PoliticsIslamic Emirate Marks World Press Freedom Day with Commitment to Media Support and Licensing
The Islamic Emirate’s Ministry of Information and Culture marked World Press Freedom Day by announcing 141 new media licenses and reaffirming its support for journalism within Islamic and national guidelines. Meanwhile, international observers highlighted Afghanistan’s low press freedom ranking and called for the release of four detained journalists.
ReliableUN Rapporteur Warns Press Freedom in Afghanistan Has Nearly Collapsed
UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett warned that independent journalism in Afghanistan has been nearly dismantled since August 2021, citing widespread censorship and arbitrary detentions. He called for the immediate release of detained journalists and urged international action to address the crisis.
ReliableFawzia Koofi Condemns Taliban Raid on Badakhshan Home and Arrests of Relatives
Former Afghan MP Fawzia Koofi has condemned a Taliban raid on her Badakhshan residence that resulted in the detention of relatives and local residents, calling the operation a sign of the authorities' instability. The Taliban have not yet commented on the arrests or provided information regarding the detainees' whereabouts.
ReliableSpecial Court Declares Over 12,500 Jeribs of Land in Khost as Islamic Emirate Property
A special court in Afghanistan has declared over 12,500 jeribs of land in Khost province as Islamic Emirate property following a review of ownership claims and cadastral records. The ruling directs the relevant commission to formalize state control over the uncultivated tracts in the Ismailkhel and Mandozai districts.
ReliableEconomic Commission Approves Electronic Document System and Reviews Mining-Funded Projects
The Economic Commission has approved a phased rollout of an electronic document management system to improve government transparency and reviewed 22 public welfare projects funded by mining revenues.
ReliableDeputy Administrative Chief Visits Eastern Provinces to Assess Returnee Settlement Conditions
Mawlawi Abdul Salam Hanafi led a government delegation to eastern Afghanistan to evaluate settlement conditions for returnees and direct ministries to improve housing, water access, and infrastructure. The assessment covers Nangarhar, Kunar, and Nuristan provinces.
ReliableMalala Yousafzai Calls for International Recognition of Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan
Malala Yousafzai met with Scottish First Minister John Swinney to urge international recognition of gender apartheid and the inclusion of Afghan women in negotiations, amid worsening press freedom rankings.
ReliableKarzai Warns of Workforce Shortages Amid Taliban Ban on Girls’ Education
Former President Hamid Karzai has called for the immediate reopening of schools for girls, citing a UNICEF report that warns of severe shortages in female teachers and health workers by 2030. He cautioned that the ongoing education ban will weaken national capacity and increase foreign dependency.
ReliableTaliban Publishes New Law Regulating Religious Preachers
The Taliban have published a new Preachers Law in their official gazette requiring religious clerics to follow the Hanafi school and teach the "virtue of jihad" under ministry supervision. The seventeen-article decree formalizes state oversight of religious instruction as part of a broader administrative standardization effort.
ReliableIslamic Emirate of Afghanistan Marks 34th Anniversary of 1992 Mujahideen Victory
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan officially commemorated the 34th anniversary of the Mujahideen’s 1992 victory over the communist regime, while citizens and analysts reflected on the subsequent civil war and its lasting impact.
ReliableOfficials and Religious Scholars Convene in Ghazni to Implement Decree on Social Spending
Officials and religious leaders in Ghazni province convened to implement Decree No. 17, which aims to curb excessive social spending and reform customs to ease economic pressures. Minister of Information and Culture Sheikh Shir Ahmad Haqqani urged community cooperation to enforce the five-article directive.
ReliableIslamic Emirate Supreme Leader Approves Law Regulating Religious Preachers
The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has approved the Muhtasibin law, which standardizes the duties and ethical standards of religious preachers. The Ministry of Justice confirmed the legislation’s publication in the Official Gazette, with implementation to be overseen by the Ministry of Vice, Virtue and Complaints.
ReliableTaliban Ministry of Justice Declares Omid Sabz Settlement in Kabul State Property
The Taliban Ministry of Justice has declared the Omid Sabz settlement in western Kabul state property following a court ruling, transferring approximately 1,500 jeribs of land to the Commission for the Prevention of Land Grabbing.
ReliableIslamic Emirate Minister Warns Against Foreign Interference at Balkh Gathering
Mullah Noorullah Noori warned against foreign interference and affirmed Afghanistan’s sovereignty during a public address in Balkh province. Officials and tribal elders at the gathering expressed support for the administration’s efforts to maintain national unity and territorial integrity.
ReliableMawlawi Abdul Salam Hanafi Visits Jawzjan University in Northern Province
Mawlawi Abdul Salam Hanafi visited Jawzjan province to meet with professors and students at Jawzjan University, focusing on academic operations and institutional dialogue.
ReliableBorder Minister Noori Dismisses ISIS and Resistance Presence as Propaganda
Border Minister Nurullah Noori dismissed reports of ISIS and resistance group activity in Afghanistan as foreign-backed propaganda, while urging exiles to return under a general amnesty and rejecting the Durand Line as a colonial border.
ReliableForeign Minister Muttaqi Says Afghanistan Achieved Regional Stability, Notes Limited Diplomatic Recognition
Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi stated that Afghanistan has achieved regional stability and maintains formal practical ties with Central Asian nations, despite limited diplomatic recognition. He noted that Russia remains the only country to officially recognize the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
DevelopingProtests Erupt in Faryab Over Compulsory Tazkera Distribution
Residents in Faryab province are protesting what they describe as the compulsory distribution of national ID cards by Taliban authorities, alleging the process violates legal procedures and favors recently settled Kuchi communities. The demonstrations follow the reported detention of a local civil registry official who refused to issue the documents outside standard protocols.
ReliableMinister Noori Emphasizes National Unity and Territorial Defense at Takhar Gathering
Minister of Borders, Tribes and Ethnic Affairs Mullah Noorullah Noori addressed a public gathering in Takhar province, emphasizing national unity, territorial defense, and support for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Local tribal elders and officials also voiced their backing for the current administration’s security and stability efforts.
ReliableIslamic Emirate of Afghanistan Officials Pledge Strict Monitoring of Foreign Workers on Tourist Visas
Officials from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs announced strict monitoring of foreign nationals working on tourist visas, alongside streamlined procedures for legal work permits to support economic development.