Afghanistan International: The Taliban have confirmed that hundreds of books have been banned and removed from libraries and bookstores across Afghanistan over the past three years. In addition to suppressing independent publications, the Taliban have also banned several university textbooks, further restricting academic freedom and access to diverse sources of knowledge within higher education institutions. Click here to read more (external link).
Why Are the Taliban Opposed to “Intra-Afghan” Talks?
8am: Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s foreign minister, recently voiced his opposition to “intra-Afghan” negotiations, stating that the group has no desire to repeat what he called a “bitter experience.” Yet, in the same breath, he affirmed that “Afghanistan is the shared home of all Afghans.” If that is true, why can Afghans not engage in dialogue about the future of their collective home? The answer, it seems, lies in the Taliban’s rigid and insular ideological framework, which leaves little room for concepts like mutual understanding or peaceful resolution—unless the opposing party possesses superior military and political power. The Afghan opposition groups abroad, who continue to call for intra-Afghan dialogue, have thus far failed to even reach political consensus among themselves, let alone take meaningful action or pose a serious political-military challenge to the regime in Kabul. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – May 8, 2025
Zahir Qadeer faces extradition hearing in Kenya
Zahir Qadir
Amu: Zahir Qadeer, a former deputy speaker of Afghanistan’s parliament, would appear before a court in Nairobi on Thursday as Kenyan authorities weigh a request from the United States for his extradition on charges related to drug trafficking and illegal weapons possession. Qadeer has alleged that the charges are part of a broader plan by his political adversaries to remove him from Afghanistan and silence him abroad. In documents submitted to the court, he claimed to have led a civil movement known as the “Peace Caravan” in Nangarhar Province and to have consistently opposed foreign interference in Afghan affairs. He also referred to his family’s political legacy, noting that he is the son of Abdul Qadeer, a key figure in the United Islamic Front and a former vice president in Afghanistan’s transitional government, who was assassinated in 2002. Click here to read more (external link).
Afghanistan Not Priority But Key To Moscow’s Geopolitical Strategy, Says Russian Envoy
Kabulov
Afghanistan International: In an interview with the Russian radio station Komsomolskaya Pravda, Kabulov described Afghanistan as a strategic transit corridor connecting northern Eurasia, including Russia, to southern Asia, enhancing its value as a geopolitical bridge. Kabulov stressed that normalising relations with the Taliban was essential for promoting Russia’s regional interests. However, he noted that formal engagement remains constrained by legal barriers, particularly the Taliban’s continued designation as a terrorist organisation in Russia. That designation was officially suspended on 17 April, when Russia’s Supreme Court approved a request from the Prosecutor General’s Office to lift the ban on the Taliban’s activities. Supreme Court Judge Oleg Nefedov confirmed the ruling would take effect immediately. Click here to read more (external link).
Taliban say more than 5,000 children living with thalassemia in Afghanistan
Amu: More than 5,300 children in Afghanistan are currently living with thalassemia, a life-threatening inherited blood disorder, the Taliban’s deputy minister of public health said Thursday at a public health event in Kabul. Thalassemia is a genetic disorder that affects the body’s ability to produce hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Children born with severe forms of the disease often require lifelong blood transfusions and specialized care. Without proper treatment, thalassemia can lead to serious complications, including organ damage and early death. The condition is more prevalent in parts of South Asia, the Middle East and the Mediterranean. Click here to read more (external link).
Taliban Detain Three Journalists In Takhar, Subject Them To Torture
Afghanistan International: The Taliban have detained three journalists in Takhar province, with local sources alleging they were subjected to torture while in custody. The detainees include Sayed Munir Hadaf, director of Tasweer Weekly and head of the National Journalists’ Union of Takhar; Asadullah Timur, a local reporter; and Nasratullah Ebrahimi, a journalist with Ariana News. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – May 7, 2025
Many Afghans living in the U.S. fear being tortured or killed if they get deported
NPR: Roughly 200,000 Afghan immigrants and refugees came to the U.S. after the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in August 2021. That includes about 10,000 in Greater Houston. While some of them have since received green cards or even U.S. citizenship, many have more tenuous legal status, such as humanitarian parole or temporary protected status (TPS). Click here to read more (external link).
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Khalilzad warns: India-Pakistan clash highlights perils of supporting terrorism
Khalilzad
Khaama: Zalmay Khalilzad, former U.S. envoy for Afghanistan, has issued a stern warning in response to the recent conflict between India and Pakistan. He emphasized that supporting terrorism leads to catastrophic consequences. Khalilzad’s comments appear to indirectly address Islamabad’s alleged policies that have been linked to supporting militant groups in the region. Click here to read more (external link).
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