Grape Prices Plunge in Kabul’s Koh Daman as Orchard Owners Struggle Under Taliban Tax
8am: A number of orchard owners in Koh Daman have complained about falling prices for their produce, a lack of cold storage facilities, and limited access to global markets. They say that because of the drop in prices in domestic markets, they have been forced to sell the fruits of their labor at very low prices, to the point that even production costs have not been recovered. Meanwhile, a number of economic experts warn that the shortage of standard cold storage facilities and limited access to global markets have restricted the opportunities to sell horticultural products and have reduced the income of orchard owners in Koh Daman and other parts of Afghanistan. Click here to read more (external link).
The Anti-Taliban Resistance Has Survived. Can It Win?
Afghan Resistance Leaders: Zia (left) and Massoud (right)
War on the Rocks: The anti-Taliban resistance has made real strides in its five years on the battlefield: The number of groups and the tempo of their claimed attacks have increased, despite lacking an overt state sponsor or an established cross-border military sanctuary. However, the resistance should unify and focus its combined efforts on securing a foothold in remote provinces like Badakhshan to offer itself as a viable governing alternative to the Taliban. Click here to read more (external link).
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Taliban Cronyism and Unemployment: Graduates Fail to Land Even Service Jobs
Taliban militants (file photo)
8am: Several citizens of Afghanistan say job opportunities have shrunk since the Taliban retook control of the country. They cite the Taliban’s discriminatory and ethnocentric policies as factors that have worsened unemployment and narrowed access to work. According to these citizens, growing poverty and unemployment have forced educated young people and graduates of reputable universities to apply for positions such as cook, gardener, guard, and driver. They add that young people face difficulty even in securing these limited opportunities, and that in some cases, people with no education or professional skills are preferred over educated applicants for service positions. Click here to read more (external link).
Taliban Members’ Daughters Attend Secret School In Afghanistan, Says Italian Aid Worker
Taliban militants (file photo)
Afghanistan International: The founder of an Italian aid organisation said she established a secret school for girls in Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power, only to discover two years later that daughters of some Taliban members were among its pupils. Susanna Fioretti, founder of the aid organisation Nove Caring Humans, told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera that the girls’ parents wanted their daughters to receive an education. The Italian aid worker said operating the secret school for girls involved serious risks. If someone had reported its activities to the Taliban’s morality police, those involved could have faced severe consequences. Click here to read more (external link).
Afghan Fulbright Scholar Detained by ICE in Michigan Weeks Before Asylum Interview
Khaama: An Afghan woman who came to the United States as a Fulbright scholar in 2021 has been detained by U.S. immigration authorities in Michigan, weeks before she was due to attend an interview on her pending asylum application, according to her family, her employer and local media reports. Benazir Noorzad, 32, was preparing to board a flight to Virginia at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Thursday, October 22, when officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took her into custody, her brother, Matiullah Noorzad, told MLive. Click here to read more (external link).
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Tolo News in Dari – October 27, 2026
Afghanistan advance to Tier C at FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival
Ariana: Afghanistan’s U-15 national football team advanced to Tier C of the 2026 FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival after finishing third in their six-team group with a 3-1 victory over Sudan in their final group-stage match. The win marked Afghanistan’s third victory in the competition, following earlier wins over Sierra Leone and Djibouti. Click here to read more (external link).
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Taliban Launches Widespread Reshuffle Of Civilian & Military Officials In Badakhshan
Afghanistan International: Several sources told Afghanistan International that the Taliban has recently begun reshuffling civilian and military officials across Badakhshan province. The changes have so far affected police commanders, district governors and intelligence chiefs. As part of the reshuffle, the Taliban has appointed new officials in Faizabad, Yaftal district and the Darwaz districts of Badakhshan. Sources said those appointed to civilian and military positions in the Darwaz districts were close associates of Ghulamullah Ahmadi, deputy commander of the Taliban’s military division in Badakhshan. Experts view the frequent and rapid reshuffling of Taliban officials in Badakhshan as a sign of the group’s concerns over maintaining control of the province. They believe anti-Taliban resistance groups are gaining strength and that the Taliban is preparing for the possibility of widespread clashes next spring. Click here to read more (external link).
Why Are Afghan Immigrants Still Waiting for US Visas Despite Court Ruling?
Khaama: Afghan immigrants are among thousands of applicants still waiting for US visas despite a federal court ruling against the Trump administration’s suspension of immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries. Why do the delays persist despite the ruling? Afghan families are among thousands of immigrants from 75 countries still facing uncertainty over US immigrant visas, despite a federal judge striking down the Trump administration’s blanket visa-processing suspension, according to US media reports. Click here to read more (external link).