Taliban Intelligence Arrests Perpetrator of Afghanistan’s Balkh Explosions

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Khaama: The Intelligence Department has announced the arrest of one of the perpetrators involved in several deadly attacks in the Balkh province of Afghanistan, including the assassination of Mohammad Dawood Muzamal, governor of Balkh, on Sunday. The department aired the “confessions” of a young person saying he was involved in at least five attacks, including the governor of Balkh, Tebyan centre and several Shiite centres in Mazar-e-Sharif. It is unknown under what conditions the accused person confessed; however, according to the released video by the Taliban intelligence, several wounds on his face show he was beaten and then confessed. Click here to read more (external link).

Taliban’s Crackdown: Over a Thousand Internet Cafes Shut Down in Herat

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8am: Sources told Hast-e Subh that on Saturday, March 12, Taliban closed all internet cafes in this province. The Taliban’s Directorate for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in Herat has labeled internet cafes a waste of young people’s time and a cause of their misguidedness. The recent restrictions imposed by Taliban in Herat have caused nearly a thousand people to lose their jobs. Click here to read more (external link).

Earthquake of Magnitude 4.3 Hits Afghanistan

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Khaama: The earthquake of magnitude 4.3 jolted Afghanistan’s Faizabad capital city of Badakhshan province on Sunday, according to the National Center for Seismology of India (NCS). The earthquake’s epicentre was Ishkashim town, Gorno-Badakhshan, Tajikistan and the tremor was felt around 3:33 pm local time with a depth of 130 km. This is the third earthquake within five days that occurred in the Badakhshan province of Afghanistan. Click here to read more (external link).

UK Group Says 3 British Citizens Are Being Held in Afghanistan

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Tolo News: Three British nationals are being held by the Islamic Emirate [Taliban] in Afghanistan, according to a UK-based charity. The Presidium Network, which helps people caught up in humanitarian crises, said it was supporting two of the men and their families.  Scott Richards, a spokesperson for the charity, said there had been “no meaningful contact” with the men, but added they were believed to be “in good health and being well treated.’ Click here to read more (external link).

Afghan Refugees in Iran Stand up Against Taliban: Prevent Diplomats’ Speech

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8am: Sources told Hasht-e Subh that on Friday, the Taliban ambassador and diplomats were supposed to give a speech among Afghan refugees in Nemat-Abad area of Tehran, but faced a strong reaction from the refugees. Video footage available to Hasht-e Subh also shows a large crowd of Afghan refugees chanting slogans against Taliban. They chanted slogans such as “Death to Taliban”, “Death to terrorists”, and “Terrorists have come” and prevented the Taliban diplomats’ speech. Click here to read more (external link).

Other Iran – Afghanistan News

45% of ARI cases in Afghanistan involve children under 5: WHO

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Ariana: The World Health Organization (WHO) said in a report released Thursday that 45.1 percent of cases of acute respiratory infections in Afghanistan involve children. Since October 2022, of the total 4,353,661 ARI cases reported, representing 13.3 percent of the total population of Afghanistan, 45.1 percent have afflicted children under five years of age, the report said. Click here to read more (external link).

Taliban Prevent Women’s Work on an Aid Project in Kabul

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8am: Officials of the “Food and Work” project in Kabul say that Taliban have prevented female employees from working in the distribution of aid to the needy. On Saturday, officials of the project told Hasht-e Subh, “Taliban have hindered the Food and Work project. They have closed the office several times, citing that work for women is forbidden, and questioning who is responsible for the women’s duties.” Click here to read more (external link).