Afghanistan International: The United Nations Security Council says the Taliban have dismissed thousands of their Tajik and Uzbek fighters, particularly in provinces with large Tajik and Uzbek populations. It follows a 20 percent reduction in the group’s security forces. Click here to read more (external link).
8am: For years, the Taliban repeatedly denied torturing or humiliating prisoners in their detention facilities. An audio document obtained by the Hasht-e Subh Daily challenges those claims. In the recording, a local Taliban official openly confirms that Taliban intelligence tortures detainees and carries out arbitrary arrests. The document reveals that many people are detained and
Afghanistan International: Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has urged members of the group to “recognise their limits and authority” after assuming office, warning against discord, negligence and arbitrary conduct. His remarks follow comments by Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s interior minister, who recently said the group governs through humiliation, violence, fear and intimidation. Click here to read
Afghanistan International: Yaqoob Sheikh who has been described as having links to Lashkar-e-Taiba has warned the Taliban that if they fail to guarantee Afghan territory will not be used against Pakistan, his party will stand alongside the country’s army. In a video message circulated on social media, Sheikh said his group was ready to make
8am: Health sources in Kabul say that in recent weeks, several residents of the city have been taken to hospitals as a result of armed robberies, with some of them losing their lives. According to these sources, only four incidents have occurred over a little more than two weeks in Karte Char. The health sources
Khaama: The Human Rights Activists Union has warned that Afghanistan is facing a dire situation, describing the Taliban’s restrictions on education as a form of cultural genocide that silences voices and limits awareness. The group said these measures have already had severe consequences and threaten the future of younger generations. Click here to read more
Khaama: Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani said on Friday in Khost province that a government ruling through “fear and force” cannot be considered legitimate, implicitly acknowledging the use of intimidation by the Taliban. Speaking to a crowd of locals, Haqqani stressed that leaders should not humiliate or condemn citizens, and that a government should foster
8am: Some residents of Kabul say that following the Taliban decision to cut fiber-optic internet in Afghanistan, the quality of internet services across the country has deteriorated. They add that this decline has disrupted their daily activities. According to them, they have repeatedly raised these challenges with internet service providers, but the companies have cited
Afghanistan International: The Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday it will not take part in a regional meeting on Afghanistan scheduled to be held in Tehran. Zia Ahmad Takal, deputy spokesperson for the ministry, said the Taliban had received an invitation but decided not to attend. According to Takal, the decision was based
Khaama: Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has urged the international community to pressure the Taliban to fulfill their commitments on counterterrorism, warning of a growing terrorism threat emanating from Afghanistan. He made the remarks on Friday at the “Peace and Confidence” conference in Turkmenistan. Sharif emphasized that the Taliban must be held accountable for failing