8am: Zalmay Khalilzad, former U.S. Special Envoy for Afghan Peace, has recently lashed out at Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the leader of Hezb-e-Islami Afghanistan, calling him the “Butcher of Kabul” in a post shared in Persian, Pashto, and English on X. Hekmatyar, for his part, had previously described Khalilzad as the “invisible president of Afghanistan.” Khalilzad’s latest
Ariana: The United States has decided to revoke the sanctions waiver for Iran’s Chabahar Port, effective September 29, exposing individuals involved in its operations to penalties under the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act (IFCA), the State Department announced. The port also emerged as a vital gateway for India’s regional outreach and humanitarian efforts in the
By RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi September 19, 2025 President Donald Trump said the United States is attempting to get Bagram Airfield back from Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers, citing the extremist group’s need for US help and the facility’s proximity to China’s nuclear assets. “We’re trying to get it back, by the way, that could be a little breaking
Afghanistan International: Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada is reportedly angry with Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar for meeting a US delegation without his approval and without the presence of his trusted aides, sources told Afghanistan International. The sources said Akhundzada insists that his loyal representatives must attend all meetings between Taliban officials and foreign envoys.
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
Khaama: Thousands of international students, including Afghans admitted to US universities, have been unable to begin their studies after new travel restrictions disrupted visa processing and entry into the country. The policy, introduced under President Donald Trump’s new security framework, has significantly tightened student visa procedures. Many Afghan students accepted by prestigious universities now face
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 September 6, 2025 US President Donald Trump signed an executive order that could designate countries that have wrongfully detained US citizens as state sponsors of terrorism, including Iran, Afghanistan, Russia, and China. Senior administration officials in a briefing to reporters on September 5 said Washington would target countries holding wrongfully detained Americans as well
Ariana: The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has commemorated 31 August as the anniversary of the withdrawal of the last American soldier from the country, describing it as a “proud and historic” milestone for the Afghan nation. In a statement issued on this occasion, Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate, said: “31 August symbolizes
8am: Khalilzad, an Afghan-born American diplomat, has undoubtedly been influenced by this prevailing anti-Pakistan spirit in Afghan politics—especially since his formal involvement in Afghanistan’s conflict on behalf of the United States, where he closely followed Islamabad’s role. For Khalilzad, deploying anti-Pakistan rhetoric becomes particularly convenient when he confronts the depth of Afghan public discontent with