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ICC Issues Warrant Against Taliban Chief Over Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan

July 10, 2025, 1:45 pm

The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants against two high-ranking Taliban leaders—supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada and chief justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani—on the charge of crimes against humanity for the systematic persecution of Afghan women and girls.

In a Tuesday statement, the ICC stated that there were “reasonable grounds to believe” that the two leaders masterminded and implemented policies that denied Afghan women basic rights, such as education, work, freedom of movement, expression, and religion.

Policies Charged with Building Gender Apartheid

The court noted that ever since the Taliban takeover on August 15, 2021, the regime has come up with a series of repressive actions against women. These include the prohibition of girls going to secondary schools, the exclusion of women from employment in most industries, and the limitation of their access to public areas.

All these practices, the rights organizations say, have resulted in a regime of gender apartheid and pushed Afghan women into social and political invisibility.

Global Response Welcomes ICC Action

Canadian-based Afghan women’s rights activist Tahera Nasiri welcomed the ICC action, stating it was a long-overdue acknowledgment of the abuse Afghan women have suffered.
Four years, they’ve been telling us to shut up, stay indoors, hide our faces, abandon education, voices and dreams. And now an international court is saying: ‘Enough. This is a crime,'” she explained in an interview with The Guardian.

Nasiri further explained that the warrants designate the Taliban leaders as international criminals.
“Even if Akhundzada and Haqqani never appear before a court, they now bear the stigma of international criminals. They are no longer merely leaders of Afghanistan; they are wanted men,” she remarked.

Criminal Responsibility for Gender-Based Crimes

The head prosecutor of the ICC, Karim Khan, opened the request for the warrants in January 2025. When making the announcement, he stated:
“Our commitment to pursuing accountability for gender-based crimes, including gender persecution, is an absolute priority.”

The Taliban commanders are “criminally responsible” for enacting policies that systematically violate the rights of Afghan girls and women, Khan said.

Human Rights Groups Appeal for International Action

Human Rights Watch welcomed the ICC decision as a watershed for worldwide accountability. “The senior Taliban leaders are now men wanted for their alleged persecution of women, girls and gender non-conforming individuals,” the organisation’s director of international justice, Liz Evenson, said.

She called on the international community to stand behind the ICC and see that perpetrators of gender-based atrocities are brought to justice.

Uncertain Future for Afghan Women

As strong as the ICC’s stance has been, it remains to be seen whether the warrants will bring about any real change on the ground in Afghanistan. The Taliban regime has refused to accept the jurisdiction of international institutions such as the ICC.

Still, for many Afghan women and advocates, the move represents a symbolic victory and a call to the world to stop ignoring their plight under a regime accused of systematically erasing their existence

ICC Issues Arrest Warrants For Taliban Supreme Leader & Senior Leader Over Crimes Against Women

July 9, 2025, 3:02 am

Arrest warrants have been issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for two senior leaders of the Taliban on charges of crimes against humanity for systematic persecution of women and girls in Afghanistan.

In a Tuesday statement, the ICC stated that there were “reasonable grounds to believe” that Taliban Supreme Leader Haibatullah Akhundzada and Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani were behind policies that dramatically curtailed the rights of Afghan women and girls. These include prohibitions on education, employment, freedom of movement, and expression, and the dismantling of privacy and family life.

The court stated these crimes were committed between August 2021, when the Taliban retook control, and January 2025, when Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan issued the warrants formally.

Afghan human rights activists welcomed the gesture as a milestone. “This is a recognition of our suffering,” said Tahera Nasiri, a women’s rights activist who now resides in Canada. “The Taliban instructed us to vanish. Now the world is telling them: This is a crime.

Even though it is not certain that the warrants will ever be executed, the move is the first time there has been a formal indictment of senior Taliban officials with international crimes. “They’re no longer just political leaders they’re fugitives,” Nasiri said.

Since 2021, women have been prohibited by the Taliban from attending secondary school, public places, and the vast majority of paid work. The UN and other global agencies have denounced their policies as institutionalized gender persecution, and a few activists are calling for their actions to be officially recognized globally as gender apartheid.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have called on ICC states to move fast. “These men need to be held responsible,” stated HRW’s Liz Evesson.

Former Taliban captive Parwana Nijrabi added: “It may not be easy to arrest them, but this is an important step toward justice for Afghan women.”

Pakistan Army Kills 30 Militants at Afghan Border, Links Attack to TTP

July 4, 2025, 3:45 pm

Pakistan military kills 30 terrorists close to the Afghanistan border in North Waziristan, a week after a fatal suicide attack killed 16 troops. The Pakistan military says the attackers were from the Pakistan Taliban or its affiliated organisations and blames both India and Afghanistan for facilitating cross-border terrorism.

Russia, on its part, has emerged as the first country to officially accept the Taliban-led administration in Kabul, further adding to regional complexity.

Border Clash Follows Deadly Attack

Pakistan’s armed forces reported on Friday, July 4, that they killed 30 militants who tried to infiltrate from Afghanistan over the last three days. The operation came after a deadly suicide attack in North Waziristan last week killed 16 soldiers. The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also referred to as the Pakistan Taliban, took responsibility for that attack.

The military called the recent attempt at infiltration a “potential catastrophe” that the soldiers had foiled. “The security forces exhibited top-notch professionalism, high alertness, and readiness,” quoted a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). It further said that huge stocks of weapons, ammunition, and explosives were also recovered during the operation.

Pakistan Blames India and Afghanistan

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif had hailed the troops for having foiled the militant infiltration. He also accused both India and Afghanistan of harboring and subsidizing terrorist organizations that attack Pakistan.

The Pakistani forces also accused India of supporting the TTP and its splinter groups, indicating an extensive partnership in a regional plan to destabilize Pakistan. Islamabad has consistently faulted Kabul for not preventing such organizations from operating along the border.

Russia Recognises Taliban Government

In another turn of events for the region’s geopolitics, Russia formally recognised the Taliban as Afghanistan’s rightful government. On Thursday, Moscow received the credentials of an incoming Afghan ambassador.

Russia’s foreign ministry stated that the move would strengthen bilateral relations and foster cooperation in several fields. This step makes Russia the first nation to officially recognize the Taliban government, which took office following the US withdrawal four years ago.

The border continues to be a flashpoint as Islamabad struggles with increasing attacks. With 30 militants killed and accusations flying, Pakistan-India, as well as Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, could become worse.

Meanwhile, Russia’s official entry into the world of Taliban diplomacy might reorient diplomatic equations in South and Central Asia.

Russia Becomes First Nation To Recognize Taliban Government In Diplomatic Breakthrough

July 4, 2025, 1:20 am

Russia has officially welcomed a new Afghan ambassador appointed by the Taliban, becoming the first nation to officially recognize the Taliban regime since it captured Afghanistan in August 2021.

The move, which was announced Thursday by the Russian Foreign Ministry, represents a major diplomatic breakthrough for the Taliban regime, which has had difficulty securing international legitimacy. “We believe the action of official recognition of the government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will give impetus to the development of productive bilateral cooperation,” the ministry said in an announcement.

Moscow stated it believes there exists high potential for the growth of cooperation with Kabul, especially in fields like counter-terrorism, anti-narcotics, energy, transportation, and agriculture. Moscow also made a commitment to further backing Afghanistan’s security requirements.

Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi welcomed the gesture and referred to it as a “courageous step” and hoped that it would be the inspiration for other countries.

Although no state ever granted official recognition to the Taliban, a number of states, including China, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and the UAE, have posted ambassadors to Kabul, which suggests increasing diplomatic activity.

Russia’s initiative arrives as the Taliban has continued to pursue relief from international sanctions and frozen funds. The US has withheld billions from the Afghan central bank and sanctioned Taliban officials on grounds of human rights issues, specifically the restriction of women and girls.

Moscow’s move comes after its gradual rapprochement with the Taliban. Last April, Russia ended its years-long ban on the group, which it had declared a terrorist organization in 2003. Afghanistan has since 2022 been importing fuel, wheat, and other products from Russia.

Russia points to a mutual interest in counterterrorism, especially following the fatal ISIS-K bombing this year in Moscow. The Taliban says it is working hard to counter the Islamic State’s presence in Afghanistan.

Although the diplomatic turn has come, Western countries are still wary, calling for reforms on women’s rights before granting recognition.

Taliban PM Issues Bold Amnesty Offer: Will Afghans Dare to Return?

June 7, 2025, 9:21 pm

Over the weekend, Taliban Prime Minister Mohammad Hassan Akhund issued an amnesty pledge to Afghans who had left the country since the collapse of the Western-backed government. In a message for the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha, also referred to as the “Feast of Sacrifice,” Akhund promised that those who return will be safe.

“Afghans who are outside the country should come back to their nation,” Akhund wrote on the social network X, “No one will harm them.” He also urged, “Return to your fatherland and reside in an environment of peace.” The prime minister also directed officials to provide returning refugees with suitable shelter and care.

Regional and International Pressures Weigh on Afghan Diaspora

The amnesty move is just a short while after US President Donald Trump placed a general travel ban on 12 nations, including Afghanistan. The restrictions substantially curtail Afghans’ chances of moving to the United States permanently or visiting temporarily, for instance, to pursue studies. A central refugee resettlement program was suspended earlier in January by Trump, which meant that much of the US assistance to Afghans who had sided with American troops was brought to an end, leaving tens of thousands stranded.

At the same time, many Afghans living in neighboring Pakistan face a deportation campaign led by the Islamabad government. Nearly one million Afghans have fled Pakistan since October 2023, attempting to avoid arrests and forced expulsions.

Taliban Leader Criticizes Media and Reaffirms Islamic Governance

In addition to the amnesty, Akhund also condemned the media for propagating “false judgments” regarding the policies and regime of the Taliban. He called for, “We must not let the torch of the Islamic system be put out,” and also demanded that the media refrain from downplaying the achievements of the government. “Although difficulties do arise, we should be cautious,” he mentioned.

Background: Taliban’s 2021 Seizure Triggers En Mass Exodus

The Taliban rapidly captured Kabul and most of Afghanistan in August 2021, coinciding with the final withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces after 20 years of conflict. The swift takeover led to chaotic scenes at Kabul airport, with tens of thousands desperately seeking evacuation. Many Afghans fled across borders to Iran and Pakistan, including former government officials, journalists, activists, and those who had worked with U.S. forces.

Akhund’s recent amnesty call aims to encourage internally displaced people to return home and help rebuild the country under Taliban rule.

PoK Clash: 2 Pakistani Police, 4 Taliban Militants Killed In Deadly Encounter

May 30, 2025, 12:45 am

In an unusual night-time raid, Pakistani security personnel stormed a militant den in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), leading to an exchanges of gunfire that killed two police personnel and four Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, police said on Thursday (May 29).

The raid occurred in Rawalakot district, an area at the centre of the border conflict between India and Pakistan. The operation was preceded by intelligence that militants were seeking to set up a base for future operations, Abdul Jabbar, the police chief of PoK, said.

Jabbar claimed that the dead militants belonged to the Pakistani Taliban, a group outlawed in the country and allied with the Afghan Taliban. He also blamed the TTP for serving as an Indian proxy, although New Delhi has remained mum on the allegations.

Whereas Pakistani military forces actively conduct counterinsurgency missions in the northwestern parts of the country, such operations in PoK are not typical. The Pakistani Taliban, which is separate from the Afghan Taliban, has become increasingly brazen since the latter’s return to power in 2021 in Afghanistan, with most of its commanders supposedly finding sanctuary on the other side of the frontier.

Pakistan’s convoluted dynamic with the Taliban has evolved drastically over time. Originally a strategic partner in the 1990s Afghan conflict, the re-emergence of the Afghan Taliban has now energized the TTP, making it more challenging for Islamabad to manage internal security.

Established in 2007, the TTP has conducted numerous attacks throughout Pakistan, attacking civilians, military outposts, and schools. Although there have been multiple military campaigns targeting the elimination of the group particularly in the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas the TTP is still a formidable force.

Islamabad continues to pressure the Taliban in Kabul to curtail TTP activity, while simultaneously increasing local military operations to counter the militant group’s resurgence.

Alarming Rise of Militant Networks in Taliban-held areas in Afghanistan

May 26, 2025, 1:00 am

Since the Taliban’s take over of Afghanistani n August 2021, the country has once again become a critical epicenter for global terrorism. Despite assurances in the Doha Agreement, the Taliban has failed to sever ties with transnational extremist networks . Instead, Afghanistan has transformed into a fertile ground where militant groups regroup, recruit, and reassert influence across South and Central Asia. This investigative analysis maps the alarming evolution of extremist dynamics in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan—from the emergence of foreign-led training facilities to regional destabilization and international security consequences.

Rise of ‘Muhajir Tactical’

One of the most dangerous developments in post-2021 Afghanistan is the establishment of a paramilitary training base known as Muhajir Tactical, reportedly led by Syrian jihadist commander Ayoub Muhajir. Located in an undisclosed Afghan province, this facility serves as a key site for military training, ideological indoctrination, and inter-group coordination among extremist outfits. Fighters from al-Qaeda, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Uyghur extremist factions such as ETIM, and Jamaat Ansarullah (Tajikistan) are being trained under Muhajir’s command. The camp is said to include: Small arms and insurgency training ranges, improvised explosive device (IED) labs, encrypted communications and surveillance systems. The facility signals a transition from fragmented terror cells to a centralized insurgent infrastructure— under the de facto protection of the Taliban.

Taliban’s Broken Promises

While the Taliban claims to distance itself from groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS-K, independent watchdogs and UN reports indicate otherwise. Al-Qaeda remains deeply embedded in provinces such as Ghazni, Laghman, Parwan, Uruzgan, and Panjshir, where it maintains training camps and logistical hubs (UNSC, 2024; FDD, 2024).

Administrative Support to Extremists

Disturbingly, reports reveal that al-Qaeda operatives have received identity cards from Taliban authorities, granting them safe passage and operational freedom— evidence of Taliban complicity and administrative support. These developments blatantly violate the 2020 Doha Agreement and reflect the Taliban’s refusal to uphold international counterterrorism norms, allowing Afghanistan to become a breeding ground for global jihadist consolidation.

Pakistan, China, and Iran at Risk

For years, Pakistan played a dangerous double game— arming jihadist proxies, exporting terror to neighbors, and masquerading as a victim on the global stage. But the monster it bred is now devouring its maker. The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), once covertly backed to serve Islamabad’s regional interests, has turned its guns inward, unleashing a reign of terror that has plunged the country into chaos. With over 2,500 terror-related deaths in 2024 alone, Pakistan is witnessing the violent collapse of its own terror architecture.

Islamabad’s expectations of Taliban loyalty have evaporated. Instead of restraining the TTP, the Taliban offers sanctuary and silence, exposing Pakistan’s diminishing influence in Kabul. The Durand Line is now a corridor of blood, and the same border Pakistan once manipulated is now bleeding it dry. Its once-prized “strategic assets” have morphed into existential liabilities—attacking security forces, destabilizing border provinces, and pushing Pakistan to the brink of implosion.

The deep state’s delusion—that it could control jihadist firepower without being burned—has failed spectacularly. Pakistan is no longer a terror exporter with plausible deniability; it’s a collapsing stage where state and insurgent violence collide. Diplomatically isolated, economically crumbling, and under siege from the very forces it unleashed, Pakistan is falling into the grave it dug for others. It stands today not as a victim of terrorism, but as a textbook example of a state consumed by the extremist ideology it once nurtured for power. The fallout is not just national—it’s a regional time bomb.

China’s calculated engagement with the Taliban regime was built on the belief that economic incentives and diplomatic recognition would buy silence on Uyghur militancy. But that gamble is now unraveling. The resurgence of Uyghur extremist groups, particularly the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) and the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP)—both of which are reportedly training at advanced camps like Muhajir Tactical—is emerging as a direct and growing threat to China’s internal security and geopolitical ambitions.

Xinjiang, already a powder keg due to Beijing’s repressive surveillance state and mass internment of Uyghur Muslims, now faces the risk of being reignited by foreign-trained insurgents. These militants are not merely ideological actors; they are increasingly well-armed, tactically trained, and connected to transnational jihadist networks with operational sanctuaries in Talibancontrolled Afghanistan. For China, this is a strategic nightmare—a blowback of its own soft-touch diplomacy with the Taliban and muted response to Afghanistan’s descent into extremism.

The implications are vast. Militants targeting Xinjiang could also strike at critical chokepoints of the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), including in Balochistan and GilgitBaltistan. Attacks on CPEC infrastructure, already threatened by Baloch and Sindhi separatists, would now gain a new jihadist dimension. Likewise, parts of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) across Central Asia and beyond are exposed to radical elements emboldened by Taliban hospitality. Beijing’s dream of creating a connected Eurasian trade zone may now backfire into a corridor of instability. The very militant groups China once hoped to sideline through diplomacy and economic outreach are now weaponizing Taliban territory against it. In trying to build roads and rails through volatile terrain without addressing the ideological firestorm brewing underneath, China risks being strangled by its own geopolitical silk threads.

In essence, China—like Pakistan—is learning the hard lesson of statecraft: you cannot buy security from the barrel of jihad. The threat is no longer peripheral. It is coming home, armed and ideologically driven, from the very territory China helped normalize.

Iran: Security and Migrant Concerns

Iran has seen an increase in the deportation of Afghan refugees, driven by economic pressure and fears of radical infiltration. Afghan jihadists are suspected of attempting to infiltrate volatile provinces like Sistan and Baluchestan, raising the specter of cross-border violence and ideological subversion.

Financing Jihad: Gold Mines, Drugs

Terrorist groups are diversifying their income streams. Al-Qaeda’s involvement in illegal gold mining in northern Afghanistan has emerged as a major funding source. The gold is trafficked and sold to finance recruitment, training, and cross-regional operations in the Middle East and Africa (Foreign Policy, 2024). Counterterrorism Blindspot Since the chaotic U.S. withdrawal in 2021, the West has largely shifted focus to other global flashpoints such as Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific. This disengagement has created a security vacuum, allowing extremist groups in Afghanistan to regroup without fear of international intervention. Strategic Alarm for India The consolidation of extremist training facilities in Afghanistan, such as Muhajir Tactical, poses an urgent strategic threat to India. The resurgence of TTP could embolden cross-border militancy, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir, while ideological spillovers may affect India’s extended neighborhood.

Risks to Infrastructure and Influence

India’s regional connectivity initiatives—especially Chabahar Port and the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC)—may be destabilized by the transnational movement of extremists and the Taliban’s refusal to curb them.

Strategic Imperative

New Delhi must recalibrate its approach through: Enhanced border surveillance and HUMINT/TECHINT integration, stronger bilateral and trilateral counterterrorism alliances and investment in regional influence operations. Afghanistan’s descent into extremism is no longer a theoretical threat—it is a well-documented and accelerating geopolitical crisis. With the Taliban enabling the entrenchment of foreign fighters and militant groups, and with facilities like Muhajir Tactical expanding unchecked, the region faces a dire future.

Without decisive action, Afghanistan could once again become the launchpad for global terror—echoing the horrors of the pre-9/11 world. The international community, especially regional powers like India, must prioritize a multi-domain, intelligencedriven, and preventive security strategy. Failing to do so risks allowing the world’s next major security threat to mature unchallenged.

Prof. Dr. Nishakant Ojha is a globally acclaimed counter-terrorism and geopolitical expert, renowned for exposing militant ecosystems and shaping strategic doctrines to combat emerging threats across Asia, the Middle East, and beyond.

Taliban Suspends Chess In Afghanistan, Calls It A Sin Cites Religious Grounds

May 11, 2025, 10:08 pm

The Taliban government has banned the game of chess throughout Afghanistan on the grounds that the game encourages gambling, which is banned under the strict interpretation of Islamic law. The ban was confirmed on Sunday by Atal Mashwani, a spokesman for the sports directorate of the Taliban.

“Chess, in accordance with sharia, is a game of gambling,” Mashwani informed the press. “Until the religious issues that affect the game are resolved, it will be suspended across the nation.” He added that the game is among the sports covered by the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice law that was passed last year.

Mashwani further added that Afghanistan’s national chess federation failed to hold any official tournaments in the past nearly two years, partially because of internal leadership issues.

The suspension has affected local business and fans equally. Azizullah Gulzada, who owns a café in Kabul that frequently held unofficial chess sessions, said the suspension would hurt both his business and youth who were looking for recreational activities.

“There is no betting in this,” Gulzada protested. “Chess is being played in other Islamic nations at world level. It’s sad this is occurring.”

He accepted the decision would be obeyed but regretted its impact: “Lots of young people came here every day for a cup of tea and an informal game. This will be a gap in their lives.”

Since taking over power in 2021, the Taliban have enforced various restrictions on sports and public entertainment, with a focus on those activities that they deem non-Islamic. Women have been largely shut out of sport, and last year saw mixed martial arts banned as too violent and incompatible with sharia principles.

The latest action to ban chess is a further addition to mounting concerns about decreasing recreational and cultural liberty under the Taliban, particularly for Afghanistan’s youth who already have limited opportunities.

Russia Drops Taliban Terror Label In Strategic Shift Toward Afghan Engagement

April 17, 2025, 7:46 pm

Russia has formally ended its decades-long listing of the Taliban as a terrorist group, a step that represents a major policy change and sets the stage for official interaction with Afghanistan’s ruling power. The move was announced Thursday following Russia’s Supreme Court decision to de-list the Taliban from its roster of prohibited terrorist organizations, a designation it had carried since 2003.

While no nation has officially accepted the Taliban regime since it took over in August 2021 after the US led withdrawal, Moscow has continued to ramp up relations with the group. Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled during the previous year that the Taliban are now a regional partner in the fight against terrorism.

The decision follows increased security worries in Russia. In March 2024, Islamic State gunmen attacked a concert hall outside Moscow and killed 145 individuals in an attack ISIS-K’s Afghan affiliate claimed. US intelligence has also attributed the attack to ISIS-K. Russia views engagement with the Taliban as a pragmatic imperative in its efforts to contain similar extremist threats throughout Central Asia and the wider Middle East.

Taliban leaders have committed to eradicating ISIS-K from Afghan soil. Western governments still refuse to recognize the Taliban regime, primarily because of its human rights record specifically, its limitation of women and girls. Since the Taliban’s takeover, female students have been prohibited from attending high schools and universities and are subject to severe movement restrictions by women without a male chaperone.

In spite of all these problems, Russia’s recent action indicates an increasing willingness to engage the Taliban as a legitimate political force in the region, ahead of security cooperation and regional stability over long-term international isolation.

Taliban Morality Police: Barbers Jailed, Men Detained For ‘Unholy’ Hair And Missed Prayers

April 10, 2025, 8:09 pm

The Taliban’s morality police have stepped up enforcing strict social behavior regulations, arresting men and barbers for non-conforming hairstyles and beard cutting, a UN report released Thursday says. The crackdown is part of broader laws adopted last August by the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, which regulate public behavior such as music, celebrations, grooming standards, and public transportation.

The report, which was released by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), also notes that over half of all the arrests between January and June since the enactment of the law involved grooming violations. Men sporting “improper” beard length or hairdo and barbers providing such a service have been targeted.

In addition, during the holy month of Ramadan, attendance at mosques was also monitored by authorities, with some men arbitrarily arrested for not attending congregational prayers. Detentions were carried out without legal protection or due process, the UN reported.

Both men and women have been affected by the new rules, particularly small entrepreneurs like barbers, tailors, wedding caterers, and teachers. Some have experienced considerable reductions in income or lost their means of sustenance altogether, adding to Afghanistan’s already catastrophic economic crisis.

A World Bank analysis earlier had estimated that the restrictions on education and work for women alone would cost the Afghan economy over $1.4 billion a year.

Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has come to the defense of the policies, highlighting Islamic law as key and the role of the Vice and Virtue Ministry in defining Afghan society. In an Eid al-Fitr message, he invoked a society without “misguided beliefs and bad morals.

More than 3,300 male monitors have reportedly been deployed to inform and enforce these laws. The Vice and Virtue Ministry has not commented on the UN’s discoveries at the time of writing.

US Military Plane Lands At Bagram, Taliban Slams ‘Baseless’ Talk Of Foreign Control

April 8, 2025, 8:45 pm

A recent US military transport plane landing at Afghanistan’s Bagram airbase has raised speculation over Washington’s fresh interest in the strategically significant location.

Based on local news sources, one C-17 aircraft is said to have taken off from Al Udeid Air Base in Doha and crossed into Afghanistan through Pakistan on Sunday. The aircraft landed at Bagram airbase, bringing with it reportedly top US intelligence officers, such as CIA deputy director Michael Ellis, along with military gear, according to Khaama Press.

The report also asserted that the Taliban had returned control of Bagram to the United States a facility former President Donald Trump has consistently indicated should be recaptured by the US in light of its proximity to China.

But the Taliban has denied them vigorously. The group’s chief spokesperson, Zabiullah Mujahid, referred to the reports as “propaganda,” maintaining that the Taliban maintains complete control of Bagram. “It is impossible for any foreign military to take control,” he said again, reaffirming that there would be no foreign military presence in Afghanistan.

The Foreign Ministry of Afghanistan rejected the reports too. Deputy spokesperson Zia Ahmad Takal said, “This news is not correct.”

Bagram, which used to be the hub for US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, was abandoned by US forces in 2021 when the American withdrawal took place. The installation comprises two airfields, a medical facility, aircraft shelters, and other military infrastructure, and was regarded as being among the most significant military bases in the region.

Donald Trump has repeatedly accused the Biden administration of leaving behind the airbase, accusing it of now hosting Chinese troops. He recently said, “We were going to keep Bagram not because of Afghanistan, but because of China.”

Taliban officials have brushed aside Trump’s remarks as “emotional” and unfounded, calling on US leaders to desist from disseminating misinformation.

Russia Moves To Lifting Taliban Terrorist Status, A Game-Changer For Afghanistan Ties?

April 2, 2025, 4:47 pm

Russia’s Supreme Court revealed on Monday that it has been presented with a request from the Prosecutor General’s Office to remove the prohibition on Afghanistan’s Taliban, which has been designated as a terrorist group in Russia for more than twenty years.

In accordance with a court statement, a hearing on the issue, at the request of Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov, is due on April 17. This comes after an amendment to the law enacted last year that enabled Russian courts to put off the terrorist label of some groups.

The Taliban officially became part of Russia’s list of terrorist groups in 2003, and any kind of interaction with them became punishable for Russian citizens. Nonetheless, and in spite of this labeling, Moscow has received several forums where Taliban delegations participated, explaining such activities as necessary for regional stability.

Russia has played an assertive diplomatic role in Afghanistan since the Taliban’s restoration to power in 2021, acting as a mediator in talks between the group and regional states. The Soviet Union had earlier battled for ten years in Afghanistan, pulling out its troops in 1989. Moscow has since then hosted numerous international talks on Afghanistan’s political future.

The step to review the Taliban’s designation follows increasing global disagreements on how to deal with the group. Though still sanctioned by the United Nations, some members of the Central Asian group, such as Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, have already delisted the group from their terrorist organizations.

As the Taliban deepen relations with regional powers, Russia’s move on the ban may mark a change in its diplomatic strategy towards Afghanistan. The Supreme Court’s forthcoming decision will decide whether Moscow officially reverses its position on the group’s legal status.

Taliban Releases American Woman After Months in Custody

March 30, 2025, 3:18 am

An American woman, Faye Hall, has been released by the Taliban in Afghanistan after being held for months. Washington’s former ambassador to Kabul, Zalmay Khalilzad, confirmed her release on Saturday.

“American citizen Faye Hall, just released by the Taliban, is now in the care of our friends, the Qataris in Kabul, and will soon be on her way home,” Khalilzad posted on X. He posted a picture of Hall beaming with Qatari officials before her flight.

American citizen Faye Hall, just released by the Taliban, is now in the care of our friends, the Qataris in Kabul, and will soon be on her way home. Thank you, #Qatar, for your ongoing and steadfast partnership. #USA #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/cMSBuaq7qR

— Zalmay Khalilzad (@realZalmayMK) March 29, 2025

Hall was arrested in February along with British nationals Peter and Barbie Reynolds and their Afghan interpreter. They were on their way to the Reynolds’ house in central Bamiyan province when they were arrested. Taliban authorities have not given reasons for their arrest.

Taliban Continues Detentions

While Hall has been freed, the British couple remains in Taliban custody. Their daughter has voiced deep concern for her father’s health and urged authorities for their immediate release. Peter and Barbie Reynolds have lived in Afghanistan for decades and have run educational programs there for 18 years. Despite the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, they chose to stay after the British embassy withdrew its staff.

Qatar’s Role in Hostage Releases

Hall’s release came after a recent trip to Kabul by Khalilzad and US hostage envoy Adam Boehler. Following talks with Taliban representatives, another American, George Glezmann, was released after more than two years in custody through a Qatari-brokered agreement.

Earlier this year, the US negotiated the release of Ryan Corbett and William McKenty in return for an Afghan combatant, Khan Mohammed, who had been convicted of narco-terrorism in the US. At least one other American, Mahmood Habibi, however, is still in the hands of the Taliban.

International Relations and Future Prospects

The Taliban regime continues to be unrecognized internationally, although nations such as Russia, China, and Turkey have continued diplomatic representation in Kabul. The Afghan government has been hoping for a “new chapter” with Washington since US President Donald Trump’s re-election, which leaves future diplomatic interactions uncertain.

Taliban Frees 2,500 Prisoners For Eid As Afghan Jails Struggle With Overcrowding

March 29, 2025, 9:28 pm

Afghanistan’s Taliban regime has freed close to 2,500 prisoners in advance of Eid al-Fitr festivities commemorating the end of Ramadan, the nation’s Supreme Court declared on Saturday. The large-scale release comes as the United Nations sounds the alarm about a rising prison population throughout the nation.

In a tweet statement on X, the court revealed that 2,463 inmates who were amnesty-eligible were released, with another 3,152 receiving reduced sentences based on a decree by the supreme leader of the Taliban.

Releasing inmates found guilty of small crimes is a long-standing practice in Afghanistan during Eid. Last year, about 2,800 prisoners were released by Taliban authorities during the same time period, according to local media.

The number of prisoners being detained throughout Afghanistan is unknown, but Mohammad Nasim Lalahand, a spokesman for the Office of Prison Administration (OPA), said 11,000 to 12,000 convicted inmates are in prison. Another 11,000 or so are in detention waiting for trial, sentencing, or appeal, he said.

The United Nations has raised concerns about overcrowding in Afghan jails. In October 2023, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) issued a warning that the prison population in the country was increasing at a fast rate, with more prisoners entering facilities every day than were being released. UNAMA further pointed out that the large number of arrests and long-term sentences were putting tremendous pressure on the country’s already overburdened prison facilities.

In spite of these admonitions, the Taliban regime has remained consistent in its policy of mass prisoner releases on religious holidays. The amnesty this year follows along the same lines, but there is still anxiety regarding the viability of the justice system in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

Afghan Women Under The Taliban: A Nation’s Half-Population Erased From Public Life | TDG Explainer

March 27, 2025, 2:26 am

Taliban Regime and the Eradication of Women’s Rights Systematically

Ever since the Taliban recaptured Afghanistan in August 2021, the rights of women have been greatly eroded. The past three years have seen the group put in place a succession of oppressive restrictions, reversing two decades of advances. Girls and women were deprived of the right to education, work, and simple liberties, triggering international outrage and concern about a “gender apartheid.”

Education Ban: Denying a Generation of Girls Their Future

The most concerning ban has been on the Taliban part with regard to the education of girls at secondary and higher levels. Afghan girls have been denied admission to schools past sixth grade since March 2022. It has excluded more than 2.2 million girls from accessing education, and Afghanistan alone in the entire globe has now been left denying girls and women an education on systematic grounds.

UNICEF and human rights agencies have cautioned that if the ban persists, it will have dire consequences. An estimated four million girls will not be educated by 2030, damaging greatly Afghanistan’s future economy and health system since there will be fewer women joining professional fields such as medicine and education.

In spite of the Taliban’s stringent regulations, women still protest within Afghanistan as well as overseas. Secret schools have been opened in hidden premises and virtual learning platforms have been launched by activists.

Employment and Public Life: Women Driven into Exclusion

Afghan women have been systematically pushed out of public life under the Taliban regime. In December 2022, the Taliban prohibited women from employment in non-governmental organizations (NGOs), delivering a severe blow to humanitarian action. Over 60,000 women were instantly unemployed, and women-headed aid programs serving women and children were compelled to close down.

Additional restrictions have prohibited women from working in government offices, the United Nations, and the majority of private companies. Women have also been forbidden from visiting parks, gyms, and public entertainment places by the Taliban, further excluding them from society. The objective of the regime seems to be imposing a total exclusion of women from public life.

Dress Codes and Travel Restrictions: Controlling Women’s Movements

The Taliban has enforced strict dress codes, requiring women to cover their bodies and faces when in public. Women traveling long distances have also been barred without male escorts.

These restrictions are reminiscent of the Taliban’s rule in the 1990s, when women were completely confined to their homes. However, the difference now is that many Afghan women have grown up in a period of relative freedom and are resisting these policies.

International Condemnation and Taliban Defiance

The United Nations has continually denounced the treatment of women by the Taliban, labeling it as the “most extreme women’s rights crackdown in the world”. UN representatives have referred to the situation as “gender apartheid”, claiming the actions of the Taliban constitute crimes against humanity.

In defiance of international pressure, the Taliban is still intransigent. The regime holds that its policies are based on Islamic law and has refused to go back on the ban on girls’ education. A number of Islamic scholars, however, have refuted the Taliban’s arguments, citing that Islam promotes the education and engagement in society of women.

Signs of Internal Dissent and Resistance

In spite of the Taliban’s strict position, there are signs of internal rifts on the issue of women’s rights. In February 2025, Abdul Salam Zaeef, one of the original members of the Taliban, openly condemned the prohibition of girls’ education, saying it was damaging the country’s international image and economic prospects. Other Taliban leaders have echoed similar sentiments, indicating cracks within the movement.

Afghan women are also still resisting. Protests, however brutally put down, persist in big cities. Afghan women’s rights activists in the diaspora are demanding greater international action.

One of the most powerful acts of resistance was from the Afghanistan women’s national football team, who were forced abroad after the Taliban coup. In March 2025, FIFA finally acknowledged the team, even though they are banned from playing in Afghanistan.

What’s in Store for Afghan Women?

With the Taliban unwilling to budge, Afghan women’s futures are unclear. Humanitarian assistance and sanctions have been offered by the international community, but critics say these have yet to effectively pressure the Taliban into reforming.

Some analysts are convinced that pressure from within Afghanistan’s own political and religious ranks might be the only means to turn around some of these policies. But unless actual action is taken, a whole generation of Afghan women could be irreparably denied their rights.

Three years since the Taliban’s resurgence, women’s rights in Afghanistan have been all but eliminated. Women have been taken out of school, workplace, and public life, setting them on a path to complete invisibility. And yet, resistance persists, and the battle for Afghan women’s freedom is far from done.

Taliban Rejects Pakistan’s Claims Of Afghan Links To Balochistan Train Hijacking

March 14, 2025, 1:02 am

The Taliban government in Kabul on Thursday (March 13) turned down Pakistan’s allegation that the militants from Afghanistan were responsible for the hijacking of the Jaffar Express in Balochistan. The attack by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) stranded hundreds of passengers hostage in the Bolan region. The train was going from Quetta to Bolan and had some staff members of Pakistan’s armed forces onboard, including police and army officials.

Following the attack, Pakistani authorities stated that planners of the attack had communication with handlers inside Afghanistan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Afghanistan forcefully dismissed the charges.

“We denounce the baseless statement of the Pakistani military ascribing the Balochistan train attack to Afghanistan. We ask Pakistan to focus on its domestic security issues rather than issuing irresponsible statements,” Afghan foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi said.

The Pakistan Army announced on Wednesday that security forces had successfully concluded a bid to liberate the hostages from the hijacked train. All 33 militants were neutralized, and 21 passengers and four Pakistani troops died, the military officials added.

However, the BLA dismissed as false Pakistan’s claim that its operation had been a success and asserted that heavy fighting was still on and Pakistani forces were suffering heavy casualties. “The fight continues on multiple fronts, and the enemy has failed to win the battle or recover its men,” the group said.

The BLA, established in 2000, wants to create an independent Greater Balochistan. The BLA has been branded as a terror organization by a few Western countries, including the US and UK, due to its insurgency against the Pakistani state.

Taliban Deploys 90,000 CCTV Cameras for Strict Surveillance in Kabul

February 27, 2025, 5:45 pm

The Taliban has put in place a massive monitoring network of 90,000 CCTV cameras throughout Kabul to keep tabs on the daily routines of six million citizens. The state-of-the-art security system enables the government to monitor everything from license plates to facial expressions, raising concerns about privacy infringement and human rights violations.

Total Surveillance Over Kabul

“We monitor the entire city of Kabul from here,” said Khalid Zadran, a spokesperson for the Taliban police chief, in an interview with the BBC. He continued that in some neighborhoods, if suspicious or criminal activity is detected by authorities, they immediately notify local police forces to intervene.

The system employs face recognition software, grouping people according to age, gender, beards, and face masks. “On clear days, we can zoom in on individuals [who are] kilometres away,” Zadran disclosed, highlighting the system’s capabilities as a surveillance tool.

Surveillance Under the Guise of Security

The Taliban says these measures are in order to curb crime and uphold law and order. Critics, though, say this technology would be used to impose the Taliban’s rigid interpretation of Sharia law, including morality policing.

Amnesty International denounced the mass surveillance, saying that the installation of cameras “under the pretext of ‘national security’ provides a template for the Taliban to continue their repressive policies that undermine basic rights of Afghans – particularly women in public places.”

Women and Activists Fear Monitoring

Most Afghan women fear that the cameras might be utilized to enforce adherence to Taliban dress codes, e.g., donning the hijab. Demonstrators and human rights activists, already living in hiding, are concerned that this surveillance will put their lives in greater jeopardy.

But the Taliban maintains that the morality police, officially called Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Ministry, do not make use of the surveillance system, and only the police of the city have access to it.

Forced Payments for Surveillance

Kabul residents have also complained of being forced to pay for these security cameras. Shella (whose name has been changed), who lives in downtown Kabul, complained that the Taliban forced thousands of Afghanis from every family to pay for camera installation outside their homes. “If families refused to pay [for the cameras], they were threatened with water and power cuts within three days. We had to take loans to cover the costs,” she grumbled.

Frowning in frustration, she continued, “People are starving – what good are these cameras to them?”

A Nation in Crisis

Since the Taliban seized power in 2021, Afghanistan has known abject economic distress with foreign aid suspended. Almost 30 million Afghans depend on humanitarian aid for survival.

Meanwhile, the Taliban is spending funds on surveillance, millions are unable to buy food, medicine, and basics and ask whose interests the regime is serving.

Taliban Detains Elderly British Couple in Afghanistan, Family Appeals for Release

February 25, 2025, 6:44 pm

A British couple in their 70s, who have been conducting education programs in Afghanistan for almost two decades, have been held captive by the Taliban since last month. Their four children, eager to hear some news, have appealed to the Taliban to free them, saying that their parents had spent their entire lives working for Afghanistan.

Peter and Barbie Reynolds, who have been in Afghanistan for 18 years, decided to remain even after the Taliban took over in 2021. They operate Rebuild, which offers training and education programs for businesses, government departments, NGOs, and schools. As reported by The Sunday Times, one of their projects is mothers and children—a sector tightly regulated by the Taliban.

In a letter to the Taliban and made public to The Associated Press, their children underscored their parents’ dedication to Afghanistan. “They have always been transparent about their presence and their activities, assiduously respecting and complying with the laws as they evolve,” they wrote. “They have made Afghanistan their home, instead of with family in England, and they want to spend the remainder of their lives in Afghanistan.” They called on authorities to free their parents so that they could resume their work.

Taliban Keeps Mum, British Government Keeps Away

Rebuild confirmed that the Taliban abducted the couple, along with another foreigner and an Afghan citizen, from their residence in the Nayak district of central Bamiyan province. The organization disclosed that Taliban authorities had earlier raided their residence and abducted them to Kabul before releasing them back to Bamiyan.

Still, days later, a Kabul delegation, with provincial officials from Bamiyan in tow, led them back to the capital. “It is now approximately 17 days, and there’s still no update on them,” Rebuild reported in a note to AP.

The British Foreign Office could not comment on the case because the detained pair had earlier made a request through their government for it not to intervene.

Ongoing Uncertainty

No Taliban officials have made any statement regarding their detention so far. The uncertainty about their location and well-being has been causing worry among their family and the international community. With weeks going by without any news, pressure is increasing on the Taliban to give an explanation and bring them back safely.

Trump Urges Taliban to Return US Military Equipment Left in Afghanistan

February 24, 2025, 4:51 pm

US President Donald Trump has once again called for the return of billions of dollars worth of US military hardware. This happened when the Taliban took control of Afghanistan and US soldiers departed Afghanistan in 2021. Trump voiced his anger at the current state of affairs during his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Maryland on Saturday. He focused on his anger about the loss of military hardware.

Much of the military gear gathered during his first administration was left in Afghanistan and is currently in Taliban possession, Trump noted. His anger grew from the observation that the Taliban regularly present these assets in military parades.

What Trump Said?

Trump stated “We have a great, you know, I rebuilt our entire military in the first term. We left a lot of it, although a lot of it, but very small, relatively, in Afghanistan. The Taliban has it. You know, they have their parade every year where they take our military vehicles and run them up some little street, and like it’s their form of a military parade, and it makes me angry when I see that. Angry. When I see that, I get angry.”

Trump is demanding that Afghanistan return US military equipment

“It’s their form of a military parade, and it makes me angry when I see that. Angry. When I see that, I get angry. You know, we give them I don’t think anyone knows this. We give Afghanistan about 2 or 2 and a… pic.twitter.com/W6NImMf9NC

— Alex Kennedy (@therealmindman) February 23, 2025

Demands For Holding Aid Until Damaged Items Are Given

Furthermore, Trump noted that the United States still sends Afghanistan financial assistance and suggested that such aid be cut back until gear is returned.

“You know, we give them-I don’t think anyone knows this-we give Afghanistan about two or two and a half billion dollars a year. Do you know that? For aid, aid. We need aid ourselves. I want to look at it, but if we’re going to give them money, it’s okay. But I want them to give us back our military equipment that they have,” he included.

US Military Pulldown

With the US leaving Afghanistan officially on August 30, 2021, America’s longest battle ended after nearly two decades of military occupation. Even if most military hardware was deactivated or demolished before the withdrawal, reports show that Taliban forces ended up with some vehicles and arms.

Trump has often criticized the Biden government for what he sees to be a poorly planned draw and called the withdrawal a “disastrous” move.

Elderly British Couple Jailed By Taliban Over Parenting Project In Afghanistan

February 24, 2025, 3:00 am

A British couple in their 70s, Peter Reynolds, 79, and his wife, Barbie, 75, have been arrested by the Taliban in Afghanistan for conducting parenting education programs for mothers and children. The couple, who have worked on educational projects in Afghanistan for 18 years, were detained on February 1 while returning to their home in Bamiyan province.

In spite of the Taliban’s ban on women’s education and work, the Reynolds’ project had been said to have been sanctioned by local officials. But after their detention, they were being kept by the interior ministry, where they were in touch with their children through text messages for three days before contact suddenly stopped.

Their residence in Nayak was then searched, and their staff was interrogated on charges of religious proselytizing, which they denied. The couple’s daughter, Sarah Entwistle, was also very concerned, noting that her frail old father needs heart medication after a mini-stroke. She criticized their arrest, saying, “They were just trying to help the country they loved. The idea they are being held because they were teaching mothers with children is outrageous.”

Sarah and her three brothers have written an open letter to the leadership of the Taliban, asking for the release of their parents. They pointed out the couple’s long-standing commitment to Afghanistan, citing that Barbie was the first woman to be awarded a certificate of appreciation by the Taliban.

The Reynolds were managing projects at five Kabul schools in addition to their efforts at Bamiyan. Their daughter asserts that the Taliban previously complemented their work and even hinted at extending the programs nationwide. She maintains her parents followed closely to the guidelines, even amid changing policies.

The family is still hopelessly searching for answers, calling on the Taliban to free the couple and permit them to resume their work educating in the nation they have known as home for decades.

Trump Demands Taliban Return $7 Billion In US Weapons: ‘Give It Back!’

February 23, 2025, 11:20 am

Former US President Donald Trump has called on the Taliban to return the estimated $7 billion worth of American military equipment left behind during the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. Criticising the chaotic exit, Trump argued that the abandoned assets—including vehicles, weapons, and advanced technology—should either be retrieved or reimbursed, emphasising the need for accountability.

He claimed that the Biden administration’s handling of the withdrawal had not only weakened the US military’s global standing but also bolstered extremist groups by providing them with high-tech weaponry.

The Taliban, now in control of Afghanistan, have reportedly integrated some of the equipment into their ranks, further complicating the situation. The US government previously acknowledged that recovering the abandoned assets would be nearly impossible, citing logistical and security challenges. Trump, however, insisted that efforts should be made to reclaim or compensate for the loss, stating that no responsible government should allow billions of dollars in military resources to fall into the hands of adversaries. The controversy over the withdrawal continues to fuel debates over US foreign policy decisions and their long-term implications.

Taliban Claims 42 Afghan Migrants Freed from Pakistani Prisons

February 9, 2025, 5:42 pm

The Taliban-led Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations has announced the release and repatriation of 42 Afghan migrants previously imprisoned in Pakistan, according to Khaama Press.

In a statement issued on February 8, the ministry revealed that these migrants, including women and children, had been detained at Pakistan’s “Haji Camp” prison for two to five months. The statement further mentioned that these Afghan nationals were arrested in Islamabad due to a lack of legal documentation.

Pakistan’s ongoing detention and deportation of Afghan migrants have drawn international criticism from organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the United Nations, which have urged Islamabad to halt these actions.

According to the UN, by December 31 last year, Pakistani security forces had detained and imprisoned approximately 31,000 Afghan migrants. Over the past year, more than 4,268 Afghan migrants, including women and children, have been freed from prisons in Sindh province and sent back to Afghanistan, Khaama Press reported.

The forced deportations from Pakistan and Iran have exacerbated Afghanistan’s already severe humanitarian crisis, leaving many vulnerable to extreme winter conditions, poverty, and a lack of essential services. Refugees returning to Afghanistan face dire circumstances, as the country struggles with economic collapse and ongoing instability.

Human rights organizations have strongly condemned these expulsions, urging Pakistan and Iran to adopt a more humane approach in managing the refugee crisis. The situation remains critical, as deported Afghans are forced to return to a nation grappling with severe socio-economic challenges.

On February 6, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) raised concerns over Pakistan’s mass deportation plan, seeking clarification regarding the expulsion process.

In a joint statement, the UNHCR and IOM emphasized the rising number of arrests of Afghan nationals in Islamabad and Rawalpindi since January 2025, noting that even some individuals with valid residence permits had been detained.

This statement followed Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s announcement of a multi-phase plan for the deportation of Afghan migrants. The plan includes both documented and undocumented migrants, as well as those awaiting resettlement in the US or European countries.

Senior Taliban Minister Forced To Flees UAE After Criticizing Ban On Girls Education

February 3, 2025, 10:27 pm

A high-ranking Taliban official, who the reports said had so vehemently opposed the ban on girl’s education in Afghanistan, fled the country after an order was reportedly issued for his arrest.

During a graduation ceremony held in Khost province on January 20, deputy foreign minister of the Taliban, Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, denounced the ban on female education. He said, speaking in his graduation address, “There is no excuse for this not now and not in the future.”. We are doing injustice to 20 million people. He also referred to some earlier Islamic practices by referring to the role played by the scholars of the ladies in the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad. Following his speech, it was claimed that Taliban’s head Hibatullah Akhundzada had issued an arrest warrant for Stanikzai and travel restriction had been imposed. It is, however claimed that the minister could easily sidestep all the restrictions and escaped to United Arab Emirates.

While Stanikzai later confirmed his departure to local media, he claimed that his travel to Dubai is for medical purposes. The Taliban have not made an official statement regarding his sudden exit.

Since taking back the reins in 2021, the Taliban have dramatically restricted women’s rights and banned them from education, work, and public life. The attacks have universally sparked outrage, with the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court asking for arrest warrants for the leaders of the Taliban, referring to their treatment of women as a crime against humanity.

Marco Rubio Threatens Big Bounties on Taliban Leaders Over Hostage Concerns

January 26, 2025, 8:47 am

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently escalated the situation by threatening bounties on Taliban leaders. He claimed that more Americans may be held hostage in Afghanistan than previously thought. This statement comes after a recent prisoner exchange between the Taliban and the United States. Furthermore, Rubio’s comments heighten tensions, adding urgency to the ongoing issue of American detainees.

Raising the Stakes

Rubio made the threat on social media, echoing the rhetoric of US President Donald Trump. He wrote, “Just hearing the Taliban is holding more American hostages than has been reported.” He added, “If this is true, we will have to immediately place a VERY BIG bounty on their top leaders, maybe even bigger than the one we had on bin Laden.”

Just hearing the Taliban is holding more American hostages than has been reported. If this is true, we will have to immediately place a VERY BIG bounty on their top leaders, maybe even bigger than the one we had on Bin Laden.

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@secrubio) January 25, 2025

Concerns About Missing Americans

Though Rubio did not provide specifics about the additional hostages, there have been long-standing reports of missing Americans who were not formally recognized as wrongful detentions. This has raised concerns about the safety of US citizens in Afghanistan.

Recent Prisoner Exchange

In the latest exchange, the Taliban released Ryan Corbett, who had been detained in August 2022, and William McKenty, whose case has received little attention. In return, the United States freed Khan Mohammed, a man convicted of drug trafficking and plotting attacks against US troops.

A Long History of Bounties

This situation brings back memories of the US’s approach to capturing high-profile figures like Osama bin Laden. After the 9/11 attacks, the US set a $25 million bounty for bin Laden’s capture, later increasing it to $50 million. This history shows the US government’s willingness to offer significant rewards for information leading to the capture of dangerous individuals.

US-Taliban Prisoner Swap: Two Americans Freed As Tensions Over Relations Persist

January 22, 2025, 2:00 am

A prisoner exchange between the United States and Afghanistan’s Taliban has resulted in the release of two Americans in exchange for Khan Mohammed, a Taliban figure who is serving a life sentence in California for charges of drug trafficking and terrorism.

The Taliban hailed the swap as a move toward “normalization” of relations with the US, though global recognition of their rule remains unlikely. The Taliban’s foreign ministry confirmed the exchange, stating that Khan Mohammed was swapped for two US citizens. Mohammed, convicted in 2008, was serving two life sentences in California.

Ryan Corbett is one of the freed Americans. He had been held captive since August 2022, during a business trip in Afghanistan. His family expressed deep gratitude for his release to both Donald Trump and Joe Biden, as well as Qatari officials, who helped to facilitate his freedom. Corbett spent 894 days in captivity.

The second American has not been identified at all, but CNN and the New York Times have named him William McKenty.

Khan Mohammed returned to Afghanistan where he was welcomed with jubilation in Nangarhar province. He said he was happy to be reunited with his family and kinsmen. Mohammed had been indicted for heroin and opium trafficking headed for the US, which were charges termed to be terrorism-related offenses. He is the first one to be convicted using US narco-terrorism laws.

Other detained Americans, such as George Glezmann and Mahmood Habibi, remain in the dark. The Taliban denied having Habibi, Glezmann was captured in December 2022.

According to the Taliban, the swap was the fruit of “long and fruitful negotiations.” They say it is an example of successful dialogue in conflict resolution. But international skepticism about the Taliban’s rule has been a hindrance to general diplomatic relations.

Taliban Deputy Foreign Minister Urges Reopening of Schools for Afghan Girls

January 20, 2025, 3:41 pm

In a rare and bold public statement, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, acting deputy foreign minister of the Taliban, called on the leadership to reopen schools for Afghan girls. This is one of the strongest internal rebukes to the Taliban’s restrictive policies on women’s education, which have contributed to the regime’s growing international isolation.

He is appealing for a retraction on a ban on girls’ schooling recently in one of his speeches when Stanekzai urged Taliban leadership to unban girls from attending school arguing the move against them is out of line with the Islamic Sharia Law. “We request the leaders of the Islamic Emirate to open the doors of education,” he said, according to local broadcaster Tolo, referring to the Taliban’s name for its administration.

Stanekzai addressed the injustice perpetrated against Afghan women, referring to the female population of Afghanistan, about 20 million. He was of the view that the persistent denial of girls’ education cannot be justified before the principles of justice and equality in Islam because it was done during the days of the Prophet Muhammad.

“In the time of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), the doors of knowledge were open to both men and women,” he said. “Today, out of a population of forty million, we are committing injustice against twenty million people,” he added, referring to the female population of Afghanistan.

Divided Taliban Leadership

Stanekzai’s statements reveal growing fissures inside the Taliban’s top ranks on the matter of female education. Officials affiliated with the Taliban and diplomats had said before that the emir, Haibatullah Akhundzada, has been a staunch supporter of school closures despite internal objections. Stanekzai’s public criticism seems to indicate some discomfort among members of the ranks about policies that have provoked such an uproar within Afghanistan and globally.

International Criticism and Isolation

The Taliban’s ban on girls’ education has brought much criticism from the international community, including the Islamic world, with many calling it a gross violation of human rights and an infringement on Islamic teachings regarding the education of men and women. The international community has made it clear that any hopes of formally recognizing the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan are contingent upon changes to their policies, particularly those that restrict the rights of women and girls.

In 2022, the Taliban reversed a sharp turn on promises to reopen high schools for girls, an action widely criticized. Since then, they claimed that they were working on a plan to reopen schools but could not give a timeline. In addition, the Taliban closed universities to female students by the end of 2022, further raising backlash from the global community.

Taliban Decline Pakistan’s Global Summit on Muslim Girls’ Education

January 11, 2025, 4:13 pm

In a significant effort to spotlight challenges in Muslim girls’ education, Pakistan hosted a global summit in Islamabad, drawing education leaders from Muslim-majority nations. However, the Taliban government in Afghanistan declined to attend, despite being the only country in the world that bans girls from attending school.

Taliban Absence Sparks Global Criticism

Pakistan’s Education Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui stated that the government invited the Taliban, but they failed to send any representatives. “We had invited the Afghan government, but they did not attend the conference,” Siddiqui told AFP.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his opening address, condemned the denial of education to girls. “The Muslim world, including Pakistan, faces significant challenges in ensuring equitable access to education for girls,” he said. “Denying education to girls is equivalent to denying their voice, their choice, and their right to a brighter future.”

Afghanistan’s Strict Restrictions on Women and Girls

Since regaining control of Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban government has imposed strict restrictions on women and girls. They have banned female education beyond the sixth grade and barred women from many professions and public spaces. The Taliban mandates that Afghan women wear full-body coverings, including face veils. They also prohibit women from praying aloud in groups.

Malala’s Advocacy Steals the Spotlight

Adding prominence to the summit, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai attended and is set to address the gathering. Malala, a global advocate for girls’ education, was shot by Pakistan Taliban militants in 2012 while campaigning for the right to education.

On social media platform X, Malala emphasized the urgency of holding the Taliban accountable. “I will speak about protecting rights for all girls to go to school and why leaders must hold the Taliban accountable for their crimes against Afghan women and girls,” she posted.

The summit underscores the dire state of girls’ education in the Islamic world and aims to foster dialogue and solutions for equitable access. While the Taliban’s absence highlights ongoing challenges, global leaders continue to push for progress in ensuring education for all.

Over 500 Afghan Children Affected by Explosive Remnants in 2024: UNICEF

January 6, 2025, 2:36 pm

In 2024, more than 500 Afghan children lost their lives or were severely injured due to unexploded ordnance and remnants of war, according to UNICEF. The United Nations Children’s Fund highlighted this alarming statistic in a post on X. This post emphasize the ongoing threat to Afghan communities.

UNICEF on X

“In 2024, more than 500 children were killed or gravely injured by unexploded ordnances or explosive remnants of war. UNICEF educated around 3 million children and caregivers on the risks of explosive ordinances last year, including how to identify, avoid and report them,” UNICEF Afghanistan said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

In 2024, more than 500 children were killed or gravely injured by unexploded ordnances or explosive remnants of war.

UNICEF educated around 3 million children and caregivers on the risks of explosive ordnances last year, including how to identify, avoid and report them. pic.twitter.com/b3wtEA9dEt

— UNICEF Afghanistan (@UNICEFAfg) January 5, 2025

Ongoing Threats and HALO Trust’s Findings

The HALO Trust which is a demining organization also reported in November that over 65 square kilometers of land across 26 provinces in Afghanistan remain contaminated with IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices). Afghanistan ranks among the four most heavily mine-contaminated countries globally, according to HALO. The organization, which operates with over 2,200 demining personnel, stressed the need for further international support.

Landmines and Their Impact

The Taliban planted landmines during the previous government’s rule to target foreign and former Afghan security forces without systematic mapping. This contamination poses a grave threat, especially to children playing in or around affected areas.

In addition to the ongoing demining efforts, the World Food Program (WFP) has revealed that it can only provide aid to seven million out of the 14 million people facing hunger in Afghanistan due to a shortage of funding.

Taliban Orders NGOs ‘Stop Employing Women Or…’ In Afghanistan

December 30, 2024, 3:29 pm

In a step further to limit women‘s freedom in Afghanistan, the Taliban has ordered all national and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to stop employing women. The decision was made through a letter from the Ministry of Economy, published on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday night.

The warning cautions NGOs that if they don’t comply, then strict measures will be adopted to the extent of even the suspension of their operation and their license. This new constraint is yet another move by the Taliban to sideline women in all aspects of life.

Official Directive and Warnings

The Ministry of Economy stated that it is responsible for overseeing domestic and foreign NGOs operating in Afghanistan. In its circular, the ministry emphasised:
“Once again, a follow-up circular has been issued to stop the work of female employees in non-Emirati and foreign institutions. In case of non-cooperation, all activities of the offending institution will be suspended, and their license will be canceled.”

This move follows a similar directive issued two years ago, when the Taliban instructed NGOs to suspend female employees, allegedly due to improper adherence to Islamic dress codes, as reported by the Associated Press.

Women’s Rights Erode Under Taliban Rule

Since their return to power, the Taliban has systematically rolled back women‘s rights throughout Afghanistan. Women have been barred from most jobs and public spaces, and girls are excluded from education beyond the sixth grade. This newest restriction on NGO employment represents yet another blow to women‘s access to economic independence and public participation.

Global Concerns Over Women’s Exclusion

The international community has repeatedly criticised the Taliban’s policies, warning that these restrictions could further isolate Afghanistan and hinder humanitarian efforts in the country. By barring women from NGO work, the Taliban risks crippling vital services that benefit countless Afghans.

This draconian order underscores the growing challenges faced by women in Afghanistan, as they continue to be systematically excluded from public and professional life.