US Officials Rules Out Reopening Embassy In Afghanistan

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Afghanistan International: On Friday, The Washington Examiner reported, citing US National Security Council (NSC) and State Department spokespeople, that the United States has no intention of reopening its Kabul embassy. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid recently told Al Arabiya that the group had asked the US to relinquish control of the Afghan embassy in Washington and reopen its Kabul mission, awaiting a response. Click here to read more (external link).

Jamiat Commander Assassinated In Ghor, Says Former Balkh Governor

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Afghanistan International: Atta Mohammad Noor, former Balkh governor and a member of the National Resistance Council for Salvation of Afghanistan, said that Shah Wali Khan, a senior Jamiat-e Islami commander in Ghor province, was killed. Noor claimed Khan was assassinated on 27 March in a conspiracy following his release from Taliban intelligence custody. The Taliban has not yet commented on the allegations. Click here to read more (external link).

Afghanistan’s passport ranks lowest in the world in 2025 index

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Amu: Afghanistan’s passport has been ranked as the weakest in the world for 2025, according to a new report from Nomad Capitalist, a financial and immigration consultancy that evaluates global mobility and citizenship options. At the top of the list is Ireland, which the firm named the most powerful passport globally this year, citing strong international credibility, favorable tax policies, personal freedoms and the ability to hold dual citizenship. Click here to read more (external link).

Illicit arms trafficking ‘persists’ along Pakistan-Afghanistan border

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The News (Pakistan): The Small Arms Survey, in its report titled “Documenting Arms Availability in Afghanistan”, underscored the continued arms trafficking in the region, with both Soviet-era and NATO-style weapons still readily available in informal markets, despite the Taliban’s attempts to regulate arms distribution. The findings show that, while the Taliban have attempted to tighten civilian arms possession, weapons continue to circulate, often with the tacit approval of local Taliban officials. These weapons are regularly diverted to non-state armed groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and al-Qaeda, raising concerns about regional security. Click here to read more (external link).

Pakistani General Exposes Haqqani-Kandahar Taliban Divide

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Afghanistan International: A retired Pakistani army general, Inam-ul-Haq, has revealed deepening tensions within the Taliban, spotlighting a rift between the Haqqani Network and the Kandahar faction, in an Express Tribune article. He outlined how disputes over the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), girls’ education bans, Pakistan relations, and governance are driving the divide. Click here to read more (external link).

Afghanistan U-17 Footballers to face Yemen today

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Khaama: The Afghanistan U-17 national football team will play its first match in the AFC U-17 Asian Cup on Friday, April 4 against Yemen. According to the announced schedule, this match will take place at 9:30 PM Kabul time and will be hosted by Saudi Arabia. This game is crucial for the Afghanistan national team, as the result will significantly impact their chances of advancing in the tournament. Click here to read more (external link).

Farmers in northern Afghanistan await canal water as drought parches fields

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Amu: In the drought-stricken province of Faryab, farmers say their livelihoods are hanging by a thread as water scarcity and prolonged dry spells continue to devastate agriculture. Dozens of farmers are now looking to the Qosh Tepa canal — a long-awaited irrigation project — as their last hope for salvaging the growing season. Without its arrival, they warn, thousands of acres of farmland will remain barren. “The water in Andkhoy is salty. There’s no flowing water here — only wells, and that water is bitter,” said Nazar Mohammad, a local farmer struggling to maintain his crops. “Everyone is waiting for water from the canal. If it had arrived earlier, many of our problems would have been solved. This land only needs water — nothing else.” Click here to read more (external link).

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