Latest Updates

KABUL – The Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, has issued an ultimatum to domestic and international NGOs operating in Afghanistan, demanding they operate under Taliban supervision or cease operations entirely. The directive, delivered during a high-level meeting in Kandahar last week, includes mandatory Taliban access to NGO budgets and administrative …

KABUL – Afghanistan’s economy remains under significant strain, with the World Bank warning of an “uncertain” future despite modest GDP growth of 2.7 percent, primarily driven by private consumption. This recovery has offset only about 10 percent of the country’s previous economic losses. The Afghanistan Development Update outlines persistent challenges, …

KABUL – Norway has declared it will not accredit any new Afghan envoy appointed by the Taliban, citing grave concerns over the regime’s worsening restrictions on women and girls. The announcement marks a significant diplomatic stance against the Taliban, who seized control of Afghanistan in 2021 but remain unrecognized internationally. …

KABUL – Rural Afghanistan is experiencing a worsening healthcare crisis as the Taliban’s ban on female medical education exacerbates the shortage of female healthcare professionals. With access to female doctors, nurses, and midwives severely restricted, millions of women are left without essential medical services. Unofficial estimates indicate the ban has …

KABUL – The Taliban are radically transforming Afghanistan’s education system, imposing a deeply conservative version of Islam that is reshaping school and university curricula nationwide. Over the past three years, thegroup has restructured educational content to align with their strict interpretations, systematically removing subjects related to human rights, women’s rights, …

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 …