Khaama: The Taliban Ministry of Urban Development and Housing has announced that, at the request of the group’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it will build a housing complex for foreign diplomats in Kabul. On Tuesday, December 17, the Ministry added in a statement that this housing complex will be constructed in the Darul Aman area
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
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).
Michael Hughes: Nearly 23 million vulnerable Afghans, most of them children, will likely suffer more than usual this winter because the Taliban have intensified restrictions that hinder UN aid delivery. “In 2025, 22.9 million people [in Afghanistan] will require humanitarian assistance, including 12.4 million children,” UNICEF said in a statement released on December 5. “The
The Diplomat: China’s key interests in Afghanistan are security related. It aims to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for terrorists who threaten its interests and those of its partners in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). In particular, China wants to ensure that Uyghur separatists do not find sanctuaries in Afghanistan. Additionally, China
Ariana:.The World Food Programme (WFP) has said that three out of four Afghan families borrow money to buy food. On average, a family’s debts are AFN 38,200 (nearly $560), according to the organization. WFP has warned that as winter worsens in Afghanistan, millions face extreme hardship, with one in four families struggling to get enough
Khaama: On Sunday, December 1st, the airline stated in a statement that it will launch a new weekly route between Kabul and Doha, with flights scheduled every Tuesday. In recent months, several airlines have resumed their flights to Afghanistan, signaling a gradual reopening of air travel in the region country. Click here to read more
Amu: Now, the owners say they have lost everything. “We invested everything we had into these businesses, but the Taliban has taken it all away,” one cafe owner said. “If the closures are permanent, I will have no money left to secure my future.” The closure of the cafes follows a broader crackdown on women’s