The Week of August 11-17
Security and Conflict
Afghanistan Security Watch July Report – According to Afghanistan Security Watch, July 2025 saw 13 reported security incidents in Afghanistan, with 11 confirmed by independent sources. Anti-Taliban fronts claimed seven incidents, Taliban forces two, and one each involved a Pakistani military–TTP border clash and an unidentified actor. Anti-Taliban activity rose, with nine incidents claimed compared to five in June. Notably, the NRF neither carried out nor claimed any attacks in June or July.
Raids on Alleged ISKP in Marwan – On Thursday, Taliban special forces conducted an operation in Bagram district, Parwan province, targeting alleged ISKP members said to be planning an attack on the August 15 ceremony. Interior Ministry spokesperson Abdul Mateen Qani reported that the 9:30 p.m. raid resulted in the arrest of one ISKP member and the seizure of three rockets.
Raid on ISKP In Nangarhar – Pro-Taliban outlets reported that Taliban forces raided an ISKP hideout in Dara-e Noor district, Nangarhar, killing several militants, including commander “Musa.” Musa was previously claimed killed by the Taliban in January 2023 in the same district. An ISKP statement confirmed a clash but claimed a Taliban casualty.
Taliban Violence aAainst Protests in Badakhshan – On Saturday, at least 22 people were injured in Yamgan district, Badakhshan, after Taliban forces suppressed a local protest. The clash stemmed from residents’ dissatisfaction over the Taliban’s appointment of a village head in Kawjokhan. Villagers demand elections to choose a new leader, while Taliban authorities insist on retaining their preferred appointee.
Tribal Clash in Nuristan – On Thursday, a violent clash broke out between the Konaryan and Paktiyawal tribes in the Benigah, Tohidabad, and Mangalabad areas of Behsud district, Nangarhar province. Residents reported both light and heavy gunfire. Eight people were seriously injured, four of them identified. Local elders urged authorities in Kabul and the province to intervene. Afghan officials have not yet commented.
Unconfirmed Report of Drone Strike in Nuristan – On Monday, unconfirmed reports suggested Pakistani drones struck targets in Afghanistan’s Nuristan province amid alleged clashes between two militant factions. Neither the Taliban nor Pakistan has issued statements or provided verification. The claims, circulated by Pakistani military-linked accounts and reported by Iran’s Tasnim News, come as TTP attacks on Pakistani forces in bordering Chitral district have intensified. The situation remains unverified, with both governments maintaining silence.
Human Rights and Civil Liberties
Man Arrested in Balkh For Insulting Sacred Beliefs – On Monday, the Taliban’s virtue ministry arrested a man in Balkh accused of blasphemy for remarks about Islamic monotheism (Tawhid) and the Battle of Uhud. Spokesperson Saif-ul Islam Khyber said morality police identified and detained him, while provincial chief Obaidullah Haqqani linked the arrest to the content of his speech. No further details on the man’s identity or case have been released.
Floggings – On Tuesday, 16 people were flogged in Kabul. On Wednesday, 21 people, including four women, were flogged in Sar-e Pul, while six others were flogged in Laghman, Paktia, and Khost. On Sunday, three men and one woman were flogged in Kabul.
Internal Politics
Taliban Hold Fourth Cabinet Meeting – On Wednesday, the Taliban held their fourth cabinet meeting in Kandahar under Mullah Hibatullah, focusing on enforcing Sharia law, promoting religious education, and strengthening governance. Discussions included constructing additional mosques in Kabul, reviewing prison conditions and legal processes, and evaluating mosques, madrasas, schools, and universities nationwide. Committees from relevant ministries were tasked with improving religious and educational institutions, particularly in rural areas. The leadership emphasized unity, preventing ideological discord, and enhancing public religious knowledge, framing these as essential to the stability of the Islamic government.
Hibatullah Removed “Caretaker” Reference to Government – On Friday, marking four years since the Taliban’s return to power, Mullah Hibatullah declared their administration will no longer be referred to as “interim” and ordered the removal of “acting” from ministerial titles. He instructed all institutions, officials, and media to adopt this change, underscoring efforts to solidify authority.
Taliban Celebrations – On Friday, unlike previous years’ military parades, the Taliban marked Victory Day with mass rallies to demonstrate public support rather than military strength. Authorities encouraged turnout by offering free park access, government-funded transport, and other incentives, with reports of pressure on citizens to attend. While men dominated the crowds, some women from madrassas and homes were showcased as endorsing the regime. Celebrations were held at the Loya Jirga hall in Kabul. Unverified videos showed demonstrators parading a Trump puppet, trampling a U.S. flag, and Talibs displaying yellow canisters used as IEDs against the Republic and foreign troops.
Ministry Of Labor Statement on Sending Workers to Qatar – On Monday, the Taliban’s Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs announced plans to send returnees from Iran and Pakistan to Qatar for 1,800 positions across 23 professions, including management, technical, legal, sales, and vehicle repair. Registration was open for one day on Wednesday in Kabul, Herat, Kandahar, and Nangarhar, requiring proof of return within two years.
Statement on Girls’ Education – On Wednesday, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told the BBC that girls’ education will resume once a “safe environment” is established, claiming Mullah Hibatullah has not personally blocked it. He said education must fit within their framework and protect girls’ modesty. This is the same justification the Taliban used during their previous rule, when the ban remained in place until their government collapsed in 2001.
Taliban Limit Rent Increases – On Monday, the Taliban’s Ministry of Justice announced a 10% cap on annual rent increases in Kabul and other cities, warning violators of legal action. A joint committee will also invalidate rental agreements on plain paper or homemade forms, requiring official documentation. The move follows a severe housing shortage driven by deportations from neighboring countries, limited construction, and home demolitions. Kabul residents say rents are unaffordable and housing scarce, while some claim complaints about increases result in eviction despite Taliban assurances of tenant protections.
Public Mourning for Suicide Cases Banned in Ghazni – On Wednesday, Taliban-appointed governor Abdul Samad Javid banned public funeral prayers and mourning ceremonies for suicide victims. The order, issued Tuesday and aligned with a national directive, was discussed with virtue ministry officials and local authorities. The Taliban cite their interpretation of Islamic law, which deems suicide a serious sin. The ban comes as suicide rates across Afghanistan are increasing.
International Developments
US State Department Report on Afghanistan – On Tuesday, the U.S. State Department released its 2024 Human Rights Report, documenting a sharp decline in women’s rights under Taliban rule, including bans on education, employment, and movement that have effectively removed women from public life. The report cited arbitrary killings, torture, restrictions on expression, and religious repression. It highlighted the recruitment of 342 boys as child soldiers in 2023 despite a Taliban decree banning the practice, and rising child marriage rates—38% of Afghan women are now married before 18—linked to restrictions on girls’ education and women’s rights.The full report can be accessed Here
UNAMA Allowed to Stay in Nanagarhar for 3 Months – Following last week’s announcement that the Taliban planned to close the UNAMA office in Nangarhar, the local governor has approved UNAMA’s request to remain in its current office within the governorate compound for three more months. Authorities emphasized, however, that construction of UNAMA’s new premises must be expedited and operations relocated without further delay.
Khalilzad Statement on Possible Opposition Meeting in Pakistan – Former U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad said Pakistan is set to host a gathering of Afghan exiles opposing the Taliban on August 25–26, some reportedly supporting violent resistance. He called the move “immature” and “provocative,” warning it could backfire. While the meeting has not been independently confirmed, Khalilzad’s remarks underscore tensions over Pakistan’s role in facilitating opposition activity against the Taliban.
Freedom of the Press
AJC Report on Media Since 2021 – The Afghanistan Journalists Center reports 539 cases of violence against journalists since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, including beatings, threats, arrests, and intimidation, with 10 currently detained. Describing this as the “darkest chapter” in Afghan media history, the AJC said censorship is pervasive, women face bans in some provinces, and exiled outlets are targeted by cyberattacks and cross-border threats. In Reporters Without Borders’ 2024 index, Afghanistan ranked 178th of 180 countries. The report warned that restrictions on journalists and social media are making it increasingly difficult to monitor Taliban policies and abuses.
Radio Nasim Closes Permanently – On Monday, Radio Nasim announced its closure after 13 years of broadcasting in Daikundi and Bamiyan, citing worsening conditions following repeated Taliban detentions of its staff, including director Sultan Ali Jawadi, who was detained last week. Jawadi, once sentenced to a year in prison, was released earlier this year under a Taliban amnesty. Known for covering political, cultural, and social issues, Radio Nasim was one of the most popular local outlets in the two provinces. The station said it may return if conditions improve.
Regional Developments
Trilateral Meeting to be held in Kabul Next Week – On August 20, Kabul will host trilateral talks between Afghanistan, Pakistan, and China, bringing together Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, and Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Muttaqi. The agenda includes counterterrorism cooperation and extending the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor to Afghanistan. Dar will arrive a day earlier and later host Wang Yi in Islamabad for a bilateral strategic dialogue.
Afghanistan Increases Trade with China – On Monday, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce reported $541 million in Afghanistan–China trade over the first seven months of 2025, including $14 million in Afghan exports and $527 million in imports. Key Afghan exports included black pine nuts, dried apricots, and gemstones, while imports from China included cotton textiles, solar panels, electronics, and mobile phones.
Acting Minister Travels to Kyrgyzstan – On Monday, the Taliban’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce announced that Acting Minister Azizi was leading a delegation to Kyrgyzstan for the “Kyrgyzstan Economic Forum” at the invitation of the Kyrgyz Republic. The trip includes bilateral meetings with Kyrgyz officials and a panel speech. The 7th Kyrgyzstan-Russia Economic Forum, scheduled for August 13–15 at Lake Issyk-Kul, will focus on economic cooperation, digitalization, finance, tourism, and renewable energy to strengthen regional partnerships.
NEXT WEEK
In Afghanistan, the Taliban have further consolidated power, while resistance activities have declined in recent months. Security checkpoints, vehicle searches, and heightened measures should be expected nationwide, particularly on routes to major cities and in the north over the next week, in response to potential ISKP or resistance attacks. Crackdowns on women protesters and journalists are likely, as are increased public punishments used by the Taliban to demonstrate power.
In Pakistan and Iran, the situation remains largely unchanged. Deportations of Afghans without valid visas continue, even for those holding other documentation (PoR cards in Pakistan and census documents in Iran), with new deadlines for additional operations approaching. Afghans in both countries—especially those at risk of Taliban targeting if deported—should exercise caution. Obtaining valid visas where possible and limiting movements is strongly advised. Afghans in third countries should also avoid protests, large gatherings, and high-conflict areas.
Afghans deported from Iran and Pakistan may face biometric screening and phone searches at border crossings. Precautions should be taken in advance whenever possible: phones should be cleared of anti-Taliban content, contacts renamed, social media accounts locked, and discretion used when securing housing or planning movements.
Care flights have ended and will not resume. CARE is expected to close by September 30. SIV and immigrant visa cases not affected by the U.S. travel ban continue to be processed but must now be handled at U.S. embassies or consulates in third countries. Applicants are responsible for all associated costs, including travel, medical exams, accommodations, and onward travel to the United States. They must also maintain valid legal status (i.e., a visa) in the host country. Those considering case transfers are strongly encouraged to research local visa processing times, cost-of-living conditions, and the feasibility of visa renewals in advance.
In the United States, a broad travel ban on Afghans remains in effect, though SIV applicants are exempt. All Afghans—including Green Card holders—are strongly advised to avoid international travel at this time, as no changes to the ban are expected in the foreseeable future.
ICE detentions continue in the U.S. Afghans are reminded to carry proof of legal status at all times. While enforcement primarily targets individuals with criminal records, all Afghans should be aware of their rights if questioned or detained. It is important for all Afghans in the US to know their rights related to ICE. More information on your rights can be found here
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
Deportations Continue – On August 11, Mashhad police official Ahmad Negahban said operations to identify and deport undocumented Afghans will continue “until the last person” is removed. Authorities are collecting biometric data—fingerprints and iris scans—to prevent reentry, with harsher penalties for repeat offenders. Taliban statistics report 55,038 Afghans deported from Iran between August 1–7, and 1.8 million in the past three months. Tehran’s governor said over one million Afghans were expelled in the last 100 days, including 450,000 from Tehran province.
PAKISTAN
Pakistan Forms Committee to Deport Afghans – Pakistan has established a joint sub-committee of police, intelligence, and ministry officials to identify and profile Afghan nationals holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards under its Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan. Voluntary returns have begun, with formal deportations scheduled for September 1. The plan includes coordination among federal, provincial, and local authorities, database sharing, and deregistration at borders. Provincial committees will oversee logistics, transit facilities, and transportation.
Increased Detentions and Corruption – Afghans in Islamabad and Rawalpindi report a surge in police arrests, alleging detainees are released after paying bribes, often around 82,000 Pakistani rupees. Witnesses claim plainclothes police on motorcycles check documents, detaining those without visas and sometimes disregarding embassy-issued papers.
German Safehouse Raided – On Friday, Islamabad Police raided a guesthouse in F-8/2 sheltering Afghan nationals under Germany’s humanitarian relocation program. Detainees, including families, were later released, but refugee representatives said around 100 Afghans risk deportation via Haji Camp in Peshawar. Over 2,000 Afghans—including former German institution employees, journalists, and rights activists—are awaiting visas. Beneficiaries report dozens of arrests in recent days, with about 40 deported, raising safety concerns.
BLA and Majeed Brigade Designated As Terrorists – On Monday, the U.S. State Department designated the Balochistan Liberation Army and its alias, the Majeed Brigade, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, adding the alias to BLA’s existing Specially Designated Global Terrorist status from 2019. The BLA has claimed multiple deadly attacks, including 2024 suicide bombings in Karachi and Gwadar, as well as a March 2025 train hijacking in Pakistan that killed 31 and took more than 300 hostages.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
War May Be Over, but Afghanistan’s Hospitals Are Still in Crisis
Lynzy Billing
Outside the boys’ ward of a Kabul hospital, 8-year-old Rahmanullah watches the rose bushes nod in the dry breeze. One hand rests carefully in his lap, the other idly turns over a battered mobile phone. The screen is cracked, the buttons worn smooth. His father, he says, calls every day from his home in Paghman district, west of Kabul.
Three days earlier, Rahmanullah arrived here, bleeding and dazed, cradled in the back seat of a car. A mine had gone off in his hand when he was collecting scrap metal with his father and brothers in their village of Zarshakh.
“A boy gave me something that exploded in my hand,” he tells me, his voice catching somewhere between confusion and certainty. He glances down at the bandages that wrap the lower half of his arms. “My finger is missing.”
He remembers a stranger tightly binding his wrist with a handkerchief, an improvised triage in a place where first responders are often simply whoever is nearby. “I cried when I saw the blood. I sent a boy to tell my father. They brought a car, then they took me to the hospital.”
He still doesn’t know what exploded in his hands. Perhaps a shell, or an old mine. His older brother, he adds matter-of-factly, lost two fingers three years ago while searching for scrap in the same way.
Inside the hospital, amid the low hum of the TV showing “Shrek” and the distant shuffle of rubber soles, Rahmanullah looks out past the roses, patiently waiting for the next call from his father.
Tucked behind thick concrete blast walls, the hospital feels like another world — a serene oasis in a city scarred by war. It is a place of pause and healing, where the wounded are not only stitched and medicated, but reminded, however briefly, of life beyond their wounds. Behind the hospital’s shrapnel-pockmarked walls, the garden quietly pushes back against the destruction. Roses bloom — bursts of pink and red in neat rows. Birds flit between the branches. On Saturdays, benches fill with mothers cradling infants and old men offering sweets to grandchildren. In between, in the shaded walkways, nurses catch their breath against the cool tiled walls.
AFGHAN NEWS
How the Taliban is Building Its Future Army
Nazila Jamshidi and Annie Pforzheimer
Denying Afghanistan’s girls their rights is the basis on which the Taliban is building a future generation of fighters. The false distinction between promoting human rights and fighting terrorism has hampered efforts to stop this growing threat. Young Afghan women are watching their options for education and employment evaporate. They are being told their life’s work is the rearing of children who will sacrifice themselves for the Taliban’s cause. As primary schools are replaced by religious madrassas, and schooling after the age of 12 is denied to girls, many of them are starting to believe it.
During the country’s decades of war starting in 1979, some Afghan communities were shaped by jihadist ideology and hardened by conflict, raising boys to be warriors — defenders of nang o namus (honor and dignity) — while girls were relegated to the margins, valued primarily for their ability to support that system. Villages in these areas took pride in resisting foreign forces and trained their sons to uphold ideological purity, while their daughters were expected to serve in silence. From 2001-2021, under the Afghan Republic, state-sponsored education prepared children for peaceful occupations. The Taliban has not only revived the earlier worldview, but they have also fully institutionalized it and spread it across the country. By banning girls from school and restricting women’s public presence, they are embedding a system in which women exist largely to raise the next generation of male fighters.
Afghanistan is starting its fifth year of Taliban rule. Here are 5 things to know
AP
The Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in 2021 for the second time. Since then, the former insurgents have consolidated their grip on power, excluded women and girls from public life, stamped out internal dissent and external challengers, and gained debut recognition as the country’s official government from Russia, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council.
The Taliban govern through decrees, but Afghans have aspirations and needs that cannot be fulfilled through edicts and ideology.
REGIONAL NEWS
Afghan Migrants Face Uncertainty in Pakistan as Visas Remain Unrenewed
Sadaqat Ghorzang
Some Afghan migrant families in Islamabad who hold migration case files have complained about the Pakistani government’s refusal to extend their visas.
For the past two weeks, they have been forced to live in a recreational park and are calling on the Pakistani government and international refugee organizations to address their situation.
Madina Rahmani, one of the Afghan migrants, described the hardship these families are facing: "Due to lack of visas, we were evicted from our homes and have been living in the park for fifteen days. We can’t sleep in the tents during the hot days and rainy nights, and our children have fallen ill."
Taliban lures young travel influencers four years after Afghanistan takeover
Fox News - Ashley J. DiMella
Nearly four years after Afghanistan fell to Taliban control, the Islamic country is continuing to welcome tourists and seeing a recent travel boost.
Taliban forces captured the capital city of Kabul on Aug. 15, 2021, following the chaotic withdrawal of American troops under the Biden administration.
Deputy Minister of Tourism Qudratullah Jamal told The Associated Press (AP) recently that Afghanistan had nearly 9,000 foreign visitors last year, with 3,000 tourists in the first three months of this year.
Manizha Bakhari, ambassador of Afghanistan to Austria, told Fox News Digital the Taliban’s promotion of tourism is an attempt at "image management."
"As someone who has lived and worked in Afghanistan, I can say this: What these female influencers experience is not representative of women’s lives in Afghanistan," said Bakhtari.
She added, "The Taliban treat foreign women differently, and often with exaggerated politeness, because they serve a purpose in the regime’s public relations strategy."
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Amnesty International
The Taliban de-facto authorities must immediately put an end to the arbitrary and unfair delivery of justice by reinstating a formal constitutional and legal framework and the rule of law in accordance with Afghanistan’s international human rights obligations, Amnesty International said today.
Since the Taliban took power in August 2021, Afghanistan’s legal framework has been entirely dismantled and replaced with a religiously grounded system shaped by the Taliban’s strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia law. The system is riddled with inconsistency, pervasive impunity and unaccountability; arbitrary, unfair and closed trials; and personal biases in the meting out of punishments such as public flogging and other forms of torture and other ill-treatment.
“After four years of Taliban rule, what remains is a deeply opaque, coercive legal order that prioritizes obedience over rights, and silence over truth,” said Samira Hamidi, Amnesty International’s regional campaigner for South Asia.
Afghan Women to Stage Global Protests on Fourth Anniversary of Kabul’s Fall
Kabul Now
Afghan women are preparing to hold coordinated protest rallies in cities worldwide this week, marking the fourth anniversary of Kabul’s fall to the Taliban and calling for stronger international action against the group’s gender-based persecution.
In a statement released by women’s rights activists, the demonstrations will begin on Thursday, August 14, and run through Saturday, with events planned in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Austria, Norway, Switzerland, Spain, the United States, Canada, and Brazil.
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 68.41 AFN (As of August 17)
