Ariana: The Afghanistan national football team lost 2–1 to Myanmar in the Asian Cup qualifiers in Yangon on Thursday afternoon. Afghanistan’s national team is scheduled to play its final match of the competition on March 31 against Syria in Saudi Arabia. Click here to read more (external link).
Karzai warns ban on girls’ education is weakening Afghanistan
Hamid Karzai
Amu: Former President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday warned that continued restrictions on girls’ education and women’s employment are weakening the country, as a new academic year begins. “Depriving girls of education and banning women from work confronts our people each day with greater weakness,” he said, adding that the continuation of such policies would have “irreparable consequences” for the country’s stability and progress. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – March 25, 2026
Taliban say civilian killed in Pakistani shelling in Kunar
Amu: A Taliban official said that Pakistani artillery fire killed one civilian and wounded three others in the eastern province of Kunar, as cross-border tensions between the two sides continue to rise. Faridullah Dehqan, a spokesman for the Taliban police command in Kunar, said in a statement that Pakistani forces fired artillery shells on Tuesday evening into the Pashingar area of Nari district. One of the shells, he said, struck a residential home, killing a civilian and injuring three others. The incident is the third reported exchange of fire along the border since the expiration of what Pakistan had described as a temporary unilateral ceasefire. During the ceasefire, Taliban reported three violation incidents by Pakistan and three civilian deaths. Click here to read more (external link).
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Clashes Resume in Zabul Province as Pakistan–Afghanistan Ceasefire Ends
Khaama: Clashes have resumed along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border in Zabul Province after the end of a four-day unilateral ceasefire by Pakistan, according to local sources. The fighting began late in the Shamulzai district after Pakistani border forces carried out artillery shelling on residential areas, prompting a response from Afghan Taliban forces. The clashes lasted around two hours, with mortar shells hitting homes in border areas, although details about casualties and damage remain unclear. This is the first major clash reported after the ceasefire ended, despite earlier accusations from both sides that the truce had already been violated. Click here to read more (external link).
Around 2.3 million tourists visited Afghanistan’s recreational areas during Eid: Ghufran
Ariana: Khubaib Ghufran, spokesperson for the Ministry of Information and Culture, announced on Tuesday that over Eid al-Fitr holidays approximately 2.3 million domestic and foreign tourists visited the country’s recreational areas and natural attractions. Ghufran said this level of tourist presence shows a significant increase compared to previous years and indicates growth and strengthening of the tourism sector. Click here to read more (external link).
Tuberculosis still major health challenge in Afghanistan, WHO says
Ariana: Tuberculosis remains one of the most serious public health threats in Afghanistan, with thousands of new cases reported each year, the World Health Organization said Tuesday, marking World Tuberculosis Day. The United Nations said that with an estimated rate of 203 cases per 100,000 people in 2025, the disease continues to be a major health challenge in the country. The Taliban-run Public Health Ministry has previously said that about 75,000 people contract tuberculosis each year in Afghanistan, with around 10,000 deaths linked to the disease. Click here to read more (external link).
Family urges release of Mahmood Shah Habibi after Coyle freed
Habibi
Amu: Welcoming the release of US citizen Dennis Coyle from Taliban custody, the family of Mahmood Habibi renewed calls for his immediate release, urging the Taliban to acknowledge his detention and allow him to return home. In a statement issued by the nonprofit Global Reach, which is working with the family, relatives of Mahmood Habibi said they remain hopeful he will also be released. Habibi, an American citizen, has been missing since August 2022, when his family says he was detained by the Taliban. “My family and I are grateful to hear the news of Dennis’ release,” said Ahmad Habibi, his brother. “We hope that our family will soon have the same feeling of relief when Mahmood is returned home.” Global Reach said it has been assisting the Habibi family since shortly after his disappearance. Click here to read more (external link).
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Tolo News in Dari – March 24, 2026
Kandahar, Helmand to host new season of regional cricket tournament
Amu: The sixth edition of the Mirwais Neka Regional Three-Day Tournament is set to begin April 2, featuring five regional teams competing in a round-robin format across two venues in the southern provinces of Kandahar and Helmand, the cricket board said. According to Afghanistan Cricket Board, the tournament will run through April 20, with a total of 10 matches scheduled between Mis-e-Ainak, Band-e-Amir, Amo, Bost and Speen Ghar. Each team will face the others once during the competition. Matches will be held at Kandahar Cricket Ground and Helmand Cricket Ground, with games starting at 10 a.m. local time. Click here to read more (external link).
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