Pakistan Army Blames Afghan-Based Militants For Balochistan Train Attack
Afghanistan International: The Pakistan Army has claimed that the mastermind behind the Jaffar Express train attack in Balochistan was operating from Afghanistan. On Wednesday, army spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry announced that the hostage rescue operation had been completed, with all Baloch separatist militants killed. Chaudhry stated that the attack was planned and directed by Baloch separatists based in Afghanistan. He revealed that the militants used satellite phones to communicate with their handlers in Afghanistan. He warned that this attack had “changed the rules of the game” and vowed to bring those responsible to justice. Click here to read more (external link).
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Horrific Child Killings and Public Outrage: Taliban Remain Silent
8am: In recent days, three shocking and horrifying incidents in the northeastern part of Afghanistan have sparked deep concerns among citizens. Kidnappers have removed the organs of a child in Badakhshan province and abandoned the body in a mountainous area. Meanwhile, in the Kunduz province, a man has beheaded his own child with a knife. Additionally, a Taliban fighter in Takhar province raped an 11-year-old girl and then killed her by stabbing her with a knife. While the Taliban consistently claim to ensure law and order in society, they have failed to prevent criminal activities. Human trafficking, child abduction, and other crimes have surged, and in some cases, members of the group themselves have been involved in kidnappings and murders of civilians. Click here to read more (external link).
Doctors Without Borders: Measles-Related Deaths in Afghanistan Triple
8am: Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has reported that, on average, one child dies daily in Afghanistan due to measles. In a report published on Wednesday, March 12, the organization stated that more than 4,000 suspected measles cases have been recorded in hospitals under its coverage in the provinces of Herat, Balkh, and Helmand since the beginning of this year. Click here to read more (external link).
Taliban Interior Minister Plotted Coup, Now in Hiding, Says Former Afghan Spy Chief
Sirajuddin Haqqani
Afghanistan International: Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s Interior Minister, has gone into hiding over fears of assassination, according to Ahmad Zia Saraj, former head of Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS). Saraj told Afghanistan International that Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada suspects Haqqani and several officials of plotting a coup. He believes foreign countries may have backed the alleged plot. To counter the threat, Akhundzada has stripped Haqqani of his powers and transferred his authority to Deputy Interior Minister Ibrahim Sadr. Similarly, Mullah Yaqub, the Defence Minister, has been sidelined. His powers were handed to Qayyum Zakir, a close ally of Akhundzada. Click here to read more (external link).
China, Pakistan Voice Concerns Over Presence Of Militant Groups In Afghanistan
Afghanistan International: China and Pakistan have expressed concern about militant threats from terror groups such as Treek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), and ISIS-Khorasan in Afghanistan. On Wednesday, Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, met with Yue Xiaoyong, China’s Special Representative for Afghanistan in Islamabad. They discussed regional security and geopolitical developments. Click here to read more (external link).
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Tolo News in Dari – March 12, 2025
Taliban Ban Women From Mosques In Kandahar & Herat During Ramadan Prayers
Afghanistan International: The Taliban’s morality police have banned women from praying in mosques in Kandahar and Herat, sources told Afghanistan International. On Monday night, during evening prayers, the Taliban expelled women from several mosques in Kandahar. Women in Herat also reported that since the start of Ramadan, the Taliban have blocked their access to mosques. They said that morality police now stand at mosque entrances, preventing them from attending Tarawih prayers. Many families in Herat and Kandahar condemned the Taliban’s actions. They called it an act of discrimination and hatred toward women. Click here to read more (external link).
Save the Children: 18 Health Centers Closed in Afghanistan
Tolo News: Save the Children has announced the closure of 18 health centers in Afghanistan and added that 14 more will be shut down in the coming month due to a reduction in foreign aid. In a report, the organization stated that it has also suspended life-saving programs for malnourished children due to funding cuts. This situation will lead to an increase in infectious diseases, worsening malnutrition, and a severe decline in maternal and newborn care. Ultimately, these factors will heighten the risk of maternal and infant mortality in the country,” said Rohullah Haris, a doctor in Kabul. Click here to read more (external link).
Cricket Ireland cancels Afghanistan series for ‘financial reasons’
Ariana: Ireland’s cricket board announced this week they have cancelled a multi-format series against Afghanistan scheduled for later this year. Cricket Ireland said in a statement issued on Tuesday that they were cancelling the series due to “financial reasons”. “One planned series that won’t go ahead for financial reasons is against Afghanistan. However, in the same statement Cricket Ireland confirmed a line up of action-packed cricket this summer. Click here to read more (external link).