Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada
Afghanistan International: The Ministry of Justice said Saturday the new legislation, published in the official gazette, sets out 13 articles regulating poetry gatherings. The law prohibits any criticism of Akhundzada’s orders and decisions and bars verses praising “boys and girls” or encouraging friendship between them. It also demands poetry be free of “worldly love , improper desires and inappropriate emotions.” Click here to read more (external link).
Ariana: Afghanistan took a surprise lead in the 21st minute through Omid Mousavi, but Iran responded quickly. Majid Aliyari leveled the score just five minutes later before Amir Hossein Hosseinzadeh made it 2–1 in the 36th minute. Click here to read more (external link).
Khalilzad
Ariana: Former U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, has raised concerns over the growing presence of Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) leaders operating from Pakistan. In a post on X on Friday, Khalilzad said that Abdul Malik, a senior ISKP figure and key planner of attacks, was killed on August 8 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Click here to read more (external link).
Amu: Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu said in a newly published article that Moscow estimates more than 23,000 fighters from about 20 international militant groups are currently operating in Afghanistan, posing a serious threat to regional and global security. Writing in the government newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Shoigu identified ISIS-K as the most concerning group, citing its military bases and training camps spread across eastern, northern, and northeastern Afghanistan. Click here to read more (external link).
Khaama: Afghanistan’s national football team will play its first Central Asian Championship match against Iran in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, aiming for a strong performance and regional recognition. The Afghanistan national football team is set to play its first match in the Central Asian Championship against Iran today, Friday, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. According to the tournament schedule, the match will kick off at 4:30 p.m. local time at the central stadium in Dushanbe, drawing both excitement and anticipation. Click here to read more (external link).
Other Sports News
Tolo News: Pakistani drones once again carried out airstrikes on parts of Nangarhar and Khost provinces last night (Wednesday). According to reports, in the Pakistani airstrike on the Spera district of Khost, three children lost their lives and five others were wounded. In a similar attack on the Ghanikhel district of Nangarhar, six people were also injured. Click here to read more (external link).
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Karzai
Afghanistan International: Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has urged former Afghan President Hamid Karzai to leave the country, according to sources familiar with the matter. The demand followed a secretly recorded conversation in which Karzai allegedly described himself as Akhundzada’s greatest political threat, saying his presence could mark the end of the Taliban chief’s rule. Click here to read more (external link).
Khaama: Afghanistan, Pakistan, and UAE begin a tri-nation cricket series in Sharjah from August 29 to September 7, serving as vital preparation for the Asia Cup 2025. A three-nation cricket series featuring Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates will begin tomorrow, August 29, at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Afghanistan will face Pakistan in the opening match. The tournament will run until September 7 in a round-robin format, with each team playing the others twice. The top two sides will qualify for the final on September 7. Click here to read more (external link).
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