8am: The Hasht-e Subh Daily has obtained information indicating that the Taliban have evacuated Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) families and fighters from settlements that had been built for them in Ghazni province, following Pakistani airstrikes. The findings of this report show that some of these families have been relocated to rural areas, while others have been moved into residential neighborhoods within Ghazni city. Some residents of Ghazni city, expressing deep concern, say they live in constant fear of Pakistani bombardment and are calling on the Taliban to remove TTP families and suspicious individuals from the city to ensure the safety of the population. Click here to read more (external link).
Shoigu: 18,000 to 23,000 Armed Fighters Active in Afghanistan
8am: Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Security Council of Russia, has stated that approximately 18,000 to 23,000 fighters affiliated with more than 20 different groups are active in Afghanistan. The TASS news agency reported on Thursday, 14 May 2026, that Sergei Shoigu made these remarks during a meeting of the secretaries of security bodies of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). According to him, in addition to this situation, the entry of foreign fighters from other regions into Afghanistan is also continuing, which has increased security challenges. Click here to read more (external link).
US aid cuts weaken Afghan media in exile, Human Rights Watch says
Amu: Sweeping cuts to US foreign aid in 2025 severely weakened Afghan media organizations operating in exile, forcing some outlets to scale back reporting networks inside Afghanistan, lay off journalists and cancel programs focused on women and human rights, according to a new report by Human Rights Watch. Human Rights Watch said Taliban have cracked down on dissent, arbitrarily detained and tortured journalists, and shut down 12 media outlets in 2024 alone. Click here to read more (external link).
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Tolo News in Dari – May 14, 2026
Afghanistan falls to Uzbekistan in CAFA U20 Championship
Amu: Afghanistan lost 2-0 to Uzbekistan on Thursday in the Central Asian U-20 Football Championship in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The match was Afghanistan’s second appearance in the CAFA U-20 Championship, which began earlier this week and features youth national teams from across Central Asia. Afghanistan is set to face host nation Tajikistan in its next match on Friday. Click here to read more (external link).
Increase in Armed Robberies Sparks Concern Among Kabul Shopkeepers
8am: Following an increase in armed robberies in Kabul, a number of shopkeepers have expressed concern over the situation. Several shopkeepers in Kabul told Hasht-e Subh Daily on Wednesday, May 13, that armed robberies have increased in recent days. They said thefts from shops have also become more frequent, and that thieves have even stolen food items. Click here to read more (external link).
UN says 74% of Afghans cannot meet basic needs
Amu: Nearly three-quarters of Afghanistan’s population remains unable to meet basic living needs, according to a new report by the UN Development Program, which warned that worsening economic pressures, mass returns from neighboring countries and severe drought conditions are deepening the country’s humanitarian crisis. The report found that 74 percent of Afghans were classified as “subsistence insecure” in 2025, meaning they faced serious deprivation in food, healthcare, housing, water and livelihoods. The figure remained unchanged from the previous year, underscoring what the report described as entrenched and widespread hardship across the country. The findings were published in the Afghanistan Socioeconomic Review 2024–2025 by the UN Development Program. Click here to read more (external link).
EU invites Taliban members to discuss Afghan migrant returns
AFP, dpa: The European Commission has invited officials from Afghanistan’s Taliban to discuss the returns of certain migrants. It’s controversial on humanitarian grounds, and because Brussels doesn’t recognize Taliban authority. Click here to read more (external link).
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Khalilzad accuses Pakistan of playing ‘double game’ amid Iran-US tensions
Khalilzad
Ariana: Former US special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad has accused Pakistan of continuing what he described as a long-standing “double game” in its relations with the United States, amid rising regional tensions involving Iran and Washington. In a statement posted on social media, Khalilzad alleged that Pakistan’s military leadership may have quietly permitted Iranian military aircraft to use Pakistani airfields in an effort to avoid potential US strikes. He said that if the reports are verified, such actions would fit a broader historical pattern in Islamabad’s policies toward Washington. “Working simultaneously with and against the US has been a pattern of Pakistani policies for the last 40 years,” Khalilzad wrote. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – May 13, 2026