Tolo News: Carpet sellers in Herat have called on the interim government to not only prevent the smuggling of Afghan handwoven carpets to neighboring countries but also to facilitate their export under Afghanistan’s name. Click here to read more (external link).
Taliban Announces Military Modernisation, Plans To Upgrade Advanced Weapons
Fitrat
Afghanistan International: Fasihuddin Fitrat, Chief of Staff of the Taliban Army, has announced plans to equip Taliban forces with advanced weaponry and modern military equipment. He stated that strengthening the so-called “Islamic Army” is not intended to provoke conflict with neighbouring countries. The Taliban government remains under strict economic and military sanctions, raising questions about the source of its modern weaponry. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – March 18, 2025
Former Taliban Detainee Alleges Forced Stripping, Abuse & Photography In Prison
Afghanistan International: Former Taliban detainee Nadia Sadat told Afghanistan International that she was stripped naked and subjected to abuse in prison. She claimed that Taliban officials took photos and videos of her during interrogations. Sadat was detained for protesting in Mazar-i-Sharif and for speaking to the media about the closure of schools and universities for women and girls. She said that during her detention, Taliban officers sexually abused her and touched parts of her body without consent. Click here to read more (external link).
Surging Opium Prices and Trafficking: Taliban’s Alleged Ties to Drug Cartels
8am: The United Nations has reported in a recent assessment that the price of one kilogram of opium in Afghanistan has increased tenfold compared to previous years. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) stated in its report that following the Taliban’s ban on opium cultivation, the price of this substance has sharply risen, reaching $750 per kilogram. The report also highlighted that synthetic drugs have increased, and the decline in opium cultivation has posed significant challenges to the livelihoods of ordinary farmers. Meanwhile, sources indicate that senior Taliban officials are involved in the collection and storage of opium, and all major drug cartels are collaborating with them. Sources further confirm that currently, traffickers purchase and stockpile opium at prices ranging from 70,000 to 100,000 Afghanis per kilogram, depending on quality. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – March 17, 2025
Media Restrictions and Journalist Violations in Afghanistan Rise by 24%: Report
Khaama: The Afghanistan National Journalists’ Union and the Afghanistan Journalists Center have released reports ahead of National Journalists’ Day, March 17, shedding light on the situation of media and journalists over the past year. These reports present a concerning picture of the restrictions, rights violations, and challenges faced by the media under the rule of the Taliban administration. According to the Afghanistan Journalists Center, in the year 1403 of the Solar calendar, the number of violations of journalists’ rights increased by about 24% compared to the previous year. The center recorded 172 incidents of media rights violations, which included threats, temporary and long-term detentions, physical violence, and the forced closure of media outlets. Click here to read more (external link).
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Mansouri Wins Silver at Belgium Open Taekwondo Championship
Tolo News: Former Afghan national taekwondo athlete Farzad Mansouri has won a silver medal at the Belgium Open taekwondo championship. The Belgium Open featured taekwondo athletes from around the world. Mansouri competed as part of the World Taekwondo Federation’s Refugee Team. Click here to read more (external link).
More Sports News
Tolo News in Dari – March 16, 2025
Iran deports over 300 Afghan refugees daily from Khorasan Razvi
Khaama: Iran is deporting over 300 Afghan migrants daily from Khorasan Razavi, as the government intensifies efforts to manage undocumented migration. In both Iran and Pakistan, pressure on Afghan refugees has been increasing, even as migration from Afghanistan continues. Click here to read more (external link).