Khaama: Democratic lawmakers sharply criticized the Trump administration’s refugee policy during a congressional hearing, urging the United States to honor commitments made to Afghan allies who assisted American forces during the two-decade war in Afghanistan. Representative Grace Meng questioned Secretary of State Marco Rubio over the administration’s decision to admit white South African refugees while
Afghanistan International: The UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan says his office has verified cases of sexual violence allegedly committed by Taliban officials, primarily in detention centres. Victims interviewed included women and girls, as well as men and boys. The remarks come after the UN Security Council recently reported allegations of sexual violence
Daily Mail (UK): Despite the Taliban’s legal ban on the practice, a recent report suggests it remains widespread. The US State Department in its latest Trafficking in Persons report, found that child soldier recruitment, human trafficking and Bacha Bazi continue in Afghanistan. The report said the Taliban recruit children through coercion and deception, including false
Ariana: A judge-led inquiry into alleged war crimes committed by British special forces in Afghanistan has heard that an initial internal review of the allegations was dismissed within a single day, according to newly declassified documents. The documents, released on Friday as part of the ongoing public inquiry, suggest senior British special forces officers failed
The Guardian (UK): Concerns about the number of Afghan civilians being killed by British special forces in the early part of the last decade prompted the country’s then president to make a “muscular” complaint to Nato commanders fighting the Taliban. Newly released evidence from a public inquiry into the deaths of up to 80 people
Afghanistan International: United Nations Security Council says Taliban officials and fighters committed sexual violence against women, with United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan documenting 21 cases involving 15 women and six girls in 2025. According to the report, Taliban officials and fighters subjected Afghan women to rape and gang rape. Some victims were also stripped
Khaama: Seyed Qasim Hashemi, an Afghan journalist, has been detained by Pakistani police, according to sources familiar with the incident. Sources said Hashemi was arrested around 12:19 p.m. on Thursday on the Abbottabad-Islamabad highway by Pakistani authorities. No official statement has yet been issued regarding the reason for his detention or his current condition. Click
Afghanistan International: Ayatollah Waezzada Behsudi, a prominent and senior Shia emulation and cleric, says Taliban pressure on followers of the Ja’fari school has steadily increased over the past five years, adding that people approach religious scholars in tears to complain about mounting restrictions. Speaking during Eid al-Adha prayers, Behsudi said that despite the Taliban’s claims
Khaama: Farhad Darya called for greater acceptance of Afghanistan’s ethnic and cultural diversity during a gathering marking Hazara Culture Day in Washington, D.C. Speaking Sunday at the event, Darya said he hopes a day will come when “no child fears because of identity and no mother cries because of her child’s ethnicity.” Click here to
By Farangis Najibullah, Firuza Azizi and Sahar Lewal Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty May 20, 2026 Every morning, Faisal stands along a road on the outskirts of the Iranian capital, Tehran, waiting for a day job. The 27-year-old migrant from neighboring Afghanistan used to find manual work on most days, earning up to 10 million rials