The Week of March 17-23
Security and Conflict
Border Clashes – On Monday around midnight, Taliban forces and Pakistani border guards clashed along the Durand Line in Paloso, Zazi Maidan district, Khost province. The cause of the skirmish remains unclear, and no information on casualties or damages has been released. The Taliban have not commented on the incident. On Tuesday, Afghan and Pakistani border forces exchanged fire in Lower Kurram, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The clashes ended with no reported casualties.
Explosion in Helmand – A powerful explosion, possibly caused by an IED, struck a market in Grishk, Helmand province, injuring 17 people. Two ambulances from Shoraki and Nad Ali transported the wounded to an NGO-run surgical center in Lashkar Gah. The hospital reported five in critical condition, five in stable condition, and seven with explosion-related injuries. Emergency’s Country Director described the situation as serious, with multiple trauma cases. No group has claimed responsibility, and Taliban authorities have not commented. This is the first reported explosion of solar year 1404.
Attack on Takhar- Badakhshan Highway – An armed attack on the Takhar-Badakhshan highway killed five people, including Taliban commander Ismat Arab, two of his guards, and two civilians. The attack happened at the Farkhar intersection, where gunfire caused their vehicle to veer off and overturn. Arab was responsible for highway security. No group has claimed responsibility. Images show the vehicle in a ravine, with eyewitnesses sharing graphic photos of the aftermath.
House to House Searches in Khair Khana – On Sunday, locals reported house to house searches being conducted by the Taliban. Checkpoint were also set up, with mobile phones and body searches being conducted.
Human Rights and Civil Liberties
Rawadari Report Released – A Rawadari report on Afghanistan’s human rights situation in 2024 notes a decline in targeted bombings and suicide attacks but a sharp rise in other violations. Extrajudicial killings doubled, enforced disappearances increased by 70%, torture-related deaths rose by 25%, and arbitrary detentions by 42%. Former government officials and their families remain targets of arrests, torture, and killings. Women face worsening restrictions, amounting to gender-based persecution. Ethnic and religious minorities are denied services and political participation. The Taliban suppress religious freedom and censor independent journalism. Rawadari gathered data across 30 provinces despite Taliban restrictions, verifying findings through direct sources and documents. The report calls for international accountability, warning that censorship makes documenting abuses increasingly difficult and that many violations likely remain unreported. The full report can be accessed Here
Floggings – On Wednesday, two people were flogged in Ghazni. On Thursday, two people were flogged in Balkh. On Sunday, 2 people ere flogged in Ghazni. A report released by the Taliban Supreme Court states that 456 people were flogged in the last solar year.
Internal Politics
Taliban Deny Haqqani Resignation – The Taliban denied reports that Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani resigned due to tensions with Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada. Spokesperson Abdul Mateen Qani called the claims false. Haqqani traveled to the UAE and Saudi Arabia for Umrah in early 2024 and has rarely appeared in public since.
Mullah Hibatullah Issues Decree on Various Traditions – On Wednesday, Mullah Hibatullah issued a decree banning forced marriages, extravOn Wednesday, Mullah Hibatullah issued a decree banning forced marriages, extravagant wedding expenses, and unnecessary rituals after Hajj and Umrah. The decree consists of four articles:
A girl's guardian must seek her consent for marriage, and coercion is prohibited. Women are recognized as independent in marriage decisions, and dowry (mahr) is their exclusive right.
Excessive wedding expenses, including costly gifts, lavish feasts, and unnecessary ceremonies, are banned.
Forced widow remarriage and exploitative marriage customs are prohibited.
Firing weapons, reckless driving, and using government vehicles during weddings are forbidden.
Additionally, funerary customs such as obligatory feasts and public displays of mourning are restricted. Charity from orphaned heirs' wealth is not allowed. The decree emphasizes Islamic principles against social pressure in marriage and mourning practices, aiming to curb financial burdens and excessive traditions.
International Developments
UNAMA Mandate Renewed – On Monday, the UN Security Council unanimously extended the mandate of UNAMA for one year, until March 17, 2026. All 15 council members voted in favor, reaffirming UNAMA’s role in supporting Afghanistan’s humanitarian and political affairs. China and Russia welcomed the extension, emphasizing the need for increased aid and engagement with the Taliban to address Afghanistan’s economic and humanitarian crises. China’s UN envoy, Fu Kung, called for rebuilding Afghanistan’s banking system, unlocking central bank assets, and strengthening counterterrorism efforts. Russia’s deputy UN envoy, Anna Yevstignieva, stressed that lasting peace requires a comprehensive approach under UN supervision, realistic dialogue with the Taliban, and better international coordination in aid distribution, particularly for vulnerable groups.
OCHA Report on Aid in February – 2025, including the detention of five aid workers under Taliban rule. Fifty access-related incidents were recorded, with Taliban authorities interfering in many cases. Although reported incidents fell by 51% from January, OCHA stressed that this reflects fewer operational projects rather than improved conditions. Many humanitarian offices remain closed due to funding freezes, Taliban restrictions, and severe weather, further limiting aid distribution to vulnerable populations.
Norway Accepts Taliban Diplomat – Norway’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that despite the closure of Afghanistan’s embassy in Oslo, it has accepted Taliban diplomat Najibullah Sherkhan as First Secretary of the embassy. He has been issued a one-year diplomatic residence card. The Norwegian government previously refused to recognize a Taliban ambassador. Experts argue that reopening the embassy requires a legitimate Afghan government. Sherkhan effectively oversees the embassy in the absence of an ambassador or chargé d'affaires. The Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that consular services will resume at the Oslo embassy next week, though it remains unclear whether the mission will now operate under Taliban control.
Freedom of the Press
Women’s Voices Banned from Radio – On Monday, the Taliban’s Directorate of Information and Culture in Kandahar issued a directive banning the broadcast of women’s voices on radio and mandating the use of honorific titles for Mullah Hibatullah. The order also prohibits advertisements for medications and cosmetics without prior approval and requires journalists to obtain travel permission. This marks the first formal, written enforcement of these restrictions, making Kandahar the second province, after Helmand, to implement a full ban on women’s voices.
Regional Developments
Torkham Reopens – After 27 days of closure, the Torkham border reopened on Wednesday following negotiations between Pakistani and Afghan jirga members. Both sides agreed to a ceasefire until April 15 and suspended construction on disputed checkpoints. While pedestrian movement was initially set for Friday, technical issues on the Pakistani side delayed it until Saturday, when it fully reopened.
Pakistan Rejects Request to Stay Deportations – Pakistan has rejected the Taliban’s request to extend Afghan refugees' stay and reaffirmed that undocumented Afghans and ACC cardholders must leave by March 31, 2025. The Taliban’s High Commissioner for Refugees urged Pakistan to halt forced deportations and instead implement a coordinated return process. The acting minister also called on international organizations, including the UN and EU, to safeguard refugee rights. Over 800,000 Afghan refugees in Pakistan hold ACC cards and face deportation if they do not leave before the deadline.
Pakistan Summons Taliban Ambassador Over Train Attack – On Monday, Pakistan summoned the Taliban’s ambassador, Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb, over the alleged use of Afghan territory in the Jaffar Express attack. Islamabad reminded the Taliban of its Doha Agreement commitment to preventing cross-border militancy. Pakistani officials accused Baloch separatists operating from Afghanistan of orchestrating the attack, which killed 26 passengers and took 440 hostages. Army spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry claimed the attack was planned from Afghanistan and involved a former Afghan soldier, aligning with Pakistan’s longstanding concerns about Afghan-based militant threats.
Pakistan Delegation Meets with Acting Foreign Minister in Kabul – Pakistan and Afghanistan are restructuring diplomatic ties through planned high-level visits to address trade, transit, border management, and refugee issues. A Pakistani delegation, led by Ambassador Sadiq Khan, visited Kabul on Saturday to deepen engagement. A full-year schedule of ministerial visits and online meetings is being finalized. Key discussions include resolving Torkham border disputes in April and resuming Joint Coordination Commission meetings. Despite ongoing challenges, structured dialogue may improve relations amid complex regional dynamics.
Miscellaneous
WHO Report on Afghanistan – A recent WHO report recorded over 7,300 measles cases across 20 provinces in February, highlighting a worsening health crisis. The report also documented 230 COVID-19 cases, 6,518 acute diarrhea cases, and 716 malaria infections, among other illnesses. WHO-supported centers provided essential care to over 171,000 people, including 34,000 pregnant women and children receiving vaccinations. Nearly 28,000 children were treated for malnutrition, reflecting severe food insecurity and the collapse of basic health services since the Taliban takeover.
NEXT WEEK
In Pakistan, the March 31 deadline for voluntary departure is approaching, and searches, detentions, and deportations will continue this week. Pressure on Afghans—particularly in Islamabad and Rawalpindi—remains high. Sindh Province has also announced plans to begin deportations of Afghan citizens beginning on April 1. In Balochistan, tensions persist following protests by Baloch activists and last week’s BLA attack. Afghans in Balochistan, particularly in Quetta, should avoid crowds and remain aware of the possibility of continued protests and violence. Those in Pakistan should carry proper documentation at all times, as detentions and deportations may still occur even with valid papers.
In Iran, deportations are ongoing. The Iranian government has noted that thousands of Afghans have voluntarily returned home for Nowruz and Eid. It is likely that obtaining new visas will be difficult and that known crossings will be closely monitored over the next several weeks to prevent Afghans from returning.
In the United States, a travel ban affecting Afghans is still expected, though the exact timing remains uncertain. Afghans in the U.S., including green card holders, are strongly advised to avoid international travel, as the ban’s impact on green card holders is unclear.
While SIV holders can still self-fund travel to the U.S. until the travel ban is enacted, resettlement assistance remains paused. This means no support is available for housing, medical care, food benefits, or school enrollment. Those with printed visas should travel as soon as possible, as the ban may restrict entry.
ICE raids are ongoing in the U.S. Afghans should be aware of their legal rights and carry proper documentation at all times. New resources are available:
Parole assistance – Here
Resources for recent SIV arrivals – Here
Support for recent refugee arrivals – Here
Updates on U.S. visa cases and legal developments – Here
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
Iran Transfers Afghan Prisoners – On Friday, Iran transferred 211 Afghan prisoners to the Islamic Emirate through the Silk Bridge crossing in Nimroz province. According to Prison Administration Director-General Mawlawi Mohammad Yusuf Mastari, a total of 484 Afghan detainees in Iran are set for transfer. The released prisoners will complete their sentences in their home provinces. The Nimroz governor praised the smooth handover and assured provisions for the prisoners' basic needs, including food and healthcare.
Iran Denies Restricting Visas for Afghans – Iran’s Foreign Ministry denied imposing tighter visa restrictions on Afghan citizens, stating that the process is being regulated, not restricted. Spokesperson Ismail Baghaei emphasized that Iran respects Afghan applicants and aims to streamline visa issuance. He also warned against fraud, urging applicants to use official channels. His comments follow growing complaints from Afghan migrants about stricter procedures and difficulties in obtaining visas.
PAKISTAN
Sind Province to Begin Deporatations – Sindh province has finalized a security and operational plan for expelling undocumented Afghan migrants. Beginning April 1, authorities will enforce deportations following the voluntary exit deadline on March 31. Committees at district and sector levels have been activated, and detention centers for refugees have been set up. The plan was developed under federal guidance and in consultation with the Interior Ministry. Sindh is a key region in Pakistan’s broader effort to remove Afghan refugees.
Crackdown on Baloch Protests – Pakistani authorities arrested prominent Baloch activist Mahrang Baloch and 17 others on Saturday after a sit-in outside the University of Balochistan demanding the release of detained supporters. The crackdown resulted in three protester deaths, with both sides blaming each other. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee condemned the arrests as a brutal state action. On Sunday, Quetta entered its second day of a partial shutdown in protest of Mahrang Baloch’s arrest. The incident follows last week's deadly train siege.
11 TTP Arrested in Punjab – Pakistani authorities arrested 11 TTP militants in Punjab, including a suicide bomber from Jamaat-ul-Ahrar who allegedly planned attacks on police stations. One suspect, trained in Afghanistan, was captured in Lahore’s Burki area. The Counter-Terrorism Department conducted 166 intelligence-based operations, seizing weapons and explosives. Officials claim the arrested individuals were involved in previous attacks targeting police and that the suicide bomber had been drugged during his training.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
Afghanistan: Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2024, Response Overview
OCHA
Between January and December 2024, humanitarian partners reached 20.4 million people with at least one form of humanitarian assistance including up to 3.4 million people with three different types of sectoral support. Although this represents a broad reach in absolute terms, 73 per cent (14.9 million) of the 20.4 million people reached overall received food assistance, highlighting the extent to which food assistance continues to drive overall response figures while also overshadowing the millions of people who will require multiple rounds of assistance throughout the year to ensure their needs are adequately met.
The response was enabled by a combination of new funding as of 26 February 2025 (US$1.59 billion, 52 per cent of requirements) and funds carried over from 2023 ($412.5 million). However, $1.47 billion (48 per cent) of the $3.06 billion required to deliver humanitarian assistance remained unfunded as of February 2025. At the same time, new needs continue to be generated by sudden-onset crises while simultaneously exacerbating underlying vulnerabilities.
The large-scale provision of humanitarian assistance, particularly food distributions and seasonal support, has continued throughout the year 2024. Partners will continue to focus efforts on providing more integrated support in line with the nature and scale of multisectoral needs that is informed by a biannual gaps analysis exercise, enhanced inter-sectoral reach calculations and greater transparency in reach data, including disaggregation of food distribution by rounds of assistance. Additionally, the Inter-Cluster Coordination Team (ICCT) has been implementing its analysis of the Inter-Sector Winter Prioritization. The monitoring of winter response, which largely started in September, has been integrated into the monthly response dashboards for October and December.
AFGHAN NEWS
Women protest ahead of new school year in Afghanistan
Siyar Sarat
A group of activists gathered ahead of the new academic year, calling on the international community to take urgent action against the Taliban’s ban on girls’ education and their wider crackdown on women’s rights.
In a joint statement, issued by the Free Women’s Movement in Exile, led by Marghali Faqirzai, and the Powerful Women of Afghanistan Movement, the protesters urged global leaders and the United Nations to apply political pressure on the Taliban to reopen schools and universities for girls.
The women’s groups condemned the Taliban’s policies as oppressive and in violation of international human rights conventions.
“By denying girls an education, the Taliban have not only robbed them of their future but have also crippled Afghanistan’s chances for social and economic progress,” the statement read.
Taliban begin fourth school year without girls in classrooms
Ahmad Azizi
Taliban at a ceremony in Kabul on Thursday inaugurated Afghanistan’s fourth consecutive academic year without girls above sixth grade attending school, as they continue to enforce their ban on female education.
At this event, Taliban officials made no mention of the ongoing restrictions on girls’ education, instead emphasizing their focus on religious studies.
Habibullah Agha, the Taliban’s education minister, stated that his ministry is committed to both religious and modern sciences, but offered no indication that the ban on secondary and higher education for girls would be lifted.
Agha said they have been working to revise the national curriculum over the past two years, removing content they deem contradictory to Islam and Afghan traditions.
Abdul Baqi Haqqani, head of the Taliban’s examination authority, reinforced the idea that education under the Taliban must align with their ideology.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
US lifts $10m reward for major Taliban leader Haqqani
AlJazeera
The United States has lifted a $10m reward for information leading to the arrest of a major Taliban leader, Sirajuddin Haqqani, an Afghan Ministry of Interior Affairs spokesperson says.
Despite the announcement on Saturday, the FBI still lists the reward on its website, saying Haqqani was “believed to have coordinated and participated in cross-border attacks against United States and coalition forces in Afghanistan”.
NRC Chief Slams US, NATO for Turning Backs on Afghanistan Amid Deepening Crisis
Kabul Now
Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), has criticized NATO member states, particularly the United States, for abandoning Afghanistan, emphasizing that the country remains in urgent need of support.
In a video message during his recent visit to Afghanistan, Egeland voiced concern over the reduction of aid at a critical time, noting that more than 22 million people — the majority of them women and girls — are in need of humanitarian assistance.
“For two decades, the US and NATO countries spent trillions on military and development operations here,” Egeland said. “Then they left overnight in 2021, and now seem to have forgotten their promises to Afghan women and girls.”
Opinion: What the Loss of RFE/RL Would Mean for Central Asia
The decision to terminate the federal grant agreement funding for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) is a crushing blow for hundreds of millions of people.
These people know their governments are not telling them the full truth about what is happening in their countries or in the world outside. The objective information provided by RFE/RL has been important to people such as these.
Perhaps as important, since the end of the Cold War, was the platform RFE/RL provides, whenever possible, for people in these countries to explain their views to the outside world.
I know, because I worked at RFE/RL for 25 years covering Central Asia.
RFE/RL was founded in 1950, and I didn’t show up there until 1997. I can only speak about what I saw and heard when I was an RFE/RL employee.