Khaama: The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has issued an urgent warning that the recent halt in U.S. financial aid could severely jeopardize maternal health services in Afghanistan. The agency says the move may deprive millions of Afghan women of access to safe childbirth support and could undo years of progress in reducing maternal mortality. The UNFPA announced that around nine million Afghan women are now at risk of losing essential maternal health services due to the suspension of U.S. funding. These services have been critical in ensuring safer births across the country. Officials emphasized that reduced funding would likely lead to a rise in maternal deaths, reversing two decades of progress made with international assistance. The threat looms large over a population already vulnerable due to ongoing conflict and economic hardship. Click here to read more (external link).
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Amu: Tajikistan has confirmed the mass deportation of Afghan migrants, citing security threats, drug trafficking, and other violations, according to a report published by Azerbaijani news outlet Caliber. In a statement issued on July 19 by the press center of Tajikistan’s Border Forces under the State Committee for National Security, officials acknowledged the removal of “foreign nationals,” though the statement did not explicitly name Afghan citizens. According to the report, the move comes amid rising political tensions and economic instability in the region. Tajik officials have described the unauthorized or non-compliant entry of foreign nationals — particularly Afghans — as a growing concern. 
Afghanistan International: Rangin Dadfar Spanta, former Afghan national security advisor, has sharply criticised Germany’s decision to accept Taliban diplomats, warning that the move amounts to de facto recognition of the group and reduces Berlin’s Afghan policy to the level of Russia’s. Berlin recently approved the presence of two Taliban-appointed consular officers in Berlin and Bonn. German officials said the move is intended to streamline the deportation of Afghan nationals with criminal records. Last week, Germany deported 81 Afghan citizens described as criminal offenders, a process the Taliban confirmed was coordinated with them. 
Amu: The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Monday called on the Taliban to reverse policies that restrict the fundamental rights and freedoms of women and girls, following a wave of arrests in Kabul linked to what the Taliban call violations of their dress code. UNAMA said it is deeply concerned by recent detentions of women and girls by Taliban between July 16 to 19 in Kabul “due to their alleged non-compliance with the (Taliban) de facto authorities’ hijab instructions”. “These incidents serve to further isolate women and girls, contribute to a climate of fear, and erode public trust,” the statement said. 
Amu: At least five people were killed in separate attacks by unidentified gunmen in the northern provinces of Badakhshan and Takhar, local sources told Amu TV on Sunday. Mysterious killings by so-called “unidentified armed men” have become increasingly frequent in several provinces since the Taliban seized power in August 2021. Victims often include former government officials, security personnel, and civilians with no clear political affiliations.