Taliban militants (file photo)
Afghanistan International: In an investigative report, the Guardian described the Taliban’s destruction of thousands of homes in Kabul as a catastrophic purge with an “ethnic motive”. In a report prepared in cooperation with four Afghan news organisations, it has been stated that large areas in mainly Hazara and Tajik-populated areas have been completely cleared. Click here to read more (external link).
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- Revealed: the truth behind the Taliban’s brutal Kabul ‘regeneration’ programme – Using satellite imagery, social media footage and resident testimony, investigation shows trail of devastation as houses razed in the Afghan capital, leaving thousands homeless
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Afghanistan International: Yue Xiaoyong, China’s special envoy for Afghanistan, announced that Beijing has provided about $64 million in aid to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan in three years. According to SIGAR, the United States has also sent more than $3 billion to Afghanistan during this period. US aid to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan in the past three years has been about 47 times higher than China’s. Some critics of the Taliban, as well as the US special inspector, say that the Taliban may have had access to and benefited from the money flowing into Afghanistan. 
Afghanistan International: Lutfullah Sadat, Afghanistan’s consul in Bonn, announced that he was submitting his resignation due to “restrictions and demands of the host country”. In early November, sources told Afghanistan International that Germany had asked Afghan diplomats to either engage with the Taliban or end their work. The sources also confirmed that other countries have also increased pressure on Afghan ambassadors over the past month, sending a message to “engage with the Taliban, or end your diplomatic mission”. 
Amu: Afghanistan’s Under-19 cricket team delivered a commanding performance on Monday, defeating the United Arab Emirates by 169 runs in the second match of a tri-nation series. This victory follows Afghanistan’s earlier win last week, when they defeated Pakistan by 100 runs in the series opener. The tri-nation tournament has showcased the rising talent in Afghanistan’s cricket, with the Under-19 team demonstrating exceptional skill and determination on the field. 
8am: Continuing their widespread restrictions on publishers and booksellers in Afghanistan, the Taliban have seized thousands of books without compensation, and this process is ongoing. The Hasht-e Subh Daily obtained a copy of the list of books banned by the Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture, revealing that over 400 titles have been confiscated and their sale prohibited. Publishers argue that the actual number of banned books exceeds this list and that, within less than two years, the Taliban have collected thousands of books, causing significant financial losses. 
Forbes: Australia has strengthened its support for Afghanistan women’s cricket, but one of the sport’s thorniest issues remains in limbo. It was announced recently that an Afghanistan women’s team, consisting of refugees who moved to Australia, will play a match in Melbourne in January. It will be the first time an Afghanistan’s women’s cricket team has taken to the field since the Taliban’s bloody takeover in 2021. 
Amu: As winter descends, a surge in seasonal illnesses is sweeping through the Afghan capital, Kabul, and other major cities. Residents are battling a trifecta of cold weather, air pollution, and a worsening humanitarian crisis that has crippled the country’s health care system. Many Afghans are finding themselves unable to afford even basic medical treatment.