US Lawmaker Slams Russia’s Recognition Of Taliban As Bid To Legitimize ‘Tyrannical Regime’

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Afghanistan International: Michael McCaul, former chair of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, has strongly criticised Russia’s decision to officially recognise the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, calling it a dangerous move to legitimise “a tyrannical regime.” In a statement posted on Thursday, 11 July, on X (formerly Twitter), McCaul wrote: “Since their brutal takeover of Afghanistan, the Taliban have created a devastating humanitarian crisis — destroying advances in women’s rights, taking American hostages for political gain, and publicly executing individuals.” Click here to read more (external link).

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Tajik official denies reports of forced deportations of Afghan migrants

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Amu: A senior Tajik official has denied reports of forced deportations of Afghan migrants from Tajikistan, calling the allegations baseless and stating that no formal complaints have been received. Musawer Bahadori, head of Tajikistan’s Committee for Refugees in Dushanbe, said in an interview published Friday by local outlet Asia-Plus that his office had not been approached by any Afghan nationals regarding forced removals. “No one has come to our committee to file a complaint, and we have received no official grievance from any migrant,” Bahadori said. Roughly 13,000 Afghans are estimated to reside in Tajikistan, many of whom are awaiting resettlement to third countries, including Canada. Click here to read more (external link).

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UK accepts less than 3% of Afghan relocation applicants in 2025

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Khaama: The UK Ministry of Defence approved only 2.04% of 17,625 Afghan relocation requests in early 2025, raising concerns over eligibility criteria.  These figures highlight a concerningly low acceptance rate, even for those with a proven record of supporting British missions, raising serious questions about the program’s accessibility and fairness. The ongoing delays and high rejection rates have sparked criticism from human rights advocates and lawmakers, urging the UK government to reassess its approach and uphold its commitments to vulnerable Afghan allies. Click here to read more (external link).

Afghan taxi drivers beat the heat with handmade air coolers

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BBC News: In a sweltering city in Afghanistan, taxis have been spotted with scrubby barrels and exhaust tubes mounted to their roofs. These are the hand-made air coolers that taxi drivers have cobbled together in their desperate efforts to beat the heat. Temperatures regularly exceed 40C (104F) in the southern city of Kandahar, but air-conditioning units inside cars often break down, the cabbies lament. Click here to read more (external link).

UN Raises Alarm Over Taliban’s New Media Restrictions in Afghanistan

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Afghanistan International: In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, 10 July, UNAMA warned that the policy, which requires prior approval of programme content and guest speakers by Taliban authorities, risks fostering fear and self-censorship among Afghan journalists and media outlets. Under the new rules, media outlets must seek prior approval from the Ministry before airing political content. Political analysts are also required to obtain official permission and carry a Taliban-issued ID card in order to participate in debates or news programmes. Click here to read more (external link).

Related

WHO warns of rising infectious diseases among deported Afghan migrants

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Khaama: The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning about the growing spread of infectious diseases and poor sanitary conditions among Afghan migrants deported from neighboring countries. WHO reports a surge in respiratory infections, diarrhea, skin conditions like scabies, and suspected COVID-19 cases among returnees. Click here to read more (external link).