Amu: The imams, according to the accounts, have been provided housing near the mosques they oversee. Despite this, they chose to spend the holiday abroad — a move that has frustrated community members who say they are unable to file complaints because the clerics are appointed by Taliban authorities. Local residents expressed concern over what they see as a lack of accountability, noting that similar absences occurred during previous Eid holidays as well. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – June 12, 2025
US Defense Chief: Americans led majority of Afghanistan war effort
Hegseth
Khaama: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the Senate most of the Afghanistan war effort was carried out by American forces. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth sparked backlash after downplaying NATO allies’ contributions to the war in Afghanistan during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Wednesday, June 11. He asserted that “the vast majority of the effort was American,” minimizing the significance of international support in the two-decade-long conflict. Click here to read more (external link).
How ‘safe’ is Afghanistan under the Taliban?
Taliban (file photo)
DW: The Islamist militant group ruling Afghanistan has claimed the country is secure. But ordinary Afghans say hunger, poverty and fear are everyday realities. “The perpetrators of the violence are now in power, for example, as head of the Ministry of the Interior. Of course, they now claim that the country is safe,” Nilofar Ibrahimi, a former member of Afghanistan’s parliament before the Taliban takeover, told DW. Click here to read more (external link).
Rising Theft in Kabul: Where Is the Taliban’s Promised Security?
Taliban fighters (file photo)
8am: Some residents of the capital have expressed concerns about a surge in armed robberies in Kabul. They claim that, contrary to the Taliban’s assertions of ensuring nationwide security, the rates of theft and criminal activities in the capital are on the rise. These residents accuse the Taliban of failing to provide adequate security, voicing alarm over the increasing frequency of such incidents. Some residents also report that robbers, dressed in Taliban attire, enter people’s homes and plunder their possessions. They believe that if Taliban fighters are not directly involved in these thefts, ordinary individuals would not have the audacity to commit such crimes alone. Click here to read more (external link).
Protesters Chant “Long Live Dostum” As Clashes Erupt With Taliban In Faryab
Abdul Rashid Dostum
Afghanistan International: Dozens of protesters were reportedly detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan’s northern Faryab province following a demonstration against the group’s police command in Dawlat Abad district, sources told Afghanistan International. At least four independent sources confirmed that protesters chanted “Long live Dostum”, a reference to Abdul Rashid Dostum, the former vice president and leader of the Junbish-e Milli party, as they rallied on Monday and entered the district’s police command compound. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – June 11, 2025
Russia Warns Of Rising ISIS Threat In Afghanistan, Citing Regional Security Risks
ISIS Militants
Afghanistan International: Alexander Bortnikov, head of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), has warned that ISIS and its affiliates have intensified their operations in Afghanistan, posing a growing threat to regional security. Speaking at the 18th Meeting of Heads of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Counterterrorism Agencies in Moscow, Bortnikov said the leadership of international terrorist organisations is increasingly relying on militants active in Afghanistan and Syria. He also highlighted the mobilisation of former prisoners released in Syria, many of whom are citizens of Russia, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. Click here to read more (external link).
Related
Endless Retribution: Taliban Interrogates Families and Children of Former Afghanistan Military Personnel
Taliban militants (file photo)
8am: Several families of former Afghan government military personnel report that, despite the Taliban’s announcement of a general amnesty, they face surveillance, interrogation, and threats from the group due to their familial ties to former security forces. They state that Taliban members have repeatedly visited their homes, demanding information about the whereabouts of their military relatives and, in cases of non-cooperation, have subjected them to detention and mistreatment. According to these families, they have been forced to relocate multiple times to protect their lives, a challenge exacerbated by the current economic hardships. Click here to read more (external link).
Rashid Khan and Omarzai to miss Major League Cricket season
Rashid Khan
Amu: Rashid Khan, one of Afghanistan’s most prominent cricketers, and Omarzai, the national team’s all rounder, will miss the 2025 edition of Major League Cricket (MLC), opting out of the tournament to take a break from professional play, according to ESPNcricinfo. Their absence comes amid broader uncertainty around the participation of Afghan players in U.S.-based cricket events due to a recent U.S. entry ban affecting citizens from 12 countries, including Afghanistan. The policy, which took effect this week, has raised questions about the eligibility of several international players. Click here to read more (external link).