WHO reports two new polio cases in Afghanistan

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Ariana: Afghanistan has recorded two new cases of wild poliovirus, bringing the country’s total for 2026 to six, according to the latest polio surveillance bulletin issued by the World Health Organization’s Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office. The newly confirmed cases were reported in Nari district of Kunar province and Nahr-e-Saraj district of Helmand province, with symptom onset dates of April 14 and May 7, respectively. The Kunar case was identified through testing of a close contact after the initial case tested negative for the virus. Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan remain the only two countries in the world where wild poliovirus remains endemic. Click here to read more (external link).

Afghan national pleads not guilty in deadly National Guard shooting near White House

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Rahmanullah Lakanwal

Ariana: An Afghan national accused of carrying out a deadly shooting attack on members of the U.S. National Guard near the White House has pleaded not guilty to all charges in a federal court. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 30, appeared before a U.S. District Court on Tuesday following the unsealing of a 17-count federal superseding indictment. Prosecutors allege that Lakanwal killed West Virginia National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and seriously wounded Guardsman Andrew Wolfe in an ambush-style attack in Washington, D.C., in November 2025. The case has drawn significant attention in the United States due to the attack’s proximity to the White House and Lakanwal’s previous work with U.S. government entities in Afghanistan. Click here to read more (external link).

Afghans & Activists Rally In 14 Cities In Support Of Herat Protesters

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Afghanistan International: Afghans and civil society activists in 14 cities worldwide rallied under the slogan “Education, Work and Freedom”, calling for an end to repression and restrictions in Afghanistan. The demonstrations in Herat, which started last week in Jebrail township, have now become a symbol of global solidarity with Afghan women. From Tehran to Brussels and from Helsinki to Vancouver, protesters gathered to demand an end to the suppression of women and girls in Afghanistan. Click here to read more (external link).

Fazlur Rehman urges Pakistan to pursue reconciliation with Afghanistan

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Fazlur Rehman

Ariana: Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F), has called on Pakistan to adopt a more conciliatory approach toward Afghanistan, arguing that regional stability depends on constructive engagement rather than confrontation. Addressing Pakistan’s parliament, Fazlur Rehman said Islamabad should apply the same diplomatic principles to Afghanistan that it advocates in other regional disputes. Referring to efforts aimed at preventing conflict between the United States and Iran, he argued that Pakistan should similarly seek dialogue and reconciliation with its western neighbor. Click here to read more (external link).

Former Afghan President Welcomes Finalised US-Iran Agreement

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Hamid Karzai

Afghanistan International: Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai has welcomed the finalisation of a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran aimed at ending the conflict and resolving disputes through negotiations. He said the agreement would benefit both sides, the region and the wider world. In a message posted on X, Karzai also expressed appreciation for the diplomatic efforts of Pakistan, Qatar and other regional countries that helped facilitate the understanding. Click here to read more (external link).

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Armored Tank Sales: How Did Taliban’s District 11 Commander Finance Four Marriages?

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8am: Findings by the Hasht-e Subh Daily reveal that Nasir Ahmad Ahmadi, the commander of Taliban Security District 11 in Kabul, dismantled and sold several old Soviet-era armored vehicles and equipment approximately two years ago in Zone 315 and the Baba Jan Garrison. According to the findings, Ahmadi scrapped six tanks from these sites, reducing them to scrap metal before selling them. The report also indicates that he had the scrap metal weighed at various locations. In addition, since he was appointed district commander, Ahmadi has married three more times and has secured separate houses in Kabul for each of his four wives. The sale of these tanks for scrap prices by Taliban officials continues, even as the tanks are regarded as part of Afghanistan’s history. Citizens say the vehicles should eventually be placed in museums, not melted down for scrap. Click here to read more (external link).