Saad Mohseni
The Guardian (UK): Once dubbed the ‘Afghan Rupert Murdoch’, Mohseni’s media business was founded after the fall of the Taliban and is now navigating their return. Founded by Mohseni and his siblings – Afghan emigres who returned to their childhood home from Australia after the removal of the Taliban in 2001 – Moby was the country’s largest media conglomerate until the Taliban returned to Kabul nearly four years ago. Click here to read more (external link).
Khaama: The Ministry of Public Health of Afghanistan has announced the launch of a new polio vaccination campaign across the country, starting today, Monday, April 21. The campaign aims to reach over 11 million children under the age of five. The national polio vaccination drive, which started today in all provinces of Afghanistan, will target approximately 11.6 million children under the age of five. Dr. Sharafat Zaman Amarkhil, spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Health, confirmed that health teams will carry out door-to-door vaccinations to ensure that no child is left behind. Click here to read more (external link).
Ariana: Ariana Afghan Airlines officials have announced that the company will operate two flights to the Chinese city of Urumqi every week from now. “Ariana Afghan Airlines serves the people of Afghanistan in the sector in which it operates. Its responsibility is to control prices, and make as much profit as possible so that the company does not face problems,” Abdul Wali Seddiqi, head of Ariana Afghan Airlines, said at a ceremony to mark the occasion. Click here to read more (external link).
Donald Trump
Khaama: According to a report by The New York Times April 20, the draft order aims to dissolve offices tied to democracy promotion, human rights, immigration, and climate change. The proposed restructuring aligns with the administration’s goal of streamlining foreign policy to match the president’s strategic vision. The document further indicates that positions related to women’s affairs, including the Office of the Special Envoy for Women of Afghanistan, are listed among those to be cut. The removal of such roles could have far-reaching implications for women’s rights advocacy in conflict and post-conflict regions. Click here to read more (external link).
Other Afghanistan-US News
Khaama: A court in California has arrested Afghan UFC fighter Ahmad Hasanzada on charges of committing sexual acts against a child under the age of 14, a serious criminal offense in the United States. According to AG Fight, the 28-year-old athlete was taken into custody last week in Sacramento. The charges carry greater legal weight due to the more than 10-year age gap between Hasanzada and the minor victim. Click here to read more (external link).
Other Sports News
Mohammad Sarwar Danish
Khaama: The proposed constitution, developed by the Majma-e Federal-Khahan Afghanistan (Assembly of Afghan Federalists), outlines a federal parliamentary system in which power would be shared between a central government and autonomous regional states. The group says this structure could help end the cycle of instability, promote equality, and ensure that the country’s diversity is respected and protected. Sarwar Danish, former Vice President and a leading figure in the group, emphasized during the unveiling that waiting for Afghanistan to first be “liberated” before planning for its political future has proven to be a repeated mistake. Click here to read more (external link).
Khaama: Pakistan’s police have been reportedly detaining and expelling low-income Afghan migrants, particularly in Sindh province and Karachi. Express Tribune Pakistan highlighted that the police have shown leniency towards wealthy and influential Afghan migrants in Karachi, focusing instead on those with fewer resources. Click here to read more (external link).
More News On Afghan Refugees
ISIS trainees
Afghanistan International: The Taliban has bolstered security measures along the Pak-Afghan border, particularly at the Torkham crossing, amid growing concerns that ISIS operatives are attempting to infiltrate Afghanistan disguised as returning migrants, Taliban sources told Afghanistan International. Click here to read more (external link).