Taliban (file photo)
DW: The Islamist militant group ruling Afghanistan has claimed the country is secure. But ordinary Afghans say hunger, poverty and fear are everyday realities. “The perpetrators of the violence are now in power, for example, as head of the Ministry of the Interior. Of course, they now claim that the country is safe,” Nilofar Ibrahimi, a former member of Afghanistan’s parliament before the Taliban takeover, told DW. Click here to read more (external link).
Taliban fighters (file photo)
8am: Some residents of the capital have expressed concerns about a surge in armed robberies in Kabul. They claim that, contrary to the Taliban’s assertions of ensuring nationwide security, the rates of theft and criminal activities in the capital are on the rise. These residents accuse the Taliban of failing to provide adequate security, voicing alarm over the increasing frequency of such incidents. Some residents also report that robbers, dressed in Taliban attire, enter people’s homes and plunder their possessions. They believe that if Taliban fighters are not directly involved in these thefts, ordinary individuals would not have the audacity to commit such crimes alone. Click here to read more (external link).
Abdul Rashid Dostum
Afghanistan International: Dozens of protesters were reportedly detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan’s northern Faryab province following a demonstration against the group’s police command in Dawlat Abad district, sources told Afghanistan International. At least four independent sources confirmed that protesters chanted “Long live Dostum”, a reference to Abdul Rashid Dostum, the former vice president and leader of the Junbish-e Milli party, as they rallied on Monday and entered the district’s police command compound. Click here to read more (external link).
ISIS Militants
Afghanistan International: Alexander Bortnikov, head of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), has warned that ISIS and its affiliates have intensified their operations in Afghanistan, posing a growing threat to regional security. Speaking at the 18th Meeting of Heads of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Counterterrorism Agencies in Moscow, Bortnikov said the leadership of international terrorist organisations is increasingly relying on militants active in Afghanistan and Syria. He also highlighted the mobilisation of former prisoners released in Syria, many of whom are citizens of Russia, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. Click here to read more (external link).
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Taliban militants (file photo)
8am: Several families of former Afghan government military personnel report that, despite the Taliban’s announcement of a general amnesty, they face surveillance, interrogation, and threats from the group due to their familial ties to former security forces. They state that Taliban members have repeatedly visited their homes, demanding information about the whereabouts of their military relatives and, in cases of non-cooperation, have subjected them to detention and mistreatment. According to these families, they have been forced to relocate multiple times to protect their lives, a challenge exacerbated by the current economic hardships. Click here to read more (external link).
Rashid Khan
Amu: Rashid Khan, one of Afghanistan’s most prominent cricketers, and Omarzai, the national team’s all rounder, will miss the 2025 edition of Major League Cricket (MLC), opting out of the tournament to take a break from professional play, according to ESPNcricinfo. Their absence comes amid broader uncertainty around the participation of Afghan players in U.S.-based cricket events due to a recent U.S. entry ban affecting citizens from 12 countries, including Afghanistan. The policy, which took effect this week, has raised questions about the eligibility of several international players. Click here to read more (external link).
Donald Trump
Khaama: The U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking at the “Investing in America” summit at the White House on Monday, sharply criticized past American military strategies in Afghanistan. He claimed that U.S. forces fought in a manner that suggested they had no intention of winning the war, describing the approach as “deeply upsetting.” In his remarks, Trump subtly shifted the blame for the failure in Afghanistan onto the Biden administration. While Trump continues to criticize the way the U.S. exited Afghanistan, he has yet to present a clear or consistent policy on Afghanistan’s future. Click here to read more (external link).
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Amu: Taliban spokesman on Tuesday confirmed an overnight clash with fighters affiliated with the ISIS Khorasan branch in northeastern Kabul, though he continued to insist that the group has no significant presence in Afghanistan. Zabihullah Mujahid told Amu that the confrontation occurred near the Marjan residential complex and an area locally known as the “narcotics town” in Police District 15. While confirming the engagement, Mujahid declined to provide further details and maintained that ISIS-K does not maintain an “active or organized presence” in the country, though he acknowledged that some members remain “scattered.” Local sources said the gunfight lasted several hours. Click here to read more (external link).