8am: No group has claimed responsibility for the killing of the 11 Sufis in Baghlan. Meanwhile, local sources confirm that Sufism has many followers in Baghlan. They noted that Sufi shrines and gatherings continue with their traditional practices of worship and remembrance. However, sources also confirmed that the Taliban, along with ISIS affiliates, Wahhabis, and Salafis, oppose and act against Sufis. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – November 27, 2024
Opium production in Afghanistan sees 30% increase in 2024: UN Report
Khaama: The increase in opium production in 2024 is concerning, especially in the context of international efforts to combat drug trafficking and addiction. The rise in opium value also suggests that the country’s drug trade remains a major challenge. Click here to read more (external link).
Under Taliban Pressure, Kyrgyz of Badakhshan Forced to Flee Afghanistan
8am: Many Kyrgyz representatives from the Pamir region of Badakhshan province, who traveled to Fayzabad, the provincial capital, to raise their concerns, have voiced frustration over the lack of healthcare facilities, impassable roads, and extortion by Taliban fighters under the pretense of collecting tithe and “zakat” (alms). They warn that if their basic needs remain unmet, they will be compelled to leave Afghanistan in groups. They report that in the Pamir region, 9 out of every 20 women die during childbirth due to the absence of essential medical services. Additionally, they claim that the living area in Fayzabad, constructed by the previous government for Kyrgyz residents, has been repurposed as a military base by the head of the Taliban’s Directorate of Borders and Tribal Affairs. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – November 26, 2024
Rawadari Report: Sexual Abuse and the Taliban’s Ideological Influence on Afghanistan’s Education System
8am: The human rights organization “Rawadari” has revealed the shocking state of the educational system under Taliban rule in its latest report. The findings expose how the Taliban has radically reshaped the curriculum, aligning it with their ideology and mandating the teaching of their religious doctrines. The report highlights the disorder and chaos caused by the Taliban’s arbitrary approach to education in the country’s universities and schools. It also points to the poor quality of education, which has led many boys to drop out of school and join Taliban religious institutions. Furthermore, the report reveals that some female teachers and girls in Taliban-controlled schools and religious institutions have been subjected to sexual harassment. However, these incidents remain hidden due to social repression and vulnerability. The report cites a specific example of six schoolgirls who were raped at a religious school in Ghor province. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – November 25, 2024
Russian National Security Council Secretary Meets Taliban Officials in Kabul
Afghanistan International: Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s National Security Council Secretary, met with Mullah Baradar, the Taliban’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, during his visit to Kabul on Monday, November 25. Shoigu is the highest-ranking official from Moscow to visit Kabul since the Taliban came to power in August 2021. The Taliban reported that Shoigu promised to remove the Taliban from Moscow’s blacklist. Click here to read more (external link).
Freight Train Arrives In Afghanistan From China As Beijing Looks To Increase Ties
By RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi
November 24, 2024
The first train carrying goods from China to Afghanistan arrived in Mazar-e Sharif on November 23 after crossing through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the de facto Taliban rulers said. The Taliban said 55 containers arrived in Afghanistan after a 22-day journey, marking the inauguration of the first direct train link between China and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. The train is expected to take Afghan goods back to China for sale there. Since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, no country, including China, has formally recognized the extremist group — which has been accused of massive rights violations — but Beijing has attempted to increase ties as part of its economic push in the region, including its Belt and Road initiative.