8am: With the Taliban taking control of Afghanistan, students’ interest in continuing their education under the rule of this group has significantly declined. Sources from public universities confirm that around 50% of students have dropped out. According to these sources, even science-related disciplines have faced more than a 50% dropout rate. One informed source states
Afghanistan International: Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan, has responded to reports of meetings between Pakistani intelligence officials and Afghan political leaders in Türkiye, warning them against becoming pawns of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Khalilzad stated that Pakistan’s security apparatus is likely attempting to use these leaders as leverage in negotiations with
Afghanistan International: Abbas Stanekzai, the Taliban’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, has urged officials within the group not to follow their leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, in a manner that accords him a “prophetic or divine status.” In a newly released audio recording, Stanekzai called on Taliban members to refrain from “worshipping” their leader. The exact
Amu: The Taliban’s decision to ban door-to-door polio vaccinations in Afghanistan has contributed to a rise in reported cases of the disease, according to a new report by the Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN). The report states that after twice pausing the national polio vaccination program in 2024, the Taliban resumed the campaign for children under
Afghanistan International:.On Sunday, 2 February, the Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) announced that its fighters had attacked the entrance gate of the Taliban police headquarters in Takhar the previous evening. According to the group, five Taliban members were killed, and three others were injured in the attack. Click here to read more (external link).
Ayaz Gul VOA News February 1, 2025 ISLAMABAD — Taliban officials denounced Saturday claims that the United States could regain custody of Afghanistan’s frozen central bank funds, warning that any such action would be “unacceptable.” The Taliban-led Ministry of Economy issued the warning in response to the latest quarterly report released to the U.S. Congress on
Afghanistan International: Khalid Pashtoon, spokesperson for the National Resistance Council for the Salvation of Afghanistan, has denied reports of a meeting between the council’s leadership and a high-ranking delegation from Pakistan’s intelligence agency. Referring to the differing perspectives within Pakistan’s government and military, Pashtoon noted that while the Pakistani government opposes the Afghan Taliban, “Pakistani
Afghanistan International: The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) has asserted that the Taliban has no legal right to access billions of dollars allocated for Afghanistan, as the group is not recognised as the legitimate government and remains subject to sanctions. The report also alleges that the Taliban collects taxes on a significant portion
Amu: More than two years after the Taliban’s 2022 ban on narcotics, poppy cultivation levels in Afghanistan remain historically low, but opium continues to be grown, cultivated, and sold in some areas, according to a new report from the U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR). SIGAR also noted that while Afghanistan has seen
Afghanistan International: Ali Akbar Pourjamshidian, the Deputy Minister of Security and Police of the Islamic Republic of Iran announced that despite the Taliban’s ban on the cultivation of narcotics, the smuggling of these drugs to Iran continues. Pourjamshidian said that smugglers in Afghanistan continue to maintain their drug stockpiles. Click here to read more (external