8am: The latest report from the U.S. State Department on human trafficking in Afghanistan paints a grim and alarming picture of the Taliban’s conduct. The report reveals that the Taliban have not only failed to prevent the recruitment of children into their military ranks but that recurring incidents of bacha bazi (sexual exploitation of boys)
Freshta Shikhani Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty September 30, 2025 The Taliban has imposed a nationwide shutdown of telecommunications in Afghanistan, a move that has largely cut off the country from the rest of the world. The hard-line Islamist group severed access to fiber-optic Internet across Afghanistan on September 29. Mobile phone networks, which share the same system,
ESPN: When India take on Sri Lanka at the Women’s World Cup 2025 opener, the spotlight will not just be on the players on the field but also on some of those off it. A group of Afghanistan’s women’s cricketers, currently living in exile in Australia, will be in attendance at the Assam Cricket Association
Khaama: Afghan citizens criticized the nationwide internet blackout, warning it deepens isolation, disrupts communications, limits access to information, and pushes Afghanistan further from global progress and development. Afghan citizens have voiced sharp criticism over the nationwide shutdown of fiber optic internet, warning that the blackout threatens communication and further isolates the country. Access to fiber
Afghanistan International: The acting head and staff of Afghanistan’s consulate in Bonn have resigned in protest at Germany’s decision to accredit Taliban diplomats and hand the mission to the group. In a statement, the consulate team said their decision was driven by Berlin’s move to send two Taliban representatives to the mission. Hamid Nangialay Kabiri,
Amu: Fawzia Koofi, a former MP and participant of Islamabad meeting, said on Monday that the situation in Afghanistan is “unbearable, especially for women,” and warned that only an inclusive government based on the people’s will and constitutional order can secure peace and lasting regional stability. Koofi spoke at the opening of a two-day conference
Afghanistan International: The gathering, set for 29–30 September, is organised by the “Women for Afghanistan” initiative and the South Asian Strategic Stability Institute. It will feature sessions exclusively for Afghan leaders as well as joint discussions with Pakistani counterparts. Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US envoy for Afghanistan, criticised Pakistan for hosting the event, calling the
Amu: The Taliban’s higher education minister, Neda Mohammad Nadeem, has issued sweeping new restrictions on universities, including a ban on smartphones, an order to remove images of living beings from classrooms and a requirement that staff wear turbans, according to internal documents obtained by Amu. The directives, signed by Nadeem, were outlined in a 10-page