Times of India: In Afghanistan, the brutal tradition of Bacha Bazi—the sexual exploitation of young boys—continues to thrive despite official bans and international condemnation. Footage, shared by British journalist and writer David Patrikarakos on social media, showed boys forced to dance for the Taliban, a harrowing precursor to systematic abuse. After the Taliban took controlRead More...

By Sarah Zaman VOA News February 27, 2025 ISLAMABAD — Sana Safi, a young a doctor in Afghanistan, takes pride in her work, for she is among a shrinking group of female health experts in a country where women are banned from pursuing education or working in most sectors. “I am making a real difference in theRead More...

Ayaz Gul VOA News February 26, 2025 ISLAMABAD — Uzbekistan and Pakistan agreed to establish a tripartite committee with Afghanistan to address issues that are hindering the implementation of a proposed railway project connecting the three countries. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reported the development after delegation-level talks with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Tashkent, emphasizingRead More...

Afghanistan International: At least 15 people have died and 19 others have been injured following severe flooding in Helmand and Kandahar provinces, Taliban officials confirmed. The heavy rainfall and resulting floods have also caused extensive financial and infrastructural damage in both regions. On Wednesday, the Taliban’s police command in Kandahar issued a statement reporting thatRead More...

Amu: At least 21 people were killed after sudden flash floods swept through a mountainous area in Qala-e-Kah district of western Farah province, local sources told Amu. The victims, who had traveled to the area for leisure, were caught off guard when the floods surged unexpectedly, throwing them into a deep ravine, the sources said.Read More...

Amu: Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf, former jihadi leader and a senior member of the National Resistance Council for the Salvation of Afghanistan, has arrived in Iran for what Iranian media describe as a “medical visit.” Iranian state media reported Tuesday that during his visit, Sayyaf met with senior Iranian officials, though details of the discussionsRead More...

Afghanistan International: John Sopko, the former U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), stated that the United States has spent over $21 billion on Afghanistan since the Taliban’s return to power. Despite the suspension of U.S. foreign aid, Sopko revealed that the U.S. continues to send money to Afghanistan on a weekly basis. AccordingRead More...

Afghanistan International: Documents obtained by Afghanistan International reveal that Mohammad Yousuf Wafa, the Taliban governor of Balkh, has filed a formal complaint with the Taliban Supreme Court, calling for a military trial of Abbas Stanekzai, the group’s deputy foreign minister. Wafa accused Stanekzai of “disrespecting” Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and opposing his decrees. Click hereRead More...

Ariana: Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, a former jihadi leader, has expressed concern about the current situation in the country, saying Afghanistan faces “threats and gaps”. “We are facing significant gaps,” he said. “The country needs a heavy council. This is a void that needs to be filled. We need a legitimate government with clear responsibilities and powers.Read More...

Ayaz Gul VOA News February 24, 2025 ISLAMABAD — Afghanistan’s hard-line Taliban authorities publicly flogged 20 men and women Monday on charges of adultery, rape, and engaging in “illegitimate relations.” The Taliban’s Supreme Court reported that all defendants received sentences of 39 lashes each and prison terms ranging from one to seven years. The punishments wereRead More...

Afghanistan International: During his speech, Trump referred to an individual named “Doug” as the person responsible for overseeing the effort. The exact identity of the official remains unclear, but speculation suggests it could be Doug Manchester, a businessman and Republican donor. Afghanistan International reached out to the U.S. State Department for confirmation but has notRead More...



Afghanistan International: The Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) announced on Sunday that it had carried out an attack at the fourth gate of Bagram Airfield, killing three Taliban members and injuring two others. The AFF is one of the armed groups opposed to the Taliban and has previously claimed responsibility for attacks on Taliban checkpoints andRead More...

Khaama: Turkish police, after inspecting a freight vehicle in the city of Van, identified and arrested 69 undocumented Afghan refugees. According to the police report, five others were arrested on charges of human trafficking. The rising deportations of Afghan refugees across Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan reflect the heightened geopolitical pressures and the growing humanitarian challengesRead More...



By Ray Furlong Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty February 22, 2025 As Germany heads into pivotal federal elections on February 23, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is making unprecedented gains. But the party has also faced strong opposition from people who accuse it of exploiting a series of brutal attacks by migrants for political ends.Read More...

Amu: Afghanistan’s national cricket team suffered a 107-run defeat against South Africa in its opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy. Batting first, South Africa set a target of 316 runs, losing six wickets along the way. In response, Afghanistan managed only 208 runs before being bowled out, falling short of the chase. Afghanistan willRead More...

Amu: Amid reports of rising internal tensions, Abdul Kabir, the Taliban’s minister for refugees, has rejected the idea that leadership is open to all, emphasizing the authority of their reclusive leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada. Speaking at a gathering in Kabul on Thursday, Feb. 20, Kabir insisted that Akhundzada remains the recognized leader and that Taliban officialsRead More...

Afghanistan International: Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, has raised concerns over terrorist activity in Afghanistan, stating that the Taliban does not have full control over the country. In an exclusive interview with Canadian-American journalist Catherine Herridge, Rubio warned that contested governance in Afghanistan creates opportunities for terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda and ISISRead More...

Amu: The northeastern province of Kunduz has witnessed five attacks by anti-Taliban groups and a suicide bombing claimed by ISIS-K, marking a surge in security incidents over the past nine days, an Amu TV review has found. The attacks, attributed to the National Resistance Front (NRF) and the Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF), have primarily targetedRead More...

BBC: Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi says his players will ignore any potential distraction caused by the debate around their place at the Champions Trophy when they enter the tournament on Friday. Afghanistan play South Africa in Karachi – the first match in a group that also includes Australia and England. There have been calls forRead More...

Ayaz Gul VOA News February 20, 2025 Islamabad — Afghanistan’s radical Taliban leaders on Thursday rejected the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) over their country, declaring as ‘unlawful’ the decision in 2003 by their predecessors to join the Hague-based court’s founding treaty. The decision follows the ICC chief prosecutor’s announcement last month, seeking arrestRead More...

Afghanistan International: Mohammad Mohaqiq, leader of the People’s Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan, has stated that internal divisions within the Taliban could lead figures such as Sirajuddin Haqqani and Mullah Baradar to join the Vienna Process. Speaking in an interview with Afghanistan International on Tuesday, Mohaqiq, a participant in the Vienna Process, stressed that ifRead More...

Ayaz Gul VOA News February 19, 2025 Islamabad — Diplomats from Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban reported Wednesday that neighboring Pakistan is implementing a plan for the “imminent” and swift mass deportation of nearly three million Afghan refugees from its territory. The Taliban-operated embassy in Islamabad issued the statement, ending days of uncertainty about an ongoing police crackdownRead More...

Afghanistan International: Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s Interior Minister, has not returned to Afghanistan for nearly a month, despite earlier claims by the Taliban spokesperson that he had re-entered the country two weeks ago, sources told Afghanistan International on Monday. According to multiple sources, Haqqani remains outside Afghanistan due to his dissatisfaction with the unilateral decisionsRead More...

Amu: The fifth two-day meeting of opposition groups, known as the Vienna Conference, began on Tuesday, bringing together key anti-Taliban figures. Among the participants are Ahmad Massoud, leader of the National Resistance Front (NRF), and Yasin Zia, head of the Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF). Click here to read more (external link). More Massoud says comprehensiveRead More...

Ayaz Gul VOA News February 17, 2025 ISLAMABAD — The World Bank reported Monday that the economic recovery in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan remains precarious, beset by persistent challenges, including policy uncertainty, financial isolation, reduced foreign aid and fragile trade relations with neighboring Pakistan. The bank assessed in its latest report that persistent high poverty levels, unemployment, limitedRead More...

Tolo News: Abdul Mateen Qani, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, told TOLOnews that ISIS has been completely suppressed in Afghanistan and has no physical presence. The spokesperson added that, according to their information, recent ISIS attacks were planned outside Afghanistan’s borders, in neighboring countries. Qani said the Islamic Emirate is working to neutralizeRead More...

Al Jazeera: A Taliban delegation has arrived in Japan on what is the first visit by the group that rules Afghanistan, according to media in the East Asian country. The delegation, consisting of foreign affairs, education, economy and health officials, arrived on Sunday for a weeklong visit, the Asahi Shimbun newspaper reported. The visit isRead More...