Afghanistan International: After the departure of Cenk Unal, Ankara appointed Sadin Ayyildiz as chargé d’affaires in Kabul in December, rather than sending a new ambassador. Ayyildiz met Tuesday with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s acting foreign minister. Since the Taliban returned to power, Türkiye has changed its top envoy to Kabul at least twice. The decision to send a chargé d’affaires instead of an ambassador is seen as indicating a lower level of diplomatic engagement with the Taliban administration. Click here to read more (external link).
Afghanistan beat West Indies by 23 runs in T20 World Cup warm-up
Amu: Afghanistan beat West Indies by 23 runs in a men’s T20 World Cup warm-up match on Wednesday, posting 182 for six before restricting the Caribbean side to 159 for seven. The match was part of preparations ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, with teams using the warm-up fixtures to finalize combinations before the tournament begins. Click here to read more (external link).
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UN Says Afghanistan Among Deadliest Countries for Landmine Casualties
Deminer (file photo)
Khaama: The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) says Afghanistan ranks third globally for casualties caused by landmines and unexploded war remnants. UNAMA stated on Tuesday, February 3 that children account for nearly 80 percent of victims, often injured or killed while playing or unknowingly handling unexploded ordnance. The mission called for increased financial support to demining organizations working to clear mines and educate communities about explosive risks across the country. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – February 3, 2026
Afghanistan exit Asian Futsal Cup after quarter-final loss to Japan
Amu: Afghanistan’s national futsal team were knocked out of the AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026 on Tuesday after a 6–0 defeat by Japan in the quarter-finals. The result ended Afghanistan’s campaign in the continental tournament. The team finished with two wins and two losses overall, having progressed from the group stage before falling at the last-eight stage. Click here to read more (external link).
Other Afghan Sports News
Militant Attacks From Afghan Soil ‘Intolerable’, Says Pakistan Envoy
Afghanistan International: Pakistan’s ambassador to the United Nations said militant attacks from Afghanistan into Pakistan have increased sharply and described the situation as “intolerable”. Asim Iftikhar Ahmad accused the Taliban authorities of failing to rein in armed groups operating from Afghan territory. His remarks follow a wave of attacks by Baloch separatists in different parts of Pakistan’s Balochistan province. In response, the Pakistan Army launched military operations over the past two days, saying it killed 145 militants. Click here to read more (external link).
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Tolo News in Dari – February 2, 2026
Polio Vaccination Campaign Launched Across 18 Provinces in Afghanistan
Child getting polio drops (file photo)
Khaama: Public Health Ministry announced Monday a polio vaccination campaign has begun across 18 provinces targeting 7.3 million children under age five throughout Afghanistan. Ministry spokesperson Sharaf Zaman Amarkhel stated the campaign is underway in Kabul, Nangarhar, Laghman, Kunar, Nuristan, Paktia, Paktika, Khost, Ghazni, Badghis, Herat, Kunduz, Faryab, Balkh, Zabul, Uruzgan, Helmand, and Kandahar provinces. The “Polio Free Afghanistan” organization also confirmed the vaccination drive is being conducted in cooperation with international health organizations and partners. Click here to read more (external link).
Afghanistan beat Scotland by 61 runs in T20 warm-up
Amu: Afghanistan recorded a 61-run victory over Scotland in a T20 warm-up match on Monday, with bowlers and batters combining for a dominant performance. The match was Afghanistan’s first warm-up fixture, with the team scheduled to face West Indies in their second warm-up on Feb. 4, the Afghanistan Cricket Board said. Click here to read more (external link).
Cannabis most widely used drug among men in Afghanistan, UNDP study finds
Amu: Cannabis is the most widely used and perceived drug among men in Afghanistan, according to a new assessment by the UN Development Program (UNDP), highlighting persistent substance use challenges despite a nationwide ban imposed by the Taliban in 2023. The assessment, based on interviews with more than 10,000 people across 21 provinces, found that cannabis ranked first for both lifetime use and past-year use among men, followed by opium, heroin and pharmaceutical drugs such as sedatives and painkillers. Click here to read more (external link).