Afghanistan International: The Afghanistan Freedom Front confirmed that it targeted the Taliban governor’s office and a nearby security post in Faizabad, Badakhshan, with rockets on Wednesday night, claiming four Taliban members were killed and five wounded. In a statement on Thursday, the group said its fighters engaged Taliban forces after the rocket attack. Click here to read more (external link).
From Mahdi to Fateh: Lessons to Learn
Fateh
8am: Mawlawi Mahdi Mujahid was a devoted foot soldier of the Taliban. He was also non-Pashtun and an outsider within the group’s regime. Unlike many others, he was not an unquestioning follower of the Taliban Supreme Leader’s decisions, and in some instances he acted as a rights-seeker, making decisions regarding the territory under his authority that diverged somewhat from Kandahar’s will. In the end, he was ruthlessly suppressed and disappeared. The story of Juma Khan Fateh is much the same as that of Mahdi Mujahid, with the difference that the former has not yet been eliminated, at least so far, though his throne and crown have fallen. From these two similar, yet newsworthy and controversial stories, cautionary lessons can be drawn. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – August 20, 2026
Afghan MMA Star Badakhshi Opens Up on Love With Krishna Shroff, Detention and 20-Second Comeback
Badakhshi
Khaama: Abdul Azim Badakhshi spoke about his professional career, personal life and the challenges he faced in India, including his detention over immigration-related issues. He also discussed the support he received from his fiancée, Krishna Shroff, during a difficult period. Badakhshi shared these details in an interview with BBC Persian. Click here to read more (external link).
Other Sports News
US in talks over resettlement of Afghan refugees in Qatar to third countries
Ariana: More than 1,000 Afghans who were evacuated to a U.S. military facility in Qatar following the Islamic Emirate’s return to power in 2021 remain in limbo, with no clear path to the United States, NPR reports. The Afghans have been staying at Camp As Sayliyah after being airlifted out of Afghanistan during the final days of the U.S. war. Some have been there for more than a year while waiting for a decision on their future. The U.S. State Department told NPR that negotiations are continuing over where the Afghans could be resettled. Click here to read more (external link).
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Man in Herat says Taliban sought payment to release his daughter
Amu: A resident of Herat told Amu TV that Taliban authorities demanded money and two guarantors for the release of her daughter who was detained in the city of Herat. He said that some women and girls remained in custody for days because their families could not meet the conditions. The father said his daughter told him she had not been physically beaten but that the detained women had been subjected to intimidation. “Some families who could not provide the money had their daughters kept in detention for several days,” he said. Click here to read more (external link).
Opposition Groups Feature Prominently In Taliban Leaders’ Speeches
Afghanistan International: The remarks come despite the Taliban previously rejecting negotiations and political participation with opposition groups. The repeated emphasis by senior Taliban leaders on their opponents reflects concern over the rise in armed activity in the country. Armed groups opposing the Taliban have increased their attacks against the group in recent months to an unprecedented level. The Afghanistan Freedom Front, National Resistance Front, Sepahiyan-e Mihan Front, United Front of Afghanistan and Republican Front are among the groups that have recently targeted Taliban forces in different provinces. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – August 19, 2026
Afghanistan marks 107th anniversary of independence
King Amanullah Khan
Amu: Afghanistan marked the 107th anniversary of its independence Wednesday, commemorating the end of British control over the country’s foreign affairs following the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919. Aug. 19 is observed annually as Afghanistan’s Independence Day, marking the country’s assertion of full sovereignty during the reign of King Amanullah Khan. Click here to read more (external link).
Related
Afghan man sentenced to 51 days for illegally entering US from Canada
Amu: An Afghan man has pleaded guilty to illegally entering the United States from Canada and was sentenced to 51 days in jail, federal prosecutors said. Khan Afsar Ahmadzai, 30, of Kabul, admitted that he crossed the US-Canada border on foot near Champlain, New York, on June 3, bypassing an official immigration inspection point, according to the US Attorney’s Office. US Border Patrol agents apprehended Ahmadzai after he crossed the border, prosecutors said. Ahmadzai pleaded guilty to illegal re-entry and was immediately sentenced to 51 days in jail. Federal prosecutors said he would be subject to deportation after completing his sentence. Click here to read more (external link).