Afghanistan International: Yaqoob Sheikh who has been described as having links to Lashkar-e-Taiba has warned the Taliban that if they fail to guarantee Afghan territory will not be used against Pakistan, his party will stand alongside the country’s army. In a video message circulated on social media, Sheikh said his group was ready to make “any sacrifice” to defend Pakistan. “We are prepared to sacrifice everything for the defence of our beloved homeland,” he said. Click here to read more (external link).
More than 17 million Afghans face acute hunger this winter, WFP warns
Amu: More than 17 million people in Afghanistan are facing acute food insecurity this winter as hunger and malnutrition deepen across the country, the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) said on Tuesday, warning that funding cuts are limiting life-saving assistance. New data from the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report shows that around three million more Afghans are experiencing acute hunger or worse compared with last year, when 14.8 million people were affected. Click here to read more (external link).
Abu Muslim Farah crowned champions of fifth season of Afghanistan Champions League
Ariana: Abu Muslim Farah have reaffirmed their status as one of Afghanistan’s leading football clubs after being crowned champions of the fifth season of the Afghanistan Champions League, completing a flawless campaign to lift the title. The Farah-based side won all nine of their matches in the season, finishing with a perfect 27 points to claim the championship in emphatic style. Their title was sealed on Sunday in the 42nd and final match of the competition, where Abu Muslim Farah produced a dominant 4–0 victory over Ettifaq Khanzadah. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – December 16, 2025
Afghan refugees in Richmond fear fallout from immigration freeze
Axios: The fallout from last month’s D.C. shooting — where a suspected gunman from Afghanistan killed one National Guard member and injured another— has Afghan refugees in Richmond fearing an uncertain future, community leaders tell Axios. The big picture: More than 2,600 Afghan refugees have resettled in the Richmond area since 2021, when the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan and Kabul fell to the Taliban, per an Axios review of state data. Click here to read more (external link).
Iran Says Afghanistan Peace Impossible Without Active Support from Neighboring Countries
Khaama: The meeting convened representatives from Pakistan, Russia, China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. Pakistan participated at the prime ministerial level, while Russia and Uzbekistan sent presidential-level envoys, reflecting high-level engagement. The Iranian minister warned that externally imposed solutions have consistently failed to deliver stability or sustainable development, advocating regionally led approaches as the most effective means of conflict resolution and cooperation. Araqchi stressed the importance of integrating Afghanistan into regional economic, transit, and energy networks. Strengthening infrastructure, trade facilitation, and border cooperation could position Afghanistan as a central hub connecting Central, South, and West Asia. Click here to read more (external link).
More
- Regional meeting in Tehran urges Taliban, Pakistan to return to talks
- Taliban skipped Tehran meeting after objecting to terrorism accusations, source says
- UK Says Security In Afghanistan Remains Volatile, Urges Citizens To Stay Away
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Tolo News in Dari – December 15, 2025
Taliban’s Claims of Security Amid Armed Robberies Threatening People’s Lives
8am: Health sources in Kabul say that in recent weeks, several residents of the city have been taken to hospitals as a result of armed robberies, with some of them losing their lives. According to these sources, only four incidents have occurred over a little more than two weeks in Karte Char. The health sources say that two of these incidents involved knife attacks, while another was carried out by gunfire. According to the sources, two of the individuals targeted in these attacks have died. The sources emphasize that another Kabul resident who was wounded by a bullet is currently hospitalized, and that a fourth individual who was threatened during an armed robbery was released without serious injury after handing over his money to the robbers and survived unharmed. The sources state that the rise in such incidents has created serious concerns among citizens and health sector workers about the security situation in Kabul. Click here to read more (external link).
Restricting Education in Afghanistan Amounts to Cultural Genocide, Say Rights Activists
Khaama: The Human Rights Activists Union has warned that Afghanistan is facing a dire situation, describing the Taliban’s restrictions on education as a form of cultural genocide that silences voices and limits awareness. The group said these measures have already had severe consequences and threaten the future of younger generations. Click here to read more (external link).
Archaeological site dating to pre-Christian era discovered in eastern Afghanistan: Statement
Amu: A new archaeological site believed to date back to the pre-Christian era was discovered in the eastern province of Laghman, the Taliban-run provincial culture department said in a statement on Sunday. The site was found in the Alingar district, in an area known as Situn village in the Saw valley, said statement said. Click here to read more (external link).