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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Following the recent earthquake in Afghanistan, the situation for women has been exacerbated by Taliban-enforced gender restrictions and centuries-old customs. These rules, forbidding unrelated male rescuers from touching women, have resulted in women being left behind during rescue efforts, as male rescuers hesitate to assist. The lack of female healthcare workers, due to the Taliban’s ban on women’s education in certain fields, further compounds the problem in rural areas. Consequently, women are often ignored or left waiting for assistance, and are disproportionately impacted by the disaster.
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India swiftly responded to the devastating earthquake in eastern Afghanistan, which struck Kunar province, by sending relief materials and pledging further aid. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke with the Taliban foreign minister to assess the situation and offer condolences, with India immediately delivering family tents and food supplies. The magnitude 6 earthquake resulted in over 800 fatalities and more than 2,000 injuries, with entire villages destroyed and rescue efforts hampered by landslides. Rescue teams faced challenges accessing remote areas and were in need of immediate support including medical aid, shelter, and heavy machinery.
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Afghanistan earthquake kills 800, injures 2,800. Taliban asks world for help. The immediate reaction, and it’s hard to avoid, is just profound sadness. Eight hundred people dead. That’s a staggering number. And the scale of the injuries, 2,800, it paints a picture of absolute devastation. We’re talking about the loss of life, the destruction of homes, the disruption of everything these people knew. It’s impossible not to feel for the civilians, the ones who are bearing the brunt of this tragedy, particularly when you consider the poor quality of building construction which is often the case in areas like Afghanistan, compounded by the lack of adequate medical facilities to treat so many people.… Continue reading
A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan near the border with Pakistan, resulting in at least 500 fatalities and over 2,000 injuries, according to Taliban officials. The quake, which occurred at a shallow depth, was followed by multiple aftershocks. Afghanistan’s mountainous terrain and location on fault lines, coupled with the country’s existing challenges, including drought and an influx of returning Afghans, exacerbate the difficulties faced by emergency services and the affected population. This disaster follows previous devastating earthquakes in recent years.
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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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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood