Afghan refugees in Richmond fear fallout from immigration freeze

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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

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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).

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Taliban’s Claims of Security Amid Armed Robberies Threatening People’s Lives

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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

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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

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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).

Haqqani Admits Kabul Rulers Use Violence and Fear to Maintain Control

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Sirajuddin Haqqani

Khaama: Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani said on Friday in Khost province that a government ruling through “fear and force” cannot be considered legitimate, implicitly acknowledging the use of intimidation by the Taliban. Speaking to a crowd of locals, Haqqani stressed that leaders should not humiliate or condemn citizens, and that a government should foster trust, justice, and stability among the people. Click here to read more (external link).

Declining Internet Quality as Users Complain of Company Inefficiency and Taliban Restrictions

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8am: Some residents of Kabul say that following the Taliban decision to cut fiber-optic internet in Afghanistan, the quality of internet services across the country has deteriorated. They add that this decline has disrupted their daily activities. According to them, they have repeatedly raised these challenges with internet service providers, but the companies have cited “the existence of recent Taliban filters and restrictions” as the reason for their inability to improve services. Kabul residents also say that telecommunications companies in Afghanistan are not responsive to complaints and have taken no effective measures to improve coverage and service quality. Click here to read more (external link).