ESPN: Afghanistan have appointed former Ireland allrounder John Mooney as their new fielding coach, and Nirmalan Thanabalasingam as the new physiotherapist. John Mooney joins the Afghanistan team ahead of the UAE tri-series starting August 29. Click here to read more (external link).
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8am: Sources in Kabul report an increase in financial corruption in the Taliban municipality’s procurement projects and say that the transparency process in awarding these projects to companies is practically being violated. These sources also emphasize that the conditions stated in the tender documents have been illegally changed, and arbitrary modifications have been applied to make it easier for companies close to the Taliban municipality to win. They add that the Taliban mayor’s associates extort money from projects and circumvent legal processes to favor their preferred companies. According to the sources, in addition to this, rampant construction and elimination of green spaces in various areas of Kabul are worse than in the past, and no attention is paid to protecting green areas. Sources in Kabul say that financial corruption in the Taliban municipality’s procurement projects has increased dramatically. Click here to read more (external link).
Khalilzad
8am: Khalilzad, an Afghan-born American diplomat, has undoubtedly been influenced by this prevailing anti-Pakistan spirit in Afghan politics—especially since his formal involvement in Afghanistan’s conflict on behalf of the United States, where he closely followed Islamabad’s role. For Khalilzad, deploying anti-Pakistan rhetoric becomes particularly convenient when he confronts the depth of Afghan public discontent with his own record. In the eyes of most politicians and citizens, his role in the collapse of the Republic and the Taliban’s return to power is undeniable and prominent. So prominent, in fact, that critics often judge him more with their emotions than with reasoned analysis. Click here to read more (external link).
Ariana: The Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) has released the schedule for the 2025 Nations Cup, which will run from 29 August to 8 September in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Afghanistan has been drawn in Group B, based in Dushanbe, alongside host nation Tajikistan, regional powerhouse Iran, and guest team India. Afghanistan will open its campaign against Iran on 29 August, a challenging fixture against the highest-ranked side in the tournament. Their second match will be on 1 September against India, followed by a clash with hosts Tajikistan on 4 September. Click here to read more (external link).
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Afghanistan International: The Taliban say they have confiscated more than 1,400 acres of land in Logar province, classifying it as state property. No independent body exists in Afghanistan to hear complaints from citizens who allege the Taliban are forcibly seizing private property under the guise of land reclamation. Click here to read more (external link).
Muttaqi
Afghanistan International: A planned gathering of Afghan anti-Taliban figures in Islamabad has been postponed following strong objections from the group, according to a report by the Pakistani daily The Nation. The newspaper said Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi raised concerns with his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, during a meeting in Kabul on 20 August. Sources cited by the paper suggested the Taliban regime was displeased that Afghan opposition members had been invited by the Islamabad-based South Asian Strategic Stability Institute, leading to the delay. Click here to read more (external link).
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Khaama: The Afghanistan national football team recorded a morale-boosting 1–0 victory over Tajikistan’s U-23 side in a friendly match held in Dushanbe. The match was part of the team’s preparation for the upcoming Central Asia Championship. The team’s first official test in the Central Asia Championship is scheduled against Iran on Friday. Facing one of the region’s strongest footballing nations will serve as a key measure of Afghanistan’s progress. Click here to read more (external link).
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