The internet shutdown in Afghanistan has significantly impacted both students and teachers like Zabi, who relied on online platforms for English language instruction. Zabi’s students, many preparing for the IELTS exam, were cut off mid-test, leaving them devastated. The cost of mobile data, the only alternative, is prohibitive for most, further exacerbating the situation. Zabi, like many, is now considering leaving the country, and the money changer, Anas, says he’s had to endure an extreme dip in business.
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Former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed interest in retaking Bagram Air Base, sparking a swift rejection from the Taliban government. The Taliban’s chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, emphasized Afghanistan’s commitment to its independence and territorial integrity, urging the U.S. to adhere to the Doha Agreement. The Taliban’s Defense Ministry chief of staff echoed this sentiment, declaring that ceding any Afghan territory was impossible. The statements come after Trump’s comments about potentially negotiating the base’s return, despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties between the U.S. and the Taliban.
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In a recent Truth Social post, former US President Donald Trump warned the Taliban that “bad things” would happen if they failed to return Bagram Airbase. This strongly worded statement, referencing the United States as the builder of the base, signals a potential escalation of tensions. The post suggests a potential future focus on the military site located in Afghanistan. This highlights a continuing interest in the region despite the US withdrawal.
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In a new development, the Taliban government has instructed Afghan universities to remove books written by women from the curriculum and has also prohibited the teaching of 18 subjects deemed in conflict with Sharia law. This move is part of a broader crackdown on women’s rights, coinciding with the ban on female education beyond the sixth grade. The directive includes a list of nearly 700 books, with 140 written by women. The ban, motivated by the desire to prevent the infiltration of Iranian content into the Afghan curriculum, has raised concerns among educators regarding the void it creates in higher education and its impact on academic standards.
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Former President Donald Trump has been privately pressuring national security officials to regain control of Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, which the Taliban seized after the US withdrawal in 2021. Trump believes the base is vital for monitoring China, accessing rare earth elements, combating ISIS, and potentially reopening a diplomatic facility. While a 2020 agreement mandated a full US troop withdrawal, Trump has suggested the US has leverage over the Taliban due to their need for assistance. Bagram, a key military hub for nearly two decades, was left by US troops in 2021, with its departure criticized in a State Department review for contributing to the chaotic overall withdrawal.
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President Trump identified 23 countries, including China, Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan, as major drug transit or illicit drug-producing nations, citing the threat they pose to the U.S. due to illicit drug manufacturing and trafficking. The “Major’s List” was delivered to Congress, designating these countries as responsible for sourcing and transporting drugs into the U.S. The State Department noted that Afghanistan, Bolivia, Burma, Colombia, and Venezuela have notably failed to make substantial efforts in counternarcotics. The listing considers various factors enabling drug transit or production, even if a government has taken counter-drug measures, with specific concerns raised about China’s role in precursor chemicals and Afghanistan’s ongoing drug production.
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Following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, many Afghan allies who had assisted US forces now face the threat of deportation under the current political climate. In response, US military veterans have formed “Battle Buddies” to support Afghan refugees at immigration hearings, acting as a show of solidarity. These veterans aim to protect their former allies from deportation, recognizing the moral and legal obligation to those who aided the US military. The group now has over 900 volunteers across the country who hope to deter the actions of federal agents. This is due to the termination of programs that once protected these individuals and a growing fear of returning to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
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According to a U.N. investigator, the Taliban has weaponized the legal and judicial system to oppress women and girls, committing what amounts to crimes against humanity. The Taliban has suspended laws protecting women’s rights, dismissed female judges and replaced them with men lacking legal training, and assumed full control over law enforcement agencies. Women face a hostile environment within the court system, leading them to seek justice through male-dominated traditional mechanisms. As a result, women have virtually no rights, and international forums may offer the best hope for justice.
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The United Nations expressed concern regarding the Taliban’s recent arrests of Afghan women and girls in Kabul for alleged violations of the dress code, specifically relating to the hijab. This follows a May 2022 decree mandating women to cover themselves, with restrictions enforced by the Taliban government since regaining power in 2021. The U.N. mission has called for the rescinding of policies that restrict women’s rights and freedoms. The Taliban’s actions, which have included previous arrests for “bad hijab”, have led to international scrutiny and calls for the restoration of women’s rights.
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Germany recently deported 81 Afghan nationals with criminal records back to Afghanistan, marking the second such operation since the Taliban takeover in 2021. The Interior Ministry confirmed the deportations, emphasizing that those returned were legally required to leave and had come to the attention of judicial authorities. This action aligns with Chancellor Merz’s new government’s stricter stance on immigration, which includes enhanced border checks and a suspension of family reunification for many migrants. Despite these measures and warnings from human rights groups, deportations continue, with the government citing declining asylum applications as evidence of its successful strategy.
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John Q. Hosedrinker