Afghanistan Times

KABUL – The Taliban are claiming that practical work on the Afghanistan section of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) natural gas pipeline project has officially begun. Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), told Ariana News that technical equipment required for the project has been transferred to the border …

KABUL – The European Union has strongly denounced the Taliban following reports that Afghanistan’s leadership has ordered public and private institutions to halt medical education for women and girls. This marks yet another blow to women’s rights under the Taliban regime. According to multiple media outlets, five institutions have already …

KABUL – The Taliban government is reportedly preparing to prohibit women from enrolling in nursing and midwifery courses, according to news agency AFP, which cited senior staff at several educational institutions. The move follows an edict from the Taliban’s supreme leader, sources said, though no formal announcement has been made. …

KABUL – In the heart of a city scarred by decades of conflict, an unlikely economic surge is unfolding—luxury housing in Kabul is experiencing an unprecedented boom. Real estate agents report soaring property values as improved security and stability attract buyers with deep pockets. Omidullah, a Kabul-based agent, is marketing …

KABUL – The UK’s chargé d’affaires to Afghanistan, Robert C. Dickson, has condemned the Taliban’s decision to ban women from pursuing medical education, describing it as a devastating blow to women’s rights and healthcare access in the country. “I am deeply concerned about new reports that the Taliban will deny …

KABUL – Nearly one-third of Afghanistan’s population is expected to face severe food insecurity this winter, as millions grapple with the compounded effects of poverty, harsh weather, and rising food prices. Aid agencies estimate that around 15 million people will require food assistance to survive, with children facing the most …

KABUL – The Taliban authorities in Afghanistan’s northeastern Badakhshan province have arrested more than 100 farmers for cultivating poppies, the primary source of opium. The arrests were part of an intensified crackdown as Afghanistan grapples with soaring opium production despite the Taliban’s 2021 ban on poppy farming. Shafiqullah Hafizi, the …

KABUL – Afghanistan’s academic community is facing new restrictions as the Taliban prohibit university lecturers from pursuing higher studies abroad without explicit permission from the country’s supreme leader, Mullah Haibatullah. This directive marks another blow to the country’s already strained higher education system, further isolating it from global academic advancements. …

KABUL – Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel is set to testify before the Bundestag’s Afghanistan inquiry committee on December 5. Her testimony marks the culmination of a series of high-profile hearings examining Germany’s chaotic response to the Taliban’s unexpected seizure of Kabul in August 2021. The inquiry seeks to uncover …

KABUL – A Taliban environment official has urged for Afghanistan’s continued participation in global climate negotiations after the country’s first attendance at COP29 in Baku under Taliban leadership. Matiul Haq Khalis, director general of Afghanistan’s National Environmental Protection Agency, emphasized the importance of Afghanistan’s presence at future conferences during a …