8am: Farhad, a pushcart vendor, explained, “People don’t have money to buy things. Every morning, we leave home hoping for work, but there are fewer customers now. On top of that, the Taliban don’t let us work freely, and we’re forced to pay them bribes.” Shopkeepers in Kunduz are also grappling with reduced consumer spending
Amu: The funeral for Khalil Rahman Haqqani, the Taliban’s minister of refugees and a key figure in the Haqqani network, has drawn attention for its opulence, high-profile attendees, and political undertones, raising questions about unity within the Taliban leadership. Observers suggest the gathering was intended to project a united front amid growing speculation of divisions
Afghanistan International: Andrés Efren Montalvo Sosa, head of the UN Sanctions Committee said on Thursday (December 12) that a number of key Taliban officials are complicit in drug cartels and production and trafficking networks. However, according to Sosa, the Taliban leadership encourages ordinary Afghan farmers to cultivate alternatives. Click here to read more (external link).
8am: As winter approaches, disabled individuals in Takhar province are increasingly concerned about worsening economic conditions and the intensifying cold. Abdul Wahab, a resident of Khwaja Bahauddin district in Takhar, told the Hasht-e Subh Daily: “Who should we complain to? In my view, those who deny us our rights are oppressors. We call on the
8am: Sources from the Jaghori district confirm that several construction projects remain incomplete this year due to Taliban extortion. These sources explain that the lack of sufficient funding has halted implementation and that the Taliban district governor collects the money. Click here to read more (external link).
Afghanistan International: With these changes, it seems that Hibatullah is trying to expand and consolidate his influence. One-third of these appointments have been made in Afghanistan’s southern provinces. Hibatullah has appointed and replaced dozens of people, including ministers, deputies, and commanders of the Taliban’s army. Many of these appointments are made not on the basis
Amu: Since assuming power in August 2021, the Taliban have made land confiscation a cornerstone of their governance, frequently reclaiming property they deem to belong to the state. While the Taliban defends the policy as a measure to restore order, it has faced criticism from individuals who claim rightful ownership of the seized lands and
8am: The Taliban, despite widespread complaints from citizens about distributing humanitarian aid to their relatives and interfering in the aid process, persist in unfairly allocating and misusing assistance across Afghanistan. Residents of Herat Province claim that aid from organizations and relief agencies is distributed not based on need but rather to individuals close to the
8am: Residents of Kunduz city have accused the Taliban municipality of extortion and imposing arbitrary fees. They allege that Taliban officials, along with local representatives, forcibly enter homes to measure them and collect money. Many residents, including female heads of households, express their inability to afford these payments and frustration that the Taliban, instead of
8am: Local sources told the Hasht-e Subh Daily that, over the past year, the Taliban have been involved in the aid delivery process, even confiscating some of the assistance meant for earthquake victims from certain organizations. These sources also reported that aid distribution has been unfair, with some organizations either demanding money from the victims