Afghanistan International: A US State Department spokesperson said that Washington has the ability to engage with “designated terrorist groups” to advance US interests. Matthew Miller said that the US has engaged with various groups, including the Taliban and Tahrir al-Sham, to advance its interests. Click here to read more (external link).
The Fall of Bashar al-Assad May Not Be Good News for the Taliban
The Diplomat: The fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad marks a turning point not only for Syria but also for Islamist movements worldwide. For the Taliban, this moment is bittersweet. While the collapse of a rival regime offers a symbolic victory, the rise of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) poses a direct ideological and strategic challenge. HTS’s promises of inclusivity, tolerance of minorities, and democratic reform highlight the Taliban’s regressive policies and authoritarianism. Moreover, the Syrian rebels’ victory could inspire opposition movements within Afghanistan and embolden moderate Taliban officials to push back against their leader’s hardline rule. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – December 18, 2024
The Taliban’s Assault on Universities: Political Revenge or the Reengineering of Higher Education into Religious Schools?
Madrassah (file photo)
8am: Students and professors report that the Taliban are systematically turning universities into madrasas. Alongside dismissing professors, they are altering curricula, engaging in ideological confrontations, and prioritizing clerics over qualified educators. These practices, coupled with a lack of legal structure and clerical dominance, have driven many professors to leave universities. Click here to read more (external link).
Zimbabwe’s opening ODI against Afghanistan abandoned
Ariana: Heavy rain led to the abandonment of the first one day international between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan at the Harare Sports Club on Tuesday. The second of the three match ODI series will be played at the same venue on Thursday. Click here to read more (external link).
Kam Air launches direct flights between Kabul and Doha
Kam Air (file photo)
Amu: Kam Air, a private airline in the country, on Wednesday inaugurated direct flights between Kabul and Doha, the capital of Qatar. After the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in August 2021, operations by many airline companies were stopped. Few companies, including Kam Air, Qatar Airways and Ariana Afghan Airlines, have resumed their operations since then. Click here to read more (external link).
Russian parliament approves bill allowing removal of Taliban from ‘terrorist list’
Amu: Russia’s parliament approved legislation on Tuesday that would allow the country’s Supreme Court to remove the Taliban and other previously “designated terrorist organizations” from its list of banned groups. According to Reuters, the bill could pave the way for Russia to normalize relations with the Taliban, who seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021, and potentially with other groups such as Syria’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Click here to read more (external link).
Local Sources Claim Taliban Fighters Killed Ismaili Teenager In Badakhshan
Afghanistan International: Local sources in Badakhshan told Afghanistan International on Monday that Taliban forces shot dead a 14-year-old Ismaili boy in Wakhan district. A source close to the Taliban described the incident as an “accident” and said that two Taliban forces were arrested. A few days ago, the Taliban shot and killed a man in the city of Faizabad, the capital of Badakhshan. Click here to read more (externa link).
Tolo News in Dari – December 17, 2024
Taliban to build housing complex for foreign diplomats in Kabul
Taliban militants (file photo)
Khaama: The Taliban Ministry of Urban Development and Housing has announced that, at the request of the group’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it will build a housing complex for foreign diplomats in Kabul. On Tuesday, December 17, the Ministry added in a statement that this housing complex will be constructed in the Darul Aman area of Kabul. The creation of a housing complex for foreign diplomats, while demolitions are taking place in impoverished areas, has sparked criticism among local residents. It highlights the stark contrast between the Taliban’s priorities in accommodating foreign diplomats and their treatment of the Afghan population, particularly those in need of stable housing. As the situation unfolds, there are increasing calls for the Taliban to address the housing crisis for Afghan citizens and ensure that their basic needs are met. Click here to read more (external link).