sources, over 150 people were rounded up from local markets and public areas yesterday and deported from the
Islamabad High Court Rejects Petition to Stop Forced Deportation of Afghan Migrants
Advertisement By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press July 18, 2025 The Islamabad High Court has rejected a petition filed by a defense lawyer seeking to halt the forced deportation of Afghan migrants, stating that it does not intervene in government policies. According to Pakistan’s Express Tribune newspaper, the court dismissed the petition on Thursday, July 17. The petition
Afghan-Trans Project Launched to Link Central and South Asia
Liluma Qadiry Tolo News 18 July 2025 The total length of this strategic railway is reported to be 681 kilometers through Afghanistan. Following the launch of the TAPI project, Afghanistan is now witnessing another major stride in regional connectivity, the “Afghan-Trans” project. This is the second and largest regional initiative under the Islamic Emirate, aimed
Data Leak in the UK: Islamic Emirate Emphasizes Amnesty Decree
Najibullah Lalzoy Web/Social Media Editor Tolo News 17 July 2025 Fitrat added that publishing such reports aims to intimidate specific individuals and their families. The deputy spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate has stated that the leader’s amnesty decree ensures the safety of all, and no one is being prosecuted for their past actions or roles.
UNICEF Assures Support for Afghan Returnees Amid Growing Deportations
By TOLOnews TV Network 13 July 2025 Meanwhile, the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation has also assured that necessary facilities are being provided in all camps for deportees. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has assured that healthcare and basic services are being provided to Afghans returning from Iran. UNICEF’s country representative told TOLOnews that
US Defense Secretary slams 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal as ‘Tragic Disaster’
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama press July 13, 2025 The U.S. defense secretary called the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal a tragic disaster, blaming it for weakening America’s global position and influence. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has sharply criticized the Biden administration’s 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, calling it a “tragic and catastrophic” failure that weakened America’s global
Huge weaponry discovered, 58 detained in Afghanistan
Hans India 13 July 2025 Police have discovered a huge quantity of arms and ammunition in Afghanistan’s Helmand province over the past three months, with 58 people arrested, Provincial director for counter-criminal activities Mawlawi Abdul Satar Amin said on Sunday. Kabul: Police have discovered a huge quantity of arms and ammunition in Afghanistan’s Helmand province
UN warns of crisis as 3 million Afghan migrants may return
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press July 12, 2025 The UN warns of a growing humanitarian crisis as up to 3 million Afghan migrants are expected to return from Iran and Pakistan by year’s end. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has warned that by the end of this year, up to three
US Court rejects delay of Afghan TPS end, deportation to begin July 14
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press July 12, 2025 A U.S. federal court rejected delaying the end of Afghan TPS, placing thousands at risk of deportation and loss of work rights. A U.S. federal court has rejected a request to delay the cancellation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for thousands of Afghan nationals living in the
Germany Considers Handing Afghan Consulate to “Taliban” for Deportations
Hayatullah Rahimi Journalist & Digital Editor Tolo News 12 July 2025 Speaking to a German media outlet, Dobrindt emphasized that this move does not equate to officially recognizing the “Taliban”. Germany’s Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has said that in order to deport Afghan “criminal” refugees from Germany, the Afghan consulate in Berlin should be handed
UNHCR Warns of Humanitarian Crisis Amid Forced Afghan Repatriations
Shabnam Amini Tolo News 12 July 2025 Arafat Jamal, the head of UNHCR in Afghanistan, stated at a press conference that the country is not adequately prepared to receive this influx of returnees. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has expressed concern over the widespread and disorganized return of Afghan refugees from Iran and
Up to 30,000 Afghans Return Daily from Iran, Say Officials
TOLOnews TV Network 11 June 202225 Some of the returnees, referring to the difficult living conditions in Iran, expressed happiness about returning to their homeland. Government officials say that in order to address the challenges faced by these returnees, facilities have been established at the Islam Qala border crossing in Herat. The Deputy Spokesperson of
WHO warns of rising infectious diseases among deported Afghan migrants
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press July 10, 2025 WHO warns of rising infectious diseases among deported Afghan migrants, citing poor sanitary conditions and urgent need for expanded medical support. The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning about the growing spread of infectious diseases and poor sanitary conditions among Afghan migrants deported from neighboring
UN warns: New Media Restrictions in Afghanistan fuel fear and self-censorship
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press July 10, 2025 UN warns that new media restrictions in Afghanistan are fueling widespread fear, tightening control, and significantly increasing self-censorship among journalists. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has expressed serious concern over a new media directive issued by the Taliban. The agency warned that the
Japanese Ambassador Urges Reopening Schools for Afghan Girls
TOLOnews TV Network 10 July 2025 Meanwhile, girls who turned to private institutes after universities were closed are now demanding the reopening of schools and universities. Takayoshi Kuromaya, the Japanese ambassador in Kabul, has called on the caretaker government to reopen the doors of education for girls. Speaking at an event marking Japan’s support for
Pakistani forces kill 8 militants from Afghanistan in Bajaur border
Hindustan Times July 09, 2025 A child was injured in the crossfire. This operation comes after a deadly bombing in Khar that left five dead and 17 injured. Pakistani security forces shot dead eight militants attempting to infiltrate into the country’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province from Afghanistan’s Kunar province, officials said on Wednesday. Troops responded swiftly,
Tajikistan orders Afghan Refugees to leave within 15 days
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press July 9, 2025 Tajikistan has given Afghan refugees just 15 days to leave the country, sparking fear among thousands who face forced deportation despite holding legal residency documents. Tajikistan has reportedly launched a campaign to arrest and forcibly deport Afghan refugees, including many who possess valid residency permits. According to
China, Russia, Uzbekistan Call for Boosting Afghanistan’s Infrastructure
TOLOnews 9 July 2025 The Russian representative also underscored that a stable and prosperous Afghanistan is in the interest of all regional countries. At the United Nations General Assembly, representatives from regional countries emphasized the importance of infrastructure projects and economic cooperation, urging a practical and non-political approach to supporting the Afghan people. China’s envoy
Islamic Emirate Rejects ICC Arrest Warrants, Cites Double Standards
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 9 July 2025 The United Nations, in connection with the ICC’s arrest warrants, stated that it respects the court’s operational independence. Following the issuance of arrest warrants for the leader of the Islamic Emirate, Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada and Abdul Hakim Haqqani, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, by the International
Trump Calls Afghanistan Withdrawal US History’s ‘Most Embarrassing Moment’
TOLOnews TV Network 9 July 2025 Trump claimed that the base is now under China’s control, a claim previously dismissed as baseless by Afghanistan’s caretaker government. US President Donald Trump once again harshly criticized the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan during a cabinet meeting, calling it “the most embarrassing moment in the history of
‘They threw us out like garbage’: Iran rushes deportation of 4 million Afghans before deadline
Hamasa Haqiqatyar and Rad Radan from Zan Times The Guardian Mon 7 Jul 2025 Women forced back to living under the Taliban’s increasingly repressive regime have spoken of their desperation as Iran accelerates the deportation of an estimated 4 million Afghans who had fled to the country. In the past month alone, more than 250,000
Iran Carries Out Mass Expulsion of Afghan Refugees
By Nick Cumming-Bruce Reporting from Geneva The New York Times July 8, 2025 About 800,000 people have been deported to Afghanistan, a desperately poor country, under an Iranian campaign that accelerated sharply in June. Hundreds of thousands of hungry, exhausted and often battered Afghans have been expelled from Iran in recent weeks, under a harsh
Germany urges action on Afghanistan’s Human Rights Crisis
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press July 8, 2025 Germany’s UN envoy voiced deep concern over Afghanistan’s worsening human rights crisis, especially for women and girls, and reaffirmed Berlin’s commitment to supporting the people of Afghanistan. Germany’s representative to the United Nations has expressed deep concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in Afghanistan, especially
ICC issues arrest warrants for Taliban leaders over persecution of women, girls
By Joshua Yang The Washington Post July 8, 2025 The court charged two Taliban leaders with committing crimes against humanity. A spokesman for the group said it did not recognize the court’s authority The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants Tuesday for two leaders of Afghanistan’s Taliban regime, alleging that the Afghan government’s persecution of
WFP Warns: 10 Million Afghans Face Hunger, Only 1 Million Can Be Helped
Liluma Qadiry Tolo News 7 July 2025 Despite rising humanitarian needs, the reduction in aid has left millions of Afghan families facing severe economic and humanitarian challenges. The World Food Programme (WFP) has once again raised concerns about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. The UN-affiliated organization states that this summer, ten million people in
UN Resolution on Afghanistan: Islamic Emirate and Global Reactions
TOLOnews TV Network 8 July 2025 Russia, maintaining formal relations with the interim Afghan government, criticized the Western-centric approach to resolving Afghanistan’s issues. The Islamic Emirate’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that it will review the recently adopted UN General Assembly resolution on Afghanistan in accordance with Islamic principles and national interests. While acknowledging
Recognition of the Islamic Emirate a Bilateral Matter: UN
By TOLOnews TV Network 8 July 2025 UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, emphasized that the UN’s position on the issue remains unchanged. The United Nations has said that Russia’s recognition of the caretaker government in Afghanistan is a bilateral matter between Kabul and Moscow. UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, emphasized that the UN’s position on
ICC issues warrants for Taliban leaders over alleged persecution of women
Al Jazeera Published On 8 Jul 2025 Judges say Taliban officials have ‘severely deprived’ girls and women of human rights, including education. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for two top Taliban leaders in Afghanistan on charges of abuses against women and girls. ICC judges on Tuesday said there were “reasonable grounds”
UN adopts resolution on Afghanistan’s Taliban rule over US objections
By EDITH LEDERER Associated Press July 7, 2025 UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution Monday over U.S. objections calling on Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers to reverse their worsening oppression of women and girls and eliminate all terrorist organizations. The 11-page resolution also emphasizes “the importance of creating opportunities for economic recovery,
UN Official: Iran accuses hundreds of Afghan migrants of spying
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press July 5, 2025 A UN official reported that Iran has accused hundreds of Afghan migrants of spying, raising concerns over arbitrary arrests and human rights violations. Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, has expressed serious concern over the arrest of hundreds of Afghan migrants
Trump slams Afghanistan withdrawal as “Most Shameful Moment” in US History
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press July 5, 2025 Trump called the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan the most shameful moment in American history, vowing never to allow such failure again. U.S. President Donald Trump has once again condemned the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, calling it “perhaps the most shameful moment in the history of
Zabul’s Children Deprived of Schooling Due to Lack of Teachers
Ataullah Omar Tolo News 03 JULY 2025 Residents of Zabul are calling on the caretaker government to provide access to both modern and religious education for children in remote areas. The Zabul Department of Education says that in 500 villages across the province, many students are deprived of access to education due to a shortage
Deported Afghans Call on Government to Recover Their Property from Iran
By Nasir Ahmad Salehi TOLOnews Reporter 6 July 2025 They are calling on the caretaker government to take action to retrieve their property and assets from Iran. Many Afghans deported from Iran say their possessions remain in that country. According to them, hundreds of millions of Iranian tomans and household belongings were left behind, and
Afghanistan Emerges as a New Frontier for Adventure Tourism: A Blend of Promise and Challenges
TTW Travel and Tour World Sunday, July 6, 2025 Afghanistan has in recent decades emerged as a rising center for adventure tourism. Despite the volatility that has long plagued the country, its diverse sceneries, cultural diversity, and history have started to attract travelers, most prominently those looking to have a singular experience that is far
Iran tells millions of Afghans to leave or face arrest on day of deadline
Al Jazeera 6 Jul 2025 Afghans given Sunday deadline amid concerns over security after conflict with Israel, but humanitarian groups warn that mass deportations could further destabilise Afghanistan. Millions of Afghan migrants and refugees in Iran have been asked to leave or face arrest as a deadline set by the government comes to an end.
Mujahid: U.S. Expected to Recognize Islamic Emirate Like Russia
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 6 July 2025 Mujahid urged Washington to follow Moscow’s lead and initiate formal engagement with Kabul. Following Russia’s recognition of Afghanistan’s interim government, Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, called the move “a major and constructive step,” stating that this development could open a new chapter in Afghanistan’s diplomatic
‘End is near’: Will Kabul become first big city without water by 2030?
By Ruchi Kumar Al Jazeera 5 Jul 2025 The city of six million people could soon run out water, amid climate change, sanctions and governance failures, say experts. Kabul, a city of over six million people, could become the first modern city to run out of water in the next five years, a new report
Troops kill 30 militants attempting to sneak into Pakistan from Afghanistan
Associated Press July 4, 2025 ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani security forces killed 30 militants who attempted to enter the country from Afghanistan, the military said Friday. It said the members of the Pakistani Taliban were spotted overnight in the North Waziristan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and the troops seized weapons, ammunition and explosives from
Afghan P1 and P2 Case Holders Stranded in Pakistan call for swift resumption of USRAP and Relocation
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press July 4, 2025 Afghan P1 and P2 case holders in Pakistan urgently appeal for the resumption of USRAP, relocation, and essential support for their families’ well-being. On 4th July 2025, Afghan holders of P1 and P2 refugee cases, residing in Pakistan, formally protested and sent a written letter to the
Richard Bennett expresses concern over Media Restrictions in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press July 4, 2025 Richard Bennett expressed concern over recent media restrictions in Afghanistan, warning that these measures reflect increasing authoritarianism and threaten press freedom. Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Afghanistan, raised significant concerns regarding the Taliban’s recent policies on media and political programming. On Friday,
Islamic Emirate Urges Other Nations to Follow Russia’s Lead
TOLOnews TV Network 4 July 2025 Western countries have so far refrained from recognizing the Islamic Emirate due to concerns over human rights, particularly the situation of women and girls. The flag of the Islamic Emirate was raised over the Afghan embassy, an action that followed Russia’s official recognition of the Islamic Emirate nearly four
Afghan refugees stuck in Pakistan as Germany halts entry programme
By Riham Alkousaa and Charlotte Greenfield Reuters July 3, 2025 However, a year later, in Islamabad, Kimia remains stuck in limbo. Afghan refugees stuck in Pakistan as Germany halts entry program Summary New political climate sees entry programme for Afghans suspended Thousands of Afghans stuck in Pakistan in limbo Germany says intends to halt humanitarian migration programmes
Pakistan’s army says it killed 30 fighters trying to cross Afghan border
Al Jazeera 4 Jul 2025 Islamabad has blamed India for backing groups that carry out attacks in Pakistan, something New Delhi denies. Pakistan’s army has said it has killed 30 fighters who tried to cross the border from Afghanistan, just days after a suicide attack in the same region killed 16 Pakistani soldiers. The fighters, who all
Pentagon to Begin Review of America’s 20-Year War in Afghanistan
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 4 July 2025 The aim of this review is to extract key lessons from the wars in Afghanistan and Vietnam to avoid repeating past mistakes. Four years after the controversial withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, the Pentagon has launched a new review of the two-decade-long war in the country.
Russia Becomes First Country to Recognize Afghanistan’s Taliban Government
By Elian Peltier and Paul Sonne The New York Times July 3, 2025, 5:14 p.m. ET Afghanistan has remained largely isolated since the Taliban seized power nearly four years ago, despite subtle signs of increased cooperation with countries like China and India. Russia on Thursday became the first country to recognize the Taliban government as the legitimate authority
UN Warns: Drought worsens across Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press July 2, 2025 The UN reports a rapidly spreading drought across Afghanistan, causing crop failures, livestock deaths, and urgent need for humanitarian aid. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has issued a stark warning about the worsening drought in Afghanistan, noting that the northern, northwestern, and northeastern provinces
Bhutto: Kabul Violating Doha Deal, Threatening Regional Stability
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press July 2, 2025 Bilawal Bhutto warned that the Kabul’s repeated violations of the Doha Agreement are threatening regional stability and undermining efforts to combat terrorism. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party, has warned that the Taliban’s repeated violations of their commitments under the Doha Agreement are fueling
Islamic Emirate to Join 7th Moscow Format Meeting as Full Member
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 2 July 2025 Speaking to TASS News Agency, Kabulov added that the interim government of Afghanistan will participate in the meeting as a “full member.” Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s special envoy for Afghanistan, stated that the seventh Moscow Format meeting on Afghanistan is scheduled to take place in September and October
Khalilzad Stresses Purposeful Engagement with Islamic Emirate
TOLOnews TV Network 2 July 2025 He also emphasized that India, due to its significant regional interests, has adopted a similar approach toward the interim Afghan government./ Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US Special Envoy for Afghan Peace, has spoken about Washington’s engagement with the interim Afghan government to bring about positive changes. He stated that the
Surge in Afghans driven from Iran in spy hunt after Israel attacks
Jerusalem Post Reuters July 2, 2025 The United Nations refugee agency estimates Iran deported home an average of more than 30,000 Afghans each day during the war, up 15-fold from about 2,000 earlier. Afghan citizen Enayatullah Asghari watched dismayed after Israel and Iran launched strikes on each other last month, as the Gulf nation where
IFRC calls for immediate aid to support Afghanistan’s migrant influx from Iran
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press July 1, 2025 The IFRC has called for immediate international aid to assist Afghanistan, as over 800,000 migrants, primarily from Iran, return this year. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has called for increased global support in response to the rising deportation of Afghan migrants
Forced Deportation of Afghan Migrants and Warning of Humanitarian Crisis
TOLOnews TV Network 1 July 2025 The increase in returnees has raised concerns among the United Nations and human rights organizations, who have called for a halt to forced deportations. ‘From the beginning of this year to the end of June 2025, more than 714,000 Afghan migrants have returned from Iran, 70% of whom were
Kabulov: Russia Should Arm the Taliban Against ISIS
Hayatullah Rahimi Journalist & Digital Editor 1 July 2025 Kabulov further said that although the security situation in Afghanistan remains tense, it is “much better than under Western occupation.” Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s special presidential envoy for Afghanistan, has called the Islamic Emirate government in Kabul an “Objective partner”in the fight against terrorism and stressed that
CSTO States Pledge Support for Peace and Stability in Afghanistan
TOLOnews TV Network 1 July 2025 Political analysts say that CSTO member states view their own national stability and interests as directly tied to the situation in Afghanistan. Foreign ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Afghanistan in its pursuit of peace and stability, according to
UN-Led Doha Talks Focus on Afghan Economy and Drug Control
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 1 July 2025 The talks addressed key issues such as alternative livelihoods, treatment for drug addiction, and development of the private sector and banking systems. As Afghanistan navigates ongoing economic and social challenges, Doha has hosted a two-day series of technical working group meetings focused on fostering international cooperation and
Hard to imagine a worse time to deport Afghan refugees, human rights advocates say
Ruchi Kumar National Public Radio June 28, 2025 “We see families arriving with barely anything — often just the clothes on their backs,” said Najib Ghiasi. He’s on the staff of the Afghan charity Aseel, and he’s speaking about Afghan refugees in Pakistan who lived there for years, even decades — and are now being removed
Pakistan reviewing extension of Afghan migrant deportation deadline
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press July 1, 2025 Pakistan is reviewing the extension of the Afghan migrant deportation deadline, providing more time for migrants to manage personal affairs before return. Pakistani officials have announced that the government is considering extending the deadline for the forced return of 1.4 million Afghan migrants who are legally residing
Afghanistan Sees Alarming Rise in Youth Suicides
Sadaqat Ghorzang Tolo News 29 June 2025 In recent days, reports have emerged of two young people committing suicide in the provinces of Nangarhar and Kandahar. Drug addiction, domestic violence, and unemployment are cited as the primary causes of such incidents. One of the victims, Abdul Haq, a resident of Chaparhar district in Nangarhar, hanged
UNICEF Reports Return of 5,000 Unaccompanied Afghan Children from Iran
TOLOnews TV Network 30 June 2025 Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF’s representative in Afghanistan, also stated that 150,000 individuals have returned via the Islam Qala crossing just this month. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reported the return of 5,000 unaccompanied children from Iran to Afghanistan through the Islam Qala border. Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF’s representative in
Global Efforts Pledged in Doha to Support Afghanistan’s Economy
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 30 June 2025 Following the official ban on poppy cultivation by the interim government, the level of cultivation has significantly decreased. The third meeting of the Counter-Narcotics Working Group and the second meeting of the Private Sector Working Group were held today (Monday, 30 June) in Doha, the capital of
Afghanistan: Surging returns from Iran overwhelm fragile support systems, UN agencies warn
UN News 30 June 2025 UNHCR/Faramarz Barzin Afghans who have been deported from Iran gather at the Islam Qala border crossing in western Afghanistan. More than 700,000 Afghan migrants have returned from Iran so far this year, including 256,000 in June alone, the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Monday, warning of immense
Islamic Emirate Denies Pakistan Claim of India Using Afghan Territory
TOLOnews TV Network 28 June 2025 The Islamic Emirate rejected remarks made by the Chief of Pakistan’s Army Staff claiming that India is using Afghan territory to operate against Pakistan. Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate, stressed that the caretaker government, based on its policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of other
City’s ‘moral duty’ to accept more Afghan refugees
Alexander Brock Local Democracy Reporting Service BBC News June 29, 2025 The city council has agreed to accept 124 Afghan refugees during 2025/26 Birmingham City Council has agreed to accept 124 new Afghan refugees into the city – a move its leader called a “moral duty”. The Labour run local authority said it was willing
Tourists are trickling into Afghanistan and the Taliban government is eager to welcome them
By ELENA BECATOROS Associated Press June 29, 2025 KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — By plane, motorbike, camper van and even on bicycles, tourists are beginning to discover Afghanistan, with solo travelers and tour groups gradually venturing into a country that until recently was wracked by war. And the country’s Taliban government, which seized power more than
Afghanistan among top 20 nations with most unvaccinated children: UNICEF
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 29, 2025 UNICEF reports Afghanistan is among the top 20 countries globally with the highest number of unvaccinated children, raising serious health concerns. Afghanistan is among the top 20 countries in the world with the highest number of unvaccinated children, according to a recent report by the United Nations
Pakistan Closes Ghulam Khan Border with Afghanistan amid Security Threats
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 29, 2025 Pakistan has temporarily closed the Ghulam Khan border crossing with Afghanistan due to security threats, disrupting trade and travel until further notice. Local officials in Khost province have announced that the Ghulam Khan border crossing has been closed by the Pakistani side due to security concerns and
Pension Decree Ignored for Months, Retirees Say
Shabnam Amini Tolo News 29 June 2025 Among the protesters were also retired women, their eyes filled with tears and their voices choked with grief and hardship. Once considered the backbone of the state, Afghanistan’s retired civil servants now suffer in silence, overlooked and impoverished, their voices barely heard despite their growing desperation. A number
At least 1.2 million Afghans forced to return from Iran and Pakistan this year, says UN
Associated Press June 28, 2025 ISLAMABAD (AP) — At least 1.2 million Afghans have been forced to return from Iran and Pakistan this year, the U.N. refugee agency said Saturday, warning that repatriations on a massive scale have the potential to destabilize the fragile situation in Afghanistan. Iran and Pakistan in 2023 launched separate campaigns to expel foreigners they
Iran warns undocumented Afghan nationals to leave or face legal action
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 28, 2025 Iran has warned undocumented Afghanistan’s nationals to leave the country immediately or face legal action, citing national security and public safety concerns. Iran’s Attorney General, Mohammad Mohebi, has issued a stern warning to undocumented foreign nationals, particularly Afghan migrants, urging them to leave the country immediately. He
Nowhere to run: The Afghan refugees caught in Israel’s war on Iran
By Omid Sobhani Al Jazeera Published On 28 Jun 2025 Afghans stuck in Tehran represent a forgotten population in a conflict that has captured global attention – people who fled one danger zone only to find themselves trapped in another, with no safe haven in sight. On Friday, June 13, when Israeli missiles began raining down
How refugees have helped save these midwestern cities: ‘That’s really something we celebrate’
Stephen Starr in Dayton, Ohio The Guardian Fri 27 Jun 2025 08.00 EDT In places like Dayton, Ohio, and Indianapolis, blighted neighborhoods and economies have been transformed At a time in life when many are winding down, Gunash Akhmedova, aged 65, fulfilled a lifelong dream of opening her first business. A member of the Ahiska, or
US Congressman warns Afghanistan has once again become a safe haven for terrorists
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 27, 2025 A U.S. Congressman warned that Afghanistan has once again become a safe haven for terrorists, posing a growing threat to regional and global security. Bill Huizenga, a Republican Representative from Michigan and Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South and Central Asia, warned on Thursday
Deportations Spike of Afghan Migrants from Iran
Naseer Ahmad Salehi Tolo News 27 June 2025 They are urging the interim government to create job opportunities for them within the country. The return and deportation of Afghan migrants from Iran has increased significantly in recent days. According to statistics from local Herat officials, nearly 100,000 Afghan migrants have returned to the country through
UN Warns of Rising Despair Among Afghan Returnees Lacking Basic Support
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 27 June 2025 Islam spoke of his son’s illness, the medicines he can no longer afford, and how he must return empty-handed to Jawzjan province. While more than one million Afghan migrants have returned from neighboring countries since the beginning of the year, the United Nations said that over 600,000
Islamic Emirate Rejects US Claims of Terrorist Safe Havens in Afghanistan
TOLOnews TV Network 27 June 2025 Bill Huizenga claimed that Afghanistan has once again become a safe haven for terrorist groups, contrary to the Doha Agreement. The Islamic Emirate has once again rejected accusations that terrorist groups are active in Afghanistan. Bill Huizenga, chairman of the US House Subcommittee on Foreign Affairs, claimed that following
UNDP helps 139,000 Afghan families gain access to clean water amid ongoing challenges
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 26, 2025 UNDP reports that 139,000 Afghan families now have access to clean water, addressing ongoing water scarcity challenges in the country. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Afghanistan has highlighted the ongoing water accessibility challenges in the country. In a report released on 26th July 2025, the
Fourfold Increase in Arrest of Afghan Migrants in Tehran
TOLOnews TV Network 27 June 2025 The governor of Tehran, Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian, reported a fourfold increase in the arrest of foreign nationals in Iran’s capital in recent days. Motamedian emphasized that the illegal presence of foreign nationals in Tehran is unacceptable. Simultaneously, the Press Office of Herat province announced that over 30,000 Afghan migrants
Meeting in Kabul Addresses Afghan Migration Causes, Solutions
Kamran Ahmadzai Tolo News 26 June 2025 Delawar also emphasized that the Islamic Emirate has addressed all challenges faced by returning migrants in the country. A meeting titled “Afghan Migration to Foreign Countries: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions” was held in Kabul. The head of the Afghan Red Crescent Society Shahabuddin Delawar and the head of
UNODC: Drug Cultivation in Afghanistan Has Decreased By 90%
Tolo News 26 June 2025 He confirmed the 90% reduction in the cultivation and production of narcotics in Afghanistan. Polleak Ok Serei, the head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Afghanistan, has reported a 90% decrease in the cultivation and production of narcotics in the country. In a special interview with
Advocates recruit vets to attend Afghan allies’ immigration hearings
By Leo Shane III Military Times Jun 25, 2025 Officials from AfghanEvac and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America are recruiting veterans to travel to immigration hearings as a show of support for Afghan allies who served alongside U.S. military forces. (Staff Sgt. Joshua Magbanua/Air Force) A pair of advocacy groups is launching a new effort to
Washington signals policy shift on Afghanistan during UN Security Council session
Ariana News June 24, 2025 However, other Council members urged caution in dealing with the Islamic Emirate. The United Nations Security Council held a special session this week to assess the situation in Afghanistan, with international stakeholders offering sharply contrasting views on engagement with the Islamic Emirate-led administration. The meeting comes amid growing concern
UN warns of severe Humanitarian Crisis in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 24, 2025 UN officials report Afghanistan faces severe humanitarian needs, with widespread hunger, malnutrition, water shortages, and educational restrictions, especially for girls. Joyce Msuya, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, highlighted the ongoing and severe humanitarian needs facing the people of Afghanistan. Speaking
UN Envoy: Girls’ Education Ban Isolating Afghanistan from the World
Mursaleen Muwahed Web Journalist, Online content writer. Tolo News 23 June 2024 Otunbayeva also reported to the UN Security Council that over 600,000 people have returned to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan so far. The Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has stated that the unacceptable situation of Afghan women and
Muttaqi Criticizes US Over Frozen Afghan Assets, Calls for Release
Liluma Qadiry Tolo News 24 June 2025 Muttaqi stressed that the US decision has severely disrupted the natural course of Afghanistan’s economic development. The acting foreign minister of Afghanistan, Amir Khan Muttaqi, criticized the United States for freezing Afghanistan’s foreign reserves, calling the move illegal and demanding the immediate and unconditional release of the country’s
UN Debates Engagement with Islamic Emirate: Mosaic Plan in Focus
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 24 June 2025 China and Russia have reiterated their calls for the international community to engage with the Islamic Emirate. The head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has introduced a new initiative called the “Mosaic Plan” during a Security Council meeting. The primary goal of this
US House Passes Bill to Block Aid to Islamic Emirate
TOLOnews TV Network 24 June 2025 Representative Tim Burchett urged the US Senate to also pass the bill and send it to President Donald Trump as soon as possible. The United States House of Representatives has passed a bill aimed at prohibiting the Islamic Emirate from accessing US aid. Representative Tim Burchett urged the US
UN calls for protection of Afghan migrants amid Iran-Israel tensions
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 21, 2025 Amid rising Tehran-Tel Aviv tensions, Bennett called for protecting vulnerable Afghan migrants in Iran from potential harm and violence. On the ninth day of conflict between Tehran and Tel Aviv, UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett urged all parties to protect Afghan migrants in Iran, warning of serious
Amnesty calls on Pakistan to halt forced deportation of Afghan Refugees
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 21, 2025 Amnesty International urges Pakistan to stop deporting Afghan refugees, renew PoR cards, and uphold international laws protecting those seeking safety. Amnesty International on Friday called on Pakistan to immediately stop deporting Afghan refugees and extend their Proof of Registration (PoR) cards. The call was made on World
UNSC to Hold Quarterly Briefing on Afghanistan on June 23
TOLOnews TV Network 22 June 2025 The council’s statement said that following the public session, a closed-door meeting will take place. The UN Security Council will hold its second quarterly meeting on the situation in Afghanistan in two days. The main speakers will include Roza Otunbayeva, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, the Under-Secretary-General
Thousands of Afghans Return from Iran After Losing All Belongings
By Nasir Ahmad Salehi TOLOnews Reporter 22 June 2025 Many said they had lived in Iran for years and had built a life there, but during their return, they were unable to bring even their household items with them. Many Afghans returning from Iran say that due to Israeli attacks and pressure from the Iranian
Hanafi: Afghanistan Committed to Expanding Regional Economic Ties
TOLOnews TV Network 20 June 2025 Hanafi said that Afghanistan’s territory will not be used against any other country. Abdul Salam Hanafi, Administrative Deputy of the Prime Minister’s Office, during his speech in China emphasized Afghanistan’s policy of non-interference and called for expanded economic relations with regional countries. Hanafi said that Afghanistan’s territory will not
Afghan Refugees Continue to Face Uncertainty
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 20 June 2025 Meanwhile, the European Union Delegation in Afghanistan has once again reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Afghan refugees. World Refugee Day arrives as thousands of Afghan refugees continue to face an uncertain and unsettled future. These refugees are not only struggling with economic pressures and legal challenges in
Russia Clarifies Its Stance on Recognition of the Islamic Emirate
TOLOnews TV Network 20 June 2025 Russia is among the countries that have temporarily removed the Islamic Emirate from their blacklist. The spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Moscow is awaiting the arrival of the Islamic Emirate’s ambassador. In an interview with Sputnik News Agency, Maria Zakharova also commented on the
Story project helps teach refugees English
Sophie Parker BBC News June 19, 2025 Uzra Taqwa has been helping translate books for the other women A project involving bilingual children’s storybooks and toy-filled sacks has helped refugees – many from Afghanistan – with developing English language skills. The ‘Story Sack’ programme, put together by mostly female refugees in Swindon, Wiltshire, sees people
UN Security Council to discuss Afghanistan Crisis on Monday
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 19, 2025 The UN Security Council will meet on Monday to discuss Afghanistan’s worsening crisis, including restrictions on women’s rights and the country’s economic collapse. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has announced that the UN Security Council will convene a session on Monday, June 23, to discuss
Muttaqi: Norway’s Recognition of Afghan Envoy Builds Trust
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter In the latest development, the acting foreign minister of Afghanistan met with the chargé d’affaires of the Norwegian Embassy in Kabul. Four years after political changes in Afghanistan and the cooling of relations with most Western countries, signs are now emerging of a gradual thaw in diplomatic ties. In the
UN Reports 3% Rise in Security Incidents in Afghanistan
TOLOnews TV Network 19 June 2025 In the security section, the report states that anti-security incidents have increased by three percent compared to the same period last year. The UN Secretary-General has released his quarterly report covering the period from February 1 to April 30, 2025, addressing the political, security, human rights, and economic situation
Teenage foreign worker among those killed in strikes in Iran
Azadeh Moshiri Pakistan correspondent BBC News June 18, 2025 Abdul Wali, 18, survived the initial blast but died hours later in hospital “He wasn’t a politician, he was just a teenager, working hard to support our family back home,” Abdul Ghani tells us of his eldest son Abdul Wali, 18, killed in an Israeli strike
Zalmay Khalilzad faces International Legal Action demand from 76 Afghanistan’s Civil and Human Rights Groups
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 18, 2025 Seventy-six Afghanistan’s civil and human rights organizations have demanded international legal action against Zalmay Khalilzad for his alleged involvement. In an open letter, 76 Afghanistan’s civil, human rights, and protest organizations called for international accountability and legal proceedings against Zalmay Khalilzad. The letter accuses Khalilzad of direct
Concerns Rise Over Returnee Crisis, Lack of Humanitarian Aid Funding
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 18 June 2025 Due to this funding shortfall, some support centers for returnees, such as the Jalalabad center, have scaled back their operations. Amid increasing pressure on Afghan migrants in neighboring countries, more than two million people have been forcibly returned to Afghanistan over the past two years. However, with
Brussels Meeting Calls for Coordinated Support of Afghanistan
TOLOnews TV Network 18 June 2025 The two-day meeting was attended by representatives from the European Union, other political institutions, and diplomats from several countries. Participants at a meeting in Brussels stressed the need for a coordinated and sustainable approach to supporting a stable Afghanistan committed to international principles. The two-day meeting was attended by
Mirziyoyev Concerned By Diminishing Attention to Afghanistan
TOLOnews TV Network 18 June 2025 The presidents of China and Kyrgyzstan also emphasized the need to boost cooperation with Afghanistan to achieve peace and stability. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the President of Uzbekistan, has expressed concern over the decreasing attention of the international community to the situation in Afghanistan. At the second “China – Central Asia”
UN Concerned By Continued Education Ban in Afghanistan
TOLOnews TV Network 18 June 2025 The issue of girls’ education in Afghanistan has consistently been discussed at global forums. The United Nations has once again expressed concern over what it describes as gender inequality in Afghanistan, stating that eight out of every ten women in Afghanistan are deprived of education. The UN Deputy Spokesperson
25-Year Oil Contract for Amu Darya Cancelled
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 17, 2025 A 25-year oil contract for the Amu Darya field was cancelled due to repeated violations by the Chinese company involved. The Taliban’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has announced the cancellation of a 25-year oil extraction contract in the Amu Darya basin with the Chinese company Afchin,
UN calls for Legal Recognition of Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan, says Richard Bennett
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 17, 2025 Richard Bennett emphasized at the UN that gender apartheid in Afghanistan must be legally recognized to address systemic human rights violations. During the 59th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, the human rights situation in Afghanistan was once again brought to the forefront of international
Fear of Israeli Bombings Drives Afghans to Flee Iran
Nasir Ahmad Salehi TOLOnews Reporter 17 June 2025 Abdulwahab, who recently returned from Iran, lived in Tehran and was forced to leave due to the escalating Israeli airstrikes on the city. A number of returning migrants from Iran say they have returned to Afghanistan due to fears of Israeli airstrikes on Iranian cities. According to
UNICEF: Over 90% of Afghan Children Suffer from Food Poverty
TOLOnews TV Network 17 June 2025 The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has described malnutrition as one of the most severe humanitarian crises in the country. More than 90% of young children in Afghanistan face food poverty, and 1.4 million of them are at risk of death due to malnutrition. The United Nations Children’s Fund
UN Agencies urge immediate action to tackle Malnutrition Crisis in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 16, 2025 UN agencies urge urgent global support as over 3.5 million Afghan children face severe malnutrition amid worsening food insecurity crisis. Several United Nations agencies have issued a joint call for urgent action to address the growing malnutrition crisis affecting women and children in Afghanistan. On Sunday, June
Senior Officials’ Meeting on Afghanistan begins today in Brussels
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 16, 2025 The senior officials’ meeting on Afghanistan began today in Brussels, focusing on political stability and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the country. A high-level international meeting on Afghanistan began early Monday in Brussels, hosted by the European Union. Key regional and global stakeholders are attending the
Over 10 nations call out Afghanistan’s Human Rights Abuses
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 16, 2025 Over 10 countries condemned Afghanistan’s human rights violations, urging international accountability and justice, especially for women, vulnerable groups, and marginalized communities. Representatives from over 10 countries condemned ongoing human rights violations in Afghanistan, particularly against women, during the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council held
UN rights chief: Women removed from Public Life in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 16, 2025 The UN Human Rights Chief warned that women in Afghanistan have been systematically removed from public life, facing severe restrictions and discrimination. Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, warned about the deteriorating condition of Afghan women during the 59th session of the UN Human Rights
800 Afghan Families Deported from Pakistan in Past Week
Sadaqat Ghorzang Tolo News 16 June 2025 According to the Nangarhar Directorate of Refugees and Repatriation, approximately 770 families were deported via Torkham last week. Over the past week, Pakistan forcibly repatriated around 770 Afghan families through the Torkham crossing. According to the Nangarhar Directorate of Refugees and Repatriation, approximately 770 families were deported via
Afghanistan’s Delicate Diplomacy Amid Escalating Iran-Israel Conflict
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 16 June 2025 Afghanistan’s Ministry of Economy has stated that the continuation of these tensions could seriously affect regional stability. In a volatile period in Iran-Israel relations, Afghanistan is striving to maintain a realistic outlook and a balanced policy to stay out of the conflict’s reach. The Islamic Emirate is
Malala and Kiran faced violence, threats and shame. Now their fathers want ‘all men to stand with women’
Isabel Choat The Guardian Sun 15 Jun 2025 Ziauddin Yousafzai and Ranjit appear in a new film in which they discuss fatherhood, courage, gender justice and bringing up strong daughters The day Ranjit’s daughter was born, he distributed sweets to the entire village – not just because he was thrilled to be a father for
Clash between Taliban and Pakistani troops in Kunar leaves two dead
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 15, 2025 A clash between Taliban fighters and Pakistani troops in Kunar’s Shigal district near the Durand Line resulted in two fatalities. Local sources in Kunar province report that two Taliban fighters were killed in an armed clash with Pakistani soldiers. The incident occurred in the Takht-e-Khor area of
UN to Address Afghanistan’s Human Rights Crisis at Upcoming Session
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 15, 2025 The 59th UN Human Rights Council session will address Afghanistan’s human rights situation, focusing on gender discrimination and apartheid. The 59th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council will commence on Monday, June 16 in Geneva. The agenda for this session includes a review of the
Mujahid: We Are Coordinating With Iran to Protect Afghan Migrants
TOLOnews TV Network 15 June 2025 Iran, as a neighboring country to Afghanistan, hosts approximately six million Afghan migrants, according to current data. As Israeli attacks on several Iranian cities intensify, the Islamic Emirate has announced that it is in contact with Iranian officials to ensure the safety of Afghan migrants and to address their
Iran-Israel Conflict Halts Fuel Imports to Afghanistan
Nasir Ahmad Salehi TOLOnews Reporter 15 June 2025 A significant portion of Afghanistan’s imports, including oil and liquefied gas, comes from Iran. Local officials in Herat report that due to the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, the import of oil and gas from Iran has been suspended. Simultaneously, the prices of gas and petroleum
UN: Over 632,000 Afghan Migrants Returned from Iran in Five Months
Tolo News 14 June 2025 IOM has reported an increase in the return of Afghan migrants from Iran, stating that in May alone, over 15,000 families returned to Afghanistan. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that more than 632,000 Afghan migrants returned from Iran in the first five months of this year alone.
Afghanistan Braces for Economic Fallout from Iran–Israel Conflict
Habib Rahman Qooyash Head of Business Desk Tolo News 14 June 2025 The volume of trade between Afghanistan and Iran reaches three billion dollars annually. Officials from the Islamic Emirate have stated that the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel will negatively affect trade and economic relations between Kabul and Tehran. The Deputy Minister of
Afghan Migrants in Iran Alarmed as Iran–Israel Conflict Escalates
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 14 June 2025 These migrants, who have long struggled with economic and legal challenges, are now gripped by fears over the potential consequences of this new crisis. As tensions between Iran and Israel intensify and aerial attacks escalate, the Afghan migrant community residing in Iran report a new wave of
Over 100,000 Afghans Reside in France, French Immigration Official Confirms
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 13, 2025 Over 100,000 Afghans now reside in France, benefiting from protective asylum policies amid rising migration since the Taliban takeover. Didier Leschi, Director General of the French Office for Immigration and Integration (OFII), has confirmed that over 100,000 Afghan nationals currently reside in France, making them one of
Over 10 million Afghans displaced amid global surge in forced migration: UNHCR Report
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 13, 2025 Over 10 million Afghans are displaced, UNHCR reports, as global forced migration reaches 122 million due to conflict and persecution. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has announced that the number of people forcibly displaced by war, violence, and persecution worldwide has surpassed 122 million. The
US Defense Secretary: NATO Played Minimal Role in Afghan War
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 11 June 2025 He emphasized that other NATO member states must enhance their defense capabilities to meet the standards outlined in the alliance’s charter. Pete Hegseth, the US Secretary of Defense, described NATO allies’ contribution to the war in Afghanistan as minimal during a session in the US Senate. He
Home Office backs down on asylum refusal for female Afghan activist
Diane Taylor The Guardian Thu 12 Jun 2025 An Afghan woman who risked her life defending human rights in her home country has been allowed to stay in the UK after a Home Office U-turn. The Guardian previously reported on the case of Mina*, whose asylum claim was rejected by the Home Office despite her high-profile work in
45 minutes to pack up a lifetime as Pakistan’s foreigner crackdown sends Afghans scrambling
By ELENA BECATOROS Associated Press June 12, 2025 Pakistan wants to expel three million Afghans by the end of this year, saying they are in the country illegally, but many have lived there for decades. Returning refugees have been forced to head to a camp across the border, in Torkham, where thousands arrive every week
US Defense Chief: Americans led majority of Afghanistan war effort
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 12, 2025 U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the Senate most of the Afghanistan war effort was carried out by American forces. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth sparked backlash after downplaying NATO allies’ contributions to the war in Afghanistan during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on
55 Afghan Refugees flagged on US Terror Watchlist, says Justice Department
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 12, 2025 The U.S. Justice Department revealed that 55 Afghan refugees were flagged on the terror watchlist during entry or resettlement screenings. A U.S. Justice Department watchdog has revealed that at least 55 Afghan refugees were on the terrorism watchlist either before entering or during their resettlement in the
Afghan Refugees Urge Global Help as Pakistan Deportations Rise
Shabnam Amini Tolo News 12 June 2025 Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior has also issued a statement saying that efforts to repatriate undocumented foreign nationals have been intensified. A number of Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan say that the forced deportation of Afghan migrants from Islamabad and Rawalpindi has intensified. They once again called on the
Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most mine-contaminated countries, Says HALO Trust
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 11, 2025 Afghanistan remains heavily contaminated with landmines, putting 6.4 million people at risk, mostly children, warns the HALO Trust. The HALO Trust, a leading demining organization, has warned that Afghanistan remains one of the most heavily mine-contaminated countries in the world. According to its latest report, an estimated
Afghan SIV holders exempt from US Travel Ban, says State Department
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 11, 2025 The U.S. State Department confirmed Afghan SIV holders are exempt from the travel ban, ensuring continued visa processing and resettlement support. The U.S. State Department has confirmed that Afghan nationals holding Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) are exempt from the recent travel ban imposed by former President Donald
Russian Intelligence Chief warns of Rising ISIS Activity in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 11, 2025 Russia has issued a stark warning about the growing presence of ISIS in Afghanistan. At the 18th meeting of the heads of counter-terrorism agencies of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) held in Moscow, Alexander Bortnikov, Director of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), expressed serious concern
‘We were friends of the US’: Fearful Afghans face Trump travel ban
Mallory Moench and Flora Drury BBC News 9 June 2025 Ahmad has been hiding in Afghanistan for years. The former Afghan military employee is living in fear of being found by the Taliban, which seized power in 2021 as US forces withdrew from the Central Asian nation. As a result, Ahmad is unable to get
How ordinary men became unpaid Taliban enforcers in their own homes
Zahra Joya, Annie Kelly and Rukhshana The Guardian Mon 9 Jun 2025 Afghan fathers, brothers and husbands are under pressure to ensure the women in their families observe the country’s repressive laws. Here, men and women across the country explain how it is affecting family bonds To be a father of daughters in the Taliban’s Afghanistan has become
Iran Govt: ‘Legal’ Refugees May Stay, Others Have 2 Months
TOLOnews TV Network 10 June 2025 The spokesperson for the Iranian government emphasized that Iran is committed to distinguishing between legal and illegal Afghan residents. A spokesperson for the Iranian government stated that Afghan nationals having a legal status will be allowed to remain in the country. Refugees residing in Iran reported that following the
India, Central Asia Reaffirm Support for Peace in Afghanistan
TOLOnews TV Network 10 June 2025 The foreign ministers of these nations declared their firm support for a stable, peaceful Afghanistan free from terrorism and narcotics. India and five Central Asian countries in a joint statement, emphasized that peace and stability in Afghanistan are vital and essential. According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, during
Travel ban may shut door for Afghan family to bring niece to US for a better life
By JEFFREY COLLINS Associated Press June 8, 2025 IRMO, S.C. (AP) — Mohammad Sharafoddin, his wife and young son walked at times for 36 hours in a row over mountain passes as they left Afghanistan as refugees to end up less than a decade later talking about their journey on a plush love seat in
Explosion in Paktia, Afghanistan kills one, injures four
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 9, 2025 An explosion in Paktia killed a 12-year-old child and injured four others, exposing risks from leftover war explosives in Afghanistan. Local sources in Paktia province report that a 12-year-old child was killed and four others injured in a mine explosion. The incident occurred in the village of
Reaction to Trump’s Travel Ban: Calls to Exempt P-2 Cases
TOLOnews TV Network 9 June 2025 They are asking Trump to exempt P-1 and P-2 categories of immigration cases from the executive order. As the full implementation of Donald Trump’s new executive order banning travel to the United States for citizens of 12 countries moves forward, some individuals with pending US immigration cases are calling
The Taliban leader slams Trump’s travel ban on Afghans and calls the US an ‘oppressor’
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS June 7, 2025 The top Taliban leader on Saturday slammed President Donald Trump’s travel ban on Afghans, calling the United States an oppressor, as Afghanistan’s rulers seek greater engagement with the international community. The comments from Hibatullah Akhundzada marked the first public reaction from the Taliban since the Trump administration this week
Afghan TPS holders should have applied for permanent residency, Says US State Department
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 6, 2025 The U.S. State Department stated that Afghan TPS holders were expected to apply for permanent residency before the temporary status ended. The U.S. State Department has responded to growing concerns over the cancellation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghan refugees, stating that individuals under this program
Afghanistan Hunger Crisis: One in Five require urgent food assistance
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 6, 2025 One in five Afghans urgently need food aid as rising hunger threatens millions amid economic collapse and declining international support. The World Food Programme (WFP) has reported that one in every five people in Afghanistan is dependent on humanitarian aid to survive. The agency warned that if
Richard Bennett: Afghanistan’s people show inspiring resilience amid hardship
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 6, 2025 Richard Bennett praised the people of Afghanistan for their inspiring resilience amid ongoing hardships and restrictions on civil liberties. Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, has described the resilience and resistance of Afghanistan’s citizens under Taliban rule as a
Kabul Retirees Complain of Delayed Pensions, Challenges During Eid
Shabnam Amini Tolo News 7 June 2025 They criticized the delay in receiving their pensions, stating that even during these special days, they are struggling with livelihood challenges. A number of retirees in Kabul complained about their difficult economic situation on the first day of Eid al-Adha. They criticized the delay in receiving their pensions,
‘Abandoned’: Afghan women waiting for visas feel betrayed by US travel ban
By Charlotte Greenfield and Mohammad Yunus Yawar Reuters June 5, 2025 Summary Trump order blocks Afghan citizens from the United States Thousands of Afghans stuck in Pakistan waiting for US processing ‘Turned hopes into ashes’ says women’s rights defender ISLAMABAD/KABUL, June 5 (Reuters) – Fatima, a 57-year-old Afghan women’s rights defender waiting in limbo in Pakistan for
Gulf Cooperation Council calls for protection of Women’s Rights in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 4, 2025 The Gulf Cooperation Council urged Afghanistan to protect women’s rights, ensure education and work opportunities, and safeguard vulnerable communities. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) during its 164th ministerial meeting in Kuwait released a statement emphasizing the urgent need to guarantee women’s rights to education and employment in
Pakistan to chair UN Security Council Taliban Sanctions Committee
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama News June 4, 2025 Pakistan will now chair the UNSC Taliban Sanctions Committee, overseeing sanctions related to the Taliban’s activities and influence. Reports indicate that Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, has been appointed as the new chair of the 1988 Sanctions Committee. This committee, responsible
MoU Signed to Boost Mining Cooperation in Afghanistan
Habib Rahman Qooyash Head of Business Desk Tolo News 4 June 2025 The Chamber of Commerce and Investment officials describe Afghanistan’s mineral resources as the national wealth of the Afghan people. The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum and the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance facilitation
Australia advises citizens against traveling to Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 3, 2025 Australia warns its citizens against traveling to Afghanistan due to high risks of terrorism, kidnapping, and arbitrary detention under Taliban rule. The Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged its citizens to avoid traveling to Afghanistan under Taliban control, citing extremely dangerous security conditions. In a statement
Afghans Waiting in ‘Third Countries’ for US Immigration Face Uncertainty
TOLOnews TV Network 3 June 2025 Many of these individuals currently reside in Pakistan, but at the same time, obtaining residency visas there has become increasingly difficult. A number of Afghans holding US immigration cases are once again expressing concern about their uncertain fate while living in third countries. Thousands of Afghans who fled to
Germany Rules Out Diplomatic Relations with Islamic Emirate
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 3 June 2025 German media reported that the ministry emphasized that contacts are maintained only at a “technical” level. On Monday, the German Foreign Ministry, responding to reports about contact with the Islamic Emirate, stated that there are no plans to establish diplomatic or political relations with Afghanistan’s interim government.
UN Security Council to Hold Meeting on Afghanistan’s Humanitarian Crisis
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 3 June 2025 Political and human rights experts view the upcoming Security Council meeting as important but insufficient to address Afghanistan’s ongoing crisis. The United Nations Security Council has announced it will hold a meeting on the 23rd of this month to review the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. According to
Racism and Rampant Violence against Afghan refugees in Iran
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 1, 2025 Rampant racism and violence against Afghan refugees in Iran continue unchecked, causing fear and suffering among vulnerable refugee communities. A disturbing video recently circulated on social media shows two young Iranian men in a car chasing an Afghan teenager in the southern Iranian city of Bandar Abbas.
Review of Afghanistan’s “Mosaic” Plan at Stockholm Conference
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press June 1, 2025 A conference in Stockholm reviewed Afghanistan’s “Mosaic” plan, aiming to create an inclusive political and social future for the country. The research and policy center Lajward Yoli together with the Citizens’ Party of Afghanistan recently organized the National Conference on the Future of Afghanistan in Stockholm, Sweden. This important gathering brought
Over 5M Refugees Return as Deportations Rise, Aid Declines
TOLOnews TV Network 1 June 2025 Ministry’s spokesperson, said that in just the past two months of the current year, 268,000 Afghans have been deported and returned from Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey. The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation reported that since the return of the Islamic Emirate to power in Afghanistan, more than 5.097 million
State Department restructuring scraps office dedicated to relocating Afghan allies
by Rebecca Beitsch The Hill 05/30/25 A proposed reorganization of the State Department would cut an office dedicated to helping Afghan allies escape the country. The Thursday notification to Congress would cut the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE), eliminating the office on July 1. “This is not streamlining. This is deliberate dismantling. The CARE Office
Afghanistan welcomes upgraded diplomatic ties with neighbouring Pakistan
Al Jazeera Published On 31 May 2025 Taliban government to follow Pakistan’s move to designate ambassador to Kabul as tensions between the two nations ease. Afghanistan has welcomed an upgrade in its diplomatic ties with Pakistan, signalling an easing of tensions between the South Asian neighbours. Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday said the
Russian Foreign Minister: NATO seeking to return to Afghanistan
By Fidel Ra Khaama Press 31 May 2025 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claims NATO is seeking reentry into Afghanistan under the pretext of security and regional stability. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has cautioned against NATO’s potential reintroduction of military infrastructure into Afghanistan, labeling such actions as a “time bomb” that could destabilize
‘A historic betrayal’: Murkowski slams Trump administration revoking protections for Afghan immigrants
By Ali Bianco Politico 05/30/2025 04:24 PM EDT A joint letter from Lisa Murkowski and Jeanne Shaheen urged the Department of Homeland Security to reinstate the protections immediately. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) denounced the Trump administration’s decision to axe temporary protected status for Afghan immigrants — the latest break by the centrist Republican from President
‘I want my art to give a voice to Afghan women’
Oprah Flash BBC News West Midlands 31 May 2025 Seven of Masuma Anwari’s new pieces are hanging in a gallery in Lichfield An Afghan refugee says she hopes to give a voice to women in her home country still living under the Taliban regime. Masuma Anwari’s work once lined the walls of Afghanistan’s national gallery
Kazakhstan’s President Calls for Stronger Political Ties with Afghanistan
Liluma Qadiry Tolo News 31 May 2025 Nooruddin Azizi also welcomed Kazakhstan’s diplomatic support for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan at the international level. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in a meeting with Nooruddin Azizi, acting minister of industry and commerce of the Islamic Emirate, emphasized the need to strengthen political relations with Afghanistan. In this
Pakistan Upgrades Diplomatic Representation in Kabul to Ambassador
Shabnam Amini Tolo News 31 May 2025 The country’s deputy prime minister stated that the goal of this move is to enhance interactions and cooperation between Kabul and Islamabad. Pakistan is upgrading the head of its embassy in Kabul from chargé d’affaires to ambassador. The country’s foreign minister and deputy prime minister stated that the
Removing Protected Status for Afghans in the U.S. is No Way to Treat Allies
By Hanifa Girowal, Ambassador Melanne Verveer and Kimberly Hart Just Security Quince Institute Published on May 29, 2025 We still remember the day Kabul fell. So many Afghans who worked shoulder to shoulder with Americans in military, diplomatic, and development missions immediately knew the risks they faced under the Taliban regime, who saw them not as civilians but
Pakistan to send Ambassador to Afghanistan, upgrading Diplomatic Ties
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press May 30, 2025 Pakistan plans to send an ambassador to Afghanistan, upgrading diplomatic relations to strengthen cooperation in security, trade, and regional stability. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, announced on Friday, May 30 that Islamabad is prepared to upgrade its diplomatic representation in Kabul from chargé d’affaires to ambassador level.
Karzai: Ban on Girls’ Education Key to Lack of Intl Recognition
TOLOnews TV Network 30 May 2025 He pointed out that although many members of the interim government are not opposed to girls’ education, he remains hopeful that the situation will improve. Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai told a Russian media outlet that the ban on girls’ education by the Islamic Emirate is a major reason
Judge Blocks Shutdown of Biden-Era Migrant Entry Programs
By Zach Montague and Jazmine Ulloa Reporting from Washington The New York Times May 28, 2025 The sweeping order applied to hundreds of thousands of people legally in the country through programs put in place for Ukrainians, Afghans and others. A federal judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from pulling legal protections from hundreds of
Judge rules that Trump administration wrongly ended humanitarian parole for hundreds of thousands
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS May 29, 2025 A federal judge ruled Wednesday that the Trump administration wrongly ended humanitarian parole for hundreds of thousands of people allowed to live in the United States temporarily. The decision is another legal setback for President Donald Trump’s plans for mass deportation, but it may prove temporary and its immediate impact
Russian Defense Minister warns of over 20 radical groups with 15,000 fighters in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press May 29, 2025 Russian Defense Minister warns over 20 radical groups with 15,000 fighters in Afghanistan threaten Central Asia’s security and stability. Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov on Wednesday, 28, has warned that Afghanistan hosts more than 20 radical groups with over 15,000 fighters, posing a serious threat to Central
Iran orders over 4 million undocumented Afghan migrants to leave by July 6
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press May 29, 2025 Iran has ordered over 4 million undocumented Afghan migrants to leave the country by July 6 amid rising migration pressures. Iranian authorities have announced that all census papers issued to Afghan migrants are no longer valid, requiring undocumented migrants to leave the country by July 6.
Russia: Western Countries Obstruct War Crimes Investigation in Afghanistan
TOLOnews TV Network 29 May 2025 Zakharova emphasized that Russia supports efforts to prosecute those responsible for war crimes committed by Western military forces in Afghanistan. The Russian Foreign Ministry criticized the delays in the process of investigating war crimes committed by foreign forces in Afghanistan. Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said
Iran, Pakistan Set Deadlines for Afghan Migrants to Leave
TOLOnews TV Network 29 May 2025 According to Nader Yar-Ahmadi, aside from six groups who may remain in Iran with temporary cards, all other migrants must leave by the deadline. Iran’s Ministry of Interior has set a deadline of July 6 this year for Afghan migrants to leave the country. The head of the National
UN warns deported migrants face escalating humanitarian crisis
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press May 27, 2025 The UN warns that deported migrants are facing a worsening humanitarian crisis, with urgent needs for shelter, food, and medical support. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has reported that in April alone, approximately 280,000 Afghan migrants were expelled from neighboring countries Iran and Pakistan.
UN: 80% of Kabul Residents live in vulnerable Informal Settlements
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press May 27, 2025 UN-Habitat reports 80% of Kabul’s population lives in informal settlements, lacking clean water, healthcare, and safe green spaces. The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) has reported that four out of every five residents in Kabul live in informal settlements and marginalized areas. These communities often lack
Afghan Migrants in Iran: Deportation Process Intensifies
TOLOnews 27 May 2025 They have called on the host country and the caretaker government of Afghanistan to address the demands of migrants and halt the deportation process. A number of Afghan migrants in Iran have once again expressed concern over the “intensification of forced deportations” of Afghan citizens from the country. They have called
Islamic Emirate Attends Moscow Int’l Security Meeting for First Time
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 27 May 2025 The Islamic Emirate has not officially announced who is representing the interim government at the meeting. For the first time, officials of the Islamic Emirate have been invited to an international security meeting in Russia. The Russian news agency TASS, quoting the country’s Security Council, reported that
Veterans recoil at Trump plan to end Afghans’ deportation protection
By Abigail Hauslohner and Emily Wax-Thibodeaux The Washington Post May 25, 2025 The administration claims conditions in Afghanistan have markedly improved under Taliban rule. Those who fought in the war say that’s “laughable.” The Trump administration’s move to end deportation protections for wartime allies who fled to the United States after the fall of Afghanistan has
4th Antalya Conference on Afghanistan kicks off in Turkey
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press May 26, 2025 The fourth Antalya Conference on Afghanistan began in Turkey, focusing on civil society, democracy, women’s rights, and inclusive political dialogue. The fourth round of the national dialogue on the role of civil society and democratic forces in Afghanistan’s future—known as the Antalya Process—began on Monday, May
Trump: US Military Will No Longer Engage in Nation-Building Missions
Habib Rahman Qooyash Head of Business Desk 25 May 2025 He stressed that this approach has now come to an end. The US president said that the American military will no longer participate in nation-building missions in other countries. Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the US Military Academy, Donald Trump criticized America’s past military
Acting Minister Denies Disputes Within Islamic Emirate
TOLOnews 26 May 2025 Mohammad Younus Akhundzada made the comments during a ceremony marking the launch of several development projects in Parwan province. Mohammad Younus Akhundzada, the acting minister of rural rehabilitation and development, denied claims of disagreements within the leadership of the Islamic Emirate, and pledged that the Islamic Emirate would never compromise its
Nationwide Polio Vaccination Campaign to begin tomorrow in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press May 25, 2025 A nationwide polio vaccination campaign will begin tomorrow in Afghanistan, aiming to immunize over 200,000 children under five years old. A nationwide polio vaccination campaign is set to begin on Monday, May 26, across all provinces of Afghanistan, according to health authorities. The initiative aims to
India Resumes Online Visa Issuance for Afghan Citizens
Ebadullah Ebadi Journalist (Web Editor) Tolo News 25 May 2025 The categories of visas that have been listed on the portal are “student, business, medical, medical attendant, entry, and UN diplomat.” The Indian newspaper The Hindu, has reported that the country has resumed granting several categories of visas to Afghan nationals, including to business people
Landmines in Parwan Have Killed 200 People in One Village Alone
TOLOnews TV Network 24 May 2025 According to the residents, nearly 1,000 families live in this village, which is considered one of the most remote regions in Parwan. Residents of a village in Koh Safi district of Parwan province say that due to landmines left over from past wars, approximately 200 people have lost their
Turkic States Urge Inclusive Govt and Rights Protection in Afghanistan
Habib Rahman Qooyash Head of Business Desk Tolo News 24 May 2025 The Islamic Emirate has responded by stating its desire for cordial relations with these countries. In a joint statement, the leaders of Turkic states have emphasized the establishment of an inclusive government in Afghanistan, respect for human rights, and the fight against terrorism
Special Forces officer blocked 1,585 Afghans from UK
Joel Gunter and Hannah O’Grady BBC News May 23, 2025 Afghan special forces were in danger of reprisal after the Taliban seized back the country A UK Special Forces officer personally rejected 1,585 resettlement applications from Afghans with credible links to special forces, newly released documents say. The files, disclosed by the Ministry of Defence
Pakistan, Afghanistan move towards ‘restoring ties’ in talks with China
By Abid Hussain Al Jazeera 23 May 2025 As India strengthens ties with Kabul, Pakistan and Afghanistan return to the table after Chinese mediation. Islamabad, Pakistan – As Pakistan remained embroiled in a war of words with its archrival India – following a dramatic exchange of missiles and drones nearly two weeks ago – it this week advanced
Beijing pledges Development Aid amid Kabul’s push for stronger economic ties
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press May 22, 2025 Beijing has pledged development aid to Kabul, focusing on health, agriculture, and energy as both sides seek stronger economic ties. Acting Foreign Minister of the Taliban administration, Amir Khan Muttaqi, met with Luo Zhaohui, head of China’s International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), on Thursday, May 22, to
Shaheen: Delaying Recognition of Islamic Emirate No Longer Logical
TOLOnews TV Network 23 May 2025 Shaheen warned that further delaying recognition of the Islamic Emirate is no longer logical. Suhail Shaheen, the ambassador of the Islamic Emirate in Qatar, told TOLOnews that regional countries, recognizing the realities in Afghanistan, have begun engaging with the caretaker government at various levels. Shaheen warned that further delaying
Getting married, with 49 other couples
The Daily Hustle Rohullah Sorush • Roxanna Shapour Afghanistan Analysts Network 18 May 2025 For many young Afghans, the dream of getting married and starting a family is stymied by a myriad obstacles on the road to their hoped-for nuptials. One of the main barriers is the high cost of weddings and the steep bride price that
Classifying Taliban as ‘foreign terrorist organization’ under review: US
Al Jazeera Published On 21 May 2025 A ‘comprehensive review’ of the US’s chaotic military withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 has also been ordered. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that the United States is reviewing whether to designate Afghanistan’s rulers, the Taliban, as a “foreign terrorist organization”. Rubio told the House Foreign
Hegseth Orders a New Review of U.S. Withdrawal From Afghanistan
By Greg Jaffe Reporting from Washington The New York Times May 22, 2025 The defense secretary’s decision to select his chief spokesman to lead the inquiry into the chaotic end of the war was highly unusual. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday that he had directed his chief spokesman to convene a panel to
CSTO Member States to begin sending Weapons to Afghanistan Border
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press May 22, 2025 CSTO countries will start delivering weapons and military equipment to strengthen the Afghanistan border, enhancing regional security and response. Imangali Tasmagambetov, Secretary-General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), announced at the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly that the dispatch of weapons and military equipment to strengthen Tajikistan’s
Beijing pledges Development Aid amid Kabul’s push for stronger economic ties
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press May 22, 2025 Beijing has pledged development aid to Kabul, focusing on health, agriculture, and energy as both sides seek stronger economic ties. Acting Foreign Minister of the Taliban administration, Amir Khan Muttaqi, met with Luo Zhaohui, head of China’s International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), on Thursday, May 22, to
US aid suspension severely impacts humanitarian operations in Afghanistan: UN OCHA
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press May 22, 2025 The suspension of U.S. aid has disrupted Afghanistan’s humanitarian operations, leaving millions without healthcare and risking a worsening crisis. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned that the suspension of U.S. funding has had devastating consequences for humanitarian operations in Afghanistan,
Poverty, Unemployment Remain Fundamental Concerns in Afghanistan
Liluma Qadiry Tolo News 21 May 2025 According to the report, 3.6 million people in Afghanistan faced severe food insecurity last year. Poverty and unemployment are fundamental issues in Afghanistan that are consistently raised by both citizens and the international community. Some residents of Kabul describe poverty and joblessness as their current economic challenges and
Race Against Time: Kabul’s Groundwater May Run Dry by 2030
TOLOnews TV Network 22 May 2025 Groundwater can be recharged, but more is drawn each year than is replenished in Kabul, with an estimated annual 76-million-cubic-meter deficit, experts say. The Japan Times, in a report titled “Afghan capital losing race against water shortages,” stated that the situation in Kabul is clearly deteriorating. The report, citing
UNHCR Warns of Humanitarian Crisis Amid Mass Deportation of Afghan Migrants
TOLOnews TV Network 22 May 2025 He also warned of the negative consequences stemming from the sharp reduction in international assistance to deported migrants. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has voiced concern over the large-scale expulsion of Afghan migrants from neighboring countries at a time when humanitarian aid is drastically declining. The
Rubio: ‘Taliban’ Status ‘Under Review’ by Trump Administration
TOLOnews TV Network 22 May 2025 He emphasized that this decision would be made based on the future approach of the United States toward Afghanistan’s caretaker government. Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, asked in a hearing if the “Taliban” were considered a foreign terrorist group, stated Washington is reviewing the status of the
US Secretary of State: Afghan Refugee transfers delayed, not canceled
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press May 21, 2025 Secretary Marco Rubio confirmed that Afghan refugee transfers to the U.S. are delayed due to security checks, not canceled. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on Tuesday, May 20, that the transfer of eligible Afghan individuals to the United States has not been canceled. During a
World Bank Reopens Kabul Office After Talks With Finance Ministry
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 20 May 2025 Some experts said that other financial institutions should also be persuaded by the Islamic Emirate to resume their activities in Afghanistan. Following negotiations between the Ministry of Finance and representatives of the World Bank, the organization’s office in Kabul has reopened. The World Bank announced that it
AfghanEvac Urges US Congress to Prioritize Refugees in Budget Hearings
TOLOnews TV Network 20 May 2025 AfghanEvac urged Congress to place this issue at the top of its agenda during sessions attended by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. AfghanEvac, in an open letter to the US Congress, has called for the situation of Afghan refugees to be prioritized during this week’s budget hearings. The letter
Pentagon to Release Findings on US Withdrawal from Afghanistan
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 20 May 2025 US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking to Fox News, stated that those responsible for the withdrawal must be held accountable. Amid ongoing criticism from current US officials over the handling of the American troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, the US Department of Defense announced that findings from a
In Virginia, a military stronghold becomes a haven for Afghan refugees
By TIFFANY STANLEY Associated Press May 16, 2025 FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Kat Renfroe was at Mass when she saw a volunteer opportunity in the bulletin. Her Catholic parish was looking for tutors for Afghan youth, newly arrived in the United States. There was a personal connection for Renfroe. Her husband, now retired from the Marine Corps,
Only 1 million of 3 million needy Afghans will receive aid this summer, says WFP
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press May 18, 2025 A woman during beneficiary verification at a distribution site in Salang District, Parwan Province, 50 kilometers north of Kabul, where 600 families received cash to help their families cover their food needs. Winter in Afghanistan is unforgiving. With no work and no food, families face the impossible
Pakistan halts Visa Extensions for Afghan Refugees amid Mass Deportations
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press May 18, 2025 Pakistan has suspended visa extensions for Afghan refugees, affecting thousands and raising concerns over forced deportations and human rights violations. Pakistani media have reported that a major law enforcement body in Pakistan has suspended the visa extension process for all categories of Afghan refugees. This move comes
Pensioners Protest Again: Years of Service, Still No Pay
By Habib Rahman Booyah Tolo News 18 May 2025 Among them is 65-year-old Bori Qul, who dedicated more than thirty years of his life to serving in the country’s government institutions. A number of pensioners have once again gathered in protest over the non-payment of their pensions. These pensioners, who each spent over thirty to forty
Intl Museum Day Sees Renewed Calls to Preserve Nation’s Artifacts
Shabnam Amini Tolo News 18 May 2025 On this day, the ministry emphasized the importance of preserving the country’s historical artifacts housed in museums across Afghanistan. On May 18, International Museum Day, the Ministry of Information and Culture held a ceremony at the National Museum of Afghanistan to mark the occasion. On this day, the
Afghan Refugees in Iran, Pakistan Urge Attention to Situation
Shabnam Amini Tolo News 17 May 2025 They called on host countries and the Islamic Emirate to address their concerns. Following rising concerns over the deportation of Afghan migrants from neighboring countries, a number of Afghan refugees in Iran and Pakistan have voiced complaints about the difficulties they face. They called on host countries and
Takeaways from AP’s report on Afghan refugees in Virginia
By TIFFANY STANLEY Associated Press May 16, 2025 FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (AP) — The Trump administration’s suspension of the federal refugee program has upended the lives of many Afghans who worked with the United States during wartime. The upheaval is particularly poignant near Fredericksburg, Virginia, which boasts both strong ties to the military and to resettled Afghans, along
Iran’s Interior Minister calls for deportation of 2 million undocumented migrants
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press May 16, 2025 Iran’s Interior Minister stressed the urgent need to deport around two million undocumented Afghan migrants due to limited national capacity. Iran’s Interior Minister, Eskandar Momeni, has said the country cannot host undocumented Afghan migrants. He stated that those without legal documents must return to Afghanistan. Momeni estimated
Warning to Leave US: Thousands of Afghan Refugees in California receive deportation letters
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press May 17, 2025 Thousands of Afghan refugees in California received urgent deportation letters, sparking fear and confusion amid ongoing immigration policy uncertainties. In recent weeks, thousands of Afghan refugees residing in California have received deportation notices from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). These letters demand that recipients leave
Biden’s Secret Afghanistan document sparks new controversy
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press May 17, 2025 Joe Biden admitted keeping a classified Afghanistan document after his vice presidency, claiming it was for historical record and personal perspective. Former President Joe Biden has revealed that he retained a classified document concerning Afghanistan after leaving the vice presidency, intending to preserve it for historical record.
US Lawmakers urge Congress to approve 20,000 additional Visas for Afghan allies
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press May 17, 2025 U.S. lawmakers are pushing Congress to approve 20,000 additional Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for Afghan allies at risk. Representative Jason Crow (D-CO) has called on Congress to allocate 20,000 additional Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for Afghan nationals who assisted U.S. forces during the Afghanistan conflict. Crow emphasized
Afghanistan Ranks Fifth Globally in Internal Displacement
TOLOnesws 17 May 2025 Most of these displacements were caused by floods in the provinces of Badakhshan, Takhar, and Baghlan. The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) reported that Afghanistan, with 4.2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), ranks fifth globally in terms of internal displacement. In its latest report, the center stated that in 2024 alone,
Regional, Global Envoys Intensify Diplomacy for Afghan Future
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 16 May 2025 The special representatives of China and Uzbekistan also met with officials from Turkey and Sweden to discuss issues concerning Afghanistan. As part of continued diplomatic engagements related to Afghanistan, Special Representative from Pakistan Mohammad Sadiq, Uzbekistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Ismatulla Irgashev and Special Representative of China
Trump Criticizes US Withdrawal, Cites Strategic Loss of Bagram
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 15 May 2025 He once again criticized the manner in which US forces withdrew from Afghanistan. Donald Trump, the president of the United States, has once again claimed that China is present at Bagram. Speaking at a US military base in Qatar, Trump emphasized that Washington should have maintained the
AfghanEvac: Ending Afghan TPS is a Betrayal of US promises
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press May 13, 2025 AfghanEvac condemned the U.S. decision to end Temporary Protected Status for Afghans, calling it a betrayal of American promises. Shawn VanDiver, President of AfghanEvac, has strongly criticized the U.S. government’s decision to end the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghan nationals. He described the move as
Global Fund Delegation visits Afghanistan after 7 years
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press May 13, 2025 A Global Fund delegation visited Afghanistan for the first time since 2018, reaffirming commitment to fight AIDS, TB, and malaria. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has announced that a delegation from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria visited Afghanistan for the
OCHA warns of urgent Aid Funding shortage in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press May 13, 2025 OCHA warns that a severe funding shortfall threatens humanitarian aid in Afghanistan, leaving millions without essential support and relief services. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has announced that due to a significant reduction in humanitarian funding, aid distribution in Afghanistan will
Afghan Returnees from Pakistan Demand Jobs, Education, and Support
Shabnam Amini Tolo News 13 May 2025 They are urging the Islamic Emirate to provide opportunities for employment and education for themselves and their children. Afghan migrants recently deported from Pakistan are facing a range of challenges upon their return to Afghanistan. They are urging the Islamic Emirate to provide opportunities for employment and education
Report: 2.2 Million Afghan Girls Barred from Education Since 2022
TOLOnews TV Network 13 May 2025 The report also stated that if the ban continues until 2030, it could deny more than 4 million girls the right to secondary education. A US-based organization, Data Friendly Space, has reported that 2.2 million girls in Afghanistan have been deprived of schooling since the ban on girls’ education
DHS to end deportation protections for Afghanistan
Brianna Tucker The Washington Post May 12, 2025 Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem announced that the department will terminate the temporary protected status (TPS) for Afghans in the United States on July 12, stating “notable improvements” in Afghanistan, and that conditions no longer meets statutory requirements. TPS, which protects foreign nationals who
UK special forces veterans accuse colleagues of war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan
Ben Quinn The Guardian Mon 12 May 2025 10.54 EDT Former personnel describe soldiers exhibiting ‘psychopathic traits’ and executions of handcuffed prisoners Former UK special forces personnel have accused colleagues of committing war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan, including alleging that they executed civilians and a child. Graphic accounts of routine executions of handcuffed prisoners and
China aims to dominate Afghanistan’s Rare Earth Resources, Says Expert
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press May 12, 2025 An American expert warns that China is seeking to dominate Afghanistan’s untapped rare earth resources to strengthen regional influence and control. Scott Worden, an American researcher, highlights China’s efforts to cement its dominance over Afghanistan’s rare metals. Worden also criticizes the Trump administration’s closure of the U.S.
Islamic Emirate Asks France to Resume Diplomatic Presence in Kabul
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 12 May 2025 The two sides also discussed the current political situation, bilateral relations between Kabul and Paris, humanitarian aid, and other related issues. Suhail Shaheen, the Islamic Emirate’s ambassador in Qatar, in a meeting with Jean-Marin Schuh, France’s chargé d’affaires for Afghanistan, called on the French government to reactivate
Kabul to Host 6th Afghanistan-China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue
TOLOnews TV Network 10 May 2025 The Chinese and Pakistani envoys reiterated their commitment to enhancing ties with Afghanistan based on principles of good neighborliness and mutual respect. Special envoys for Afghanistan from China and Pakistan, Yue Xiaoyong and Mohammad Sadiq, met with acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul. According to a statement
Online university offers lifeline to thousands of Afghan girls barred from education
by Qaseem Azizi AMU.TV May 2, 2025 KABUL, Afghanistan — Amid sweeping restrictions on women’s education under Taliban rule, a group of former university professors in Afghanistan has launched an all-women online university, offering a rare educational lifeline to thousands of girls barred from attending universities. Now entering its sixth academic semester, the institution, founded in
90% Afghan households hit by Economic Shock last year: UN Report
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press May 9, 2025 A UNDP report reveals 90% of Afghan households faced economic shocks in 2024, exacerbating the country’s ongoing humanitarian crisis. A recent report from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) highlights that 90% of Afghan households are facing an economic shock in 2024 due to the ongoing humanitarian
Afghanistan faces food crisis amid 40% rainfall drop and rising heat
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press May 9, 2025 A U.S.-backed report warns that reduced rainfall, rising heat, and poor crop conditions are pushing Afghanistan into severe food crisis. A recent report from a U.S.-based agency warns that Afghanistan is on the brink of a widespread food security crisis due to unprecedented declines in rainfall, rising
China, Russia Unite on Afghan Stability, Regional Cooperation
TOLOnews TV Network 9 May 2025 Some political analysts said that the interim government should pay attention to the ongoing competition between East and West over Afghan issues. The Chinese president Xi Jinping, during his visit to Moscow, emphasized with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, that both countries seek a stable Afghanistan, free from terrorism and
Alongside Other Challenges, Returnees’ Entire Property Left in Pakistan
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 9 May 2025 Some Afghan refugees deported from Pakistan say all of their belongings have been left behind in that country. The forced expulsion of Afghan refugees from Pakistan, in addition to other problems, is also marked by a major issue: their properties and assets remaining in Pakistan. Adam Khan,
Doha Process Praised, Women’s Rights Concerns Raised at UN Event in Kabul
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 8 May 2025 According to a UNDP report, the percentage of women needing health services rose from 82% in 2022 to 93% in 2024. Mikio Izawa, Japan’s chargé d’affaires in Kabul, said at a UNDP-organized event that the Doha process and the formation of working groups on the private sector
Washington Reaffirms Commitment to Releasing American Hostages
Habib Rahman Qooyash Tolo News 8 May 2025 The US State Department also reiterated that repatriating detained Americans abroad remains a top priority for the Trump administration. Adam Boehler, the US president’s special representative for hostage affairs, has reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to securing the release of Mahmood Habibi and other Americans detained abroad. Boehler stated
WFP: One-Third of Afghanistan’s Population Faces Hunger
TOLOnews TV Network 8 May 2025 Meanwhile, the Ministry of Economy said it is working on several projects to improve the country’s economic conditions. The World Food Programme (WFP) has raised concerns over the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, stating that nearly one-third of the country’s population is grappling with hunger. WFP estimates Afghanistan’s population to
Kabulov: Afghanistan Not ‘Priority for Russia’ But Geopolitically Important
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 8 May 2025 The Islamic Emirate must pursue this while maintaining a policy of neutrality. Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s special representative for Afghanistan, stated that Afghanistan is not a priority for Moscow; however, due to its geographical location and geopolitical interests, it holds significant importance. In an interview with a Russian
Can’t go forward, can’t go back: Afghan refugees stuck in Qatar wait for a way forward
By REBECCA SANTANA and FARNOUSH AMIRI Associated Press May 6, 2025 WASHINGTON (AP) — Negina Khalili’s family sold their house and possessions in Afghanistan and flew to a U.S. base in Qatar in January, preparing for the last step in emigrating to America. Thirteen days later, the Trump administration took office — and suspended the refugee program
US Supreme Court orders resumption of Afghan Refugee Cases starting May 12
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press May 7, 2025 A U.S. Supreme Court has ordered the Trump administration to resume processing Afghan refugee cases starting May 12, 2025. The U.S. Supreme Court judge has directed the Trump administration to resume processing Afghan refugee immigration cases as of May 12. This ruling includes programs like the U.S.
UN urges immediate support for Afghanistan’s women amid rising challegnes
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press May 7, 2025 UN Women calls for urgent support for Afghan women, emphasizing the need for safe spaces, legal aid, and professional training. The United Nations Women’s Division has reiterated its commitment to addressing the systemic barriers faced by women and girls in Afghanistan. The organization emphasized that these women
Uncertain Futures: Afghan Deportees Struggle to Rebuild Lives in Kabul Camp
TOLOnews TV Network 7 May 2025 Lack of shelter and job opportunities are their fundamental challenges. These families are preparing to return to their respective provinces. With the rise in deportation of Afghan migrants from neighboring countries, a camp in the 11th district of Kabul city has become a gathering point for hundreds of families.
India-Pakistan Tensions Disrupt Afghanistan’s Trade Routes, Economy
Habib Rahman Qooyash Tolo News 7 May 2025 The Chamber of Commerce and Investment stated that this situation has added more pressure to Afghanistan’s economy. Fresh tensions between India and Pakistan have posed challenges to Afghanistan’s trade, resulting in the halt of export shipments at regional ports. The Chamber of Commerce and Investment stated that
Many Afghans living in the U.S. fear being tortured or killed if they get deported
By Andrew Schneider National Public Radio May 7, 2025 Sayedyaqoob Qattali moved to Houston with his family after legally entering the United States in late 2023. Sayedyaqoob Qattali HOUSTON — Sayedyaqoob Qattali spent years aiding U.S. forces as a security commander for the Afghan Interior Ministry in Herat province. He was caught there when Afghanistan’s
HRW: Ban on Girls’ Education Creating Widespread Challenges
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 6 May 2025 Heather Barr is urging the international community to take practical steps to address the educational crisis facing Afghan girls. Human Rights Watch said that the ban on education for girls beyond the sixth grade and their access to higher education has created widespread challenges for Afghan women
As Trump invokes Bagram, story of the strategic air base in Afghanistan
Written by Rishika Singh Indian Express May 4, 2025 The Bagram Airflied was built in the 1950s by the USSR. It has played a central role in the Soviet-Afghan War (1979-89) as well as the American misadventure in Afghanistan (2001-21). Today it is under the control of the Taliban. US President Donald Trump on Thursday
‘Whipped in front of everyone’: three women on being flogged by the Taliban
Rad Radan The Guardian Tue 6 May 2025 Hundreds of women forced to confess to ‘moral crimes’ they did not commit have been publicly lashed in Afghanistan Three Afghan women who were brutally flogged in public by the Taliban after being accused of “moral crimes” have bravely spoken out about the cruelty they endured. More than 1,000
EU urges Medical Education access for women in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press May 6, 2025 The EU emphasized the importance of medical education access for Afghan women on International Midwives Day, aiming to improve healthcare. On May 5, the European Union marked the International Day of the Midwife by emphasizing the critical role of Afghan midwives in reducing maternal and infant mortality.
The New York Times wins Pulitzer Prize for reporting on US Defeat in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press May 6, 2025 The New York Times wins a Pulitzer Prize for its report on the U.S. defeat and failures in Afghanistan. The winners of the prestigious 2025 Pulitzer Prizes have been announced on Monday, May 5th, with two awards given to reports from The New York Times and The New Yorker on
Atlantic Council to Hold Meeting on Future US Policy Toward Afghanistan
TOLOnews TV Network 4 May 2025 Such meetings, analysts argue, may help foster relations between Kabul and Washington and clarify the United States’ policy direction regarding Afghanistan. The Atlantic Council, in collaboration with the Andiana Foundation, will hold a meeting on the 13th of this month focused on “Assessing US Policy Options Toward Afghanistan.” In
WHO Warns of Deepening Health Crisis in Afghanistan
TOLOnews TV Network 6 May 2025 Edwin Ceniza Salvador urged the international community not to forget Afghanistan in terms of humanitarian and health aid. The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Afghanistan has warned that the country’s healthcare system is severely weakened, with a large portion of medical expenses falling on the shoulders
India-Pakistan tensions disrupt Afghanistan’s trade
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press May 5, 2025 Recent India-Pakistan tensions have severely disrupted Afghanistan’s trade, stranding containers and causing major financial losses for Afghan exporters. Recent tensions between India and Pakistan have once again impacted Afghanistan’s fragile economy, creating serious challenges for the country’s most lucrative export market. The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and
Deported Afghans Report Inhumane Treatment by Pakistani Police
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 5 May 2025 They say that during their detention in Pakistan, their children fell ill, and they are now calling for greater support from the Islamic Emirate. Afghans deported from Pakistan report inhumane treatment by the country’s police. They say that during their detention in Pakistan, their children fell ill,
Afghanistan ranks 175th in Global Press Freedom Index
ByFidel Rahmati Khaama Press May 2, 2025 Afghanistan ranks 175th in the 2025 Global Press Freedom Index, reflecting severe restrictions on media and declining journalistic freedom. Afghanistan ranks 175th out of 180 countries in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), reflecting a persistently dire situation for media under Taliban rule.
Islamic Emirate Says UNAMA Report ‘Detached From Reality’
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 2 May 2025 UNAMA stated that women in Afghanistan continue to be denied fundamental rights such as work, education, and independent access to services. The Islamic Emirate rejected the latest report by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) concerning the state of human rights in the country. The
US Continues Diplomatic Push to Free Detained Citizens in Afghanistan
Mohammad Bashir Soltani Reporter, Political Writer Tolo News 2 May 2025 Experts believe such remarks may signal a renewed American focus on more serious policymaking regarding Afghanistan and the broader region. The US State Department said efforts are ongoing to secure the release of American citizens detained in Afghanistan, Russia, and Venezuela. Tammy Bruce, spokesperson
UN Official: Normalizing Ties with Afghanistan Needs Clear Roadmap
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 2 May 2025 Fletcher warned that the continued suspension of aid—particularly by the United States — could endanger the lives of millions of Afghans. The UN Deputy Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs said that normalizing relations between Afghanistan and the international community requires a clear and actionable roadmap. In an interview
More than 5,000 Afghans have died on migration routes: IOM
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press May 1, 2025 The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reported that more than 5,000 Afghan citizens have died on migration routes since 2014. The findings were published in a report released on Tuesday, April 29, highlighting the dangers faced by those fleeing crisis-affected countries. According to the IOM, thousands of
UN warns of worsening drought and rising humanitarian needs in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press May 1, 2025 The UN warns Afghanistan faces a worsening drought crisis, urging urgent aid as millions struggle with food, water, and livelihood shortages. Tom Fletcher, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and head of OCHA (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), has issued a grave warning about
Afghan Govt Seeks to Send Workers Abroad Amid High Unemployment
Mohammad Bashir Soltani Reporter, Political Writer Tolo News 1 May 2025 This comes as the National Workers’ Union of Afghanistan announced yesterday that nearly 1.5 million workers are currently unemployed in the country. Today (Thursday), May 1st, marks International Workers’ Day. At a ceremony held in Kabul to mark the occasion, officials from the Ministry
SIGAR: US Aid Halt Has Created Serious Challenges for Afghan People
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 1 May 2025 SIGAR quoted UNICEF, saying: “Lack of education contributes to the shortage of female health workers.” A report of the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) said the suspension of US humanitarian and development aid to Afghanistan has created challenges for its citizens. The organization warns
Islamic Emirate Urges UN to Aid Returnee Housing and Services
TOLOnews TV Network 1 May 2025 At the same time, the acting minister of economy also met with the head of a Qatari charity organization to discuss humanitarian support for returnees. Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, acting minister of refugees and repatriation, in a meeting with Roza Otunbayeva, head of UNAMA, called on the United Nations to
Fletcher: Afghan Women Want Their Voices to Be Heard
TOLOnews TV Network 1 May 2025 Tom Fletcher arrived in Afghanistan on April 27, and his six-day trip is set to conclude tomorrow (Friday, May 2). Tom Fletcher, the United Nations Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, stated Afghan women do not want to be saved—they want their voices to be heard. During his visit to
Muttaqi: Direct Talks with the US Resumed After Trump’s Return
Bibi Amina Hakimi Tolo News 1 May 2025 Regarding regional ties, Muttaqi said the Islamic Emirate seeks no tension between India and Pakistan and supports direct dialogue for resolving disputes. The acting foreign minister said that after Donald Trump’s return to power, direct communications with the United States resumed, and he expressed hope that relations
Families Are Split as Pakistan Deports Thousands of Afghan Refugees
Zia ur-Rehman Reporting from Karachi, Pakistan The New York Times April 30, 2025, 12:01 a.m. ET Many undocumented Afghan migrants have Pakistani spouses and have lived in the country for years. Nevertheless, the government says they must leave. Every night in Karachi, a bustling port city in Pakistan, Fatima Bibi goes to bed in fear. The
UN: 70% of women in Afghanistan face barriers to accessing humanitarian aid
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 28, 2025 A recent UN report highlights that 70% of women in Afghanistan struggle to access humanitarian aid due to various restrictions. A recent report by the United Nations Women’s Division highlights that over 70% of women in Afghanistan face significant barriers to accessing humanitarian aid. The report points
Pakistani Defense Minister: Terrorism is a result of US policies in the region
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 28, 2025 Pakistan’s Defense Minister stated that terrorism in the region stems from U.S. policies, which have supported militant groups for decades. Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif recently reiterated his country’s stance on terrorism, acknowledging past support for terror groups. In a statement, Asif stressed that the roots
UN Deputy Secretary-General arrives in Kabul
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 28, 2025 UN Deputy Secretary-General, Tom Fletcher, arrived in Kabul for a week-long visit to assess humanitarian challenges and collaborate with teams. Tom Fletcher, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations for Humanitarian Affairs, arrived in Kabul for a one-week visit. His mission is to work with UN humanitarian
50% Surge in Return of Afghan Migrants from Iran
Nasir Ahmad Salehi TOLOnews Reporter 28 April 2025 Some returning migrants from Iran say they were compelled to return due to the pressures imposed by the Iranian authorities. Local officials in Herat say that in recent weeks, the rate of deportation and return of Afghan migrants from Iran has increased by 50%. According to the
Ratwatte: Recognition of Islamic Emirate Responsibility of UN
TOLOnews TV Network 28 April 2025 In an exclusive interview with TOLOnews, he emphasized the importance of dialogue, addressing challenges, and finding solutions. Indrika Ratwatte, deputy special representative (development) for Afghanistan in the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), said that the issue of recognizing the caretaker government is a responsibility of the United Nations
Def. Ministry Chief of Staff: Enemies Must Learn from Afghan History
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 28 April 2025 Fasihuddin Fitrat, the Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Defense, stated during a ceremony in Kabul that anyone contemplating the re-occupation of Afghanistan will be confronted by the Islamic Emirate. Speaking at an event marking the 8th of Saur (the 33rd anniversary of the Mujahideen’s victory
Pakistani troops kill 54 militants attempting to sneak into Pakistan from Afghanistan
By MUNIR AHMED Associated Press Updated 11:23 AM EDT, April 27, 2025 ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani security forces overnight killed 54 militants who attempted to cross into the country from Afghanistan, the military said Sunday, marking one of the deadliest such killings in recent years. The military said in a statement that intelligence reports indicated
WPF warns of potential suspension of humanitarian air services in Afghanistan due to funding shortfall
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 27, 2025 WFP warns of potential suspension of humanitarian air services in Afghanistan due to severe funding shortfall, impacting aid delivery. The World Food Programme (WFP) has issued a stark warning that its humanitarian air services in Afghanistan may cease operations due to a critical funding shortfall. In a
7th of Sawr: Turning Point in Afghanistan’s Modern History
Ebadullah Ebadi Journalist (Web Editor) Tolo News 27 April 2025 The Islamic Emirate, in a statement, condemned the Sawr coup and stressed that this action paved the way for the former Soviet Union’s “invasion” of Afghan soil. The 7th of Sawr, 1357 (April 27, 1978), marks a critical point in Afghanistan’s modern history, when the
Retirees in Kabul Protest for Pension Payments After Years of Delay
Habib Rahman Qooyash Tolo News 27 April 2025 These retirees have been gathering and protesting repeatedly for more than three years to claim their rights. A number of retirees in Kabul held a protest to insist the caretaker government pay their pensions. These retirees have been gathering and protesting repeatedly for more than three years
UNSC Grants Travel Exemption for Muttaqi to Visit Qatar
Mohammad Bashir Soltani Reporter, Political Writer Tolo News 27 April 2025 Qatar is considered one of the most active countries regarding Afghanistan’s affairs. The United Nations Security Council has granted a one-week travel exemption for Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting foreign minister of Afghanistan. The Security Council’s Sanctions Committee announced in a statement that Muttaqi’s
Ex-Taliban leader pleads guilty in kidnapping of American journalist
By Mark Berman The Washington Post April 26, 2025 Haji Najibullah, 49, faces a potential sentence of life in prison. A former Taliban leader charged with kidnapping an American journalist and orchestrating the killings of three U.S. soldiers pleaded guilty Friday to hostage taking and providing material support for acts of terrorism resulting in death, authorities said. Haji
Many former US allies in Afghanistan live in hiding, fearing persecution, says Middle East Institute
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 26, 2025 Image/Middle East Institute. The Middle East Institute reports that former U.S. allies in Afghanistan, fearing persecution, continue to live in hiding. The Middle East Institute has reported that many Afghan former translators and assistants who worked with the U.S. military in Afghanistan continue to live in hiding,
Afghan migrants in Limbo as US immigration cases remain suspended
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 26, 2025 Many Afghan migrants remain in limbo in third countries, awaiting reexamination of their U.S. immigration cases, facing uncertainty. Many Afghan nationals with pending U.S. immigration cases are voicing frustration over their uncertain status in third countries. These individuals are calling on U.S. President Joe Biden to address
Sharif Again Claims Threats Originate From Afghanistan
Mohammad Bashir Soltani, Reporter Political Writer Tolo News The interim government of Afghanistan has not yet reacted to these latest remarks by the Pakistani Prime Minister. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has once again alleged that Afghan territory is being used against Pakistan. Speaking at the Kakol military base in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he described terrorism
Economic Struggles Fuel Rise of Begging in Afghanistan
Shabnam Amini Tolo News 26 April 2025 Nasibullah, a beggar, said: “Our request of the government is to assist us and create employment opportunities; there are no jobs or businesses anymore.” The current economic challenges in the country have forced a number of citizens to turn to begging. Several beggars cite poverty and unemployment as
Delay in US Aid Resumption Deepens Humanitarian Crisis in Afghanistan
Liluma Qadiry Tolo News 26 April 2025 Recently, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) reported that the reduction in US aid threatens the lives of millions in Afghanistan. Eight days have passed since the end of the set deadline for the suspension of US aid to the world, including Afghanistan, yet the aid has not resumed.
Pakistan Sets June Deadline for Afghan Refugees with PoR Cards
TOLOnews TV Network 25 April 2025 According to Pakistani media reports, the country’s Interior Minister stated that after June 30, the official process of deporting Afghan refugees will resume. Pakistan has set a deadline until the end of June for the voluntary return of Afghan refugees holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards. According to Pakistani
Afghan Immigration Case Holders Urge US Action on Immigration Delays
TOLOnews TV Network 25 April 2025 They are calling on the US President to pay serious attention to their situation and to process their cases. Some Afghans with US immigration cases are complaining about their uncertain situation in third countries. A case holder who requested anonymity, said: “We hope our cases will be re-evaluated. A
Afghanistan’s Future in Focus at Russia’s Upcoming Security Conference
TOLOnews TV Network 25 April 2025 Political analysts said that whenever such conferences address the Afghanistan issue, the presence of representatives from the interim government is important. Russia said the situation in Afghanistan is not only a regional issue but also part of the country’s global strategic interests. Sergei Shoigu, the secretary of Russia’s Security
Trump admin considers exempting Christians from its push to deport some Afghan refugees
By Jake Traylor and Myah Ward Politico 04/25/2025 The push is unlikely to help Muslim Afghans, including those who helped American troops and civilians, who could also face dire consequences if they return to the country. Trump administration officials have discussed allowing some Afghan refugees to remain in the United States, days after a group of potentially
Rights Groups urge US action on Afghan Refugee Resettlement
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 24, 2025 Rights groups are urging the U.S. government to take immediate action to facilitate the resettlement of Afghan refugees. Human rights organizations have called on the United States to take urgent action to facilitate the transfer of Afghan refugees stranded in third countries. In an open letter sent
WFP appeals $25 million to support Afghan returnees amid growing humanitarian crisis
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 24, 2025 The World Food Programme urgently requests $25 million to address the escalating needs of Afghan returnees facing severe hardship. The World Food Programme (WFP) reports that thousands of Afghan families are returning from Pakistan every day, facing food insecurity. The organization emphasized that millions in Afghanistan are
Over 200 Afghan Refugees in Iowa ordered to leave US immediately
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 24, 2025 Over 200 Afghan refugees in Iowa have been ordered by U.S. authorities to leave the country immediately, facing legal action. American media reports indicate that in April, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security sent emails to over 200 Afghan refugees residing in Iowa, instructing them to leave
10 Laws Endorsed by Islamic Emirate Leader in Past 3 Years
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 24 April 2025 Meanwhile, some legal experts emphasized the crucial role of the constitution alongside other national laws. The Ministry of Justice stated that over the past three years, ten new laws have been enacted in the country. Barakatullah Rasooli, the spokesperson for this ministry, said that these laws were
Lavrov Stresses Resolving Afghan Issues through Moscow, SCO
Mohammad Bashir Soltani Reporter, Political Writer Tolo News 24 April 2025 At a press conference in Uzbekistan, Lavrov dismissed the Doha process as ineffective in addressing Afghanistan’s challenges. Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, criticized the Doha process and stressed that Afghanistan’s issues should be resolved through the Moscow format and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
Japan, OIC Stress Need to Expand Cooperation with Afghanistan
TOLOnews TV Network 24 April 2025 Japan has been one of the key countries providing humanitarian and economic assistance to Afghanistan. Representatives from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Japan have discussed enhancing cooperation with Afghanistan and ways to strengthen humanitarian assistance to the country. According to a statement from the OIC, both sides
Mass Return: Over 130,000 Afghan Migrants Repatriated from Pakistan, Iran
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 24 April 2025 According to the report, two million Afghans are expected to return from Iran and more than 1.6 million others from Pakistan this year. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that over 130,000 Afghan migrants have returned from Pakistan and Iran between April 1 and 13. According to
After fleeing, Afghans who lived in Pakistan for decades feel ‘completely lost’ as they attempt to rebuild lives from nothing in Afghanistan
The New Arab 22 April 2025 Since April 1, more than 100,000 Afghans have been sent back to their country of origin, out of the around three million living in Pakistan Pushed out of Pakistan where she was born, Nazmine Khan’s first experience of her country, Afghanistan, was in a sweltering tent at a border
US Courts to review Afghan Immigration Cases, says White House
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 23, 2025 The White House announced U.S. courts will individually review Afghan immigration cases as temporary protection status for many is ending soon. Karoline Leavitt, White House spokesperson, announced that Afghan immigration cases in the United States will be reviewed by courts. The announcement, made during a press conference
Afghan-American Named US Deputy Secretary for Afghanistan
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 22 April 2025 She is tasked with leading US policy toward Afghanistan within this bureau.\ In the first political appointment related to Afghanistan by the Trump administration, Mary Kabir-Seraj Bechopping, an Afghan-American, was named Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs. She is
Islamic Emirate Cuts 1000s of Governmental Jobs
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 23 April 2025 Mujahid described the reduction of positions as a natural measure, stating that these changes aim to improve operations and reduce bureaucracy. The spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate, Zabihullah Mujahid, announced a reduction in positions across governmental institutions. Mujahid described the reduction of positions as a natural measure,
Islamic Emirate to Appoint Ambassador to Russia as Bilateral Ties Deepen
TOLOnews TV Network 23 April 2025 In this meeting, both sides emphasized expanding bilateral relations and starting a new phase of cooperation between Afghanistan and Russia. The acting minister of foreign affairs, in a meeting with Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s special representative for Afghanistan, who visited Kabul, announced that the caretaker government will soon appoint a
After a year of hostility, Pakistan and Afghanistan seek diplomatic reboot
.By Abid Hussain Al Jazeera Published On 22 Apr 2025 Pakistan’s Deputy PM Ishaq Dar visits Kabul as Islamabad and Kabul try to revive stalled diplomatic ties amid refugee expulsion Islamabad, Pakistan – When Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar landed in Kabul on April 19 for a daylong visit, it marked the first
Afghanistan, Pakistan Discuss Bilateral Ties, Refugees, Transit
TOLOnews TV Network 22 April 2025 The main topics of discussion included political relations, the status of Afghan refugees, trade, and transit. A Pakistani delegation led by Mohammad Ishaq Dar, the deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Pakistan, visited Kabul and held talks with officials of the Islamic Emirate on four key issues. The
UNAMA Urges Inclusive Engagement with Islamic Emirate for Afghan Stability
TOLOnews Tolo News 22 April 2025 According to her, the aim of this process is the full integration of Afghanistan into the international community. Roza Otunbayeva, the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), said in Kabul that the UN is committed to supporting Afghanistan’s stability and development through a comprehensive and
Trump administration orders some Afghan refugees to leave US within a week
Ahmad Azizi AMU TV 21 April 2025 A group of Afghans waiting for their flight at Kabul airport in August 2021 during the evacuation process. Photo: Shakibi Ibrahimi KABUL, Afghanistan — The Trump administration has ordered some Afghan refugees who legally entered the United States after the Taliban takeover in 2021 to leave the country
Kenya Arrests Former Afghan Lawmaker Wanted by the United States
By Khaama Press Khaama Press April 21, 2025 A court in Nairobi has allowed Kenyan police to detain Abdul Zahir Qadir, a former Afghan lawmaker and prominent political figure, following a formal extradition request from the United States. Qadir, also known as Haji Abdul Zahir, was arrested at a hotel in Nairobi on April 15
Mohammad Naeem: Islamic Emirate Committed to Positive Foreign Relations
TOLOnews TV Network 21 April 2025 Zhao Xing, China’s ambassador in Kabul, noted that political relations between China and Afghanistan have grown since the Islamic Emirate came to power. Officials from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and China, following years of expanding economic and trade ties, continue to strengthen their political and commercial cooperation. Mohammad
Survivor of US Airstrike in Wardak Demands Justice, Compensation
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
Russia Accuses West of Fueling Instability in Afghanistan
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
Pakistan: No Extension for Illegal Afghan Migrants
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
US weapons left in Afghanistan sold to militant groups, sources tell BBC
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
Pakistan confirms its expulsion of more than 80,000 Afghans since April 1
Al Jazeera Published On 18 Apr 202518 Apr 2025 Rights groups have criticised the repatriation drive, warning that mass expulsions risk endangering vulnerable people. 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
Afghanistan Journalists Center calls for release of detained Journalist Sayed Rashid Kashifi
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 18, 2025 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
Brutal Deportation from Pakistan: Sabera’s Journey with her 13-day-old baby at Torkham
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 18, 2025 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
Afghan Evac President: Afghan Refugees in US Given 7-Day Notice to Leave
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 18, 2025 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
Over 5,000 Afghan Migrants Deported from Pakistan in a Day
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
Magnitude 5.6 earthquake strikes Hindu Kush region, Afghanistan, EMSC says
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
Russia Removes Taliban from Terrorist List
By Khaama Press Khaama Press April 17, 2025 Russia has officially lifted its two-decade-long ban on the Afghan Taliban, removing the group from its list of designated terrorist organizations. The move, confirmed by Russian state media on Thursday, marks a significant shift in Moscow’s diplomatic posture toward the de facto rulers of Afghanistan. The Russian
UNICEF warns of severe Therapeutic Food shortage in Afghanistan due to budget cuts
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 17, 2025 The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Afghanistan has warned of a severe shortage of lifesaving therapeutic foods due to global budget cuts. Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF’s Head of Office in Afghanistan, shared a message on X on Thursday, April 17, stating that 3.5 million children under
CSTO expresses concern over increasing threats from Northern Afghanistan provinces
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 17, 2025 CSTO officials are concerned about the rising threats from northern Afghanistan provinces, particularly related to terrorism, extremism, and drug crimes. The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) has expressed concern over the situation in Afghanistan and the growing threats from its northern provinces. According to the CSTO
Karzai and Norwegian Ambassador discuss strengthening ties, Girls’ Education in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 17, 2025 Karzai emphasized the importance of girls’ education for Afghanistan’s development, while discussing strengthening diplomatic ties with Norway. Hamid Karzai, the former president of Afghanistan, met with Norwegian Ambassador to Kabul, Per Albert Ilsaas, to discuss strengthening bilateral relations. Karzai emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation between Afghanistan
Islamic Emirate Rejects CSTO Claims of Security and Drug Threats
TOLOnews TV Network 17 April 2025 This comes after the CSTO’s spokesperson claimed that Afghanistan remains a major source of security challenges and drug-related crimes. The Islamic Emirate has rejected the Collective Security Treaty Organization’s (CSTO) allegations about security threats and drug trafficking originating from Afghan territory, saying that no security threat emanates from Afghanistan
Imran Khan calls for extension of Afghan refugee return deadline
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 16, 2025 Imran Khan has called for extending the Afghan refugee return deadline, emphasizing the need for continued support and negotiations. Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, while being imprisoned, has called for the passage of a resolution in support of Afghan refugees and the facilitation
Millions in Afghanistan lack access to clean water: UN-Habitat
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 15, 2025 UN-Habitat reports that millions in Afghanistan, especially in informal settlements, lack access to clean water, requiring urgent intervention. The United Nations Human Settlements Programme has reported that many Afghanistan’s citizens, particularly those living in informal settlements, lack access to basic healthcare and clean drinking water, requiring urgent
Khalilzad: Pakistan Might Send ISIS to Afghanistan via Refugees
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 16 April 2025 Meanwhile, some of the recently deported refugees say they face serious challenges, including lack of shelter, emergency aid, and employment opportunities. Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special representative for Afghanistan peace, has warned that Pakistan might use the refugee deportation process as a cover to send ISIS
Afghanistan and the Scourge of Landmines: A Call for Global Support
TOLOnews TV Network 15 April 2025 Nooruddin Turabi said that Afghanistan needs extensive cooperation from the international community in mine clearance efforts. The National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) held a special event in Kabul to mark International Mine Awareness Day. During the event, Nooruddin Rustamkhil, head of the Mine Action Coordination Authority, stated that approximately
The Taliban banned Afghan girls from school. Low-paid carpet weaving is now their lifeline
Mahjooba Nowrouzi BBC Afghan Service Reporting from Kabul April 15, 2025 BBC Carpet weaving is one of few professions open to women since the Taliban government took power in 2021 At a workshop in Kabul where carpets are made, hundreds of women and girls work in a cramped space, the air thick and stifling. Among
Afghan children will die because of US funding cuts, aid official says
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS April 15, 2025 Afghan children will die because of US funding cuts, an aid agency official said Tuesday. The warning follows the cancellation of foreign aid contracts by President Donald Trump’s administration, including to Afghanistan where more than half of the population needs humanitarian assistance to survive. Action Against Hunger initially stopped all U.S.-funded activities in March after
Pakistan accelerates deportation of Afghans: UN
Al Jazeera 15 Apr 2025 Nearly 60,000 people have crossed back into Afghanistan since the start of April. Pakistan has ramped up the forced mass deportation of Afghan refugees and migrants, with nearly 60,000 having crossed the border since the start of April, the United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM) said. Nearly three million
U.S. weapons from Afghan war give Pakistani militants a deadly advantage
By Rick Noack, Alex Horton, Haq Nawaz Khan and Shaiq Hussain The Washington Post April 15, 2015 Sixty-three weapons seized from militants in Pakistan were provided by the U.S. government to Afghan forces during America’s 20-year war, a Post investigation found. PESHAWAR, Pakistan — On Jan. 9, 2018, an M4A1 carbine rifle left the Colt’s
Islamic Emirate Denies Smuggling of US-Origin Weapons to Pakistan
TOLOnews TV Network 15 April 2025 Fitrat emphasized that all military equipment left behind by the United States in Afghanistan is under the control of the caretaker government. The Islamic Emirate has rejected a Washington Post report alleging that US-origin weapons are being smuggled from Afghanistan to Pakistan, saying that such equipment has long existed
Afghanistan women’s team gets funding from the International Cricket Council
Associated Press April 13, 2025 MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Afghan women cricketers will finally get high-level support in a bid to rejoin international competition after the sport’s world governing body created a taskforce to coordinate direct funding, elite coaching and facilities for displaced players. Dozens of players from Afghanistan’s national women’s team relocated to Australia after the
The Taliban leader says executions are part of Islam
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS April 13, 2025 The Taliban leader said executions were part of Islam, days after four men were killed by gunfire in Afghanistan after they were convicted of murder. The executions took place in sports stadiums Friday, the highest number known to have been carried out in one day since the Taliban returned to
Taliban morality enforcers arrest men for having the wrong hairstyle or skipping mosque, UN says
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS April 10, 2025 The Taliban morality police in Afghanistan have detained men and their barbers over hairstyles and others for missing prayers at mosques during the holy month of Ramadan, a U.N. report said Thursday, six months after laws regulating people’s conduct came into effect. The Vice and Virtue Ministry published laws last August covering
Pakistan gives 5-Day Deadline for Afghan Refugees in South Waziristan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 14, 2025 Pakistan has given Afghan migrants in South Waziristan a five-day deadline to register with police for identification and security purposes. As the deportation of Afghan migrants from Pakistan continues, police authorities in South Waziristan have issued a five-day deadline for Afghan migrants in the province to register
Muttaqi: Mistreatment of Migrants Harms Kabul-Islamabad Relations
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 14 April 2025 In this meeting, Muttaqi described the mistreatment of Afghan migrants as alarming and damaging to the relations between the two countries. Amid the intensified deportation of Afghan migrants from Pakistan, Amir Khan Muttaqi, acting foreign minister of the Islamic Emirate, met with Obaidur Rahman Nizamani, acting ambassador
‘We Have No Homes’: Afghan Migrants Face Harsh Reality After Deportation
Shabnam Amini Tolo News 14 April 2025 Several migrants deported through the Torkham crossing say they not only have no homes to live in, but they also do not own any land on which to build one. With the increasing wave of returning Afghan migrants from neighboring countries—particularly Pakistan—many repatriated families are facing a
Trump Will End Temporary Protections for Afghans and Cameroonians
By Hamed Aleaziz The New York Times Reporting from Washington April 12, 2025 More than 10,000 people will be put on track for deportation in May and June as a result of the Department of Homeland Security’s action. The Trump administration will end temporary protections for more than 10,000 people from Afghanistan and Cameroon, putting them
Pakistan Repeats Terrorism Claims Amid Strained Ties with Afghanistan
TOLOnews TV Network 12 April 2025 He said that efforts to improve relations are ongoing, but security concerns and the presence of terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan remain major challenges. As tensions rise between Kabul and Islamabad, Shafqat Ali Khan, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has emphasized that terrorism continues to be the main
Trump officials end ‘temporary protected status’ for Afghans, Cameroonians
Al Jazeera Published On 12 Apr 202512 Apr 2025 More than 14,600 Afghans and 7,900 Cameroonians are legally in the US under the programme which grants temporary safety from conflict and instability. The administration of President Donald Trump has moved to end legal protections for thousands of Afghans and Cameroonians legally living in the United
Thousands of Afghans in the U.S. at Risk of Deportation After Losing Legal Protection
By Khaama Press April 12, 2025 WASHINGTON, April 11 — In a move raising deep concern among Afghan communities in the United States, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has officially ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for citizens of Afghanistan, leaving thousands at risk of deportation in the coming weeks. The decision, announced by
Mansoor: No Secret Annexes in the Doha Agreement
TOLOnews TV Network 11 April 2025 He said that removing the names of Islamic Emirate officials from the UN blacklist was part of the agreement’s next stages, which have yet to be implemented. The acting minister of water and energy has said that the Doha Agreement between the United States and the Islamic Emirate contains
UK Envoy: UN Proposal on Afghanistan Ready for Discussion
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 11 April 2025 He added that the proposal emphasizes strengthening relations with Afghanistan and ensuring the country’s security. The chargé d’affaires of the British Embassy for Afghanistan, Robert Chatterton Dickson, informed the acting minister of refugees that a proposal regarding Afghanistan has been prepared by the United Nations. In a
Liberal candidate co-authored inquiry submission suggesting Hazaras not persecuted for ethnicity in Afghanistan
Henry Belot The Guardian Fri 11 Apr 2025 11.00 EDT Exclusive: Zahid Safi, who is running in Melbourne seat of Bruce, listed as last author on 2021 Senate submission which says victims of Afghanistan war ‘not based on ethnicity’ The Liberal candidate for Bruce co-authored a parliamentary submission suggesting the Hazara community in Afghanistan was not persecuted on
Germany to expand deportation plan to Afghanistan under new Government
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 11, 2025 Germany’s new government plans to expand deportations to Afghanistan, targeting rejected asylum seekers amid growing political pressure and migration concerns. German media have reported that the country’s future government plans to resume deportation flights to Afghanistan and Syria as part of a tougher immigration policy targeting undocumented
Terrorism still main obstacle to better ties with Kabul, says Foreign Ministry
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 11, 2025 Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry says terrorism remains the main hurdle in improving bilateral ties with Kabul, citing ongoing security concerns and cross-border threats. Shafqat Ali Khan, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that terrorism remains the primary obstacle to improving bilateral relations with the Taliban-led administration
Islamic Emirate Leader Calls for Full Implementation of Sharia in Paktia
TOLOnews TV Network 11 April 2025 The leader of the Islamic Emirate also stressed the importance of unity among the people and the prevention of divisions. The leader of the Islamic Emirate met with the governor of Paktia and other provincial officials in Kandahar. During the meeting, Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada emphasized that the time has
Save the Children: 4,000 Child Deaths on Migration Routes
TOLOnews TV Network 11 April 2025 Insecurity, hunger, and climate change have been cited as the main reasons for child migration. In its annual report, Save the Children stated that more than 4,000 children have died on migration routes worldwide between 2014 and early 2025. Insecurity, hunger, and climate change have been cited as the
UNHCR Calls for Coordinated, Dignified Repatriation of Afghan Refugees
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 11 April 2025 According to statistics from UNHCR for Afghanistan, since September 2023, 900,000 Afghans have returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office for Afghanistan has called on Iran and Pakistan to treat Afghan refugees appropriately. The head of this organization stressed in
Vice and Virtue Ministry Reacts to UNAMA Report
TOLOnews TV Network 10 April 2025 UNAMA said that six months after the law’s enforcement, the Islamic Emirate has made more systematic efforts to implement it. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in its latest report stated that the implementation of the Islamic Emirate’s vice and virtue law has significantly impacted people’s lives,
Economy Ministry: US Aid Bill ‘Tool of Pressure on Islamic Emirate’
TOLOnews TV Network 10 April 2025 The US Department of State confirmed yesterday that it has suspended its aid to the World Food Programme in Afghanistan and Yemen. The Ministry of Economy said a new bill that passed a vote in the US House Foreign Affairs Committee and is heading to Congress, which concerns aid
Afghanistan: Taliban Hands Over Bagram Air Base To US
Team StratNews StratNews Global Apr 11, 2025 Donald Trump recently said the US is planning to return to Afghanistan, a country its military exited in 2021, in a bid to counter China’s influence over the war-torn South Asian nation. The Taliban has transferred control of Afghanistan’s strategic Bagram Air Base to the United States, marking a significant
Pakistan warns it may expel thousands of Afghans hoping for resettlement in the West
By MUNIR AHMED Associated Press April 10, 2025 ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan said Thursday that thousands of Afghan migrants who have applied for resettlement in third countries could face forced expulsion if they are not relocated by host nations before the end of April. Deputy Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry did not mention specific host countries, but his announcement follows
Khalid Hanafi: Non-Muslims are ‘Worse Than Animals’
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 10, 2025 Khalid Hanafi, a key figure in the Taliban regime, controversially stated that ‘non-Muslims are worse than animals’ in recent remarks. Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, the Acting Minister of Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice under the Taliban regime, made controversial remarks comparing non-Muslims, including Christians, Jews,
WFP: Reduced aid puts heavy burden on Women and Children in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 10, 2025 The World Food Program (WFP) has expressed concern over declining global aid, particularly from the United States, and warned that the primary burden of this crisis falls on Afghanistan’s women and children. In a post on its official social media platform X, the WFP shared a video
Kabir: Resolving Migration Crisis Requires Time, Global Support
Shabnam Amini Tolo News 10 April 2025 The ministry stated that this meeting also addressed the challenges Afghan migrants face in Pakistan and Iran. The acting minister of refugees and repatriations, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, discussed the holding of a trilateral meeting between Kabul, Tehran, and Islamabad with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees for Afghanistan
Parwan Intelligence Chief: Opponents Seek Help from Foreign States
TOLOnews TV Network 10 April 2025 The governor of Parwan said that there exist no types of discrimination among the officials of the Islamic Emirate. Mohammad Siddiq Mokhles, the intelligence chief of Parwan province, in a public gathering accused political opponents of the Islamic Emirate who reside in neighboring countries of receiving aid from foreign
Mysterious US military flight to Afghanistan sparks speculation about Bagram air base
Arpan Rai The Independent Wednesday 09 April 2025 05:46 BST Military cargo plane from Doha was reportedly carrying CIA deputy chief A US military cargo plane that flew into Afghanistan last week has sparked speculation that America could retake control of the strategic Bagram air base. According to local media reports, the C-17 aircraft took off from Doha’s
Fleeing Taliban fighters, Ibrahim begs the country he helped – Australia – to save his family
By Ben Doherty The Guardian Wed 9 Apr 2025 Mohammed Ibrahim Danish spent four years as a translator for aid workers who taught children and trained doctors. In today’s Afghanistan the penalty for that is death Huddled on Afghanistan’s chaotic border with Pakistan, his young son shivering in the cold, Ibrahim Danish stared at the
US restores urgent food aid but not in Afghanistan and Yemen, where millions need it
By SAMY MAGDY, RIAZAT BUTT and ELLEN KNICKMEYER Associated Press April 9, 2025 CAIRO (AP) — The Trump administration has reversed sweeping cuts in emergency food aid to several nations but maintained them in Afghanistan and Yemen, two of the world’s poorest and most war-ravaged countries, officials said Wednesday. The United States had initially cut funding for projects in
IS Bagram Airbase now under US or Chinese Control?
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 9, 2025 Bagram Airbase has reportedly been handed over to the U.S., amidst conflicting claims. Trump blames Biden for allowing China’s influence, while the Taliban denies the transfer. The Bagram Airbase, a strategic military site in Afghanistan, has become the center of conflicting reports regarding its control. The U.S.
Over 11,000 Afghan Refugees expelled from Pakistan; PoR cardholders protected until June 30
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 9, 2025 Over 11,000 Afghan migrants have been expelled from Pakistan in the latest phase, while PoR cardholders are protected until June 30. Pakistani media reports have revealed that, since the beginning of the second phase of forced Afghan migrant expulsions, 11,371 Afghan migrants were deported from the
Pakistan halts detention and deportation of registered Afghan migrants until further notice
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 9, 2025 Pakistan has suspended the detention and deportation of registered Afghan migrants until further notice. Reports from local media outlets in Pakistan reveal that the Peshawar city court has prohibited all law enforcement agencies from taking legal action against Afghan migrants who hold PoR (Proof of Registration)
Afghan Refugees in Iran: Census Cards Declared Invalid
TOLOnews TV Network 9 April 2025 They are calling on both the Iranian and Afghan governments to address their situation seriously. A number of Afghan refugees in Iran have complained about growing challenges, saying the Iranian government has invalidated their refugee census cards. They are calling on both the Iranian and Afghan governments to address
Afghan Refugees’ property looted and expelled with abuse in Pakistan: Officials
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 8, 2025 Afghan refugees in Pakistan are reportedly facing abuse and property looting during forced expulsions, according to officials’ statements. The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations of Afghanistan has condemned the ongoing detention and forced deportation of Afghan migrants from Pakistan. According to the ministry, these migrants are subjected
Italy to Resettle 700 Afghan Refugees
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 8, 2025 Italy has announced plans to resettle 700 Afghan refugees, part of a larger effort to bring 8,200 individuals to Europe, amid global challenges in refugee resettlement. Italian media recently reported that the government of Italy has decided to relocate 700 Afghan refugees to the country as part
US and Pakistan discuss Afghanistan’s left behind Military Equipment
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 8, 2025 The US and Pakistan discussed the military equipment left behind in Afghanistan, focusing on managing its disposal and security. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, held a phone call to discuss regional developments, with a focus on Afghanistan’s current situation.
UN Sec-Gen Spokesperson, WFP Warn Against Trump-Announced Aid Cut
TOLOnews TV Network 8 April 2025 In response, the World Food Programme, which is supported by US funds, stated that cutting this aid is a death sentence for those facing hunger. US President Donald Trump has announced his intention to cut the remaining US aid to Afghanistan and Yemen. Donald Trump stated: “You wouldn’t believe
‘I begged them, my daughter was dying’: how Taliban male escort rules are killing mothers and babies
Sana Atif, Freshta Ghani, Ruchi Kumar and Zuhal Ahad The Guardian 3 Apr 2025 The need for women to be accompanied by a man in public is blocking access to healthcare and contributing to soaring mortality rates, say experts It was the middle of the night when Zarin Gul realised that her daughter Nasrin had to
Malnutrition threatens the lives of millions of Children in Afghanistan: WFP
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 7, 2025 The World Food Programme (WFP) has once again warned about the dire situation facing children in Afghanistan, stating that millions of Afghan children are at serious risk of malnutrition this year. According to WFP officials in Afghanistan, recent assessments reveal that at least 3.5 million children
UN urges continued donor support amid Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 7, 2025 The UN urges international donors to maintain critical support for Afghanistan, addressing urgent humanitarian needs amid a severe crisis. The United Nations is urging international donors to maintain critical support for Afghanistan, a country facing the second-largest humanitarian crisis in the world. In 2025, approximately 22.9
Acting Health Minister Denies Claims of Rifts Within Islamic Emirate
TOLOnews TV Network 6 April 2025 Previously, other officials of the Islamic Emirate had also denied the existence of any internal rifts within the interim government.\Noor Jalal Jalali, acting minister of public health, has denied the existence of any disagreements among members of the Islamic Emirate. Speaking at a gathering in Kabul, Jalali emphasized that
Afghan Ministry Warns US Tariffs Could Hinder Economic Growth
Liluma Qadiry Tolo News 7 April 2025 According to the ministry, this decision disproportionately harms the Afghan people, handicraft producers, small businesses, and women entrepreneurs. The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has warned that the imposition of a 10% tariff by the United States on Afghan goods poses a serious obstacle to the country’s economic
Muttaqi Stresses Strengthening Relations with UAE, Iran
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 7 April 2025 Political observers believe such meetings can pave the way for expanding Afghanistan’s relations with regional countries in various sectors. The acting foreign minister of the Islamic Emirate, Amir Khan Muttaqi, in meetings with Saif Alketbi, the United Arab Emirates’ special representative for Afghanistan, and Alireza Bikdeli, the
Afghan rights defender told she faces ‘no risk’ from Taliban as Home Office denies asylum
Diane Taylor The Guardian Sat 5 Apr 2025 04.00 EDT Woman who worked with western governments in her home country before fleeing the Taliban told to return An Afghan woman who risked her life to defend human rights in her home country before fleeing to the UK has been told by the Home Office it
Rifts growing in the Taliban over the ban on girls’ schooling
April 6, 2025, 5:00 AM EDT By Astha Rajvanshi and Mushtaq Yusufzai NBC News PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Rifts are growing among Taliban officials over the group’s decision to ban girls from secondary education, leading at least one minister to leave Afghanistan and forcing families to move so their daughters can continue their schooling. As religious police patrol large parts of the country to ensure that
Son of British couple held by Taliban asks US for help
Aleks Phillips BBC News 5 April 2025 Peter Reynolds, 79, and wife Barbie, 75, have been in prison since the start of February The son of a British couple who were detained by the Taliban nine weeks ago is calling on the US to help secure their release from an Afghan prison. Peter Reynolds, 79,
Briton held by Taliban with wife describes dire conditions in Kabul jail
Hayden Vernon The Guardian Sun 6 Apr 2025 Peter Reynolds, 79, detained with his wife, Barbie, since February, says prison is ‘nearest thing to hell I can imagine’ A Briton held captive by the Taliban for more than nine weeks has said he is living in dire conditions in a prison in Kabul, describing it as
Acting Economy Minister: Neighbors Oppose Afghan Progress
Liluma Qadiry Tolo News 6 April 2025 Hamdullah Nomani added that the country should not rely on foreigners for its development. The Acting Minister of Economy, without naming any specific country, said that neighboring nations do not wish to see Afghanistan progress. In a program held in Kabul, Din Mohammad Hanif said that international aid
1000s of Afghan Migrants Forcibly Returned from Pakistan
Sadaqat Ghorzang Tolo News 6 April 2025 Deportees say they were arrested by Pakistani police while at work and deported to Afghanistan, leaving behind their businesses and family members. In the past six days, Pakistan has deported 2,811 Afghan refugees through the Torkham crossing after detaining them. Baz Mohammad Abdulrahman, head of the Refugees and
Over one million Afghan Refugees deported from Iran in one year
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 6, 2025 Over one million Afghan refugees were deported by Iranian authorities in one year, highlighting escalating enforcement of strict immigration policies. Iranian media, citing government officials, reported that over 1.12 million Afghan migrants were deported from Iran during the solar year March 2024–March 2025, as part of Tehran’s
Pakistan’s Parliament to review plan for returning Afghan refugees
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 6, 2025 Pakistan’s Parliament is set to review plans for the forced return of Afghan refugees amid growing domestic and international concerns. As pressure intensifies on Afghan refugees in Pakistan, local media have reported that the National Assembly of Pakistan is set to hold a session on Monday April 7,
Afghan Retirees Gather to Demand Pension Payments
TOLOnews TV Network 6 April 2025 Despite earlier promises, no specific timeline has yet been announced by the Islamic Emirate regarding the start of pension payments. A number of retirees in Kabul have once again protested the non-payment of their pensions, continuing their series of protest gatherings. The retirees say they are facing severe economic
UN calls for end to Pakistan’s forced deportation of Afghan refugees
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 5, 2025 UN experts have called for an immediate halt to the deportation of Afghan migrants from Pakistan, stressing that such actions violate international human rights and refugee laws. On Friday, April 4, the UN issued a press statement emphasizing the need for sustainable solutions for Afghan migrants and
Pakistan urges UN to combat Afghanistan’s illicit arms trade
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 5, 2025 Pakistan has urged the UN Security Council to take action against the growing illicit arms trade flourishing in Afghanistan. Pakistan has urged the United Nations Security Council to halt terrorists’ access to weapons in Afghanistan. The request comes amid rising concerns about the proliferation of arms to
Afghanistan Licenses Over 500 Tourism Companies in One Year
Shabnam Amini Tolo News 5 March 2025 Simultaneously, the Union of Tourism Companies in Kabul has assured ongoing efforts to improve services for both domestic and foreign tourists. The Ministry of Information and Culture has announced that more than 500 tourism companies have been granted operational licenses across the country over the past year. Khubaib
US Dismisses Prospect of Reopening Embassy in Kabul
Mohammad Bashir Soltan Tolo News 5 April 2025 The US National Security Council, told an American newspaper that Washington has made no commitment to transferring the Afghan embassy in Washington. Following the interim Afghan government’s request for the United States to reopen its embassy in Kabul and to hand over the Afghan embassy in Washington
Intl Mine Awareness Day: Afghanistan’s Silent Emergency
TOLOnews TV Network 4 April 2025 Meanwhile, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan announced that children are the main victims of leftover landmine explosions in the country. On the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, the United Nations has emphasized the importance of raising awareness, prevention, and mine clearance. Afghanistan
Millions of Afghans lose access to healthcare services as USAID cuts shut clinics
Ruchi Kumar and Zahra Ahad The Guardian Thu 3 Apr 2025 08.00 EDT Fears of surge in malnutrition, measles, malaria and polio as 206 World Health Organization facilities forced to close More than 200 health facilities run by the World Health Organization in Afghanistan, providing medical care for 1.84 million people, have closed or ceased operating after
WFP assists 9 million Afghans, calls for immediate funding to sustain vital aid programs
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 3, 2025 The World Food Programme (WFP) provided lifesaving assistance to over 9 million Afghans last year, highlighting the urgent need for continued funding. The World Food Program (WFP) reported that it provided life-saving aid to over nine million people in Afghanistan in the past year. As part of
Canada warns citizens against travel to Afghanistan due to security risks
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 3, 2025 Canada has warned its citizens against traveling to Afghanistan due to ongoing violence, kidnappings, arbitrary arrests, and human rights violations. The Canadian government issued a warning on Tuesday, urging its citizens to avoid travel to Afghanistan due to escalating security concerns. The government highlighted the risks posed
CNN: Islamic Emirate Seeking US Recognition, Diplomatic Ties
Hayatullah Rahimi Tolo News 3 April 2025 According to the article, the Islamic Emirate also asked for the opening of an office in the United States to provide consular services to Afghans. CNN has reported in an article that officials from the Islamic Emirate, during a meeting with a US delegation in March—held to discuss
Report: Afghanistan Can’t Fight Climate Change Alone
Sial Yousofi Correspondent Tolo News 3 April 2025 Toda Institute stated that Afghanistan is one of the ten countries most affected by climate change but lacks the necessary resources to counter it. A Japanese organization named Toda Peace Institute has analyzed and reported on Afghanistan’s inability to effectively combat climate change. Toda Institute stated that
‘Hope in my heart’: displaced Afghans in limbo as White House freezes refugee programs
Alexandra Villarreal in San Antonio The Guardian Wed 2 Apr 2025 Texas volunteers had prepared welcome for family fleeing Taliban now stranded in Pakistan in fear of being deported The 24-year-old Afghan woman wants to become a surgeon – and she had set her sights on training in the US. She wants to care for other
Daughter of detained British Couple in Afghanistan demands parents’ release
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 2, 2025 The daughter of a detained British couple in Afghanistan has called for their immediate release. The family of a British couple detained by the Taliban has called on the UK Foreign Office to condemn their arrest and demand their immediate release. The couple, Peter Reynolds (79) and
Increase in Maternal and Infant deaths in Afghanistan following US Aid cut
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 2, 2025 U.S. aid cuts have led to a significant rise in maternal and infant deaths in Afghanistan, worsening healthcare access. The National Public Radio (NPR) has reported a concerning rise in maternal and infant deaths in Afghanistan following the halt of U.S. International Development Agency (USAID) assistance. According
Uncertainty Torments Afghan Refugees Facing Deportation From Pakistan
By Zia ur-Rehman Reporting from Karachi, Pakistan The New York Times April 1, 2025 Monday marks the deadline for Afghans sheltering in Pakistan to leave the country, with the prospect of a dangerous future in Taliban-led Afghanistan ahead. In a refugee settlement on the outskirts of Karachi, Pakistan, Afghan families gathered on Sunday to observe
Begum Academy Launches Offline Learning App to Empower Afghan Girls
By Khaama Press April 1, 2025 As the new academic year begins in Afghanistan, it also marks the third consecutive year that girls above the age of 12 have been denied access to formal education. In response to these ongoing restrictions, Begum Academy, a digital education initiative founded by Afghan entrepreneur Hamida Aman in November
US State Department: Processing of Afghan SIV Applications continues
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press April 1, 2025 The U.S. State Department is continuing to process Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applications for Afghan applicants seeking relocation. The U.S. State Department confirmed on Monday that it is continuing to process Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applications for Afghanistan’s nationals. The department stated that these applications are currently
Pakistan Resumes Deportation of Afghan Refugees After Deadline Ends
TOLOnews TV Network 1 April 2025 This development comes despite a report by the Associated Press yesterday, which mentioned a ten-day suspension of the deportation process. Pakistani media have reported the start of the deportation process of Afghan refugees from Pakistan. This development comes despite a report by the Associated Press yesterday, which mentioned a
Trump Administration: No Rest Until Detained Americans Brought Home
Mohammad Bashir Soltani Tolo News 1 April 2025 Faye Hall was the third American citizen released by the Islamic Emirate through mediation by Qatar. Following the release of Faye Hall, an American citizen previously detained in Afghanistan, the Trump administration reaffirmed its commitment to securing the return of all American citizens detained in other countries.
Uncertainty Torments Afghan Refugees Facing Deportation from Pakistan
By Zia ur-Rehman Reporting from Karachi, Pakistan The New York Times March 31, 2025 Monday marks the deadline for Afghans sheltering in Pakistan to leave the country, with the prospect of a dangerous future in Taliban-led Afghanistan ahead. In a refugee settlement on the outskirts of Karachi, Pakistan, Afghan families gathered on Sunday to observe
Russian authorities move to lift the terrorist designation for the Taliban
Associated Press March 31, 2025 MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s Supreme Court on Monday said it received a petition from the prosecutor general’s office to lift a ban on Afghanistan’s Taliban, who were outlawed two decades ago as a terrorist group. The court said in a statement it would hold a hearing on the petition, submitted by
‘This is our home’: D-day for Afghans facing Pakistan deportation
By Abid Hussain Al Jazeera Published On 31 Mar 2025 Hundreds of thousands of Afghans who have lived in Pakistan for decades face deportation from April 1. They’re being asked to leave behind the only home they’ve known. Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan is the only home Mohammad Laal Khan has known. He was born here. He
Family urges Trump to release US citizen from Taliban Custody
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press March 31, 2025 The family of a U.S. citizen urges the Trump administration to secure his release from Taliban custody, demanding swift action. Following the release of another U.S. citizen from Taliban custody, the family of Mahmood Shah Habibi, an Afghan-American detained by the Taliban for over two and a
Richard Bennett calls for Justice and Human Rights in Afghanistan’s Eid message
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press March 31, 2025 Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan, released a message on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, wishing the people of Afghanistan peace, dignity, and hope. In his message, stated on the social media platform X on Sunday, March 30, Richard Bennett expressed his best wishes for
Hamid Karzai calls for lifting Education and Job Restrictions on Afghanistan’s women in Eid Message
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press March 31, 2025 Former President Hamid Karzai, in an Eid al-Fitr greeting, stressed the need to reopen educational centers for girls and remove work restrictions on women, viewing closed schools and universities as major obstacles to national progress. In a message posted on his official social media platform X, Karzai
Mujahid: Islamic Emirate Continues Efforts for Diplomatic Ties, Recognition
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 31 March 2025 Zabihullah Mujahid told TOLOnews that although efforts have been made by the Islamic Emirate toward recognition. The spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, Zabihullah Mujahid, stated that the caretaker government will take practical steps this solar year to revive diplomatic relations with other countries and gain international recognition.
Eid Appeal: Let Girls Return to School, Say Afghan Students
TOLOnesws 31 March 2025 The 1404 academic year began on the first day of the month of Hamal (March 20), but the fate of girls’ education beyond sixth grade remains uncertain. As the new academic year begins alongside Eid celebrations in Afghanistan, a number of female students have once again called on the Islamic Emirate
Pakistan Postpones Afghan Deportations by 10 Days
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 31 March 2025 Meanwhile, the Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported that the Rawalpindi police chief has issued orders to arrest and deport undocumented Afghan migrants. The Associated Press has reported, based on a document it obtained, that the process of arresting and deporting Afghan migrants from Pakistan has been postponed for
Taliban releases American woman detained in Afghanistan
By Kelly Kasulis Cho The Washington Post March 30, 2025 The Taliban released an American citizen, Faye Hall, who was detained in Afghanistan, a former U.S. ambassador said Saturday. Hall “is now in the care of our friends, the Qataris in Kabul, and will soon be on her way home,” wrote Zalmay Khalilzad, who was a U.S.
‘It means death’: Afghan women’s rights activists face deportation from Pakistan
Hannah Ellis-Petersen in Delhi The Guardian Sun 30 Mar 2025 More than 50 prominent female Afghan women’s rights activists sheltering in Pakistan are facing deportation home, where they fear they will be imprisoned or killed under Taliban rule. Under a draconian policy, the Pakistan government has pledged to deport millions of Afghan nationals, after relations between Pakistan
The Taliban leader says there is no need for Western laws in Afghanistan
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS March 30, 2025 The Taliban leader said Sunday there was no need for Western laws in Afghanistan and that democracy was dead as long as sharia laws are in effect. Hibatullah Akhundzada made the comments in a sermon marking the Islamic holiday of Eid Al-Fitr, in the southern city of Kandahar’s Eidgah Mosque. The
Four Afghan girl guitarists escaped the Taliban. Will they be forced back?
By Rabia Mushtaq Al Jazeera 29 Mar 2025 Teenage musicians Yasemin, Zakia and Shukriya and Uzra, just 7, fled the repression of women in Afghanistan. Will a Trump order and Pakistan send them back? Islamabad, Pakistan – On a pleasant February afternoon in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, the sound of strumming guitars fills a small bedroom in
‘They Will Label Us as Spies’: The Afghan Students Abandoned by America
By Aryn Baker Reporting from Doha, Qatar The New York Times March 30, 2025 Students at the American University of Afghanistan in Qatar fear having to return to their Taliban-ruled homeland after aid and visa cutoffs by the Trump administration. When she finds it hard to focus, Nilab jots down her worries on slips of
US denies entry to Canadian citizens born in Afghanistan and Iran
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press March 29, 2025 Canadian citizens born in Afghanistan and Iran are facing U.S. entry bans due to stricter border policies under Trump’s administration. According to the Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail, some Canadian citizens born in Iran and Afghanistan have faced denial of entry to the United States after undergoing
US Military equipment left in Afghanistan will not be returned: Abdul Qahar Balkhi
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press March 29, 2025 Abdul Qahar Balkhi stated that the military equipment left by the US in Afghanistan will not be returned under any circumstances. The spokesperson of the Taliban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, responded to recent comments by US President Donald Trump regarding military equipment left behind
American Citizen Faye Hall Released by Islamic Emirate
TOLOnews TV Network 30 March 2025 This American citizen, named Faye Hall, is now under the supervision of the United States’ Qatari allies in Kabul, according to Zalmay Khalilzad. The former US special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation has announced that an American citizen imprisoned in Afghanistan Faye Hall has been released by the Islamic Emirate.
Rubio: US to Resume Life-Saving Aid Programs Worldwide
Liluma Qadiry Tolo News 30 March 2025 The Ministry of Economy also emphasized the importance of continued humanitarian aid in supporting Afghanistan’s economic stability. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently reaffirmed America’s commitment to continue providing critical and urgent assistance to countries around the world. Rubio also criticized the current approach of the United
One Day to Deadline: Afghan Refugees Plead for More Time in Pakistan
Bibi Amina Hakimi Tolo News 30 March 2025 A number of refugees who have lived in Pakistan for over four decades are once again appealing to the government to extend their stay. Only one day remains until the deadline set by Pakistan for the expulsion of Afghan refugees from the country. A number of refugees
UN official backs call for FIFA action on gender oppression in Afghanistan
Al Jazeera Published On 26 Mar 2025 The UN special rapporteur on Afghanistan urges ‘strong stand’ from FIFA for nation’s women to make return to international football. Afghanistan’s national women’s football team have received support from a United Nations special rapporteur as they urge athletes worldwide to stand in solidarity as they fight their exclusion
Over 170 Afghan citizens transferred from Islamabad to Germany on special flight
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press March 28, 2025 Over 170 Afghan citizens, including women and children, were transferred from Islamabad to Germany on a special flight for resettlement. A total of 174 Afghan citizens, particularly those at high risk, have been transferred to Germany in a flight that landed in Hanover Airport on March 28.
Analyst Calls Trump’s Approach to Afghanistan ‘Pragmatic’
TOLOnesws 28 March 2025 Kugelman referred to several indicators of a shift in US policy compared to 2021. Michael Kugelman a director of the Wilson Center research institute in Washington wrote that former US President Donald Trump is taking a pragmatic approach toward the current authorities in Afghanistan. The director at the Wilson Center also
White House slams Biden for failing to hold officials accountable in Afghanistan withdrawal
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press March 27, 2025 Karoline Leavitt, White House spokesperson, criticized the Biden administration for its failure to hold officials accountable for the “disastrous” U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, calling it “outrageous.” Leavitt responded to reporters’ questions about the disclosure of chat group information involving senior U.S. security officials, stating that the Trump
UN Women: Generations Will Be Affected by Education Ban
TOLOnews TV Network 27 March 2025 Schoolgirls once again urged the Islamic Emirate to pay attention to their education and allow them to continue their studies. UN Women in a post on X called the educational and academic deprivation of girls in Afghanistan an “injustice” and stated that if this deprivation continues, generations in the
Amnesty Intl Urges Pakistan to Halt Forced Deportation of Afghans
TOLOnews TV Network 27 March 2025 Isabelle Lassée, deputy regional director for South Asia at Amnesty International, described Pakistan’s decision as contrary to the rights of migrants and refugees. Amnesty International has called for the immediate cancellation of Pakistan’s forced deportation plan of Afghan migrants. Isabelle Lassée, deputy regional director for South Asia at Amnesty
World Food Programme Warns of Malnutrition Crisis Among Afghan Children
TOLOnews TV Network 27 March 2025 The UN agency also stated that it needs $555 million over the next six months to safeguard life-saving food assistance across its programs. The World Food Programme (WFP) has predicted that 3.5 million children in Afghanistan will suffer from malnutrition in 2025. The UN agency also stated that it
UN official backs call for FIFA action on gender oppression in Afghanistan
Al Jazeera 26 Mar 2025 The UN special rapporteur on Afghanistan urges ‘strong stand’ from FIFA for nation’s women to make return to international football. Afghanistan’s national women’s football team have received support from a United Nations special rapporteur as they urge athletes worldwide to stand in solidarity as they fight their exclusion from World
Afghanistan excluded from US Security Threat List despite Alleged ISIS Presence
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press March 26, 2025 The U.S. National Intelligence Agency recently published its annual threat assessment, notably omitting Afghanistan from the list of national security threats. Last year’s report highlighted Afghanistan and the Taliban multiple times, but this year’s report made no mention of them, raising concerns about the current U.S. assessment
Islamic Emirate Signals Willingness for Conditional UN Cooperation
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 26 March 2025 Some political analysts believe the United Nations should also work on addressing citizens’ challenges and developing relations with other countries. Roza Otunbayeva, the head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), in a meeting with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting minister of foreign affairs, stressed the
Russia: Afghanistan’s Counterterrorism Efforts Are Inadequate
TOLOnews TV Network 26 March 2025 The Russian ambassador also highlighted Moscow’s support for Pakistan, Afghanistan, and other regional countries in countering militant threats. Albert Khorev, the Russian ambassador to Pakistan, in an interview with a Pakistani media outlet described the interim Afghan government’s efforts to combat terrorism as insufficient. The Russian ambassador also highlighted
Discussions About Reopening US Embassy in Kabul Ongoing: Mujahid
TOLOnews TV Network 26 March 2025 Mujahid emphasized that the caretaker government has closed the chapter of war with the US and is in favor of good relations with the country. Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, told Al Arabiya that negotiations are ongoing for handing over the Afghan embassy in Washington to the
U.S. Lifts Millions in Bounties on Senior Taliban Officials
By Christina Goldbaum and Adam Goldman The New York Times Published March 26, 2025 The move was a significant shift toward leaders of the Haqqani network, which was behind some of the deadliest attacks during the war in Afghanistan. The United States has lifted multimillion-dollar bounties on three senior Taliban officials, according to Afghan authorities and a
US drops bounties on key Taliban leaders
Yogita Limaye South Asia and Afghanistan Correspondent BBC News 25 March 2025 Sirajuddin Haqqani addresses an audience in Kabul, Afghanistan, 19 August 2023. The US has removed millions of dollars in bounties from senior members of the Haqqani militant network in Afghanistan, including one on its leader Sirajuddin Haqqani who is also the Taliban government’s
Teenage Afghan girls were banned from school – now these classes are their only option
Mahjooba Nowrouzi BBC Afghan Service, Kabul 24 March 2025 Amina will never forget the moment her childhood changed. She was just 12 years old when she was told she could no longer go to school like boys. The new school year began on Saturday in Afghanistan but for the fourth consecutive year, girls over 12
OCHA Warns: Education ban overwhelms girls’ mental health in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press March 25, 2025 The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that the unbearable psychological pressure resulting from denying girls education in Afghanistan has reached critical levels. Experts note that such deprivation undermines the well-being and future prospects of young Afghans, exacerbating long-term social and economic
Sima Bahous: Afghan Girls Must Be Allowed Back in School
TOLOnesws 25 March 2025 Stéphane Dujarric added that UNICEF has provided education access to more than 440,000 children in Afghanistan, 64 percent of whom are girls. Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, has condemned the continued ban on education for girls above grade six in Afghanistan, calling it a violation of their right to
NRC Suspends Part of Its Operations in Afghanistan Due to Funding Cuts
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 25 March 2025 Aid reductions—especially from donor countries like the United States—have created serious challenges for many humanitarian agencies. The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) announced that, due to severe funding cuts, it has been forced to suspend part of its operations in Afghanistan and close several of its offices. The
Pakistan Urges Sustained Dialogue with the Islamic Emirate
TOLOnews TV Network 25 March 2025 Mohammad Sadiq has said that he agreed with Islamic Emirate officials to increase high-level dialogue to strengthen bilateral cooperation. Following the three-day visit of Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq to Kabul, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has emphasized the importance of sustained dialogue with Afghanistan’s
WHO: Tuberculosis Increased by 3.3% in Afghanistan in 2024
TOLOnews 24 March 2025 Deputy minister for health services, called on international organizations to assist Afghanistan’s health sector in the fight against TB. March 24 marks World Tuberculosis Day. The World Health Organization (WHO) in Afghanistan has reported a 3.3% increase in tuberculosis cases in 2024 compared to 2023. Edwin Ceniza Salvador, the World Health
EU: Education is key to Afghanistan’s prosperity and resilience
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press March 24, 2025 In response to the ongoing ban on girls’ education in the country, the European Union has emphasized the importance of education for all segments of society, stating that it is the key to the resilience and long-term prosperity of the nation. As the new academic year begins, the
Araghchi: Current Power in Afghanistan Has Established Its Rule
TOLOnews TV Network 24 March 2025 Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate has welcomed Araghchi’s remarks regarding the establishment of security in Afghanistan. Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Foreign Minister, said in an interview with an Iranian news agency that governance and security are currently established in Afghanistan, and the situation has changed compared to the past. In
Pakistan Is Trying to Integrate the ‘Most Dangerous Place’ on Earth. It’s Failing.
By Zia ur-Rehman Zia ur-Rehman traveled to Pakistan’s former tribal districts bordering Afghanistan for this story. The New York Times March 23, 2025 The country’s former tribal areas bordering Afghanistan are plagued by escalating militancy, leading to widespread disillusionment. The rugged borderlands of northwestern Pakistan have long had a reputation for lawlessness and militancy, labeled
Fears for British couple in 70s held by Taliban as court appearance delayed
Caroline Davies The Guardian Sun 23 Mar 2025 The daughter of a British couple in their 70s imprisoned by the Taliban has expressed serious concerns over their deteriorating health after delays to their expected court appearance. Peter and Barbie Reynolds, who run a training business in Afghanistan, were detained last month when they travelled to their home in
US lifts $10m reward for major Taliban leader Haqqani
Al Jazeera Published On 22 Mar 2025 The removal of the bounty comes days after Afghan group releases US citizen. The United States has lifted a $10m reward for information leading to the arrest of a major Taliban leader, Sirajuddin Haqqani, an Afghan Ministry of Interior Affairs spokesperson says. Despite the announcement on Saturday, the
UNICEF provides clean drinking water to 688,000 people in Afghanistan in 2024
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press March 23, 2025 In 2024, UNICEF provided clean drinking water to 688,000 people across Afghanistan, improving access in schools, hospitals, and homes. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced that in 2024, it has provide access to clean drinking water for 688,000 people in Afghanistan. This initiative is part
Experts warn of impending Global Water Crisis due to Climate Change and Accelerating Ice Melt
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press March 23, 2025 Multiple reports from international organizations and environmental experts, marking World Water Day, have raised alarms about the planet’s water security. Researchers, citing the latest findings, warn that the future of the world’s water resources is in grave danger. The United Nations and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Islamic Emirate Diplomat Accepted in Oslo; Consular Services to Begin Soon
TOLOnews TV Network 23 March 2025 According to Mr. Takal, consular services in the country will begin on the 4th of Hamal (March 24). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate has announced the appointment and acceptance of a diplomat in Oslo, the capital of Norway. Zia Ahmad Takal, head of public relations
Amnesty Int’l: Depriving Girls of Education ‘Clear Human Rights Violation’
TOLOnews TV Network 22 March 2025 In a statement, the organization called on the Islamic Emirate to allow all girls to attend schools regardless of their age. Amnesty International has described the continued ban on girls’ education beyond sixth grade in Afghanistan as unjustifiable and a clear violation of the fundamental right to education. In
Anas Haqqani Calls Lifted Bounty on MOI Chief ‘Political Achievement’
TOLOnews TV Network 23 March 2025 In an interview with Al Jazeera, he described this US move as a political achievement for the Islamic Emirate. Anas Haqqani, a senior member of the Islamic Emirate, welcomed the lifting of the bounty placed on Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani, the acting minister of interior. In an interview with Al
UNICEF calls on the Taliban to lift ban on girls’ education as new school year begins in Afghanistan
By MUNIR AHMED Associated Press March 21, 2025 ISLAMABAD (AP) — The U.N. children’s agency on Saturday urged Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers to immediately lift a lingering ban on girls’ education to save the future of millions who have been deprived of their right to education since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. The appeal by UNICEF
U.S.-Taliban Engagement Deepens as Haqqani Figures Quietly Shift Off Sanctions Radar
By Khaama Press March 22, 2025 Sirajuddin Haqqani, the acting Interior Minister under the Taliban-led administration in Afghanistan, continues to draw international attention as signs of evolving U.S. policy emerge. Sources close to the Haqqani network have told Afghan outlet Tolo News that the reward designations on key figures of the group have been lifted
Afghan women urge US president Trump to prosecute Zalmay Khalilzad
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press March 22, 2025 A group of protesting women has called on U.S. President Donald Trump to prosecute Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. representative for Afghanistan peace affairs. In an open letter to Trump, the women accused Zalmay Khalilzad of betraying American values and turning the Taliban into a legitimate group.
UNICEF: Afghan Girls’ Education Ban Has Dire Consequences
Hayatullah Rahimi Tolo News 22 March 2025 The Ministry of Education of the Islamic Emirate announced the start of the new academic year in the colder regions of the country last Thursday. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell has stated that the ban on education for girls above sixth grade in Afghanistan has deprived millions of
Torkham Crossing Fully Reopens After One-Month Closure
Sadaqat Ghorzang Tolo News 22 March 2025 Meanwhile, a number of passengers and traders are calling for better facilities at the crossing. The Torkham crossing, which was reopened to cargo trucks last Wednesday, was fully reopened to passengers as well this morning (Saturday). The deputy governor of Nangarhar told TOLOnews that Pakistan had closed the
Preserving Afghan Heritage: Progress and Challenges in 1403
TOLOnews TV Network 21 March 2025 However, during this year, thirteen historical monuments were restored in the provinces of Kabul, Herat, Kandahar, and Ghor. In the year 1403 (solar calendar), Afghanistan witnessed several initiatives around historical and cultural heritage protection. The Ministry of Information and Culture stated that during this year, it prevented the smuggling
Afghan Migrants Face Uncertainty as Pakistan Upholds Deportation Deadline
TOLOnews TV Network 21 March 2025 Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has once again emphasized that there will be no change in this deadline and that Afghans must leave Pakistani territory. As the deadline set by the Pakistani government for the deportation of Afghan migrants approaches, concerns among these migrants in Pakistan have increased. Pakistan’s
Torkham Crossing Remains Closed to Passengers Amid Technical Issues
Sadaqat Ghorzang Tolo News 21 March 2025 Due to the ongoing closure, hundreds of passengers and patients remain stranded on both sides of the crossing. Local officials in Nangarhar say that the Torkham crossing remains closed to passenger traffic today due to technical issues on the other side of the hypothetical Durand Line. Two days
US State Dept Calls Glezmann’s Release ‘Positive, Constructive Step’
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 21 March 2025 In a statement, the department said that several other American citizens are still in detention in Afghanistan. The US State Department has praised the release of George Glezmann by the Islamic Emirate, calling it a positive and constructive move. In a statement, the department said that several
Media Freedom in Afghanistan faces severe setbacks as repression of Journalists intensified in past year
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press March 20, 2025 In the past year, media freedom in Afghanistan has significantly worsened, with increased repression and challenges faced by journalists. The media landscape and journalists’ status in Afghanistan have undergone significant changes in the past three years. Despite media freedom being a major achievement of the past two
US Delegation, led by Zalmay Khalilzad, visit Kabul
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press March 20, 2025 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Taliban states that the U.S. Special Envoy for Prisoner Affairs and former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, visited Kabul and held talks with Amir Khan Muttaqi regarding the release of prisoners. Zia Ahmad Takal, Deputy Spokesperson for the Taliban
Taliban Frees American Tourist Held in Afghanistan Since 2022
By Edward Wong Reporting from Washington The New York Times March 20, 2025 George Glezmann was detained while traveling in the country after the Taliban’s victory in the war. Secretary of State Marco Rubio thanked Qatar for helping to secure his release. The Taliban on Thursday released George Glezmann, an American held since 2022 in Afghanistan,
Challenges, Progress in Foreign Policy of Islamic Emirate in 1403
Mohammad Bashir Soltani Tolo News 20 March 2025 In 1403, officials of the Islamic Emirate also traveled to regional countries. Despite the caretaker government of Afghanistan not being officially recognized in 1403, the Islamic Emirate managed to expand its relations with various countries. Throughout the year, the Islamic Emirate sought to strengthen its international position
1403 Review: Economic Situation of Afghanistan Amid Reduced Aid
TOLOnews 20 March 2025 With the new US administration under Donald Trump, an 83% suspension and eventual halt of US aid, including to Afghanistan, has raised global concerns. Despite the implementation of economic projects in 1403, poverty and unemployment remained major challenges in Afghanistan. Additionally, international economic sanctions against Afghanistan and the halt in foreign
Uncertainty Surrounds US Immigration Policies for Afghan Allies
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 20 March 2025 Meanwhile, several US immigration applicants have expressed concerns about their future. Shawn VanDiver, the head of AfghanEvac, said that the recent remarks by the US State Department spokesperson regarding the relocation of Afghan allies of American forces are unclear. He emphasized that the State Department must clarify
American prisoner released by Taliban after first high-level U.S. visit
By Rick Noack The Washington Post March 20, 2025 U.S. citizen George Glezmann has been released by the Taliban after 2½ years in captivity, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement Thursday. Glezmann, an airline mechanic, was detained by the Taliban in December 2022 while visiting Afghanistan for five days as a tourist. In his
Fitrat: Maintaining Stability, Islamic System ‘Our Duty’
TOLOnews TV Network 19 March 2025 He further said: “The fundamental and primary objective of our Islamic and national army is to maintain stability, security, and the Islamic system.” Fasihuddin Fitrat, the chief of staff of the Ministry of Defense, criticized what he called negative propaganda against the caretaker government during the graduation ceremony of
British couple held by Taliban due in court on unknown charges, family say
Matthew Weaver The Guardian Wed 19 Mar 2025 15.48 EDT Peter Reynolds, 79, and wife, Barbie, 75, expected to appear in Kabul on Thursday after detention last month A British couple in their 70s imprisoned by the Taliban are due in court in Kabul on Thursday but have not been informed of the charges, their family
Reprieve for Afghan women students facing forced return after US aid cuts
Yogita Limaye South Asia and Afghanistan correspondent BBC News 19 March 2025 AFP The Taliban has imposed draconian restrictions on women, including banning them from universities More than 80 Afghan women studying in Oman on US-funded scholarships – terminated last month due to Trump administration’s sweeping cuts to foreign aid – have received a temporary
Rights group says Pakistan steps up pressure on Afghans to return home where they risk persecution
By MUNIR AHMEDAssociated Press March 19, 2025 ISLAMABAD (AP) — A leading rights group said on Wednesday that Pakistan’s authorities have intensified pressure on Afghan refugees to go back to neighboring Afghanistan, where they risk persecution by the Taliban and face dire economic conditions. “Pakistani officials should immediately stop coercing Afghans to return home and
Pakistan threatens Military action in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press March 19, 2025 Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has claimed that Afghanistan is sheltering terrorists and warned that Pakistan may take action within Afghan territory if needed. Khawaja Asif, the defense minister of Pakistan, stated in a television interview that the country is ready to conduct military operations within Afghan
New Academic Year in Afghanistan will begin with schools remaining closed to girls
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press March 19, 2025 The Taliban’s Ministry of Education announced that the new academic year in Afghanistan will start on Thursday, March 20, in colder regions. However, there was no mention of reopening girls’ schools beyond grade six. This marks the fourth year in a row that girls will be excluded
Economy Ministry Urges Global Support for World Health Organization
TOLOnews TV Network 19 March 2025 Two days ago, WHO warned that by June this year, 80% of the health centers it supports in Afghanistan would be shut down due to a lack of funding. Following the announcement of the suspension of 80% of World Health Organization (WHO) centers in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Economy
UN Extends UNAMA Mission, Islamic Emirate Calls for Intl Engagement
TOLOnews TV Network 18 March 2025 The UN Security Council, after a month of deliberations, unanimously approved the resolution on UNAMA’s mission extension on Monday. The Islamic Emirate, following the one-year extension of UNAMA’s mission in the recent UN Security Council meeting, has called on the UN representation in Afghanistan to work towards facilitating the
Torkham Crossing Reopens for Freight Traffic After Nearly a Month
Sadaqat Ghorzang Tolo News 19 March 2025 On the other hand, several passengers and drivers have expressed happiness over the reopening and called for more facilities at the crossing. The Torkham crossing has reopened for transit after being closed for nearly a month. Local officials said both sides also agreed to fully reopen the crossing
Takeaways from AP’s reporting on U.S.-allied Afghan refugees struggling for basic support
By TIFFANY STANLEY Associated Press March 18, 2025 LAUREL, Md. (AP) — Rahmani worked for a U.S.-backed organization in Kabul, which put him at risk of Taliban retribution. Now, the father of two is among thousands of newly arrived refugees who lost financial assistance when the Trump administration cut off funding for the federal refugee program in
Trump’s funding freeze leaves US allied Afghan refugees struggling for the basics
By TIFFANY STANLEY Associated Press March 18, 2025 LAUREL, Md. (AP) — The rent is due, but Rahmani has no money to pay it. The Afghan father of two worked for a U.S.-backed organization in Kabul, which put him at risk of Taliban retribution. Now he is among thousands of newly arrived refugees who lost
After Trump halted funding for Afghans who helped the US, this group stepped in to help
By REBECCA SANTANA Associated Press March 17, 2025 WASHINGTON (AP) — When Andrew Sullivan thinks of the people his organization has helped resettle in America, one particular story comes to mind: an Afghan man in a wheelchair who was shot through the neck by a member of the Taliban for helping the U.S. during its war in
Denmark calls for full rights and participation of Afghan women at UN Security Council
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press March 18, 2025 At a UNSC meeting, Denmark’s UN representative emphasized that Afghan women must have full, equal, and meaningful participation in all aspects of life. Denmark’s representative to the United Nations, Christina Markus Lassen, emphasized the importance of full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation for Afghanistan’s women in all
Islamic Emirate Reacts to Putin’s Remarks on Threats from Afghanistan
Beheshta_Arab Tolo News 18 March 2025 He asserted that Afghanistan’s geography is fully under Islamic Emirate control and poses no danger to any country. Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate, responded to recent statements by Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding potential threats and challenges from Afghanistan. He asserted that Afghanistan’s geography is fully
UN tells Afghan rulers: no peace and prosperity until they reverse bans on women and girls
By EDITH M. LEDERER Associated Press March 17, 2025 UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council told Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers Monday that peace and prosperity are “unattainable” until they reverse their bans on women and girls getting an education, being employed and speaking in public. The U.N.’s most powerful body also condemned ongoing terrorist
OCHA warns budget shortfall threatens humanitarian aid efforts in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press March 17, 2025 The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported that from January to March 2025, meeting the basic needs in Afghanistan has faced serious challenges. According to OCHA, since the beginning of 2025, there has been difficulty in providing essential services such as
UN Security Council extends UNAMA Mission in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press March 17, 2025 The United Nations Security Council has announced the extension of the mission of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). This decision reflects the ongoing international commitment to supporting Afghanistan during challenging times. On Monday, March 17, the Security Council issued a message on X/Twitter, stating that
Afghan Refugees in Pakistan Face Growing Uncertainty
TOLOnews TV Network Meanwhile, several refugee rights activists emphasize that host countries must adhere to their international commitments. A number of Afghan refugees holding Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) in Pakistan have complained about increasing challenges in the country, stating that despite having these cards, their stay is legal and they should not be forcibly deported.
Torkham Crossing to Reopen Tomorrow After New Agreement
TOLOnews 17 March 2025 At the same time, analysts emphasized that Kabul and Islamabad must resolve disputes through dialogue. The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) has announced that Afghan and Pakistani traders, along with tribal elders, reached an agreement today (Monday) to reopen the Torkham crossing. According to officials from ACCI, Torkham will
Life of British man, 79, imprisoned by Taliban is in serious danger, say family
Matthew Weaver The Guardian Sun 16 Mar 2025 13.04 EDT Peter Reynolds, who runs a business in Afghanistan, was held along with his wife last month and needs heart pills, says his daughter The life of a 79-year-old British man imprisoned along with his wife by the Taliban is in serious danger, his family have warned. Peter
Author says ban on her book reflects Taliban’s repression of women
By Roshan Noorzai and Noshaba Ashna Voice of America March 14, 2025 Books by Afghan and Pakistani authors are displayed in a store in Peshawar, Pakistan, March 14, 2025. The Taliban have banned 400 titles in Afghanistan. WASHINGTON — When Naveeda Khoshbo published her book of political analysis in 2019, she received widespread praise and recognition.
Afghanistan denies link to train attack in Pakistan
By Sarah Zaman Voice of America March 13, 2025 Locator map of Sibi, in Balochistan province, Pakistan The Afghan Taliban have rejected Pakistan’s allegation that Tuesday’s deadly hostage-taking of a train was planned and directed from Afghan soil. Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called Pakistan’s assertions “baseless,” in a statement Thursday. “We categorically reject baseless
10 Km of TAPI Gas Pipeline Completed in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press March 16, 2025 The TAPI gas pipeline in Afghanistan has completed 10 kilometers of construction. Hamayon Afghan, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum of the Taliban administration, announced that the practical work on the TAPI gas pipeline project in Afghanistan has made 10 kilometers of progress. On
Retirees Protest in Kabul: ‘We Want Our Rights’
Shabnam Amini Tolo News 15 March 2025 The protesting retirees stated that they are enduring severe economic hardships, especially during the holy month of Ramadan. Following previous gatherings of retirees, a number of them once again held a protest today (Saturday) in front of the Pension Treasury Directorate, demanding the payment of their overdue pensions.
Afghanistan Among Countries in Proposed US Visa Ban
Sabria Abdal Tolo News 17 March 2025 This move is part of Trump’s strict immigration policies during his second term in office. The administration of Donald Trump is considering imposing extensive travel restrictions on citizens of 41 countries, including Afghanistan, for entry into the United States. According to sources cited by Reuters, these restrictions are
Islamic Emirate Responds to Concerns Over Women’s Rights in Afghanistan
TOLOnews 18 March 2025 In response to remarks made at a UN side event on Afghan women, Khyber stated that such claims are merely an attempt to “mislead public opinion.” Saif-ul-Islam Khyber, spokesperson for the Ministry of Vice and Virtue, has dismissed concerns from various countries about the situation of women in Afghanistan, calling them
UNSC to Vote on UNAMA Mission Extension Tomorrow
TOLOnews TV Network 16 March 2025 The Islamic Emirate has yet to respond to the matter. However, it previously deemed last year’s UNAMA mission in Afghanistan as ineffective. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is set to vote tomorrow (17 March) on a draft resolution extending the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan
UN: Opium prices in Afghanistan skyrocket to $750 per Kg
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press March 13, 2025 The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has reported a significant rise in the price of opium, reaching $750 per kilogram in 2024, ten times more than in 2022. Despite a reduction in production, high prices continue to benefit major drug traffickers. According to the
EU: Access to Healthcare Services crucial for women and girls in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press March 13, 2025 The European Union (EU) delegation in Afghanistan has stated that access to healthcare services for Afghan women and girls is essential. The EU delegation in Afghanistan emphasized on Thursday, March 13, that ensuring access to healthcare services for Afghan women and girls is crucial, especially amid ongoing
They crossed the world to reach the US. Now deported under Trump, they’re stuck in Panama
By MATÍAS DELACROIX and MEGAN JANETSKY Associated Press March 12, 2025 PANAMA CITY (AP) — They crossed oceans to get to the U.S., fleeing conflict, religious persecution, poverty and government crackdowns in countries such as Afghanistan, Somalia, Cameroon, China, Pakistan and Iran. After flying to Central and South America, they bused through countries where they didn’t speak
USAID cuts could be ‘death sentence’ for Afghan women studying abroad
By Dan De Luce NBC News March 12, 2025 More than 80 Afghan women studying in Oman say they face deportation and persecution by the Taliban after the Trump administration canceled their scholarship. A group of more than 80 Afghan women who fled the Taliban regime to study in Oman say they are at risk
Veterans Race to Bring Afghan Allies to U.S. Before Trump Travel Ban
By Miriam Jordan The New York Times March 13, 2025 The nonprofit No One Left Behind has raised millions of dollars for flights and other assistance to prevent Afghans from being stranded abroad and face retribution from the Taliban. The fate of thousands of Afghans waiting to reach the United States after serving with American
Save the Children: 18 Health Centers Closed in Afghanistan
TOLOnews TV Network 13 March 2025 In a report, the organization stated that it has also suspended life-saving programs for malnourished children due to funding cuts. Save the Children has announced the closure of 18 health centers in Afghanistan and added that 14 more will be shut down in the coming month due to a
Remarks by Ambassador Dorothy Shea, Chargé d’Affaires, at a UN Security Council Briefing on Afghanistan
Ambassador Dorothy Shea Chargé d ’Affaires ad interim New York, New York March 10, 2025 AS DELIVERED Thank you, Madam President, and thank you SRSG Roza Otunbayeva for your briefing. I would also like to thank Ms. Azadah Raz Mohammad for your remarks and I welcome the representative of Afghanistan. We recognize the work
Iran Ready to Cooperate on Afghanistan’s Security
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews Reporter 11 March 2025 While he did not provide further details, Baghaei emphasized in a press conference that discussions with the Islamic Emirate on this matter are ongoing. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, said that Tehran is ready to collaborate with the Islamic Emirate to ensure Afghanistan’s security. While he
Greenland and Afghanistan: Frontiers in race for critical minerals
By Alex Gendler Voice of America March 07, 2025 Critical minerals are seen as strategically crucial for modern economies, and Greenland and Afghanistan are believed to be rich in untapped reserves. Just as discoveries of fossil fuel reserves helped to shape the 20th century, the race for critical minerals is shaping the 21st. These minerals
UK backs referring Taliban to International Court, urges progress on women’s rights
Khaama Press 11 March 2025 The United Kingdom has expressed support for referring the Taliban to the International Court of Justice for accountability on their actions. James Kariuki, Deputy Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations Security Council, expressed the UK’s support for referring the Taliban to the International Court of Justice
Over 22.9 million people in Afghanistan need urgent aid, says Iran’s UN Ambassador
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press March 11, 2025 Iran’s UN Ambassador, Iravani, has highlighted that over 22.9 million people in Afghanistan urgently require assistance due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Amir Saeed Iravani, the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations, stated that Afghanistan is facing one of
Germany Evaluating Engagement with the Islamic Emirate
TOLOnews TV Network 11 March 2025 The caretaker government in Afghanistan has expressed its willingness to maintain positive and mutually beneficial relations with Germany. Bruno Kahl, president of the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND), in an interview with a German media outlet said that the agency is working on how to establish engagement with Afghanistan’s
Fitrat: UN Should Make Decisions ‘Independently’
TOLOnews TV Network 11 March 2025 The human rights situation, particularly women’s issues in Afghanistan, was another key topic of the meeting. Hamdullah Fitrat, the deputy spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate, responded to the UN Security Council meeting, stating that the caretaker government has consistently sought to engage with the international community. According to Fitrat,
Otunbayeva: Is the Govt Ready for Global Integration?
Sial Yousofi Correspondent Tolo News 11 March 2025 The head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Roza Otunbayeva, presented a report on the situation in Afghanistan to the UN Security Council last night (March 10). Otunbayeva emphasized in the report that the current authorities of the interim government should clarify whether they
Afghans promised a future in the U.S. now fear deportation from Pakistan
By Rick Noack The Washington Post 8 March 2025 ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — After 2½ years of anxious waiting, 36-year-old Shirzad and his family were booked on a Feb. 3 resettlement flight from Pakistan to the United States. Two weeks before they were due to depart, President Donald Trump signed an executive order suspending America’s refugee program.
Afghan women who fled Taliban to study abroad face imminent return after USAID cuts
Yogita Limaye South Asia and Afghanistan correspondent BBC News 8 March 2025 More than 80 Afghan women who fled the Taliban to pursue higher education in Oman now face imminent return back to Afghanistan, following the Trump administration’s sweeping cuts to foreign aid programmes. Funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), their scholarships
UNESCO gives voice to Afghan girls and women and calls for their rights to be restored
UNESCO 10 March 2025 Since the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in 2021, it has issued more than 70 decrees restricting the rights of women and girls. On International Women’s Day, UNESCO is giving voice to Afghan women and highlighting the impact of the loss of education opportunities. “We have no right to education, no
He Was Once a Covert Taliban Operative. Now He’s the Friendly Taxman.
By David Zucchino Reporting from Kabul, Afghanistan The New York Times March 9, 2025 Abdul Qahar Ghorbandi, head of Afghanistan’s Taxpayers Services Directorate, has the hard job of raising money in an impoverished country hobbled by international sanctions. He is the Taxman of Kabul, a bearded, black-turbaned Talib with a genial manner and the calculating
UNHCR Representative: Do Not Forget Afghanistan, Situation Will Worsen
TOLOnews TV Network 10 March 2025 His remarks come as the United States, previously the largest donor, has suspended its aid to several countries, including Afghanistan. Arafat Jamal, the representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Afghanistan, has called on the world not to forget Afghanistan. Speaking to TOLOnews, the UNHCR
Efforts Ongoing to Reopen Torkham Crossing
TOLOnews TV Network 10 March 2025 Meanwhile, the closure of the Torkham crossing by Pakistan has now entered its eighteenth day. After Sunday’s (yesterday’s) unsuccessful negotiations to reopen the Torkham crossing, efforts to initiate new discussions are ongoing. Younus Mohmand, the first deputy of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, stated that recent meetings
Pakistan orders documented Afghan migrants to leave
By Sarah Zaman Voice of America March 07, 2025 ISLAMABAD — Pakistan ordered all documented Afghan migrants on Friday to leave the country by March 31 or risk deportation. The directive was issued a day after the Afghan Ministry of Refugee and Repatriation Affairs urged Pakistan to slow down the expulsion of Afghans. Pakistan launched the
Global Support Voiced for Afghan Women on Women’s Day
Sabria Abdal Tolo News 8 March 2025 The UN Women in Afghanistan said that investing in Afghan women is investing in Afghanistan’s future. Coinciding with March 8, International Women’s Day, international organizations have emphasized the need to support Afghan women and restore their rights. The UN Women in Afghanistan said that investing in Afghan women
Afghanistan’s Economy Grew by 2.7% in 2024: UN Sec-Gen Report
Liluma Qadiry Tolo News 8 March 2025 Economic expert Abdul Zahoor Madber stressed that for Afghanistan to achieve a stable economy, it must properly manage its natural and human resources. The United Nations reported that despite economic and political challenges, Afghanistan’s economy experienced a 2.7% growth in 2024. This report, which examined economic and humanitarian
Suspect in Kabul airport bombing during 2021 Afghanistan pullout appears in court
Associated Press Wed 5 Mar 2025 Officials accuse Mohammad Sharifullah of being a member of the Islamic State group’s Afghanistan affiliate A suspected participant in the suicide bombing at the Kabul airport that killed 13 American service members and roughly 170 Afghan civilians during the chaotic 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan arrived in the US on Wednesday to
Trump’s New Travel Ban May Soon Bar Afghans and Pakistanis: Reuters
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press March 6, 2025 Reuters, citing its sources, reported that a new directive from U.S. President Donald Trump may prevent Afghan and Pakistani nationals from entering the United States. The news agency stated on Thursday, March 6, that the restriction could come into effect as early as next week, barring Afghan
Pakistan Police arrest 190 Afghan refugees in Islamabad despite court order
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press March 7, 2025 Pakistani media reported that despite a court order to stop harassing migrants, the police in Islamabad have arrested 190 Afghan nationals. On Friday, March 7, Dawn newspaper, citing a civil organization called “Joint Action Committee for Refugees,” reported that these individuals were transferred to the “Haji” camp in Islamabad.
Guterres: Security Incidents in Afghanistan Decreased by 16.8%
TOLOnews TV Network 7 March 2025 Guterres added that despite the end of conflicts over the past three years, Afghanistan’s economy remains fragile. The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in his quarterly report on Afghanistan, addressed political, security, regional cooperation, human rights, and economic issues. Guterres stated that from November 2024 to January 2025, security-related
International Conferences to Support Afghan Women to be Held
TOLOnews TV Network 7 March 2025 UNESCO has announced that today it will hold a conference in Paris to draw global attention to the situation of Afghan women and girls. As March 8 (International Women’s Day) approaches, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the UN Women’s Division are organizing two separate
Mohammad Sharifullah Confesses to Kabul Airport Attack
Mohammad Bashir Soltani Tolo News 6 March 2025 The US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the president of the United States has pledged to hold those involved in this attack accountable. American media outlets have reported that Mohammad Sharifullah, the individual accused of being the orchestrator behind the attack on Kabul International Airport, has
Clashes, Shelling in Torkham Displace Around 800 Families
Sadaqat Ghorzang Tolo News 6 March 2025 Local residents told TOLOnews that Pakistan’s missile attacks have caused massive damage to their homes and shops. Around 800 families in Torkham have been forced to leave their homes due to intermittent clashes and shelling attacks by Pakistani forces. Local residents told TOLOnews that Pakistan’s missile attacks have
WHO: Respiratory Diseases Up 54% in Afghanistan, 506 Deaths
Hadia Ziaei Tolo News 5 March 2025 According to WHO’s report, more than 206,000 people were infected with these diseases during this period, out of which 506 lost their lives. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a 54.1% increase in acute respiratory diseases in Afghanistan in January of this year compared to December of
“Arezo TV” in Kabul receives permission to operate and reopens after 86-day closure
IFeX {Toronto, Canada) Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) 4 March 2025 The Afghanistan Journalists Center expresses deep concern about the increasing restrictions imposed on media operations across the country. This statement was originally published on afjc.media on 1 March 2025. Arezo TV’s office in Kabul has officially reopened today following an 86-day closure mandated by a raid conducted by
Residents flee border area as Afghan and Pakistani forces clash over crossing closure
By RIAZ KHAN Associated Press March 4, 2025 PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Residents fled a border area between Afghanistan and Pakistan after forces from both sides clashed into the early hours of Tuesday, a Pakistani official said. It was the second consecutive day of tit-for-tat gunfire at Torkham, a key crossing between the two countries that has been closed
Trump Says Pakistan Captured Man Tied to Kabul Airport Attack
By Julian E. Barnes and Zia ur-Rehman Julian E. Barnes reported from Washington. Zia ur-Rehman reported from Karachi, Pakistan The New York Times March 5, 2025 U.S. officials provided intelligence to Pakistan that led to the detention of Mohmmad Sharifullah, a leader of an Islamic State affiliate. The attack in 2021 killed 13 American soldiers and dozens
Mujahid: Kabul Airport attack mastermind’s arrest in Pakistan exposes ISIS safe havens
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press March 5, 2025 Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Taliban, reacted to statements by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the arrest of the mastermind behind the 2021 Kabul airport attack. He claimed that the arrest in Pakistan highlighted the existence of ISIS safe havens
Pakistan to cooperate with US on retrieval of weapons from Taliban
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press March 5, 2025 Pakistan is expected to cooperate with the U.S. in efforts to retrieve weapons from the Taliban, as discussed in a recent conversation between Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that a telephone conversation took
Afghan Migrants Face Uncertainty, Urge US to Resume Relocation
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 04 MARCH 2025 Meanwhile, some migrant rights activists stress that the United States must fulfill its commitments to Afghan migrants. Some Afghan migrants with US immigration cases once again say they are facing an uncertain fate. They add that they are struggling with various financial challenges, as well as the
Volker Turk Condemns Ban on Women’s Education and Jobs in Afghanistan
TOLOnews TV Network 5 March 2025 Speaking at the 58th session of the Human Rights Council, Turk stated that women in Afghanistan are currently being denied their most fundamental rights. Volker Turk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, has criticized the deprivation of women’s and girls’ rights to education and work in Afghanistan
Situation of Afghan Women to be Discussed at UNSC Meeting
TOLOnews TV Network 5 March 2025 The UN-Habitat has reaffirmed its commitment to the rights, participation, and empowerment of Afghan women and girls. The situation of women in Afghanistan will be one of the main topics of discussion at the United Nations meeting on March 10 in the Security Council. Denmark will preside over this
Trump Thanks Pakistan for Arrest of Kabul Airport Attack Planner
Mohammad Bashir Soltani Tolo News 5 March 2025 Trump stated that the US, with Pakistan’s cooperation, had apprehended this ISIS member, who is now on his way to the United States. US President Donald Trump, in his first speech to Congress, announced the arrest of the main planner behind the explosion at Kabul International Airport.
UN Security Council to Renew UNAMA Mandate
Beheshta Arab Tolo News 3 March 2025 The Security Council has also expressed concern over human rights violations in Afghanistan, particularly the rights of women and girls. The United Nations Security Council has reported that it is expected to renew the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). UNAMA’s current mandate expires on
Clashes Erupt Between Islamic Emirate, Pakistani Forces at Torkham
Sadaqat Ghorzang Tolo News 3 March 2025 The clash occurred while hundreds of travelers and patients, along with thousands of freight trucks, remained stranded on both sides of the Torkham crossing. Local residents report that forces of the Islamic Emirate and Pakistani military personnel engaged in a clash at Torkham around 12:30 AM on Sunday.
Despite restrictions, Afghan women provide health care
By Sarah Zaman Voice of America February 27, 2025, 4:46 PM ISLAMABAD — Sana Safi, a young a doctor in Afghanistan, takes pride in her work, for she is among a shrinking group of female health experts in a country where women are banned from pursuing education or working in most sectors. “I am making a
Over 2,000 Afghan asylum requests rejected in the UK, creating hostile environment for refugees
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press February 28, 2025 Over 2,000 Afghan asylum requests have been rejected in the UK, contributing to a growing hostile environment for refugees, warn rights activists. In the final quarter of 2024, over 2,000 Afghan asylum applications were rejected in the UK. Human rights activists have warned about the “hostile environment”
SIV Program Active, But Gov’t-Funded Resettlement Support Closed: Shawn VanDiver
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press February 28, 2025 Shawn VanDiver, head of the organization helping Afghans resettle in the United States, announced on Friday, February 28 that the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program is still active and has not been stopped. However, government support for resettlement has been canceled for visa holders. VanDiver posted on
UNAMA Chief Warns of Severe Food Crisis in Afghanistan
TOLOnews TV Network 28 Feb 2025 She described food security as Afghanistan’s most pressing challenge at present. Roza Otunbayeva, the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), has warned of a severe food crisis in the country. She described food security as Afghanistan’s most pressing challenge at present. Referring to the health
Today Marks Fifth Year of Doha Agreement
TOLOnews TV Network 28 Feb 2025 At times, officials from the previous US administration also accused Afghanistan of violating certain parts of the agreement. The Doha Agreement between the Islamic Emirate and the United States marks its fifth anniversary today. Five years ago, on the 10th of Hoot (February 29, 2020), the two sides signed
Key Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing remains shut, disrupting trade and movement of people
By Riaz Khan | AP The Washington Post February 27, 2025 Officials say a nearly week-long closure of a key crossing on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border has disrupted bilateral trade and the movement of people PESHAWAR, Pakistan — A nearly weeklong closure of a key crossing on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border has disrupted bilateral trade and the movement of
These countries could lose the most, if U.S. stops aid
By Sumanta Sen Reuters Published Feb. 26, 2025 The U.S. Agency for International Development, Washington’s primary humanitarian aid agency, has been a top target of a government reduction program spearheaded by billionaire and Trump ally Elon Musk since President Donald Trump took office on January 20. Hours after he was sworn in, Trump ordered a 90-day pause
Trump and Defense Secretary to review failed Afghanistan withdrawal, will call for General firings
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press February 27, 2025 U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced on Wednesday that they are reviewing the failed withdrawal from Afghanistan. Trump urged Hegseth to fire all generals involved in the withdrawal process. In a cabinet meeting, Trump stated, “I wouldn’t tell the Secretary of Defense
China continues economic support to Taliban, will plan refugee settlement: Chinese Envoy
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press February 27, 2025 Chinese Ambassador to Kabul, Zhao Xing, during a meeting with Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, the Taliban Minister for Refugees and Returnees, stated that Beijing would continue its economic cooperation with Afghanistan. The Ministry of Refugees and Returnees of the Taliban announced on Wednesday, February 26, that China
Trump: Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan should have been retained for strategic reasons
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press February 27, 2025 Donald Trump, the President of the United States, stated during a cabinet meeting that the U.S. should have kept Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan. He emphasized that retaining the base was crucial for strategic purposes, not just for Afghanistan. Trump reiterated his earlier claims about the disastrous U.S.
UN Special Rapporteur warns of worsening Crisis for women in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press February 27, 2025 UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett has warned that the situation for women in Afghanistan is deteriorating rapidly. The 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council began in Geneva on Thursday, February 27. Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Afghanistan, stated that
rump Orders Review of US Military Equipment Left in Afghanistan
Mohammad Bashir Soltani Tolo News 27 Feb 2025 Trump claimed that Afghanistan is one of the largest sellers of military equipment in the world. US President Donald Trump has instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to review the process of retrieving American military equipment left in Afghanistan. In his first cabinet meeting with the US Secretaries
Torkham Border closure: Fifth day of $3 million losses and disrupting trade and travel
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press February 26, 2025 The Torkham border crossing has been closed for five days, causing significant problems for travelers and traders on both sides of the border. This closure has disrupted normal movement and trade, creating a severe bottleneck for businesses and individuals relying on this route. According to local sources,
Former Afghan Intelligence Officer arrested amid US Immigration Crackdown
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press February 26, 2025 Photos/Newscom, Steve Allen. A former Afghan intelligence officer, who had worked with U.S. forces for 13 years, was arrested due to the new immigration policies under the Trump administration. Upon visiting the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office for his annual check-in, he was informed that
Islamic Emirate: ‘Good Intentions’ of Russia, Iran Appreciated
Mohammad Bashir Soltani Tolo News 26 Feb 2025 The foreign ministers of Russia and Iran said in Tehran on Tuesday that developments in Afghanistan are of particular interest to both countries. After discussions between the foreign ministers of Russia and Iran regarding Afghanistan, the Islamic Emirate has described its relations with these two countries as
Taliban says ‘misunderstanding’ led to arrest of British couple in Afghanistan
Nadeem Badshah and Reuters The Guardian Tue 25 Feb 2025 A British couple were arrested in Afghanistan due to a “misunderstanding” that they had fake Afghan passports, the Taliban said on Tuesday. Peter and Barbie Reynolds, 79 and 75, were detained by the Taliban’s interior ministry on 1 February while returning to their home in the central province
155 Afghan staff transferred from Pakistan to Germany, another group expected next month
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press February 25, 2025 German media reported that a group of 155 Afghan local staff members who worked for the German government were transferred from Islamabad to Berlin on Tuesday. According to Bild newspaper, another group of Afghan refugees is expected to be transferred from Islamabad to Germany next month. The group
US continues weekly payments to Afghanistan, says Sopko
ByFidel Rahmati Khaama Press February 25, 2025 John Sopko, the former Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), stated at the Herat Security Conference in Madrid on Tuesday that the United States has spent over $21 billion on Afghanistan since the Taliban’s return to power. He highlighted that, despite a reduction in foreign aid, the
Iran, Pakistan Deportations May Harm Legacy of Hospitality
TOLOnews TV Network 25 Feb 2025 Political analysts also stress that to prevent border issues, Iran and Pakistan must create opportunities for the voluntary return of Afghan refugees. The UNHCR representative in Afghanistan has called on Iran and Pakistan not to undermine their decades-long history of hosting Afghan refugees by expelling them. Emphasizing proper treatment,
Three Foreign Nationals and a Local Interpreter Arrested: MoI
Mohammad Bashir Soltani Tolo News 25 Feb 2025 According to Abdul Mateen Qane, these individuals were arrested for “specific reasons,” and efforts are ongoing to resolve their cases. The Ministry of Interior has confirmed to TOLOnews that three foreign nationals and their Afghan interpreter have been arrested in the country. Abdul Mateen Qane, the spokesperson
Taliban withdraw Afghanistan from International Criminal Courts
By Ayaz Gul Voice of America February 20, 2025 Islamabad — Afghanistan’s radical Taliban leaders on Thursday rejected the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) over their country, declaring as ‘unlawful’ the decision in 2003 by their predecessors to join the Hague-based court’s founding treaty. The decision follows the ICC chief prosecutor’s announcement last month, seeking
British Couple Arrested by Taliban in Afghanistan, Family Says
By Megan Specia Reporting from London The New York Times Feb. 24, 2025, 1:03 p.m. ET A Peter and Barbie Reynolds were arrested on Feb. 1, their children told U.K. news outlets. The couple had run an education company in Afghanistan for almost two decades. An undated photograph of Peter and Barbie Reynolds. The couple were
British Couple in their 70s arrested in Bamyan for educational activities
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press February 24, 2025 The Taliban have arrested an elderly British couple in Bamyan province, who were responsible for several educational projects aimed at children and mothers. The couple had been working in Afghanistan for many years. According to BBC News, the couple was detained on February 23 while returning
Richard Bennett: ICC arrest warrant request gives hope to women and girls in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press February 24, 2025 The 12th Herat Security Dialogue began today in Madrid, with scholars, diplomats, and human rights activists attending. UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett highlighted the ICC’s arrest warrant request, offering hope to Afghan women and girls. The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, stated
UN, Japan Sign Agreement to Support Displaced Afghans
TOLOnews, TV Network Tolo News 24 Feb 2025 During the signing ceremony, Japan’s ambassador to Afghanistan, Takayoshi Kuromiya, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to supporting the Afghan people. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has signed a $6 million cooperation agreement with Japan. The purpose of this agreement is to support the livelihoods and
UN Experts to Hold Informal Meeting on Afghanistan
TOLOnews TV Network 24 Feb 2025 This meeting comes as the UN Security Council is also planning a formal session soon to discuss Afghanistan’s situation and the mandate of UNAMA in the country. UN experts will hold a meeting on Thursday this week to discuss Afghanistan, focusing on issues of peace, security, and climate change
Afghan Gathering in Birmingham Stresses Continued Aid to Afghanistan
TOLOnews TV Network 24 Feb 2025 Some participants highlighted that supporting Afghan citizens in economic hardship is a collective responsibility. The international Afghan council in the UK organized an event in Birmingham aimed at supporting the continuation of aid to the people of Afghanistan. Participants stressed the importance of sustaining assistance for millions facing poverty and
UNICEF: Over 19 million Afghans, half of them children, receive Humanitarian Aid
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press February 23, 2025 The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) announced that over 19 million people in Afghanistan benefited from the organization’s humanitarian aid last year, with more than half of them being children. In a recent report, UNICEF stated that the aid provided covered various sectors, including health, education, nutrition,
Trump appoints official to retrieve US weapons from Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press February 23, 2025 In a recent speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference, U.S. President Donald Trump instructed an official to develop a plan to recover U.S. military equipment from the Taliban. In his recent speech, Trump referred to a person named “Doug” and asked him to take action on
Fitrat: Former Govt Politicians No Longer Trusted by Afghan People
Nazim Qasimi Tolo News 23 Feb 2025 He further added that the caretaker government is taking a serious approach to fostering closer ties with other countries. Fasihuddin Fitrat, the chief of staff of the Ministry of Defense, commented on the fifth meeting of political figures from the former government held in Vienna, stating that these
ICRC Chief Stresses National Programs, Healthcare Access in Afghanistan
Hadia Ziaei Tolo News 23 Feb 2025 In an exclusive interview with TOLOnews, he stated that global humanitarian aid to Afghanistan is beneficial in the short term. Pierre Krähenbühl, director-general of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), stressed the need to focus on national programs to improve the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, citing
Trump Links US Aid to Afghanistan with Return of Military Equipment
TOLOnews TV Network 23 Feb 2025 Some political analysts argue that retrieving the equipment is not feasible. US President Donald Trump has made Washington’s continued aid to Afghanistan conditional on the return of military equipment left behind in the country. Trump stated that the US provides $2.5 billion annually to Afghanistan, and this aid will
Afghan women’s radio station will resume broadcasts after Taliban lift suspension
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS February 23, 2025 An Afghan women’s radio station will resume broadcasts after the Taliban lifted their suspension over alleged cooperation with an overseas TV channel. Radio Begum launched on International Women’s Day in March 2021, five months before the Taliban seized power amid the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops. The station’s content is produced entirely
India considering accepting Taliban Ambassador amid rising Chinese influence in Afghanistan: Bloomberg
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press February 22, 2025 Bloomberg has reported that India, in response to China’s growing influence in Afghanistan, is cautiously considering accepting a Taliban representative as the ambassador to the Afghanistan Embassy in New Delhi. This move by India comes as part of a competitive effort to counter China’s influence in the
Closure of Torkham Crossing Increases Hardship for Travelers
Sadaqat Ghorzang Tolo News 22 Feb 2025 However, some passengers and traders are calling for an immediate resolution to the issue and the reopening of the crossing. Pakistan shut down the Torkham crossing last night, halting all movement. Abdul Jabbar Hikmat, the Torkham commissioner, told TOLOnews that the Pakistani side closed the gate after Islamic
Ishaq Dar: Pakistan Committed to Cooperation with Afghanistan
Mohammad Bashir Soltani Tolo News 22 Feb 2025 According to Dar, if those countries refuse to accept the refugees, Pakistan will send them back to Afghanistan. Pakistan’s foreign minister reaffirmed his country’s commitment to continued cooperation with Afghanistan. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan Ishaq Dar stated that given the shared cultural, religious,
Afghan embassy says nationals face arrests, expulsions in Pakistan capital
Al Jazeera Published On 19 Feb 2025 The embassy says Afghan nationals face forced relocations in Islamabad amid rising tensions between the neighbours. The Afghanistan embassy in Pakistan has warned that the government wants to remove all Afghan refugees from the capital, Islamabad, and the adjoining city of Rawalpindi. The embassy issued a strongly worded statement on
White House: Women suffer under Medieval Laws in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press February 21, 2025 The White House deputy press secretary stated that Afghan women face severe oppression following the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Anna Kelly, deputy press secretary for the White House, has stated that Afghan women are facing severe oppression due to the “disastrous” withdrawal of U.S. forces from
12th Herat Security Conference to take place in Spain on February 24-25
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press February 21, 2025 The 12th Herat Security Conference will be held in three days in Madrid, Spain. This important event will gather international leaders and experts to discuss critical security issues affecting Afghanistan and the broader region. The Afghanistan Institute for Strategic Studies has announced that the conference will take
Criticism Mounts as the US Ends Afghan Resettlement Program
TOLOnews TV Network 21 Feb 2025 Meanwhile, Afghan migrants awaiting resettlement in the US have expressed concern over this decision. The Trump administration’s decision to close the Afghan resettlement office (CARE) has faced widespread criticism. Shawn VanDiver, the head of AfghanEvac, expressed concern about this move during a press conference and urged the US president
Rubio: ‘Taliban’ Cooperative with US Against ISIS, But Concerns Remain
TOLOnews TV Network 21 Feb 2025 The US Secretary of State also stressed that America’s concerns are not limited to Afghanistan and mentioned Syria as another security threat. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the Islamic Emirate has, in some instances, cooperated with Washington in eliminating ISIS and Al-Qaeda. In an interview with
Democratic Lawmakers criticize Trump’s decision to close Afghan Refugee Office
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press February 20, 2025 Dina Titus, Representative of Nevada, and Gregory Meeks, Democratic Member of Congress from New York, have criticized President Donald Trump’s decision to close the Afghan Refugee Resettlement and Relocation Office in the United States, calling it “shameful.” On Wednesday, February 19, both Democratic representatives responded to reports
Afghanistan is the most landmine and explosive affected country: ICRC
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press February 20, 2025 The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has announced that Afghanistan is one of the countries with the highest levels of contamination from landmines and unexploded ordnance. On Wednesday, February 19, the ICRC wrote on its X page that it has launched various support programs to
Acting Defense Minister: Intl Engagement Depends on National Interests
Mohammad Bashir Soltani Tolo News 20 Feb 2025 Fasihuddin Fitrat, the chief of staff of the Ministry of Defense, spoke about nationwide security, stating that warlordism has been eliminated in the country. Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, the acting minister of defense, stressed positive relations with world countries during a ceremony in Kabul today (Thursday). Speaking
Fitrat: Islamic Emirate ‘Not Obligated’ to Adhere to Rome Statute
TOLOnews TV Network 20 Feb 2025 The Islamic Emirate also declared that Afghanistan’s previous government’s accession to this statute lacks legal validity. The Islamic Emirate has stated in a declaration that as a system safeguarding the religious and national values of Afghans, it is not bound by the provisions of the Rome Statute. In its
Baradar Calls on Countries to Abandon Pressure Tactics
Mohammad Bashir Soltani Tolo News 20 Feb 2025 According to Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, pressure tactics not only fail to facilitate engagement but also drive nations and countries further apart. Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the deputy prime minister for economic affairs, has urged the international community in a speech in Kabul to abandon the policy
Taliban confirm Pakistan’s new plan for swift mass eviction of Afghan refugees
By Ayaz Gul VOA News February 19, 2025 l FILE – Afghanistan’s minister for refugees Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani, center, looks on as he arrives to inspect a refugee camp near the Afghanistan-Pakistan Torkham border in Nangarhar province on Nov. 2, 2023. Islamabad — Diplomats from Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban reported Wednesday that neighboring Pakistan is implementing a plan
Pakistan steps up arrests of Afghans without papers. Kabul says it’s a move to expel all refugees
By MUNIR AHMED Associated Press February 19, 2025 ISLAMABAD (AP) — Authorities have stepped up arrests of Afghan citizens in Pakistan’s capital and a nearby city in an effort that the Afghan Embassy in Islamabad described on Wednesday as a push to force the expulsion of all Afghan refugees from the country. Pakistan’s foreign ministry promptly dismissed
UNAMA: Restrictions on women in Afghanistan have long-term consequences
Advertisement By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press February 18, 2025 The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has stated that the Taliban’s restrictions on women have caused long-term harm to Afghanistan’s society. The organization emphasized the urgent need to address these issues. On Tuesday, February 18, UNAMA shared an image of Roza Otunbayeva, its head,
UN: Afghanistan faces one of the world’s highest maternal mortality rates
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press February 18, 2025 The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned about the negative impacts of the ban on women’s and girls’ education in the field of medical sciences in Afghanistan, describing it as a factor that could lead to a long-term crisis in the
US Aid Cut May Shrink Afghan Economy by 7%
TOLOnews TV Network 18 Feb 2025 Some Kabul residents have expressed concerns over economic challenges and unemployment, calling on authorities to assist those in need. The Center for Global Development, in a newly published report, has stated that the suspension of US aid will have catastrophic consequences for poor countries, including Afghanistan. The report mentions
Kabul evacuation whistleblower wins case against UK government
Matthew Weaver The Guardian Tue 18 Feb 2025 A civil servant who blew the whistle about the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan and Boris Johnson’s involvement in a decision to evacuate a pet charity from Kabul has won her case for unfair dismissal against the government in a legal first. An employment panel of three judges
Taliban representatives visit Tokyo for talks with Japanese officials
By MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press February 18, 2025 TOKYO (AP) — Japanese officials said senior Taliban representatives were in the capital for talks, as part of Tokyo’s efforts to help Afghanistan build a more inclusive political system and protect human rights. It’s the Taliban’s first known diplomatic trip outside the Central Asia-Middle East region since
Afghan Youth Struggle with Unemployment, Urge Govt for Solutions
Shabnam Amini Tolo News 18 Feb 2025 Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs announced that nearly 100,000 work permits have been issued since the beginning of this solar year. The lack of job opportunities in Afghanistan, especially for young people, has raised serious concerns. Youth are urging officials in the interim government to
OIC Representative Calls for Realistic Engagement with Afghanistan
TOLOnews TV Network 18 Feb 2025 The OIC representative also held a separate meeting with Roza Otunbayeva, the head of UNAMA, where they discussed women’s rights in Afghanistan. Tariq Ali Bakhit, the Special Representative of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for Afghanistan, emphasized realistic engagement and avoiding “selective” approaches in relations with Afghanistan, during
Ishaq Dar Urges Road Map for Afghanistan’s Global Integration at OIC
TOLOnews TV Network 18 Feb 2025 Ishaq Dar also stressed support for Afghanistan’s economic recovery and the release of its frozen assets. Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, during a meeting with the OIC in New York called for a comprehensive framework to guide engagement between Afghanistan’s interim government and the international
Afghanistan’s Taliban makes debut diplomatic trip to Japan
Al Jazeera Published On 17 Feb 2025 Delegation says Taliban seeks ‘dignified’ global interaction as it builds ‘strong’ and ‘developed’ Afghanistan. A Taliban delegation has arrived in Japan on what is the first visit by the group that rules Afghanistan, according to media in the East Asian country. The delegation, consisting of foreign affairs, education,
ISIS-Khorasan emerges as the most dangerous branch of ISIS: Reuters
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press February 17, 2025 Reuters reported on Sunday that most foreign fighters fleeing Iraq have joined ISIS-Khorasan in Afghanistan. According to the report, Sanaullah Ghafari, the leader of ISIS-Khorasan, has turned the group into one of the most dangerous factions with the ability to carry out cross-border attacks. The article, written
Over 2,000 Afghan Commandos denied resettlement in UK despite service with British Forces
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press February 17, 2025 The UK Ministry of Defence has announced that more than 2,000 Afghan commandos, who had valid service records with units supported by the UK, have been unsuccessful in securing resettlement in the country. These commandos were part of various training and support programs facilitated by the UK
Qani: ISIS Has No Presence in Afghanistan
TOLOnews TV Network 17 Feb 2025 The spokesperson added that, according to their information, recent ISIS attacks were planned outside Afghanistan’s borders, in neighboring countries. Abdul Mateen Qani, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, told TOLOnews that ISIS has been completely suppressed in Afghanistan and has no physical presence. The spokesperson added that, according
UN Security Council Debates Extension of UNAMA Mandate
TOLOnews TV Network 17 Feb 2025 UNAMA’s current mandate is set to expire on March 17 of this year The United Nations Security Council members are discussing draft resolutions for extending the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). The Security Council stated in a release that two drafts have been prepared
US-China dispute over Afghanistan resolutions escalates at UNSC
By Yasin Shayan AMU TV 17 Feb 2025 File-Photo United Nations Security Council A diplomatic dispute over control of United Nations Security Council resolutions on Afghanistan has escalated into a broader clash between the United States and China, raising tensions within the global body, Just Security reported. The disagreement, which has been simmering since late
Afghanistan’s exports to India grow
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press February 16, 2025 Indian media has reported that over the past two years, the country’s imports from Afghanistan have increased, with bilateral trade between India and Afghanistan reaching a value of $642.29 million. According to the report, the largest exports from Afghanistan to India include agricultural products such as saffron,
Ministry: Women’s Rights Accusations Used to Pressure Islamic Emirate
TOLOnews TV Network 16 Ministry’s spokesperson, said that Afghanistan is an Islamic country, and Islamic laws have defined fair rights for women, children, and all segments of society. The Ministry of Vice and Virtue, in response to a joint statement by 17 countries, stated that criticism of the ministry under the banner of women’s rights
UNSC Grants 23-Day Travel Exemption to Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar
TOLOnews TV Network 16 Feb 2025 In a statement, the committee said that the purpose of this exemption is for Baradar’s travel to Doha for medical treatment. The United Nations Security Council sanctions committee has announced a 23-day travel exemption for Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, deputy prime minister for economic affairs. In a statement, the
Taliban Confirms Hand Grenade Attack At Aybak Mosque in Samangan
Volant Media UK Limited Feb 14, 2025, 12:26 GMT The Taliban police command in Samangan has confirmed an explosion at the Joi Zindan Mosque in the city centre of Aybak. Hashmatullah Rahmani, the Taliban police spokesperson, stated that the incident occurred when two individuals threw a hand grenade into the mosque during prayers, reportedly over
UNICEF and ADB officials highlight support for women and children in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press February 15, 2025 Tajudeen Oyewale, the UNICEF representative in Afghanistan, emphasized support for women and children during a meeting with officials from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). On Friday, February 14, Oyewale stated on his X account regarding the meeting with ADB officials, discussing how they can support women and
Muttaqi Warns Against Unjust Criticism, Disobedience
TOLOnews TV Network 15 Feb 2025 During his speech, the acting foreign minister described unjust criticism as a cause of ruin. Amir Khan Muttaqi, acting minister of foreign affairs, stated during a ceremony at a religious school in Kabul that those who disobey the Amir (leader) will face downfall. During his speech, the acting foreign
Younus Akhundzada: No Internal Divisions in the Islamic Emirate
Ataullah Omar Tolo News 15 Feb 2025 During the ceremony, the acting minister emphasized that the current system was established through sacrifice. Mohammad Younus Akhundzada, acting minister of rural rehabilitation and development, stated during the inauguration of a project in Maiwand district of Kandahar that there are no divisions within the Islamic Emirate. During the
US, China Clash Over Drafting Afghanistan Resolutions at UN
TOLOnesws 15 Feb 2025 According to the report, Pakistan and South Korea, two non-permanent members of the Security Council, had also sought to take on this responsibility. The online forum Just Security reported that an “obscure diplomatic dispute over who should draft United Nations Security Council resolutions on Afghanistan is turning into a major row
Nearly $500m of food aid at risk of spoilage after Trump USAid cuts
Marina Dunbar The Guardian Mon 10 Feb 2025 US government auditors find cuts have ‘degraded USAid’s ability to distribute and safeguard humanitarian assistance’ Nearly half a billion dollars of food aid is at risk of spoilage following the decision of Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s “Doge” agency to make cuts to USAid, according to an
What We Know About the Munich Car Attack
By Christopher F. Schuetze Reporting from Berlin The New York Times Feb. 14, 2025 At least 36 people were injured when an Afghan asylum seeker drove a car into a union march. The police said the driver confessed. On Thursday morning, a 24-year-old Afghan refugee drove into a union demonstration in central Munich, injuring nearly
How pause in US foreign aid is impacting South, Central Asia
By Masood Farivar Voice of America February 11, 2025 WASHINGTON — In Kabul, Afghanistan, a major midwifery program — girls’ only higher education option — has closed. Across Pakistan, dozens of development programs have ground to a halt. In Bangladesh, a health research center has laid off more than 1,000 employees. The fallout comes two weeks
‘Please don’t do this’: Afghan families in Pakistan caught in crackdown
By Abid Hussain Al Jazeera Published On 14 Feb 2025 More than 2 million Afghans in Pakistan could face a new deportation wave as Islamabad issues tough new rules – even for people with identity cards. Islamabad, Pakistan – When Salima Ahmad* noticed a three-day gap between the expiry of her family’s visas and the date
UNAMA condemns Kabul and Kunduz attacks amid growing security concerns in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press – February 14, 2025 The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) condemned the recent explosions in Kabul and Kunduz provinces. UNAMA expressed sympathy to the families of the victims and condemned the violence. The mission stressed that the security and well-being of the people must be protected, emphasizing that
Pakistan, Türkiye Stress Support for Peaceful Afghanistan
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 14 Feb 2025 Some political experts believe that regional countries, including Pakistan and Türkiye, should take practical steps towards recognizing the Islamic Emirate. The President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif focused on regional issues, including Afghanistan, during their meeting in Islamabad. In
36 Years Pass Since Soviet Union Left Afghanistan
TOLOnews TV Network 14 Feb 2025 The Soviet Union’s more than nine-year presence in Afghanistan is believed to have led to the collapse of the Soviet Union. Today, Friday, the 26th of Dalwa (February 14), marks the 36th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. Thirty-six years ago today, after nine years in Afghanistan
World Bank: Nearly 3M People in Afghanistan on Verge of Famine
Lailuma Qadiri Tolo News 14 Feb 2025 The World Bank also said that climate change is one of the main drivers of food insecurity in Afghanistan. The World Bank has once again stated that Afghanistan is facing a severe food security crisis. According to the bank’s latest report, 12.6 million people in Afghanistan are struggling
Russia warns UN Security Council about ISIS access to US Weapons in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press February 11, 2025 On Monday, Russia’s Ambassador to the United Nations stated at a Security Council meeting that the rise of ISIS-Khorasan’s activities in Afghanistan is not coincidental or without cause. He highlighted that the international community had not adequately addressed the access terrorist groups like ISIS have to leftover
Suicide attack in Kunduz kills and injures at least 12
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press February 11, 2025 Local sources in Kunduz province have reported that a suicide attack in the center of the province has left at least five dead and seven injured. According to the sources, a powerful explosion occurred around 8:35 AM today, Tuesday, February 11 in front of a branch of
Afghan Refugees in Limbo as Advocates Urge US Support
TOLOnesws 11 Feb 2025 Donald Trump’s suspension of the refugee program has caused significant concern among Afghan citizens waiting in other countries. The head of the AfghanEvac and a group of former US Army soldiers have urged the US Secretary of State to continue supporting Afghan allies Shawn VanDiver, the head of AfghanEvac, the main
Afghanistan Falls Three Spots in Global Corruption Ranking
Najibullah Lalzoy Manager, Online Tolo News 11 Feb 2025 Afghanistan scored 17 out of 100 on the organization’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), which is three points lower than its 2023 score. Transparency International reported in its 2024 report that Afghanistan ranked 165th out of 180 countries in public sector corruption. According to the report, Afghanistan
McCaul says Afghan allies deserve refugee admission in US by Mujeeb Rahman Awrang Stanikzai
AMU TV 10 Feb 2025 WASHINGTON — Representative Michael McCaul on Sunday called on the U.S. government to allow Afghan allies who assisted American forces during the war in Afghanistan to be admitted as refugees, following the suspension of the refugee admissions program by President Donald Trump. Thousands of Afghans who worked alongside U.S. forces—many
Norwegian Refugee Council to halt operations in Afghanistan due to US Aid suspension
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press February 10, 2025 The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) announced on Monday, February 10, that it would suspend its humanitarian activities in nearly 20 countries, including Afghanistan, following the suspension of foreign aid from the United States. The organization, which received approximately 20% (150 million dollars) of its 2024 budget from
UN: ISIS remains a major threat to Afghanistan and the region
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press February 10, 2025 The UN Office of Counter-Terrorism’s Director, Vladimir Voronkov, stated in a Security Council meeting that ISIS-K remains a serious threat to Afghanistan, the region, and the world. Reports show that foreign terrorists are traveling to Afghanistan. Voronkov emphasized that ISIS-K not only conducts attacks within Afghanistan but
Islamic Emirate Spokesperson: ISIS Has Been Suppressed in Afghanistan
TOLOnews TV Network 10 Feb 2025 Speaking to TOLOnews, the spokesperson further said that ISIS activities in the region have no connection to Afghanistan. Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, has once again stated that ISIS has been suppressed in Afghanistan and emphasized that the group has no power in the country. Speaking
Norwegian Chargé d’Affaires Discusses Diplomatic Relations in Kabul
Bibi Amina Hakimi TOLOnews’ Reporter 10 Feb 2025 The Norwegian diplomat praised the Islamic Emirate’s efforts in combating narcotics, the ministry said. Amir Khan Muttaqi, acting foreign minister of the Islamic Emirate, met with Per Albert Ilsaas, the Norwegian chargé d’affaires for Afghanistan, on Monday to discuss political, economic, and humanitarian issues. According to the
U.S. Veterans Call For Resumption Of Afghan Refugee Resettlement
Volant Media UK Limited 10 Feb 2025 A coalition of U.S. veterans has urged the Biden administration to resume the relocation process for eligible Afghan refugees, calling for an exemption from former President Donald Trump’s executive order suspending refugee admissions. In a letter addressed to the U.S. Secretaries of State, Homeland Security, and Defense, the
They helped US order airstrikes against Taliban. Now Trump’s moves have left those Afghans in limbo
By LLAZAR SEMINI, FARNOUSH AMIRI and MUNIR AHMED Associated Press February 9, 2025 TIRANA, Albania (AP) — They helped the U.S. military order airstrikes against Taliban and Islamic State fighters and worked as drivers and translators during America’s longest war. They were set to start new lives in the United States. Then President Donald Trump issued executive orders that put
Pakistan’s Military pushes for US involvement in Afghanistan war, Says US media
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press February 9, 2025 The American media outlet Drop Site News has reported, citing sources, that the U.S. military is considering launching a large-scale military operation against ISIS-affiliated groups in Afghanistan. Discussions regarding the scope and strategy of this operation are currently underway. According to the report, Pakistan’s military hopes this
Defense Ministry: US Should Return Helicopters to Afghanistan
Hadia Ziaei Tolo News 9 Feb 2025 In a statement, the ministry called on the US not to obstruct the transfer of these helicopters to Afghanistan and to hand them over to the Afghan people. The Ministry of Defense has deemed the transfer of seven Black Hawk helicopters from Uzbekistan to the United States unacceptable.
Mohammad Bashir SoltaniIran Envoy: Coming Year Will Mark Stronger Ties with Afghanistan
By Mohammad Bashir Soltani Tolo News 8 Feb 2025 Additionally, Bikdeli praised Afghanistan’s ban on opium cultivation and drug trafficking. Alireza Bikdeli, acting Iran’s ambassador in Kabul, stated in an interview with TOLOnews that Iran, following its neighborhood policy, is working to enhance relations with Afghanistan in various sectors. Bikdeli emphasized that expanding economic ties
Iran Stresses Cooperation with Afghanistan in Counter-Narcotics
Mohammad Bashir Soltani Tolo News 9 Feb 2025 He added that Iran, based on its neighborhood policy, is working to expand its relations with Afghanistan in various sectors. Alireza Bikdeli, the acting ambassador of Iran in Kabul, commemorated the 46th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran. During the event, Bikdeli stated
U.S. aid freeze hits secret girls’ schools, post-flood repair and much more
Diaa Hadid National Public Radio February 3, 2025 The halt to USAID projects will likely impact secret schools for girls across Afghanistan, which could close as soon as the funds from the U.S. agency go dry. Above: A teenage girl wearing a face mask, head scarf and long black robe at a tutoring center in
Turkey ends former Afghan government’s diplomatic tenure, paving way for Taliban-appointed mission
By Suzan Fraser Washington Post/ AP February 7, 2025 Turkey has terminated the mission of diplomats appointed by Afghanistan’s former pro-Western government ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey has terminated the mission of diplomats appointed by Afghanistan’s former pro-Western government, the outgoing diplomatic team said, in a move that paves the way for the Taliban to appoint their own
Pakistan to Force Tens of Thousands of Afghan Refugees Out of the Capital
By Zia ur-Rehman Reporting from Karachi, Pakistan The New York Times Feb. 7, 2025, 5:38 a.m. ET The order, giving Afghans until March 31 to go elsewhere in Pakistan, came on the heels of President Trump’s suspension of refugee admissions to the United States. Tens of thousands of Afghan refugees who have congregated in Pakistan’s capital
What is the background to calls for Afghanistan cricket boycott?
BBC News 7 February 2025, 08:39 GMT England will play Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy on Wednesday, 26 February in Pakistan. It is a fixture that has caused plenty of controversy in the build-up, with some saying Jos Buttler’s side should boycott the match in response to the Taliban’s actions in Afghanistan. Prime Minister Sir
UN raises concerns over continued deportation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press February 7, 2025 The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have expressed concern over Pakistan’s plan for the mass expulsion of Afghan refugees and have called for clarification regarding the deportation of these migrants. In a statement issued on Wednesday, February 6,
Richard Bennett calls for release of Radio Begum staff in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati Khaama Press February 7, 2025 The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan has expressed deep concern over the detention of two Radio Begum employees and called for their immediate release. Richard Bennett also urged for an end to the harassment and arbitrary detention of journalists by the Taliban. Bennett emphasized the importance
UNAMA and RSF Demand Immediate Release of Begum Radio Staff
TOLOnews TV Network 7 Feb 2025 Meanwhile, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) also criticized the suspension of Begum Radio and called for the release of its two detained employees. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has reacted to the closure of Begum Radio, stating that free media is essential for the progress and development
Islamic Emirate Rejects Sopko’s Claims of Interference in Intl Aid
Liluma Qadiry Tolo News 7 Feb 2025 Speaking to Fox News, Sopko stressed that the US does not have strict oversight over the aid, and this situation will continue. The Islamic Emirate has rejected the statements of the former US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) John Sopko, who claimed that the Emirate interferes
Islamic Emirate Denies Issuance of Arrest Warrant for Abbas Stanikzai
TOLOnews TV Network 7 Feb 2025 Speaking to the BBC, Mujahid stated that Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai had traveled to Dubai to visit his family. Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, has denied reports regarding the issuance of an arrest warrant for the deputy foreign minister. Speaking to the BBC, Mujahid stated that
Taliban-Pakistan Border Tensions Escalate As Group Orders Evacuation Of Residents
Volant Media UK Limited Afghanistan International Feb 5, 2025, 12:03 GMT The Taliban has instructed residents in the border areas of Bahram Chah district, Helmand province, to evacuate due to the risk of intensified clashes between Taliban forces and Pakistani border guards, local sources have reported. Sporadic fighting between the two sides has reportedly
Central Asia, EU Discuss Afghanistan’s Challenges, Assistance Strategies
TOLOnews 6 Feb 2025 The human rights situation and security challenges in Afghanistan were among the key topics discussed in the meeting. The sixth Meeting of the Special Representatives and Envoys of Central Asian States and the EU for Afghanistan was held in the capital of Tajikistan. This meeting focused on the approach of Central
UNFPA: US Aid Cuts May Trigger Maternal Health Crisis in Afghanistan
Hadia Ziaei Tolo News 6 Feb 2025 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the 90-day suspension of aid is intended for a thorough review of the programs. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has warned that the suspension of aid could result in 1,200 additional maternal deaths and 109,000 unintended pregnancies in Afghanistan
Uzbekistan Transfers Afghan Helicopters to US, Sparking Reactions
TOLOnews 6 Feb 2025 Reports indicate that the transfer of these helicopters was announced in a ceremony at the Uzbek embassy in Washington. According to reports from Uzbek media, Uzbekistan has handed over seven helicopters, which were transferred to Uzbekistan during the fall of Afghanistan’s previous government, to the United States. Reports indicate that the