The Afghan government’s failure to provide accountability for violence against women and girls has undermined progress to protect women’s rights, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Gains by Taliban forces as the United States completes its troop withdrawal leaves the current Afghan state, and women’s rights in particular, uncertain. The 32-page report, “‘I Thought Our Life Might […]

Taliban fighters overran large parts of Kunduz city along with the capitals of Takhar and Sar-e-Pul provinces in northern and northeastern Afghanistan Sunday after intense fighting that lasted several days. Hundreds of families fled Kunduz, in the province of the same name, leaving everything behind. Social media videos showed people running in panic and clouds of black smoke rising in […]

President Ashraf Ghani met with prominent Afghan political and Jihadi leaders Monday and discussed the current situation in Afghanistan, the Presidential Palace (ARG) said in a statement. According to ARG, the Afghan leaders decided to equip public uprising forces quickly in order for them to fight the Taliban militants. “In this meeting, a decision was made on supporting the security […]

The effort to fend off panic and minimize losses has taken on outsize importance following the seizure of five provincial capitals by the Taliban. First, a remote provincial capital in Afghanistan’s southwest fell. The next day, it was a city in Afghanistan’s north. By Sunday, Taliban fighters had taken three more cities, including their biggest prize yet, the major provincial […]

The UK’s withdrawal from Afghanistan is a strategic mistake which could spark a resurgence of terrorism, a former military commander has warned. General Sir Richard Barrons warned the decision to pull out would send a message to countries around the world that leaders in the West ‘don’t have the stomach to see these things through’. It comes as Taliban forces […]

First, a remote provincial capital in Afghanistan’s south-west fell. The next day, it was a city in Afghanistan’s north. By Sunday (Aug 8), Taleban fighters had captured three more cities, including their biggest prize yet, the major provincial capital of Kunduz. All the while, the Afghan central government has acknowledged very little of it. In three days, at least five […]

‘Concerted air campaign is unlikely to change the inroads the Taliban have made,’ says unnamed senior US official Despite the Taliban capturing more cities in Afghanistan, US President Joe Biden will continue with his plans to withdraw American troops from the country, a report said Sunday. The New York Times report, titled “Biden is not changing the US withdrawal plan, […]

Heavy clashes continue in Kunduz city in the northern province of Kunduz since their start on Saturday night, according to security sources. Dozens of shops and buildings have caught fire in fighting around the Kunduz airport and police HQ in the city, the sources said. “The Taliban have taken Chawk-e-Kunduz (the center of the city),” sources said. Dozens of families […]

Central parts of the city of Sar-e-Pul and many areas in Kunduz city have fallen to the Taliban after heavy clashes between the two sides. Reports indicate that in Sar-e-Pul the governor’s compound, the police headquarters and the NDS office have fallen to the Taliban. Local officials said that security forces are stationed in an army base in Sar-e-Pul and […]

Heavy fighting continued in the city of Sheberghan, the capital of northern Jawzjan province, for the second day with Taliban taking over some key areas, including the provincial prison. Taliban released a video on Saturday morning showing prisoners escaping Jawzjan prison. Some key areas in the city remain contested for the last 24 hours. Taliban took over the provincial governor’s […]