Khaama: Mohsen Rezaee, an Afghan Taekwondo athlete, defeated his Japanese opponent in the qualification rounds at the 2024 Paris Olympics. It’s worth noting that Ali Reza Abbas, another Afghan Taekwondo athlete competing under the banner of the Refugee Team of the World Taekwondo Federation, secured his spot in the Olympics by defeating opponents from Nepal,
Ayaz Gul VOA News March 16, 2024 ISLAMABAD — Pakistani authorities said Saturday a suicide truck bomb and gun attack on a regional army base near the Afghan border killed at least seven soldiers, including two officers, and wounded many more. The early morning raid occurred in the volatile North Waziristan border district, where militants linked
Ariana: A Spanish newspaper has reported that the drastic drop in poppy cultivation in Afghanistan has opened a gap for fentanyl in Europe. A report from the European Drug Monitoring Center warns of the risk that a possible lack of global supply will be replaced with “more harmful synthetic opiates, such as fentanyl derivatives or
HRW: “The situation is getting worse every day,” Ahmad, a former journalist in Herat, Afghanistan, told me. “I don’t think anyone can afford to buy enough food anymore.” According to the United Nations, in 2024, 23.7 million people – more than half of the country’s population – will need humanitarian assistance. The statistics are startling:
RFE/RL: The Taliban’s decision to turn to Iran to access international markets is a strategic move with regional implications. Access to the Chabahar Port reduces Afghanistan’s reliance on Pakistan and gives it access to India, Islamabad’s archenemy and Kabul’s traditional ally. Islamabad has historically been Kabul’s biggest trading partner, but Iran has taken its place
8am: Reports from local sources indicate that the Taliban have detained the brother of General Najibullah Najib, the former National Security Chief of Takhar Province, within the province’s boundaries. According to accounts received on Thursday, March 14th, the Taliban apprehended the individual in question from Taliqan, the capital city of Takhar Province, and subsequently relocated
Khaama: On Thursday, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby stated that the United States is not extending any form of direct support to the Taliban, whether diplomatically, economically, or otherwise. This includes diplomatic assistance, economic aid, or any other means of backing. Kirby’s declaration underscores the administration’s stance amid ongoing concerns and scrutiny regarding
Akmal Dawi VOA News March 14, 2024 An Afghan education official says Taliban authorities may permanently close girls’ secondary schools, promoting religious schools known as madrasas as an alternative. The Taliban shut down girls’ secondary schools in 2022, citing “religious and cultural” concerns. Taliban officials defend the ban, insisting they are working to create a
8am: Twenty-three years ago, the Taliban destroyed two large Buddha statues in Bamyan province. The taller statue, named Salsaal, standing at 53 meters, and the smaller one, Shahmama, at 35 meters, were carved into the mountains between the 3rd and 7th centuries AD with a distinctive style. Mullah Omar, the former Taliban supreme leader, ordered