Hamid Karzai
Ariana: Karzai said in a statement: “While I consider universal education vital, I once again emphasize that the doors of schools and universities must be opened to girls as soon as possible. By providing opportunities for education and learning to young people—both girls and boys—the country’s problems and needs can be resolved by the capable hands of its own children, and Afghanistan can be freed from external dependence.” Click here to read more (external link).
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Amu: Afghanistan ranked 175th out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, maintaining one of the lowest positions globally as press freedoms remain severely restricted under Taliban rule, according to Reporters Without Borders. Within Afghanistan, access to independent information is increasingly restricted, with many people relying on foreign or exile-based media when internet access is available, the organization said. Click here to read more (external link).
Amu: The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) imposed four-month bans on Samiullah Shinwari, Aftab Alam and Mohammad Shahzad, barring them from all domestic and international cricket during that period, the report said. The suspensions stem from the players’ participation in the Legends League Cricket in India without obtaining a required no-objection certificate (NOC) from the ACB, which regulates players’ involvement in overseas tournaments. Click here to read more (external link).
8am: Some residents of Mazar-i-Sharif, the center of Balkh province, have expressed concern over rising theft and insecurity in various parts of the city. They say they do not feel safe or confident about their security when leaving their homes. According to them, the Taliban are not only unable to ensure security in the city but are themselves a source of fear and concern for the people. This comes as residents of Kabul and Herat, as well as several other provinces, have previously also expressed serious concern over the rise in armed robberies. Click here to read more (external link).
DW: An attack on a Shiite place of worship in Herat killed least 11 people. While the Taliban have pledged protection, a sense of structural vulnerability is growing within the Shiite community. “The Taliban’s ultra-conservative Sunni interpretation of Islam labels Shiite Muslims as heretics. This characterization contributes to their vulnerability and increases their exposure to communal violence,”… Click here to read more (external link).
Amu: World football’s governing body has approved a landmark rule change allowing Afghanistan’s women footballers to represent their country in official international matches, a move described as unprecedented in global sport. The decision by the FIFA Council enables female players from Afghanistan — including members of the FIFA-supported Afghan Women United team — to compete in international fixtures under FIFA competitions, despite the inability of the country’s football federation to field a women’s team. Click here to read more (external link).
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Khaama: Andrey Belousov has warned that Afghanistan continues to be a major source of cross-border crime and terrorist threats, highlighting growing regional security concerns. Speaking at a meeting of defense ministers from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Belousov described the situation in Afghanistan as unstable and stressed the need for coordinated regional efforts to address emerging risks. Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, Afghanistan has faced deep economic challenges, security incidents, and limited international recognition, all of which have contributed to persistent instability and humanitarian pressures. Click here to read more (external link).
Taliban militants (file photo)
Afghanistan International: The Taliban’s justice ministry says a land recovery commission has identified more than 415 acres of land in Kabul’s District 16 as state property, with a court ordering the plots be handed over for restitution. This process continues despite the absence of any independent and impartial body in Afghanistan to handle complaints from citizens who say the Taliban have forcibly taken their land and registered it under “emirate” ownership. Click here to read more (external link).