Khaama: Germany is preparing to cancel its special admission programs for Afghan refugees due to prolonged processing times and complex bureaucratic hurdles, according to a report aired on Monday. The public broadcaster MDR said the decision follows years of administrative delays that have left thousands of Afghans stranded in Pakistan after fleeing Kabul in 2021. Rights groups have urged Berlin to reconsider, calling the cancellation a betrayal of those who assisted German forces and institutions during the war. Click here to read more (external link).
Zimbabwe edge ahead after Day 1 against Afghanistan in U19 Test
Amu: Zimbabwe’s U19 team ended Day 1 of the four-day Youth Test against Afghanistan with a narrow lead, reaching 130 for 2 at stumps and leading by 3 runs after bowling out the visitors for 127 earlier in the day. The fixture is part of a bilateral U19 red-ball series hosted by Zimbabwe. Click here to read more (external link).
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Pakistani Militants Are Not Terrorists, Says Taliban Defence Minister
Afghanistan International: The Taliban’s defence minister, Mullah Yaqub Mujahid, said the group does not consider armed groups such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to be terrorists, in contrast to Islamabad’s position. In an interview with Al Jazeera on Sunday, Mujahid said Pakistan and other countries use the label of “terrorism” for political purposes against their opponents. “There is no universal or clear definition of terrorism,” he said, adding that any government can brand its adversaries as terrorists to advance its own interests. Click here to read more (external link).
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Pakistan Demolishes Afghan Refugee Settlement in Karachi Amid Deportation Drive
Khaama: Authorities in Pakistan said Monday that demolition operations targeting Afghan refugee settlements in Karachi have entered their fifth consecutive day, as part of a broader campaign to repatriate undocumented Afghans. Officials confirmed that more than 1,200 residential and commercial units have so far been demolished in the Manghopir area, once home to thousands of Afghan refugees. Click here to read more (external link).
Explosion at Parwan Mosque Injures Nine People
Khaama: At least nine people were injured when a hand grenade exploded inside a mosque in Afghanistan’s Parwan province, local officials said on Monday. The explosion occurred Sunday evening during evening prayers in Shinwari district. Officials said the blast happened when a man accidentally dropped a grenade he was carrying. Witnesses said the man who dropped the grenade was a member of the Taliban and was also wounded in the explosion. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – October 20, 2025
Afghanistan U19 team to compete in Tri-Nation Youth Series in India
Ariana: The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced that the Afghanistan Under-19 national team will travel to India later this month to take part in an international Tri-Nation Youth ODI series. The tournament, set to be held in Bengaluru from November 17 to November 30, 2025, will feature India U19 A, India U19 B, and Afghanistan U19, promising an exciting showcase of emerging cricket talent from the region. Click here to read more (external link).
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Pakistan, Afghanistan Agree To Immediate Cease-Fire During Talks In Doha
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
October 19, 2025
Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to an immediate cease-fire during talks mediated by Qatar and Turkey in Doha, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry announced early October 19 on X.
“During the negotiations, the two sides agreed to an immediate cease-fire and the establishment of mechanisms to consolidate lasting peace and stability between the two countries,” the Qatari Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The two sides also agreed to hold follow-up meetings in the coming days to ensure that the cease-fire holds and to “verify its implementation in a reliable and sustainable manner.”
Afghanistan and Pakistan began the peace talks on October 18 in the Qatari capital of Doha after border clashes and attacks raised fears of an all-out war between the two countries.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban-led government’s spokesman, announced earlier on X that the talks had begun and that Afghan Prime Minister Hassan Akhund had held discussions with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also spoke with the Malaysian prime minister, according to Mujahid. Anwar, who appeared to be acting as a mediator, “emphasized the need to resolve the issue through diplomatic means.” Mujahid said.
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry said the talks aimed to “end cross-border terrorism against Pakistan emanating from Afghanistan and restore peace and stability along the Pak-Afghan border.”
Pakistan urged the Afghan Taliban authorities to honor their commitments to the international community and address Pakistan’s “legitimate security concerns by taking verifiable action against terrorist entities.”
The recent violence between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been the worst since the Taliban seized power in Kabul in 2021.
The fighting between the one-time allies was triggered after Islamabad demanded that Kabul rein in militants who had stepped up attacks in Pakistan, saying they operated from havens in Afghanistan.
The Taliban denies harboring militants to attack Pakistan and accuses the Pakistani military of spreading misinformation about Afghanistan and sheltering Islamic State-linked militants. Islamabad denies the accusations.
With reporting by Reuters and AFP
Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036.
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Persistent Power Outages in Kabul: Public Outrage Grows Over Taliban’s Incompetence
8am: Residents of Kabul city have raised complaints over the growing frequency of power outages. They state that although the weather has not yet turned cold, the number of electricity cuts has already increased. Residents of the capital emphasize that the prolonged outages and the lack of a clear plan or policy to resolve this issue have disrupted the daily lives of the people. Click here to read more (external link).