Taliban rule marked by systemic abuses, collapse of women’s freedoms and impunity: Report
Amu: The US State Department, in its annual Country Report on Human Rights Practices, says Afghanistan under Taliban rule saw “widespread disregard for the rule of law and official impunity” for those responsible for abuses, as well as a “significant deterioration” in women’s rights due to restrictive edicts. The department says the Taliban have further restricted women’s access to education, employment and freedom of movement, “effectively removing them from public spaces.” While the Taliban have not formally changed laws enacted before their takeover in August 2021, the State Department says they have issued “laws” and edicts that contradict existing legislation and violate Afghanistan’s international obligations. Click here to read more (external link).
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Taliban’s Grip on Takhar Pharmacies: Claims of Corruption and License Monopolies
8am: Sources in Taloqan say that for over 40 days, several pharmacies have been closed under the pretext of inspections. According to these sources, some pharmacies have reopened through mediation or connections with local Taliban authorities, while others have been forced to clear out their stock, contributing to rising unemployment in the province. Sources further claim that the Taliban intend to shut down these pharmacies to pave the way for opening pharmacies linked to their associates. The sources add: “The Taliban want to close pharmacies to force owners to obtain licenses, even though they already hold licenses. They plan to sell these licenses to pharmacy owners. Additionally, some Taliban members own pharmaceutical trading companies and aim to sell their medicines to doctors through these pharmacies.” Click here to read more (external link).
Taliban Neglecting ISIS-Hit Nangarhar Communities, Residents Say
Afghanistan International: Residents of eastern Nangarhar province who were displaced by Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) fighting under the former Afghan republic say the Taliban have failed to deliver on promises to rebuild their destroyed homes, and infrastructure. Civilians from Haska Mina, Achin, Spin Ghar, Kot, Naziyan and Dur Baba districts told Afghanistan International that clashes during the previous government left their homes, roads, farmland, mosques and health centres in ruins. Many remain without shelter nearly four years later. Click here to read more (external link).
Afghan Migrants Claim Pakistani Police Take Bribes for Release
Khaama: Afghan migrants in Pakistan allege police are demanding bribes for release after arrests, with detainees reporting payments of large sums despite holding valid or pending immigration documents. Witnesses claim police often operate in plain clothes on motorcycles, demanding passports and visas. If documents are not produced, uniformed officers reportedly arrive in vehicles to make arrests. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – August 12, 2025
Taliban Rule Validates Resistance Against Group, Says Afghan Leader
Ismail Khan
Afghanistan International: Ismail Khan, an Afghan leader, has said in a message marking the fourth anniversary of the fall of Herat to the Taliban that the group’s actions over the past four years demonstrate the “legitimacy of the resistance” by its opponents. Ismail Khan described the fall of Herat as the result of “complex conspiracies and political deal-making,” after which Afghanistan’s major provinces fell one after another. Click here to read more (external link).
Atmar says US, Taliban deliberately ignored key Doha deal commitments
Mohammad Hanif Atmar
Amu: Former Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar said the United States and the Taliban deliberately ignored binding obligations in the 2020 Doha Agreement, arguing that the collapse of Afghanistan’s republic was a preventable disaster. Speaking at an online Global Refugees Organization event ahead of the Taliban’s fourth anniversary in power, Atmar said only one of the agreement’s four commitments — the withdrawal of foreign troops — was fulfilled. The other three, he said, were never implemented: counterterrorism efforts, intra-Afghan peace talks and the creation of a new Islamic government alongside a permanent cease-fire. “Both sides to the agreement deliberately ignored their binding commitments,” Atmar said. Click here to read more (external link).
Anas Haqqani says Taliban wanted to enter Kabul through a negotiated settlement
Anas Haqqani
Amu: Haqqani told Radio Hurriyat that one day before the fall of Nimroz province in August 2021, Akhundzada met with Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani and Taliban Defense Minister Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid to discuss the rapid collapse of Afghanistan’s provinces. According to Haqqani, Taliban leaders wanted to take Kabul through negotiations to preserve the government’s legitimacy and ensure continuity of administration. That plan changed when President Ashraf Ghani fled the country on Aug. 15, creating a power vacuum. “Even then, there was a thought about Kabul — that our friends in Qatar were working to keep the government legitimate and avoid disruption — but events overtook it,” Haqqani said. Click here to read more (external link).
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FBI Offers Up to $5 Million for Information on Mahmood Shah Habibi
Habibi
Khaama: The FBI in Washington has released a missing-person poster for Mahmood Shah Habibi, an Afghan–American citizen and former head of Afghanistan’s Civil Aviation Authority. In a statement issued Sunday, August 10, the FBI announced a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the location and safe return of Habibi. The agency urged the public to report any details regarding his disappearance or current whereabouts, emphasizing that tips can be provided anonymously. Click here to read more (external link).