Most ISKP leaders have found operational sanctuary in Pakistan, says Khalilzad

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Khalilzad

Ariana: Former U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, has raised concerns over the growing presence of Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) leaders operating from Pakistan. In a post on X on Friday, Khalilzad said that Abdul Malik, a senior ISKP figure and key planner of attacks, was killed on August 8 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Click here to read more (external link).

Russia says over 23,000 foreign fighters active in Afghanistan

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Amu: Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu said in a newly published article that Moscow estimates more than 23,000 fighters from about 20 international militant groups are currently operating in Afghanistan, posing a serious threat to regional and global security. Writing in the government newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Shoigu identified ISIS-K as the most concerning group, citing its military bases and training camps spread across eastern, northern, and northeastern Afghanistan. Click here to read more (external link).

Afghanistan to Face Iran in Central Asian Championship Opener

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Khaama: Afghanistan’s national football team will play its first Central Asian Championship match against Iran in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, aiming for a strong performance and regional recognition. The Afghanistan national football team is set to play its first match in the Central Asian Championship against Iran today, Friday, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. According to the tournament schedule, the match will kick off at 4:30 p.m. local time at the central stadium in Dushanbe, drawing both excitement and anticipation. Click here to read more (external link).

Other Sports News

 

Pakistan Airstrikes Hit Nangarhar and Khost, Civilians Killed, Injured

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Tolo News: Pakistani drones once again carried out airstrikes on parts of Nangarhar and Khost provinces last night (Wednesday). According to reports, in the Pakistani airstrike on the Spera district of Khost, three children lost their lives and five others were wounded. In a similar attack on the Ghanikhel district of Nangarhar, six people were also injured. Click here to read more (external link).

Related

Taliban Leader Reportedly Pressures Hamid Karzai Into Exile

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Karzai

Afghanistan International: Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has urged former Afghan President Hamid Karzai to leave the country, according to sources familiar with the matter. The demand followed a secretly recorded conversation in which Karzai allegedly described himself as Akhundzada’s greatest political threat, saying his presence could mark the end of the Taliban chief’s rule. Click here to read more (external link).

Afghanistan, Pakistan, UAE to Play Sharjah Tri-Nation Series Before Asia Cup

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Khaama: Afghanistan, Pakistan, and UAE begin a tri-nation cricket series in Sharjah from August 29 to September 7, serving as vital preparation for the Asia Cup 2025. A three-nation cricket series featuring Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates will begin tomorrow, August 29, at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Afghanistan will face Pakistan in the opening match. The tournament will run until September 7 in a round-robin format, with each team playing the others twice. The top two sides will qualify for the final on September 7. Click here to read more (external link).

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Root of Pakistan’s policy toward Afghanistan is Durand Line, says Khalilzad

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Khalilzad

Ariana: In an exclusive interview with Ariana News, Khalilzad said: “Pakistan tries to solve Afghanistan’s internal problems by first creating those problems, and then presenting itself to the world as a power capable of resolving them. This approach, which has been practiced over the past several decades, still continues. The root of Pakistan’s policy is the issue of the Durand Line.” Click here to read more (external link).

Are the Taliban Helping Pakistan Suppress the TTP in Exchange for Blocking an Opposition Meeting?

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8am: Relations between Afghanistan’s Taliban and Pakistan, once described as those of “longstanding friends,” have entered a turbulent phase since the Taliban’s return to power in Kabul in August 2021. Pakistan, once a key sponsor of the Taliban, now faces a growing threat from Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). This militant group uses Afghan soil to stage deadly attacks on Pakistani security forces. Despite diplomatic efforts from repeated visits by Pakistani officials to Kabul to Islamabad’s formal complaints at the United Nations, no progress has been made in curbing the TTP. Yet in August 2025, a sudden spike in TTP casualties coincided with the postponement of an anti-Taliban opposition gathering in Islamabad, raising a pressing question: Has a covert arrangement emerged between the Afghan Taliban and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)? Click here to read more (external link).