Trump: US fought Afghanistan war without will to win

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Donald Trump

Khaama: The U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking at the “Investing in America” summit at the White House on Monday, sharply criticized past American military strategies in Afghanistan. He claimed that U.S. forces fought in a manner that suggested they had no intention of winning the war, describing the approach as “deeply upsetting.” In his remarks, Trump subtly shifted the blame for the failure in Afghanistan onto the Biden administration.  While Trump continues to criticize the way the U.S. exited Afghanistan, he has yet to present a clear or consistent policy on Afghanistan’s future. Click here to read more (external link).

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Taliban confirm clash with ISIS in Kabul

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Amu: Taliban spokesman on Tuesday confirmed an overnight clash with fighters affiliated with the ISIS Khorasan branch in northeastern Kabul, though he continued to insist that the group has no significant presence in Afghanistan. Zabihullah Mujahid told Amu that the confrontation occurred near the Marjan residential complex and an area locally known as the “narcotics town” in Police District 15. While confirming the engagement, Mujahid declined to provide further details and maintained that ISIS-K does not maintain an “active or organized presence” in the country, though he acknowledged that some members remain “scattered.” Local sources said the gunfight lasted several hours. Click here to read more (external link).

Khalilzad is not trustworthy: AfghanEvac Head

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Khalilzad

Khaama: Shawn VanDiver, president of the refugee advocacy group AfghanEvac, has sharply criticized former U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad for endorsing an Eid message by Taliban Prime Minister Mullah Hassan Akhund. While Khalilzad remains a vocal commentator on Afghan affairs, his perceived closeness to the Taliban continues to raise alarms among Afghan diaspora communities and human rights organizations. His public endorsements are viewed by many as whitewashing an oppressive regime. Click here to read more (external link).

Taliban’s Call For Opponents To Return Is Aimed At Silencing Dissent, Says Ex-MP

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Koofi

Afghanistan International: Fawzia Koofi, a former member of Afghanistan’s parliament, has rejected the Taliban’s recent invitation for former officials to return to the country, saying it is not an effort at reconciliation but a calculated move to silence dissenting voices. In a report published in May 2024, UNAMA stated that despite the Taliban’s announcement of a general amnesty, the group continues to arrest, torture and kill employees and soldiers of the former government. Over a three-month period, UNAMA documented 38 cases of arbitrary detention, 10 cases of torture and mistreatment, and at least four extrajudicial killings of former government personnel. Click here to read more (external link).

How ordinary men became unpaid Taliban enforcers in their own homes

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The Guardian (UK): When the rules were announced, it was unclear how a relatively small number of “morality police” employed by the Taliban would enforce and implement these rules. Yet, in the months since the rules were announced, it has been fathers, brothers and husbands who have become, in effect, unpaid foot soldiers imposing the Taliban’s oppressive regime on Afghanistan’s women and girls. They are driven not just by fear of what will happen to women if apprehended by Taliban enforcers. Under the Taliban’s new rules, if a woman is deemed to be found in breach of its morality rules, it is her male relative, not her, who could be punished and face fines or even prison. Click here to read more (external link).

Drug Trafficking from Afghanistan continues: Iran Official

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Khaama: Mohammad Narimani, Director General of the International Relations Office of Iran’s Anti-Narcotics Headquarters, has stated that drug trafficking from Afghanistan warehouses to Iran and other countries continues unabated. According to Narimani, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Russia remain on the frontline in combating narcotics trafficking originating from Afghanistan. Afghanistan continues to be the world’s largest producer of illicit drugs, with a noted rise in methamphetamine production, according to Narimani. Click here to read more (external link).

Afghanistan’s U‑20 football team begins Central Asia Championship camp in Tajikistan

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Amu: Afghanistan’s national under‑20 football team held its first training session in preparation for the Central Asia Football Association (CAFA) Championship, set to begin on Tuesday in Dushanbe. The championship will feature six teams: Afghanistan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and hosts Tajikistan. The tournament draw is scheduled for Tuesday. Click here to read more (external link).