10 Taliban Members Killed In Badakhshan, Says Anti-Taliban Group

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Afghanistan International: The Afghanistan Freedom Front said at least 10 Taliban members were killed and six wounded in clashes on Tuesday in Zebak district, Badakhshan, adding that foreign militants were among the casualties. Afghanistan Freedom Front said in a statement on Wednesday, 26 August, that a new round of fighting began on Tuesday afternoon between its forces and Taliban reinforcements sent to front-line positions in Zebak district. It said the clashes continued until 10pm. Click here to read more (external link).

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US Must Honour Commitments To Afghan Allies, Says Former US Official

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Afghanistan International: Former US Deputy Secretary of State Uzra Zeya urged Washington to honour commitments to Afghan allies, ease restrictive refugee and resettlement policies, restore humanitarian aid and ensure Afghan women have a role in US policy. Click here to read more (external link).

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Teacher Who Criticised Taliban ‘Detained’ In Herat

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Afghanistan International: Sources told Afghanistan International that Nawidullah Fitrat, a teacher and Taliban critic, was detained by the Taliban in Herat on Wednesday after recently speaking out against the group’s policies and actions. According to information received by Afghanistan International, Fitrat was detained in Herat city on Wednesday morning, 26 August. Sources said the Taliban also detained a family for hosting him. Several days earlier, Nawidullah Fitrat published a video on his Facebook page accusing the Taliban of placing a religious mask over ethnic objectives and calling on the group to separate religion from politics. Click here to read more (external link).

Germany Deports 30 Afghans to Kabul in Latest Charter Flight

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Khaama: The deportation flight departed from Leipzig/Halle Airport and marked Germany’s latest forced return operation to Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. German authorities said the operation primarily targeted Afghan nationals who had been ordered to leave the country, particularly those with criminal convictions or considered security threats. However, German media reported that some of the deported Afghans did not have criminal records, raising renewed criticism from refugee advocates and human rights organizations over the government’s deportation policy. Click here to read more (external link).

Abdullah Sarhadi Admits Direct Role in Destruction of Bamiyan Buddhas, BBC Reports

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Destroyed Buddha Statue

Khaama: A former Bamyan governor and commander has told the BBC that he personally took part in the destruction of the historic Bamiyan Buddha statues and says he has no regrets over the act. The BBC reported on Monday that Abdullah Sarhadi, a former Taliban military commander in Bamiyan during the group’s first rule, said he destroyed the giant Buddha statues with his own hands during the demolition ordered by the Taliban government in March 2001. After initially refusing to answer questions about the destruction, Sarhadi eventually told the BBC: “I destroyed them with my own hands.” Click here to read more (external link).

Wahab says US should pursue diplomacy with Afghanistan regardless of who is in power

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Aisha Wahab

Amu: Aisha Wahab, an Afghan American member-elect of Congress, says the United States should pursue diplomacy and maintain a relationship with Afghanistan “regardless of which group is in power,” while criticizing restrictions on women and girls under Taliban rule. She also said Afghanistan needs other allies and criticized what she described as “warlord groups” seeking power outside the Taliban. “There are a lot of different warlord groups that want power that are not the Taliban too,” Wahab said. “And I think that each of them are deeply, deeply failed and misguided in the sense that they are not doing what’s right for the country; they are doing what’s right for themselves.” Wahab also criticized US support for such groups in the past. Click here to read more (external link).

Sources: Taliban Fighters in Kandahar Injure Child by Striking Him in the Eye with a Stone

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8am: Sources in Kandahar say Taliban fighters in Spin Boldak district of the province injured a child by striking him in the eye with a stone. The sources told The Hasht-e Subh Daily on Monday, August 24, that the incident occurred on Sunday evening. According to the information, Taliban fighters stationed at the Boldak Gate struck the child in the eye with a stone. This comes as numerous reports of beatings and mistreatment of civilians by Taliban fighters have emerged from across Afghanistan. Click here to read more (external link).

Life Under Taliban Rule