Khaama: The U.S. has denied reports of military presence at Bagram Air Base, rejecting claims of aircraft landing there. In a recent report, the United States Department of Defense (Pentagon) has firmly denied rumors about a U.S. military plane landing at Bagram Airbase in Parwan province. A Pentagon official, who wished to remain anonymous, told AFP that the U.S. does not have any military presence at Bagram, dismissing these reports as baseless. Click here to read more (external link).
Afghanistan International: A large group of retired government employees gathered outside the pension office in Kabul on Saturday, once again demanding that the Taliban pay their long-overdue pensions. One protester criticised the group’s financial priorities, urging the Taliban to stop allocating millions of dollars to religious seminaries in Pakistan and instead focus on fulfilling their domestic obligations. Click here to read more (external link).
Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada
Afghanistan International: The funds, earmarked for madrasas in Pakistan’s border provinces of Balochistan, Sindh, and Punjab, were ordered by Akhundzada despite the Taliban administration facing a severe financial shortfall. Click here to read more (external link).
By RFE/RL’s Radio Mashaal
April 10, 2025
Thousands of Afghan refugees in Pakistan have left via the Torkham border crossing as part of Islamabad’s large-scale deportation campaign.
The government initially set a March 31 deadline for Afghan nationals to leave voluntarily, but the deadline was extended to April 10. Still, thousands have been forcibly removed since the beginning of the month.
The stepped-up deportation campaign comes as Pakistani authorities charge that “illegal immigrants” pose security concerns and economic challenges.
The Pakistani government has frequently linked Afghan nationals to militant violence and criminal activity — claims the Taliban-led administration in Kabul firmly denies.
The deportation campaign has sparked strong criticism as authorities move forward with the controversial policy.
Human rights organizations warn that those forced to return to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan may face serious dangers including persecution, violence, and extreme economic hardship. Particularly at risk are vulnerable groups such as women, journalists, human rights advocates, and former government employees.
Pakistan’s deportation drive targets Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders, undocumented migrants, and those who arrived after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan.
There are roughly 800,000 ACC holders and 1.4 million Afghans with Proof of Registration (POR) cards issued by the UN refugee agency. While POR holders are currently exempt from deportation — at least until their permits expire in June — ACC holders lack such protection. Their temporary residency in Pakistan is subject to the federal government’s discretion, with no assurance of extension beyond official deadlines.
This policy creates complications, as members of the same family may have different legal statuses.
Many of those being forced to leave have never lived in Afghanistan and see Pakistan as their only home.
Related
Amu: The Taliban have expanded their ban on capturing and broadcasting images of living beings to the provinces of Zabul and Parwan, according to the Afghanistan Journalists’ Center (AFJC). Sources also confirmed that similar instructions were recently issued in Badakhshan and Jawzjan, where Taliban departments for the promotion of virtue ordered a complete halt to filming and photography under the group’s so-called Promotion of Virtue Law. Click here to read more (external link).
Life under Taliban rule
Afghanistan International: According to the sources, Haqqani’s attendance at the meeting was made possible through the mediation of Defence Minister Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid and Taliban intelligence chief Abdulhaq Wasiq. The Taliban leader reportedly rejected a proposal from Haqqani to establish a new appointments commission. Click here to read more (external link).
Amu: Afghanistan A, playing under the name AfghanAbdalyan, delivered a commanding all-round performance to defeat Ireland A by an innings and 194 runs in their four-day match at the Tolerance Oval in Abu Dhabi, wrapping up the contest on Thursday. Click here to read more (external link).
Khaama: The Bagram Airbase, a strategic military site in Afghanistan, has become the center of conflicting reports regarding its control. The U.S. President Donald Trump recently stated that the airbase, which was handed over to the United States, is now effectively under Chinese control due to President Biden’s decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan. Trump, in a speech at the Republican National Committee on Tuesday, April 8, criticized Biden’s handling of the U.S. military exit from Afghanistan. He argued that Biden’s actions left the airbase vulnerable, allowing China to occupy it. Trump further remarked that had he been president, he would have ensured the U.S. maintained control over Bagram, not just because of Afghanistan’s strategic importance, but due to its proximity to China’s nuclear facilities. According to Trump, the failure to keep Bagram resulted in what he called “the worst disaster in American history,” and the loss of the airbase now gives China a significant advantage in the region. Meanwhile, reports suggest that Bagram Airbase was handed over to the United States by the Taliban, with U.S. military aircraft, including C-17 planes, landing at the site and bringing military vehicles, equipment, and senior intelligence officials. The arrival of the Deputy Chief of the CIA was also reported, emphasizing the importance of Bagram for U.S. intelligence operations in the region. Click here to read more (external link).