Taliban fighters (file photo)
8am: Sources state that the Taliban, to suppress opposition, restrict access to information, and create an atmosphere of fear among citizens, have expanded their espionage activities in Kabul. According to these sources, the group has exploited the dire economic situation to establish a network of spies aimed at detaining, tracking, and psychologically tormenting citizens, particularly in Kabul. Some journalists and residents of Kabul, especially former military personnel, express deep concern and fear over this situation. Click here to read more (external link).
Amu: Amu TV found that the Taliban Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, the Taliban Ministry of Justice, the Taliban Ministry of Higher Education, the Taliban Ministry of Finance, and the Taliban Ministry of Urban Development and Housing no longer share photos or videos of their officials. Instead, they post pictures of empty chairs, flags or meeting halls. Critics argue that withholding officials’ images undermines transparency and erodes public trust in governance. 
Khaama: Tajikistan authorities have reported ten armed confrontations with drug traffickers along the Afghanistan border during the first half of this year, marking a significant increase compared to the same period last year. Authorities in Tajikistan have consistently expressed concern about the presence of terrorist groups and drug trafficking networks operating from Afghanistan territory. These ongoing confrontations highlight the deepening security risks along the border. 
Khaama: The UK is considering a law to punish those who promote illegal migration routes online, including on social media, with up to five years in prison and fines. The British Parliament is reviewing a proposed law that would criminalize the promotion of “illegal” migration routes for asylum seekers entering the country. If approved, the law would significantly intensify the UK’s immigration crackdown, raising concerns among human rights groups about its implications for free speech and humanitarian advocacy. 
Amu: Taliban publicly flogged a man in Kapisa province after accusing him of spreading “propaganda” against their rule, according to a statement from the Taliban-run Supreme Court. Rights advocates say the punishments are part of a wider pattern of repression. “The Taliban are using religion and Sharia as tools to silence dissent,” said one analyst. 
WP: Two former Afghan interpreters for U.S. forces face deportation despite following immigration processes, according to attorneys for the men. 
Amu: The victim, identified as Samiullah from Hesa Awal district of Panjshir, was attacked in the city’s 11th district while attending to personal matters, the sources said. The assailants fled after the shooting. The incident comes amid a series of targeted killings of Panjshir residents in Kabul. Just a day earlier, another man from the province was reportedly killed by Taliban forces, while a young Panjshiri athlete also died under suspicious circumstances in the capital.