Strong Taliban Reaction to Recent Statements by U.S. Officials: “A Pretext for Attacking Us.” Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson, strongly reacted to the United States’ decision to place Afghanistan under Taliban control on the list of so-called “hostage-taking countries,” describing it as “clear political pretext-building” against the group. He stressed that the issue of detained
Growing Chinese Distrust of the Taliban; Beijing Turns to Security Options. China’s distrust of the Taliban has increased following an attack on a restaurant belonging to Chinese nationals in Kabul. At the same time, China’s representative to the United Nations has expressed concern about the activities of terrorist groups inside Afghanistan, a position that suggests
Rising Tensions Between Kabul and Washington; Taliban Official Threatens “Crushing Response”. The Taliban have described the recent decision by the United States to place Afghanistan on the list of countries responsible for “wrongful detentions” as regrettable and have rejected Washington’s accusations. The Taliban’s Foreign Ministry said that no foreign citizen has been detained as a
Taliban Controversies and the Group’s Political Office in Qatar. Some Qatari media outlets, including The Peninsula, have reported that the Qatari government may ask the Taliban to close their political office in Doha. This office, established in 2013, had been recognized as the main political channel for the Taliban to communicate with the international community.
Women of Mazar-e-Sharif Broke the Silence; Education Is Our Right! At the same time as 8 March 2026, International Women’s Day, courageous women of Balkh carried out a bold action in parts of Mazar-e-Sharif and expressed their opposition to the repression and restrictions imposed on women through protest graffiti. This action echoed the voice of
Badakhshan Residents Said “No” to the Taliban; Protest Held with a Few Clerics and Children. Local sources in Badakhshan province say the Taliban in recent days used mosque loudspeakers and local publicity to call on people to participate in a protest; however, the call was met with widespread indifference from citizens. According to these sources,
Taliban Pressure Locals in Wars, Bamyan, Amid Freezing Cold. Local sources in Bamyan province say that the Taliban have recently mobilized residents of Wars district to hold demonstrations against Pakistan. According to these sources, people were called to attend while the region faces severe, freezing cold. The weather conditions have made traveling and gathering extremely
Local Sources Describe the Background of Taliban Gatherings in Northern Afghanistan. Local sources in the provinces of Takhar, Badakhshan, Kunduz, and Baghlan report extensive Taliban planning to hold organized demonstrations. According to these sources, the purpose of these gatherings is described as mobilizing public opinion against Pakistan and demonstrating popular support for Taliban rule. This
Condolences and Warnings; Prominent Afghan Political Figures React to Developments in Iran. Following the killing of Ali Khamenei, Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, during joint United States and Israeli attacks, a number of prominent figures from Afghanistan’s former government issued rare and explicit statements in response. Abdul Rashid Dostum described the incident as
Pakistan Reports the Destruction of 115 Taliban Tanks. The destruction of 115 Taliban tanks and military vehicles was the result of extensive Pakistani airstrikes across multiple Afghan provinces. Official Pakistani sources report that the operation was carried out on Friday, 27 February 2026. They say it was conducted with high precision. Key Taliban centers, allegedly
