Afghanistan International: The Taliban have weaponised Afghanistan’s justice system to suppress women and girls, amounting to possible crimes against humanity, according to Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan. Speaking before the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, Bennett said that since seizing power, the Taliban have suspended the Afghan constitution and repealed all laws that previously protected the rights of women and girls. He noted that all judges from the former government, including 270 women, have been removed from their positions. Click here to read more (external link).
Girls Victimized by Forced Marriages: A Bitter Tale Under the Shadow of Taliban Oppression
8am: Several families, devastated economically after the Taliban’s takeover, have been compelled to force their daughters into unwanted marriages or pairings they have no interest in, due to the group’s stringent laws, the absence of clear educational programs, and the fear of forced marriages with Taliban members. Meanwhile, findings by the Hasht-e Subh Daily indicate that some officials of religious schools affiliated with the Taliban in areas around Pul-e-Khumri and other parts of the province have been demanding photos from girls under the pretext of processing documents. These photos are then sent to Taliban members for marriage selection. According to available information, this practice has persisted over the past three years. Girls who reject marriage proposals from Taliban members are either forced into marriage or threatened with the withholding of educational documents if they do not comply. Click here to read more (external link).
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Tolo News in Dari – August 6, 2025
Sources: Unidentified drones seen over Paktia province
Amu: The drones were observed around 7:30 a.m. flying at low altitude for several hours over Gardez, the provincial capital, and several nearby districts, the sources told Amu. It was not immediately clear which country or authority operated the drones or what their purpose was. Earlier this week, a number of drones were spotted over Khost province as well, according to sources. Click here to read more (external link).
Sources: Taliban building underground tunnels in Kandahar
Amu: “The Taliban’s intention behind any kind of excavation in Afghanistan is malicious, because they have no plans for reconstruction or development of the country. The unauthorized digging that has taken place across Afghanistan is either to access antiquities or to create strategic stockpiles for their own protection. In Kandahar, too, it could be for safeguarding themselves,” said Besmillah Taban, a military affairs analyst. Kandahar’s growing fortification has deepened concerns that the city — and not Kabul — is the true seat of Taliban power, with Akhundzada consolidating control far from public scrutiny. Click here to read more (external link).
Int’l Community Failing To Address Taliban Rights Abuses, Says Rights Group
Afghanistan International: Human Rights Watch (HRW) has stated that the United Nations member states failing to take effective action against widespread human rights violations in Afghanistan, four years after the Taliban returned to power. In a report released ahead of the fourth anniversary of the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, HRW warned that the group has intensified its repression of women and girls and continues to commit grave abuses with impunity. The report, titled “Afghanistan: Relentless Repression Four Years into Taliban Rule”, outlines a deteriorating human rights and humanitarian crisis. Click to read more (external link).
Related
Travel influencers boost tourism to Taliban-run Afghanistan
NBC News: They are seen exploring the country’s landlocked, mountainous terrain and its tribal culture in videos posted online, contesting perceptions that the country is unsafe and hostile to women. While thrilling for the influencers and their followers, critics accuse these carefully edited travelogues of whitewashing the harsh realities of life in Afghanistan, particularly for women, and rehabilitating the country’s autocratic rulers. Click here to read more (external link).
Pakistan Resumes Deportation Of 1.4 Million Afghans Despite UN Concerns
Afghanistan International: Pakistani authorities have resumed the forced deportation of Afghan migrants after deciding not to extend residency deadlines, a move that affects an estimated 1.4 million Afghans holding expired Proof of Registration (PoR) cards. Officials announced on Monday that the deportations had restarted, drawing sharp criticism from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which warned the mass returns could worsen instability in Afghanistan. In addition to PoR card holders, around 800,000 Afghans with Afghan Citizen Cards are also at risk. Pakistani police say these individuals are residing in the country “illegally” and are being detained in the provinces of Punjab, Balochistan, and Sindh. Click here to read more (external link).
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Tolo News in Dari – August 5, 2025
Iran holds firm on not recognizing IEA govt despite Russia’s shift
Ariana: Iran has reaffirmed that it will not automatically follow Russia or any other country in recognizing the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), saying that any decision on formal recognition will be guided strictly by Tehran’s national interests and regional priorities. The remarks were made during a press briefing on Monday by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei, who addressed growing speculation following Russia’s recent decision to officially recognize Afghanistan’s government. Internationally, the Taliban administration remains diplomatically isolated. No seat at the United Nations has been granted, and most countries continue to withhold recognition. Click here to read more (external link).
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