Shahbaz Sharif
Afghanistan International: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan has declared that “terrorist activities” threatening Pakistan’s security continue to emanate from Afghan soil. Speaking at a military graduation ceremony in Islamabad on Saturday, Sharif stated that peaceful coexistence would not be possible as long as insurgents and extremists use Afghanistan as a base to operate against Pakistan. Click here to read more (external link).
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Amu: Taliban have expanded their ban on the broadcast of images of living beings to 16 provinces, with both state-run and private television stations now restricted to audio-only reporting, according to an investigation by Amu TV. Most recently, the Taliban extended the restrictions to Bamyan and Panjshir provinces, effective from April 16, 2025. The moves follow the ratification of the Promotion of Virtue Law by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada in September 2024. Under Article 17 of the law, the broadcast of images of living beings is explicitly prohibited. Click here to read more (external link).
Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada
Amu: In a new decree issued by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, six Taliban officials — including governors, security commanders, and department heads — were moved to new roles across the country, according to Taliban-run media. Since their takeover in August 2021, the Taliban’s governance strategy has largely involved reassigning loyalists from one post to another rather than bringing in external professionals or technocrats. Click here to read more (external link).
Khaama: The World Health Organization (WHO) marked World Malaria Day on April 25, acknowledging Afghanistan’s significant efforts to reduce the disease. However, it warned that these gains are under threat. In its message, the WHO emphasized its commitment to combating malaria in Afghanistan through an equitable approach. It aims to provide healthcare services to vulnerable groups, particularly migrants, pregnant women, and children. Click here to read more (external link).
Khawaja Muhammad Asif
Amu: Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Pakistan’s defense minister has admitted that the country supported terrorist groups for more than three decades, calling it a mistake tied to US-led foreign policy decisions — a rare public acknowledgment that comes amid renewed tensions with India following a deadly attack in Kashmir. In an interview with Sky News, Asif said Pakistan had served the interests of the United States and its allies by backing militant groups during the Cold War and the global war on terror. “Well, we have been doing this dirty work for the United States for three decades,” Asif said when asked directly whether Pakistan had a long history of supporting, funding and training terrorist. Click here to read more (external link).
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Amu: Pakistani authorities have set a June 30 deadline for registered Afghan nationals, including holders of Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, to voluntarily return to Afghanistan, according to the country’s minister of state for interior, Talal Chaudhry. Speaking to Geo News in an interview alongside a UN representative, Chaudhry said formal deportations would begin after the deadline passes. “Afghan refugees were and remain our guests,” he said. “They are being sent back with full dignity and respect.” While officials insist that repatriations are being carried out in coordination with international agencies, human rights groups have warned that the policy could violate international protections for asylum seekers. Click here to read more (external link).
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Afghanistan International: The Australian Greens Party has announced support for calls from the Hazara community and human rights groups to formally recognise the ongoing persecution against the Hazara people in Afghanistan as genocide. Since the Taliban’s return to power, the rights of Hazaras have been increasingly curtailed, according to the Greens. In a statement released on Wednesday, 23 April, the party expressed pride in supporting the Hazara diaspora in Australia and urged the federal government to provide adequate protection for Hazara refugees. They emphasised that no Hazara refugee should face deportation back to Afghanistan under current conditions. Click here to read more (external link).
DW: Sadia Bromand fled Afghanistan six years ago. With the Taliban having returned to power, the boxer continues to fight for women’s rights in her homeland – from Germany’s capital. Even before the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021, female boxers were rare and viewed with skepticism by broad sections of the country’s society. However, this has not prevented some young women from pursuing the sport. Among those who defied such societal expectations is Sadia Bromand. As a girl, she would ride her bike to school and play sports after her classes were over. After finishing school, she worked as a journalist for a women-run television station. Click here to read more (external link).