Afghanistan International: The Afghanistan Freedom Front has claimed responsibility for Wednesday evening’s blast in Taloqan, saying one Taliban member was killed and three others wounded in an attack on the group’s city intelligence unit. In a statement on Thursday, 22 October, the front said a vehicle carrying Taliban members was also destroyed in the evening attack. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – October 22, 2026
UNICEF, UNESCO: Afghan male university enrollment down one-third since 2019
Amu: The number of male university students in Afghanistan has fallen by about one-third since 2019, while women have disappeared from formal higher education and the country’s university teaching workforce has contracted sharply, according to a new report by UNICEF and UNESCO. The Afghanistan Education Situation Report 2026 says about 208,000 male students were enrolled in higher education in 2026, down from an estimated 306,000 in 2019. Female enrollment, meanwhile, fell from about 119,000 in 2019 to 89,000 in 2022, almost zero in 2023 and zero from 2024 onward. The figures show that the contraction in higher education extends beyond the Taliban’s ban on women attending universities and includes a substantial decline in participation among men. Click here to read more (external link).
More Education News
UNAMA Confirms Attack on Staff Member in Afghanistan’s Bamyan
Khaama: The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) is gathering information about a security incident involving one of its staff members in Bamyan province, the mission said Thursday. A UNAMA spokesperson said the incident occurred on Wednesday evening and that the mission was still examining the details. The staff member was not injured and is safe, the spokesperson said. UNAMA has not yet released further details about the incident. The incident comes amid ongoing security concerns in Afghanistan, where despite the authorities’ claims of improved security, sporadic attacks, armed violence and unexplained security incidents continue to be reported in various parts of the country. Click here to read more (external link).
Afghanistan beat Bangladesh by seven wickets to reach tri-series final
Ariana: Afghanistan defeated Bangladesh by seven wickets to secure a place in Friday’s final of the UAE ODI Tri-Series against Zimbabwe, extending their winning streak against Bangladesh to five consecutive One-Day Internationals. The victory confirms Afghanistan’s place in Friday’s final against Zimbabwe, while Bangladesh have been eliminated from the tri-series. Click here to read more (external link).
Three Taliban Fighters Killed In Attack Near Kabul-North Highway, Says AFF
Afghanistan International: The Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) says its forces attacked a Taliban post in Parwan on Tuesday evening, claiming three Taliban members were killed and two others wounded. According to a statement from the Afghanistan Freedom Front, the attack took place in the Pul-e Matak area of Parwan province along the main Kabul-North highway. The AFF has also previously reported clashes with the Taliban in Kamdesh district of Nuristan province. The group said it had, for the first time, engaged Taliban forces in conventional frontline fighting in Badakhshan and Nuristan. Click here to read more (external link).
US Lawmaker Pushes To Restore Deportation Protections For 8,000 Afghans
Afghanistan International: US Democrat Sam Liccardo says he will use a parliamentary procedure to force a House vote on a bill aimed at preventing the deportation of more than 8,000 Afghans who lost temporary protected status. Republican House leaders have so far not allowed the bill to leave committee and come to a vote. Liccardo said in his statement: “Regardless of political differences, we ought to be able to agree on the critical importance of keeping our promises as a country”. He added: “America promised thousands of Afghans who risked their lives as interpreters, as informants, as other support roles to our military; they risked their lives with the expectation that we would not betray them and put them in harm’s way for doing so”. Click here to read more (external link).
Other Deportation News
Tolo News in Dari – October 21, 2026
Kidnappings on the Rise in Kandahar as Families Fear for Children’s Safety
8am: Local sources in Kandahar say kidnappings have increased in the province, raising concerns among residents, particularly families worried about their children’s safety. Speaking to the Hasht-e Subh Daily on Wednesday, October 21, sources said that alongside an increase in thefts and other crimes, kidnappers have been abducting children and adults from various parts of Kandahar city and demanding money from their families in exchange for their release. Meanwhile, Taliban officials in Kandahar have also acknowledged an increase in kidnappings in the province. Click here to read more (external link).
Six New Polio Cases Detected In Afghanistan
Child getting polio drops (file photo)
Afghanistan International: The United Nations says six new polio cases have been recorded in Kandahar, Nangarhar and Kabul, bringing Afghanistan’s total for 2026 to 42 ahead of World Polio Day. With the new cases, the number of people infected with the poliovirus in Afghanistan this year has risen to 42. Afghanistan has recorded seven times as many polio cases as Pakistan so far this year. Click here to read more (external link).