KABUL – China has restarted its direct rail freight service to Afghanistan, a move that underscores strengthening economic ties as the Taliban solidifies its governance. The new route, launched on October 31 from the Chinese city of Nantong near Shanghai, marks a strategic push in China’s regional logistics efforts, tapping …

By Rafiullah Anwari Americans will go to the polls to vote for their preferred candidate On Tuesday, November 5. The main contenders in this U.S. presidential election are former President Donald Trump from the Republican Party and current Vice President Kamala Harris from the Democratic Party, alongside three other candidates: …

KABUL – As the U.S. election approaches, both major presidential candidates remain noticeably silent on Afghanistan—a topic that once dominated headlines and defined American foreign policy. Despite the United States’ 20-year involvement and the chaotic withdrawal in August 2021, neither Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, nor Donald J. Trump, her …

KABUL – In a newly released report, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has revealed that Afghanistan has received approximately $6.7 billion in humanitarian aid since the Taliban seized power in August 2021. The funding, peaking at $3.3 billion in 2022, has been critical in …

KABUL – The Taliban-controlled Ministry of Education in Afghanistan announced on Monday the start of registration for the 2024 university entrance exams, known as the Kankor, but for the third consecutive year, female students remain prohibited from registering. Only male high school and religious seminary graduates are eligible to apply. …

KABUL – In Istanbul, the two-day “National Dialogue Process” meeting of Afghan political leaders and influencers concluded on Friday. Supported by Turkey, the high-profile gathering brought together former Afghan government officials and figures associated with the Taliban to discuss Afghanistan’s tumultuous political landscape. Despite intense discussions behind closed doors, the …

KABUL — The unrecognized Taliban government in Afghanistan has detained prominent political commentator and former university lecturer Jawed Mohmand, escalating concerns over an intensified crackdown on dissent. Mohmand was reportedly taken by Taliban intelligence agents outside his Kabul residence on October 19, according to his family. A relative, speaking under …

KABUL – In a tragic attack targeting a polio vaccination team in Pakistan’s western city of Mastung, a bombing near a girls’ school has killed seven people, including five children and a police officer. The blast occurred in Balochistan’s main market area on Friday, as police provided security for health …

KABUL – In a sweeping move that further restricts the rights of Afghan women, the Taliban regime has issued a decree prohibiting women from praying aloud in the presence of one another. Announced by Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, Taliban minister for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, the …

KABUL – At least two Taliban border forces were reportedly injured in a fierce exchange of gunfire with Iranian border forces early Wednesday, Afghan media sources confirm. The altercation erupted when Iranian forces allegedly opened fire on Afghan smugglers attempting to cross the border into Iran. No official statements have …