Polio vaccination campaign kicks off in Afghanistan

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Child getting polio drops (file photo)

Ariana: Public Health Ministry officials have confirmed that a polio vaccine campaign across 16 provinces was launched on Monday. Sharaft Zaman Amarkhil, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Health, says that the campaign got underway on Monday in a number of provinces including Kabul, Kandahar, Helmand, Uruzgan, Zabul, Farah, Nangarhar, Laghman, Kunar, Nuristan and some other provinces. Amarkhil said the campaign will last for three days and an estimated 6.2 million children under the age of five will receive the anti-polio vaccine. Click here to read more (external link).

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Afghanistan A Cricket Team crowned 2024 Asia Cup champions after defeating Sri Lanka

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Khaama: The Afghanistan A cricket team defeated Sri Lanka in the final match of the 2024 Asia Cup, securing the title by maintaining seven wickets. In this match, Sediqullah Atal was the top batsman with 55 runs, while Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar and Bilal Sami were the standout bowlers, taking two and three wickets, respectively. Winning the 2024 Asia Cup has cemented the Afghanistan A cricket team’s reputation as a formidable side in the region. The triumph not only brings joy to fans but also signifies a bright future for Afghanistan cricket on the international stage. Click here to read more (external link).

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The Taliban and the Pashtun Society

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Taliban militants dancing (file photo)

8am: In their efforts to spread their ideology among the Pashtuns, the Taliban have killed many tribal leaders and intellectual youths. During the republic era, the National Security Council published a book titled “Thousands of Crimes”, documenting the Taliban’s killing of tribal leaders and intellectual youths, most notably in Kandahar. It is evident that if the Taliban had not dismantled the core structure of the Pashtun society, they would not have been able to dominate the community. Click here to read more (external link).

Haqqani the Trickster

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Sirajuddin Haqqani

8am: Recently, The New York Times referred to Sirajuddin Haqqani, the acting Interior Minister of the Taliban and the leader of the Haqqani Network, as the only “dissenting voice from within” the group.  This is not the first time some media outlets and reputable international organizations have made such claims.  Click here to read more (external link).

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Afghanistan beat Bangladesh 3-2 in AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers

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Ariana: Afghanistan U17 national football team defeated Bangladesh 3-2 in their final match of the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers on Sunday to end their campaign undefeated. Afghanistan have qualified for the 2025 AFC U7 Asian Cup that will be held in Saudi Arabia in April next year. Click here to read more (external link).

Other Afghan Sports News 

At Least 18 Killed in ISIS-Linked Attacks in Ghor Province Over 40 Days

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8am: The Taliban have repeatedly denied the presence of ISIS in Afghanistan, labeling it as propaganda from their enemies. However, findings from the Hasht-e Subh Daily indicate that, in the past 40 days, ISIS has killed 18 individuals in attacks in Ghor province, including four Taliban members. The report reveals that over the past month, 18 people have died in attacks attributed to ISIS in Ghor, among whom four Taliban members were also killed. This occurs despite the Taliban’s ongoing denials of ISIS’s presence in Afghanistan. Click here to read more (external link).

Retirees In Kabul Protest Against Taliban’s Non-Payment of Salaries For Three Years

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Afghanistan International: A group of retirees blocked the street leading to the Ministry of Finance in Kabul on Saturday, October 26, in protest against the Taliban’s non-payment of their salaries since the last three years. Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada has dissolved the pension system in Afghanistan and slashed the salaries of retirees. Click here to read more (external link).

How the Taliban Built an Air Force

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FP: The collapse of the Afghan state amid the United States’ withdrawal in 2021 gifted the new Taliban government with more than $7 billion worth of U.S. military equipment. Afghanistan’s new overlords suddenly found themselves with fleets of Humvees, mountains of machine guns, and forests of radars and satellite dishes. The vast hardware hoard also included dozens of aircraft: a motley mix of Hind and Blackhawk helicopters, cargo planes, and close air support props. Click here to read more (external link).