Topic
Afghanistan internal security
Timeline · newest first
Women-led business licensing continues in Afghanistan under Taliban rule
Women-led business licensing continued in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. The subject was highlighted in an NBC News NOW report regarding entrepreneurship and women's rights in the region. The development was presented as a facet of the current socio-economic environment under the existing administration.
Defense Secretary upgrades valor awards for three Marines
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth upgraded the valor awards for three Marines on Wednesday. The recipients, Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan Eby, Cpl. Michael Gretzon, and Lance Cpl. Jordan Houston, served at the Abbey Gate of the Hamid Karzai International Airport. This action followed a bombing that occurred five years ago during the U.S. evacuation from Afghanistan.
Defense Secretary Hegseth honors service members killed in 2021 Abbey Gate attack
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth honored U.S. service members who served during the 2021 Abbey Gate attack in Kabul, Afghanistan. The ceremony marked five years since the August 26, 2021, suicide bombing that occurred during the U.S. withdrawal from the country. The attack resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and approximately 170 Afghan civilians.
UNICEF reports one million Afghan children facing life-threatening malnutrition
UNICEF reported that one million children in Afghanistan were suffering from life-threatening severe acute malnutrition, with 3.7 million children experiencing wasting across the country. UNICEF country representative Tajudeen Oyewale stated that the crisis worsened significantly, noting that hospital admissions for malnutrition rose by a third in July 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. This situation followed the economic collapse that occurred after the Taliban government returned to power in 2021. In some southern regions, hospitals reportedly faced capacity issues, managing three to four severely malnourished children for every available bed.
BBC reports on Taliban governance and social changes in Afghanistan
The BBC reported on the governance of Taliban official and former Guantanamo detainee Abdullah Sarhadi, currently serving as a military corps deputy commander. The report detailed an encounter where an 18-year-old woman sought a divorce from her abusive husband in Sarhadi’s office, an act that occurred despite the Taliban's restrictive policies on women's rights, including bans on education and public movement. Sarhadi, who previously oversaw the destruction of Buddha statues in Bamiyan, attempted to discourage the divorce while officials present mocked the woman, characterizing women as deficient in intellect.
Five years after US withdrawal from Afghanistan
Five years have passed since the final United States military aircraft departed Kabul, marking the end of a 20-year occupation. The withdrawal followed decades of conflict involving Western military forces and the Taliban, which the source describes as a total strategic failure for the West. The transition of power to the Islamic Emirate occurred in an orderly manner, contrasting with the chaotic scenes at Hamid Karzai International Airport. This event mirrored past British military incursions in Afghanistan, which also ended in retreat and defeat.
Afghans in Pakistan face uncertain future amid deportation drive
Pakistan intensified its Illegal Foreigners' Repatriation Plan in July 2026, targeting undocumented Afghan nationals with increased arrests and deportations. The move affected individuals like 25-year-old Shayaan Khan, a Pakistan-born Afghan national who faces removal to a country where he has no established life. Pakistani authorities justified the crackdown as a security measure, citing the Taliban-led government's alleged failure to prevent militant groups like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan from launching attacks from Afghan territory. Between July 5 and July 11, 2026, over 6,000 Afghans returned to their home country, contributing to a total of more than 2.5 million returnees since the campaign began in 2023.
Taliban release two detained UN staff members in Afghanistan
On Thursday morning, Afghanistan's Taliban authorities released two United Nations staff members who had been detained in Herat since August 9. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirmed the release and stated the men were in good health, though the reasons for their initial detention remained undisclosed. While charges against the two staff members were reportedly dropped, UNAMA noted that it had not received formal notification regarding the cause of the detention.
Taliban pursues international alliances without formal diplomatic recognition
Five years after returning to power, the Taliban government in Afghanistan expanded international ties in trade, security, and energy despite the lack of formal global recognition. The Taliban currently engages with over 40 diplomatic missions, with China emerging as a prominent partner through security cooperation and a $3.4bn investment in the Logar copper mine. While Russia became the first country to officially recognize the government in July 2025, other regional actors including Uzbekistan, which signed $520m in trade agreements in 2026, and Turkmenistan, through the TAPI pipeline project, pursued economic integration. Regional powers like Iran and India maintained diplomatic presence to balance influence, while the Taliban sought to reduce reliance on Pakistan by diversifying trade routes through Iran and Central Asia.
Over 1,000 Afghan refugees remain at Qatar transit camp since 2021
Over 1,000 Afghan refugees who fled in 2021 remained in the Camp As-Sayliyah transit facility in Doha, Qatar. These individuals, many of whom aided U.S. forces during the war, were isolated and unable to leave the camp.
Assessment of Taliban Rule in Afghanistan
Five years after seizing power, the Taliban has maintained control over Afghanistan despite global isolation, internal economic struggles, and the absence of foreign aid. While the regime remains globally unrecognized by most nations, it has achieved a level of internal stability through tax collection, trade with neighboring states, and successful military campaigns against internal threats like Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K). This governance model has resulted in an estimated annual GDP growth of nearly 5 percent, though the regime remains characterized by the systemic oppression of women and religious minorities.
Reports indicate humanitarian impact of aid reductions in Afghanistan
In early 2025, the Trump administration froze or terminated over $1.7 billion in aid to Afghanistan, representing nearly half of the country's total humanitarian funding. A subsequent six-month investigation by Refugees International, which surveyed 555 front-line health workers and analyzed data from 320 health facilities, documented a sharp rise in preventable deaths following the resulting closure of more than 420 health facilities. Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly disputed claims that these cuts resulted in fatalities, asserting to Congress that no children were dying due to the policy. However, hospital records and health worker reports linked the collapse of U.S.-funded services to significant increases in maternal and neonatal mortality, including a fivefold increase in maternal deaths in Herat.
Afghanistan: Female labor force participation at 5.1% under Taliban
The International Labour Organization (ILO) reported that female labor force participation in Afghanistan fell from 16.5% in 2020 to 5.1% in 2026, the second-lowest rate globally. This decline occurred following the Taliban's return to power in August 2021, which resulted in widespread restrictions on women’s access to education and employment. While female-owned businesses increased tenfold due to a lack of other opportunities, the ILO noted that the broader Afghan economy remained under significant pressure with total employment failing to keep pace with population growth and the influx of over 6 million returnees from Iran and Pakistan since 2023.
Blast near Kabul school causes around 50 injuries
A hand grenade exploded near the Shama-e Hidayat school in the Dasht-e-Barchi neighborhood of Kabul on Monday afternoon, resulting in approximately 50 injuries, primarily among children. Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran confirmed the incident and the injuries, stating that an investigation was underway despite providing no details regarding the perpetrators. The Dasht-e-Barchi area is a predominantly Hazara district that has frequently been targeted in previous attacks, and UN special rapporteur Richard Bennett has condemned the event as a "heinous" act requiring an independent investigation.
Explosion reported at school in Afghan capital Kabul
An explosion occurred at the Shama-e Hidayat school in the Dasht-e-Barchi neighborhood of Kabul, Afghanistan, at approximately 4:30pm local time on Monday. While the Taliban government had not commented and casualties remained unconfirmed, reports indicated that several students were injured and transported to Alami Hospital. Local news outlets including Kabul Now and TOLOnews reported that the blast was caused by a hand grenade. The Dasht-e-Barchi area is primarily inhabited by the Hazara minority group, which has previously been targeted by the Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISIS-K).
Report on Afghanistan five years after US withdrawal
Afghanistan marked five years since the Taliban returned to power following the rapid collapse of the Western-backed government and the chaotic US withdrawal in August 2021. Taliban officials celebrated the anniversary, termed “Fatah” or “victory” day, by asserting that the country was now safer and “free.” The event highlighted the transition from the 20-year US occupation, which followed the 2001 invasion, to current Taliban rule under which thousands gathered in Kabul with US-made weapons. Runjhun Sharma of RT India traveled to the region to document the current conditions, noting the complexity of life under the Taliban.
Reflecting on the 9/11 Attacks and the U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan
The United States reached the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the five-year anniversary of the withdrawal from Afghanistan. An expert analyst identified these milestones as moments of 'willful forgetting' by the U.S. government regarding the post-9/11 wars. The analysis argued that while the U.S. demonstrated significant tactical and technological innovation, such as the development of armed drones, these developments shifted focus toward lethal, system-based approaches that failed to address resilient human networks.
Taliban government supporters gather for celebrations in Kabul
On August 15, 2026, supporters of the Taliban gathered in central Kabul to celebrate the government's fifth anniversary in power, marking the withdrawal of foreign forces and the end of the U.S. presence in 2021. The event, which featured music, dancing, and displays of weaponry, took place near the former U.S. embassy and involved a crowd composed almost entirely of men and children. Attendees expressed support for the Taliban's rule, citing a sense of peace and security, while the government declared the day a national holiday.
Debate over deportations of individuals to Taliban-controlled territory
A debate emerged regarding the deportation of individuals to Taliban-controlled territory in Afghanistan. Critics characterized the cooperation in these returns as hypocritical given existing condemnations of Taliban abuses.
International community considers engagement with Taliban government in Afghanistan
Five years after the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan on 15 August 2021, the international community shifted toward pragmatic engagement despite the regime's ongoing human rights abuses. While Western nations initially cut aid and withheld recognition, recent developments included an EU delegation hosting Taliban officials in June to discuss returning failed asylum seekers. Simultaneously, the Taliban actively sought economic support from regional states including China, Japan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Central Asian nations interested in trans-Afghan trade routes. This pivot occurred while the UN described the country as a 'graveyard for human rights,' noting that 2.4 million girls were denied secondary education and women remained largely excluded from public life.
Taliban marks five years in power in Afghanistan
On August 15, 2026, the Taliban observed the fifth anniversary of their return to power in Kabul, Afghanistan. Public displays included black and white flags, graffiti depicting blood to honor fighter sacrifices, and posters celebrating the removal of democracy in favor of Islamic rule. Celebrations involved young Afghans chanting independence songs and vehicles driving through the capital city.
UN reports potential closures of Afghan women's organizations
UN Women reported that over half of the 74 surveyed women's organizations in Afghanistan are expected to suspend or cease operations within the next year due to a lack of funding. UN representative Susan Ferguson stated that nearly 75 percent of these organizations faced budget cuts in 2025, and the UN's broader $1.7 billion humanitarian appeal remained only 25 percent funded. This development occurred as the Taliban marked five years since returning to power, during which they enacted over 100 decrees restricting the rights of Afghan women and girls to education, employment, and movement. A joint statement from 56 countries criticized this systematic repression, noting its role as a defining feature of the current Taliban administration.
Afghan women report restricted rights under Taliban rule
Five years after regaining power, the Taliban has implemented policies that restrict women's education, employment, and freedom of movement across Afghanistan. Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi stated that women are not totally restricted and claimed 120,000 female entrepreneurs currently operate in the country, despite UN data indicating that only 7% of women are employed. Afghan women reported that secondary and higher education bans, mandatory male chaperones, and the legalization of child marriage have rendered their lives unrecognizable. These restrictions have impacted 22 million women, with reports confirming that 2.6 million girls are currently unable to attend school beyond the sixth grade.
Western influence in Afghanistan five years after Taliban takeover
Five years after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, United Nations officials and aid organizations continued to maintain a presence in the country to negotiate humanitarian access and human rights. Georgette Gagnon, acting head of the UN mission in Kabul, advocated for a structured, collective approach known as the 'Mosaic' process to address core issues like inclusive governance and sanctions relief. While critics faulted the UN for its engagement strategy—specifically regarding the exclusion of women from initial 2024 Doha Process meetings—aid agencies and local officials reported utilizing pragmatic 'workarounds' to maintain operations. These ongoing efforts relied on daily relationships and consistent messaging to navigate the Taliban’s restrictive edicts.
Taliban government faces challenges from armed factions in Afghanistan
The Taliban government lost temporary control of the Yaftal-e Payeen district capital in Badakhshan province, marking the first such loss since the group retook power in August 2021. Following reports of internal Taliban clashes and attacks on officials, former Afghan army general Sami Sadat ordered his 'United Front' forces to launch nationwide military operations on August 2. These developments accompany a broader, ongoing armed struggle against the regime led by groups such as the National Resistance Front and the regional branch of the Islamic State.
Daniel Malikyar documents daily life in Afghanistan
Photographer Daniel Malikyar, the son of Afghan refugees, traveled through Afghanistan to document daily life, landscapes, and cultural rituals prior to the Taliban's return to power on August 15, 2021. His project resulted in a book and documentary series designed to counter Western media narratives that focused exclusively on conflict and crisis. Malikyar captured images of remote communities, such as Kyrgyz families in the Pamir Mountains, as well as scenes of daily life in Kabul, to bridge the gap between his personal ancestral history and international perceptions of the country.
U.S. Tech Companies Urged to Support Education Access for Afghan Girls
U.S. technology companies faced calls to balance the provision of digital educational access for Afghan girls against the risks posed by Taliban surveillance. Following the Taliban's 2021 ban on secondary education for girls, organizations like Begum Academy, SOLAx, and the Herat Online School utilized platforms by Meta and Google to reach approximately 2 million adolescent girls excluded from the classroom. The Taliban’s enforcement of the 2024 Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Law and the January 2026 Criminal Procedure Code criminalized the possession of educational materials and digital content, allowing community members to punish women and girls for accessing these online resources.
That's every event recorded for this topic so far.
Know where. Know why.