Latest Updates

KABUL – The Taliban are invalidating court-granted divorces for child brides in Afghanistan, forcing them to return to their former adult husbands, according to a report by the BBC. This comes as part of the regime’s strict interpretation of Sharia law, which nullifies divorces previously granted by the Afghan courts. …

AT Kabul: Taliban leaders have pushed back against escalating accusations of gender-based discrimination against women and girls during the recent U.N. General Assembly. Maulavi Abdul Kabir, the Taliban’s deputy prime minister for political affairs, claimed in an interview that “the situation is not as it is portrayed” internationally. His remarks …

KABUL: The Afghan-Pakistan border is erupting into chaos as militant groups, emboldened by the Taliban’s rule, pose increasing threats to both nations. Three years after the Taliban’s takeover, Pakistan grapples with internal strife, highlighted by the court martial of former intelligence chief General Faiz Hameed amid allegations of corruption. Violence …

AT News KABUL – The meeting, set to take place on June 30, is the third one after the Taliban was uninvited to the first and declined to attend the second summit. A United Nations diplomat has urged the Taliban to participate in an upcoming conference on Afghanistan in Doha, …

AT News KABUL: The EU should prepare for the consequences of a future heroin shortage, the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) has warned, following the Taliban crackdown on opium in Afghanistan. In 2022, the Taliban announced a ban on the cultivation of opium, previously a mainstay …

AT News KABUL – The U.S. State Department’s Rewards for Justice program has announced a $5 million reward for information leading to the capture of Hamza Salih bin Sa’id al-Ghamdi, a senior member of Al Qaeda’s shura, or executive leadership council. The program described Ghamdi, a Saudi citizen, as a …

AT News KABUL – Richard Bennett, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, has issued a damning report on the Taliban’s severe violations of women’s and girls’ rights, ahead of his presentation to the UN Human Rights Council on June 18. Bennett’s report highlights an “institutionalized system …

AT News KABUL – In response to rapidly declining relations with Pakistan, the Taliban are intensifying diplomatic outreach to regional powers and neighboring countries. The Taliban’s efforts include active participation in international forums, such as the World Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia, and engagements with Iran, China, Russia, and …

AT News KABUL – The Taliban reported selling 150,000 tons (1.1 million barrels) of crude oil from the Amu Darya basin for over $80 million in just 10 days. Over 130,000 tons of crude oil fetched $71.6 million, followed by an additional 20,000 tons (146,000 barrels) sold for $10.5 million …

AT News KABUL – The European Union has activated its emergency aid reserve, announcing €150 million in humanitarian aid to address the escalating crisis in Afghanistan. This funding aims to prevent famine and provide critical support in 2024, with a focus on the most vulnerable populations. The EU’s aid package …