
Afghan Resistance Leaders: Zia (left) and Massoud (right)
War on the Rocks: The anti-Taliban resistance has made real strides in its five years on the battlefield: The number of groups and the tempo of their claimed attacks have increased, despite lacking an overt state sponsor or an established cross-border military sanctuary. However, the resistance should unify and focus its combined efforts on securing a foothold in remote provinces like Badakhshan to offer itself as a viable governing alternative to the Taliban. Click here to read more (external link).
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Khaama: An Afghan woman who came to the United States as a Fulbright scholar in 2021 has been detained by U.S. immigration authorities in Michigan, weeks before she was due to attend an interview on her pending asylum application, according to her family, her employer and local media reports. Benazir Noorzad, 32, was preparing to board a flight to Virginia at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Thursday, October 22, when officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took her into custody, her brother, Matiullah Noorzad, told MLive.
Ariana: Afghanistan’s U-15 national football team advanced to Tier C of the 2026 FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival after finishing third in their six-team group with a 3-1 victory over Sudan in their final group-stage match. The win marked Afghanistan’s third victory in the competition, following earlier wins over Sierra Leone and Djibouti.
Afghanistan International: Several sources told Afghanistan International that the Taliban has recently begun reshuffling civilian and military officials across Badakhshan province. The changes have so far affected police commanders, district governors and intelligence chiefs. As part of the reshuffle, the Taliban has appointed new officials in Faizabad, Yaftal district and the Darwaz districts of Badakhshan. Sources said those appointed to civilian and military positions in the Darwaz districts were close associates of Ghulamullah Ahmadi, deputy commander of the Taliban’s military division in Badakhshan. Experts view the frequent and rapid reshuffling of Taliban officials in Badakhshan as a sign of the group’s concerns over maintaining control of the province. They believe anti-Taliban resistance groups are gaining strength and that the Taliban is preparing for the possibility of widespread clashes next spring. 
