By Mustafa Sarwar and RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi January 17, 2026 Since the withdrawal of international forces and the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, Afghanistan’s once-diverse media landscape has collapsed under a lack of funding and restrictions — and Chinese state media is looking to fill the void. Hundreds of outlets have shut down,
Amu: Taliban have stopped paying salaries to female government employees who were previously told to stay at home while remaining formally employed, effectively removing them from the state payroll, sources said on Saturday. Several affected women said the decision amounted to dismissal and would have immediate consequences for their families. Click here to read more
Amu: Afghanistan’s under-19 side began their ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup campaign with a 28-run victory over South Africa on Friday, successfully defending a strong first-innings total in Windhoek. The victory gives Afghanistan an early boost in the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup, which is being co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia. Click here
Amu: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday that Islamabad has “complete evidence” of close ties between the Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan (TTA) and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). “There is a close relationship between the TTP and the TTA. You say there is no link, but we have complete evidence,” Sharif told a meeting of religious
Ariana: More than 5.2 million Afghans have returned home from neighbouring Iran and Pakistan since the beginning of 2025, placing unprecedented strain on an already fragile humanitarian situation, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said in a new report. According to IFRC, the massive wave of returnees and deportees between
Khaama: The U.S. Senate’s Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration, along with the Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism, held a session to review the country’s parole and refugee programs. The meeting, held on Wednesday, highlighted the security risks faced by Afghans who collaborated with U.S. forces, emphasizing that recent Trump administration decisions to halt refugee
Amu: Residents said the drones were observed over the districts of Shutul, Anaba, Rokha and Dara, as well as above Bazarak, the provincial capital. “One time was not the only time – the unmanned aircraft patrolled several times,” a resident of Rokha district told Amu TV. Click here to read more (external link).