Latest Updates

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 …

KABUL – The Taliban have allegedly “threatened” Herat University faculty members with imprisonment for failing to maintain a beard of a specific length, sources close to the matter report. During a meeting held on October 29, a representative from the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice …

KABUL – In a significant economic development, Iranian officials have announced that the annual trade volume between Afghanistan and Iran has surpassed the $4 billion mark. During a visit to Taybad on Monday, Alireza Marhamati, Iran’s Consul General in Herat, emphasized Afghanistan’s pivotal role as Iran’s most important economic partner. …

KABUL – Iran Airtour, a private Iranian airline, inaugurated its first direct flights to Kabul, Afghanistan, on Monday, marking a significant step in regional air connectivity. This move positions Iran Airtour as the fifth Iranian airline to begin operations in Afghanistan since the Taliban’s return to power. Taliban officials from …

KABUL – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, has released a harrowing report that details extensive abuses under Taliban rule, including allegations of sexual violence against detained women. The report draws on credible testimonies, describing how women accused of wearing “inappropriate” hijab were detained …