Times of India: On the outskirts of Herat in western Afghanistan, one settlement drew international attention in 2022 after reports emerged that many residents had sold a kidney to survive deepening poverty and hunger. The area became widely known as the “one-kidney village,” a grim reflection of the humanitarian crisis that followed Afghanistan’s economic collapse
8am: Some residents of Mazar-i-Sharif, the center of Balkh province, have expressed concern over rising theft and insecurity in various parts of the city. They say they do not feel safe or confident about their security when leaving their homes. According to them, the Taliban are not only unable to ensure security in the city
Afghanistan International: Local sources in Herat say Taliban forces have detained 13 former members of Afghanistan’s previous security forces, with no explanation given for the arrests. Despite declaring a general amnesty, the Taliban have been widely accused of detaining, torturing and killing former security forces. Click here to read more (external link).
Amu: Hundreds of people gathered in the western city of Herat on Tuesday to protest a deadly attack on civilians, but Taliban restricted the scale of the demonstrations, according to local sources. The rally followed a shooting on Friday, April 10, in Injil district, where gunmen opened fire on civilians near a shrine, killing at
8am: Sources told Hasht-e-Subh Daily on Saturday, April 11, that the cleric was named “Sheikh Azimi” and had previously been arrested twice by the Taliban. According to sources, the exact reason for his arrest is still unclear, but in the past, he was once arrested for holding a Muharram ceremony and another time for organizing
Amu: Sources say 12 people were killed and 20 others wounded in a shooting in western Afghanistan’s Herat province on Friday, April 10, in an attack that appeared to target civilians visiting a religious site. The assault took place in the Deh Miri area of Injil district in Herat, where a shrine draws visitors, many
8am: Sources say that employees of the Herat Provincial Environmental Protection Directorate, under Taliban control, are deeply concerned about pressure from Abdulali Muttaqi, the Taliban’s newly appointed head of the department. According to the sources, this Taliban official exerts pressure on staff under various pretexts to force them to resign so that he can replace
Amu: Residents and shopkeepers in Herat say prices for food and other basic goods have risen sharply following US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which have disrupted trade flows into western Afghanistan. Herat, which relies heavily on imports through the Islam Qala border crossing with Iran, has felt the effects quickly, residents said. Many consumer
8am: In several areas of Herat, residents speak of widespread extortion by local strongmen who exploit humanitarian aid and charity programs. According to residents, these strongmen demand a share from each family in return for introducing needy and eligible households to aid organizations. Those who refuse to pay are excluded from beneficiary lists and denied
Amu: Taliban authorities in the western province of Herat have seized hundreds of rickshaws from city streets in recent days as part of a campaign to regulate traffic, local sources said. Taliban officials say the move is aimed at easing congestion and improving urban order, but rickshaw owners and drivers warned it could leave many