Afghanistan International: The Taliban’s morality police have banned women from praying in mosques in Kandahar and Herat, sources told Afghanistan International. On Monday night, during evening prayers, the Taliban expelled women from several mosques in Kandahar. Women in Herat also reported that since the start of Ramadan, the Taliban have blocked their access to mosques. They said that morality police now stand at mosque entrances, preventing them from attending Tarawih prayers. Many families in Herat and Kandahar condemned the Taliban’s actions. They called it an act of discrimination and hatred toward women. Click here to read more (external link).
Save the Children: 18 Health Centers Closed in Afghanistan
Tolo News: Save the Children has announced the closure of 18 health centers in Afghanistan and added that 14 more will be shut down in the coming month due to a reduction in foreign aid. In a report, the organization stated that it has also suspended life-saving programs for malnourished children due to funding cuts. This situation will lead to an increase in infectious diseases, worsening malnutrition, and a severe decline in maternal and newborn care. Ultimately, these factors will heighten the risk of maternal and infant mortality in the country,” said Rohullah Haris, a doctor in Kabul. Click here to read more (external link).
Cricket Ireland cancels Afghanistan series for ‘financial reasons’
Ariana: Ireland’s cricket board announced this week they have cancelled a multi-format series against Afghanistan scheduled for later this year. Cricket Ireland said in a statement issued on Tuesday that they were cancelling the series due to “financial reasons”. “One planned series that won’t go ahead for financial reasons is against Afghanistan. However, in the same statement Cricket Ireland confirmed a line up of action-packed cricket this summer. Click here to read more (external link).
Nine Countries Support ICC Arrest Warrant For Taliban Leaders
Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada
Afghanistan International: Nine countries have issued a joint statement backing the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor’s request for arrest warrants against Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani. The statement was signed by Denmark, France, Greece, Guyana, Panama, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom. These countries condemned the Taliban’s systematic gender discrimination and violence against women. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – March 11, 2025
24 years since Taliban destroyed Bamiyan Buddhas
Destroyed Buddha Statue
Amu: On this day 24 years ago, the Taliban carried out one of the most infamous acts of cultural destruction in modern history, demolishing the ancient Buddhas of Bamiyan, two towering statues that had stood for centuries as symbols of Afghanistan’s rich Buddhist heritage. On March 11, 2001, Taliban founder Mullah Mohammad Omar ordered the destruction of the statues, known as Salsal and Shahmama, which had been carved into the cliffs of central Afghanistan in the 6th century. Taliban fighters spent two days relentlessly shelling the monuments before finally reducing them to rubble with explosives. Click here to read more (external link).
Asian Cup: Afghanistan’s beach soccer team arrives in Thailand
Ariana: Afghanistan’s national beach soccer team arrived in Thailand on Tuesday to participate in a training camp ahead of the AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup Thailand 2025. AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup Thailand 2025 will kick off on March 20 and run through to March 30. Thailand is the official host. Click here to read more (external link).
Other Afghan Sports News
Reports Of US Travel Ban Leave Afghan Allies In Limbo Amid Pakistan’s Crackdown
Afghanistan International: Reports that the Trump administration may impose a travel ban on Afghan citizens have deeply alarmed Afghans who worked with U.S. forces and are awaiting resettlement. The White House is expected to announce the decision on Monday. Estimates suggest that around 25,000 Afghans with approved U.S. resettlement applications now face uncertainty due to Trump’s recent orders. On his first day back in office, Trump suspended all refugee admissions, a move that has severely impacted former Afghan allies. Click here to read more (external link).
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Tolo News in Dari – March 10, 2025
Official: 250,000 undocumented migrants detained in Tehran
Amu: Iranian authorities have arrested 250,000 undocumented migrants in Tehran province over the past year, according to the region’s governor, Mohammad Sadeq Motamedian. Motamedian, speaking to Mehr News Agency, said the deadline for registering undocumented migrants in the country’s census is March 22. Click here to read more (external link).
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