Afghanistan International: Alexander Bortnikov, head of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), has warned that ISIS and its affiliates have intensified their operations in Afghanistan, posing a growing threat to regional security. Speaking at the 18th Meeting of Heads of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Counterterrorism Agencies in Moscow, Bortnikov said the leadership of international
8am: Several families of former Afghan government military personnel report that, despite the Taliban’s announcement of a general amnesty, they face surveillance, interrogation, and threats from the group due to their familial ties to former security forces. They state that Taliban members have repeatedly visited their homes, demanding information about the whereabouts of their military
Khaama: The U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking at the “Investing in America” summit at the White House on Monday, sharply criticized past American military strategies in Afghanistan. He claimed that U.S. forces fought in a manner that suggested they had no intention of winning the war, describing the approach as “deeply upsetting.” In his remarks,
Amu: Taliban spokesman on Tuesday confirmed an overnight clash with fighters affiliated with the ISIS Khorasan branch in northeastern Kabul, though he continued to insist that the group has no significant presence in Afghanistan. Zabihullah Mujahid told Amu that the confrontation occurred near the Marjan residential complex and an area locally known as the “narcotics
Khaama: Shawn VanDiver, president of the refugee advocacy group AfghanEvac, has sharply criticized former U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad for endorsing an Eid message by Taliban Prime Minister Mullah Hassan Akhund. While Khalilzad remains a vocal commentator on Afghan affairs, his perceived closeness to the Taliban continues to raise alarms among Afghan diaspora communities and human
Afghanistan International: Fawzia Koofi, a former member of Afghanistan’s parliament, has rejected the Taliban’s recent invitation for former officials to return to the country, saying it is not an effort at reconciliation but a calculated move to silence dissenting voices. In a report published in May 2024, UNAMA stated that despite the Taliban’s announcement of
The Guardian (UK): When the rules were announced, it was unclear how a relatively small number of “morality police” employed by the Taliban would enforce and implement these rules. Yet, in the months since the rules were announced, it has been fathers, brothers and husbands who have become, in effect, unpaid foot soldiers imposing the
Amu: Several women employed by United Nations agencies in Afghanistan say Taliban have escalated threats against their families in a bid to force them to quit their jobs, raising alarm over the safety of humanitarian workers and the future of international aid operations in the country. Click here to read more (external link).
Afghanistan International: Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s spokesperson, censored parts of an audio recording of Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada’s Eid speech at the Eidgah Mosque in Kandahar. Notably, Akhundzada’s voice was cut off at the moment he began criticising the widespread influence of the media among the public. The censorship of Akhundzada’s speech prompted sharp reactions
Afghanistan International: Rahim Sekandar, a prominent pro-Taliban figure on social media, has confirmed that he is currently being held by the group. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, he wrote: “I am imprisoned by the Taliban’s Reform Commission. A few days ago, I criticised the remarks of Mawlawi Saeedullah Saeed, but now