8am: Following an increase in armed robberies in Kabul, a number of shopkeepers have expressed concern over the situation. Several shopkeepers in Kabul told Hasht-e Subh Daily on Wednesday, May 13, that armed robberies have increased in recent days. They said thefts from shops have also become more frequent, and that thieves have even stolen food items. Click here to read more (external link).
Amu: Nearly three-quarters of Afghanistan’s population remains unable to meet basic living needs, according to a new report by the UN Development Program, which warned that worsening economic pressures, mass returns from neighboring countries and severe drought conditions are deepening the country’s humanitarian crisis. The report found that 74 percent of Afghans were classified as “subsistence insecure” in 2025, meaning they faced serious deprivation in food, healthcare, housing, water and livelihoods. The figure remained unchanged from the previous year, underscoring what the report described as entrenched and widespread hardship across the country. The findings were published in the Afghanistan Socioeconomic Review 2024–2025 by the UN Development Program. Click here to read more (external link).
AFP, dpa: The European Commission has invited officials from Afghanistan’s Taliban to discuss the returns of certain migrants. It’s controversial on humanitarian grounds, and because Brussels doesn’t recognize Taliban authority. Click here to read more (external link).
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Khalilzad
Ariana: Former US special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad has accused Pakistan of continuing what he described as a long-standing “double game” in its relations with the United States, amid rising regional tensions involving Iran and Washington. In a statement posted on social media, Khalilzad alleged that Pakistan’s military leadership may have quietly permitted Iranian military aircraft to use Pakistani airfields in an effort to avoid potential US strikes. He said that if the reports are verified, such actions would fit a broader historical pattern in Islamabad’s policies toward Washington. “Working simultaneously with and against the US has been a pattern of Pakistani policies for the last 40 years,” Khalilzad wrote. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News: The Australian federal government has allocated 43.8 million Australian dollars in this year’s budget to investigate cases related to alleged war crimes committed by the country’s defense forces in Afghanistan. According to reports, the investigations are linked to incidents involving Australian forces in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2016. The Daily Mail reported that investigators are examining allegations of “serious misconduct” and violations of the laws of war, and if sufficient evidence is found, the cases will be referred to judicial authorities for prosecution. Click here to read more (external link).
Afghanistan International: The Taliban has published a new law allowing it to seize land deemed “state-owned”, including existing residential areas, and resell it to residents and property owners. After returning to power, the Taliban established a commission to prevent land grabbing and recover allegedly seized land. However, reports indicate the group has confiscated and registered thousands of acres of private land in various regions under the label of “state-owned” property. Click here to read more (external link).
Amu: Bost Region won the 2026 National T20 Cup on Wednesday after defeating Mis-e-Ainak Region by five wickets in the tournament final in Kunduz. The National T20 Cup, organized by the Afghanistan Cricket Board and sponsored by SuperCola, brought together regional teams from across the country and was held in Kunduz. The tournament is considered one of Afghanistan’s main domestic cricket competitions and serves as a platform for emerging players seeking selection to national and franchise-level teams. Click here to read more (external link).
Afghanistan International: United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said arrests and killings of former Afghan security personnel continued in early 2026, documenting 23 arbitrary detentions, nine torture cases and five killings. UNAMA said former government officials and members of the former Afghan National Defence and Security Forces were being forcibly deported to Afghanistan and faced rights abuses upon their return. Click here to read more (external link).
Amu: At least 372 civilians were killed and 397 wounded in Taliban-Pakistan clashes during the first three months of 2026, according to a new report by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. The report said most of the civilian casualties occurred after Pakistan launched what it called “Operation Ghazab al-Haq” on Feb. 26, following a series of militant attacks inside Pakistan that Islamabad blamed on armed groups operating from Afghanistan’s territory. The UN documented 95 separate incidents of cross-border violence between Jan. 1 and March 31, attributing 94 of them to Pakistani security forces and one to Taliban. Airstrikes accounted for nearly two-thirds of the civilian casualties, while the remaining deaths and injuries were caused mainly by cross-border artillery and mortar fire. According to the report, the casualties included 72 women, 554 men, 48 girls and 95 boys. The provinces with the highest numbers of casualties were Kabul, Kunar and Paktika. Click here to read more (external link).
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