Taliban Releases British Couple After Seven Months In Custody
The Taliban on Friday freed a British couple who had been held in Afghanistan for seven months, according to officials and family members.
World
China Urges Respect For Afghan Sovereignty After Trump’s Bagram Remarks
China on Friday urged respect for Afghanistan’s sovereignty after US President Donald Trump suggested Washington was seeking to regain control of Bagram Air Base.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Calls Afghanistan A Hostile State
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday accused the Taliban of backing militants targeting Islamabad and declared Afghanistan a “hostile country.”
CNN: Trump Pressures US Officials To Regain Control Of Bagram Air Base
President Donald Trump has been pressing US security officials for months to find a way to retake Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, CNN reported Thursday, citing three sources familiar with the matter.
US Ends Chabahar Port Waiver, Threatening Key Afghan Trade Route
The United States will revoke Iran’s Chabahar Port sanctions exemption on Sept. 29, a move that could cut off Afghanistan’s most important alternative trade route and stall India’s multimillion-dollar investments in the facility.
US House Votes To Provide Intelligence Support To Afghan Opponents Of Taliban
The US House of Representatives has approved an amendment to the 2026 defence budget that would allow the Pentagon to share intelligence with former Afghan security forces and resistance groups fighting the Taliban.
Pakistan Summons Taliban Envoy Over Rising TTP Attacks
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned Ahmad Shakib, the Taliban’s ambassador in Islamabad, amid rising activities by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), sources told News.
US Again Lists Afghanistan As Major Drug Producer, Transit Country
The United States has again listed Afghanistan among the world’s major drug-producing and transit countries, saying Taliban members continue to profit from the narcotics trade despite the group’s declared ban.
Pakistan Tightens Border Security To Cut Militants’ Supply Routes From Afghanistan
Pakistan has unveiled a new plan to step up monitoring along its border with Afghanistan in a bid to block what it calls the supply routes of militant groups operating from Afghan territory.
Russian Researcher Says Taliban Held Him On Espionage Charges
A Russian researcher who spent 52 days in Taliban custody said he was accused of spying for Moscow and engaging in anti-government propaganda.
Iran, Pakistan, Russia & China Hold Four-Way Talks On Afghanistan
Envoys from Iran, Pakistan, Russia and China held talks on Afghanistan on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) consultative meeting in Tajikistan, Iranian officials said Friday.
SCO Holds Consultative Meeting On Afghanistan In Tajikistan
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Thursday opened a two-day consultative meeting in Dushanbe to discuss Afghanistan’s situation, its impact on the region and ways to strengthen coordination among member states.
Imran Khan Urges Direct Talks With Afghan Taliban From Prison
Pakistan’s jailed opposition leader Imran Khan has called for direct negotiations with the Afghan Taliban, instructing the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to travel to Kabul for talks.
China, Uzbekistan Envoys Discuss Coordination On Afghanistan
Senior diplomats from China and Uzbekistan met in Tashkent to discuss Afghanistan’s situation and ways to coordinate regional and international efforts to address the country’s challenges, Uzbekistan’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.
Turkiye, Pakistan Envoys Hold Talks On Afghanistan
Pakistan and Türkiye's special envoys for Afghanistan met this week to discuss developments in the country and their regional implications, Pakistani officials said.
Afghans Now Second-Largest Group Of Asylum Seekers In Europe, Says EU Agency
Afghans were the second-largest group of asylum seekers in Europe in the first half of 2025, after Venezuelans, according to the European Union Agency for Asylum.
Russia Backs Pakistan, China On Afghanistan Security Concerns
Russia’s special envoy for Afghanistan said Moscow supports Pakistan and China’s policies on Afghanistan and shares their concerns over militant threats.
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Calls For Inclusive Government In Afghanistan
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Monday urged the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan, calling it the only path toward lasting peace and stability in the country.
Taliban Poetry Law Tightens Grip On Dissent, Says Iranian Writers’ Association
The Iranian Writers’ Association has condemned a new Taliban law restricting poetry, warning it will further stifle freedom of thought and expression in Afghanistan.
Hundreds Of Afghan Women Left In Limbo After UK Asylum Rejections
Around 400 Afghan women and girls are living in limbo in Britain after their asylum applications were rejected, according to a report by The Observer. The paper said they cannot return to Afghanistan yet are not permitted to remain in the UK.
South Khorasan Exported $1.75 Billion In Goods To Afghanistan, Says Iranian Official
An Iranian provincial governor said South Khorasan exported more than $1.75 billion worth of goods to Afghanistan in the second half of last year, accounting for about 40 percent of Iran’s total exports to its eastern neighbour.
SCO To Hold Consultative Meeting On Afghanistan In Tajikistan
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will hold a consultative meeting on Afghanistan on 11–12 September in Dushanbe, the group’s secretary-general said.