Afghanistan International: Mohammad Naseem Haqqani, head of the Taliban-appointed Sheikh Zayed University in Khost, has declared that waging jihad against Pakistan is an individual obligation. The cleric labelled the Pakistani government as “puppets” and its laws as influenced by “Jews and Christians.” Haqqani’s comments follow sharp criticism from Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, head of
Amu: Internet services provided by Afghan Telecom, the state-owned operator, were cut in Kandahar province on Tuesday afternoon, local sources told Amu TV. The disruption comes days after Afghan Telecom’s fiber-optic services were shut down in Balkh province in northern Afghanistan. Taliban officials there confirmed the blackout, saying it was ordered by the Taliban’s supreme
Amu: Mullah Shirin, the Taliban governor of Kandahar, has become one of the most powerful figures within the Taliban, wielding influence that in some cases surpasses the authority of their chief minister, multiple sources told Amu TV. Six sources familiar with the matter said Shirin plays a central role in major decisions, often recommending ministerial
Afghanistan International: Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has ordered the collection of mentally ill patients across all 34 provinces of Afghanistan, the group announced. The announcement has raised concerns, given the Taliban’s previous treatment of vulnerable people. Last October, Taliban members shot dead a 22-year-old mentally ill man who had blocked them from entering his
By RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi September 14, 2025 Afghanistan’s de-facto Taliban rulers said they have reached an agreement with visiting US officials on an exchange of prisoners, although no details were given and Washington has not yet confirmed that a deal has been struck. Following the September 13 meeting, the Taliban released photos of the meeting in
8am: Women and girls in the country say that foreign women tourists, by portraying a distorted and unrealistic picture of Afghanistan, ignore the gender apartheid and, in effect, help reinforce the Taliban’s crimes. These women said that the Taliban allow images, voices, and even public dances of foreign women tourists to be freely broadcast, while
Amu: A U.S. delegation led by Adam Boehler, the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, met on Saturday with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s foreign minister, to discuss the fate of prisoners held in both countries and broader bilateral relations, according to a statement from the Taliban Foreign Ministry. The delegation includes Zalmay Khalilzad, the
By RFE/RL’s Radio Mashaal and Azmat Ali Shah September 13, 2025 Students at an Afghan refugee camp near Peshawar in northwest Pakistan are worried about what comes next for them if they are forcibly repatriated to Afghanistan. RFE/RL’s Radio Mashaal met students at a school in the Khazana Refugee Camp on the outskirts of Peshawar.
Afghanistan International: The Taliban have expelled Harish Kumar, a senior Indian diplomat, accusing him of meeting opponents of the group and attempting to organise them, sources told Afghanistan International. According to the sources, Kumar had met with anti-Taliban leaders during visits to Delhi and Qatar, where discussions were held about convening a meeting in Islamabad.
8am: Local sources report that the Taliban have removed 51 subjects from school textbooks in Afghanistan, including topics on women’s rights and human rights. On Thursday, September 11, local sources told the Hasht-e Subh Daily that the Taliban claimed the removed subjects were in contradiction with the values and principles of Islamic Sharia. According to