8am: Residents of Takhar complain about the high cost of medicine in their province. They state that many pharmacies in health centers sell necessary medications at exorbitant prices, even contrary to the rate list set by the Taliban-led National Food and Drug Administration. Some residents of Taloqan City, the capital of Takhar province, criticize the
Afghanistan International: Zabihullah Mujahid, head of the Taliban delegation, urged participants of the third Doha meeting to release Afghanistan’s Central Bank reserves and lift financial and banking sanctions on the group. Mujahid emphasised that for the Doha process to be “meaningful,” an alternative to poppy cultivation should be financially supported. He also called for the
By Rahim Gul Sarwan, Anne Ball VOA News June 27, 2024 WASHINGTON — Opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan was down sharply last year, according to the United Nations and private sources, but the plants are being grown in most provinces despite a ban imposed by the Taliban. Some areas grow more than others. According to sources
Afghanistan International: Local sources confirmed that Taliban fighters clashed with residents in Khash district of Badakhshan province on Wednesday. The conflict erupted due to the eradication of poppy cultivation in the province. Sources told Afghanistan International that several local residents were injured in the clash, and the Taliban fighters fled the scene. The clash occurred
Ayaz Gul VOA News June 21, 2024 ISLAMABAD — The United Nations confirmed Friday that a rare meeting of global envoys with Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers this month will not address concerns about Afghan civil society and women human rights defenders. Roza Otunbayeva, the head of the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, or UNAMA, emphasized the importance
Afghanistan International: The Taliban’s Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation reported that 100-120 airplanes pass through Afghan airspace daily. The ministry stated that it charges a transit fee of USD 700 per airplane. This is in contrast to the last years of the previous government, when around 400 airplanes passed through Afghan airspace daily. Click
By RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi June 18, 2024 Shugufta, an elementary school teacher, earned around $300 per month under the previous Western-backed Afghan government. But after the Taliban seized power in 2021, the extremist group cut the salaries of female government employees by half. Despite her lower income, Shugufta was relieved to work as the country
AP: Pakistani journalist and author Ahmed Rashid, who has written several books about Afghanistan and the Taliban, said Akhundzada’s appeals for unity were a sign of desperation because he refused to spell out the real issues facing Afghans such as unemployment, economic development, and building a consensus for social reform. “I would not be convinced
DW: Being a single mother in Afghanistan often means fighting for survival. Under the Taliban, options to earn money are few and far between — and many of the women are simply left at the mercy of their relatives. Click here to read more (external link).
Khaama: On the eve of Eid al-Adha, the World Food Programme (WFP) announced that 12 million Afghans do not know where their next meal will come from. The organization added that Eid is a time for joy and celebration with friends and family, but for many Afghans, it is just “another hard day.” On Friday,