AGP Executive Report

Girls’ Education Under Taliban: AFP reports fathers in Afghanistan are devastated by the ban on girls’ secondary schooling, with many calling it unjust and some even facing jail for protesting. Media Crackdown: Reporters Without Borders says the Taliban have issued more than 20 directives restricting press freedom and tightening control over journalists, women, and broadcasting. Accountability Pressure: UNAMA warns Taliban security institutions lack transparency, with limited public information on complaints and disciplinary actions. Diplomacy After Five Years: A report says the Taliban have built working ties with several countries despite no formal recognition, driven by practical interests. International Support for Afghan Allies: U.S. senators introduce the ARCH Act to preserve service records of Afghan allies who worked with U.S. forces. Regional Talks: Turkmenistan and Afghanistan’s deputy PM Baradar discuss progress on the TAPI pipeline and related infrastructure in Herat. Humanitarian Education Funding: Qatar Red Crescent launches “Back to School 2026,” including Afghanistan-focused support for students. Sports: Afghanistan beat Ireland to secure a spot in the ODI World Cup 2027 qualifiers.

Money & Markets: Kabul’s Sarai Shahzada money exchange market says nearly 1,500 licensed money exchangers now operate across Afghanistan, with about 800 in Kabul, after tighter banking rules pushed more transfers and currency exchange into the licensed sector. Commemoration & Public Life: Kabul is preparing for 24 Asad, the fifth anniversary of the Islamic Emirate’s return to power, with city-wide banners and events planned, while residents also urge more focus on jobs, education, and the economy. Security Oversight: UNAMA says Afghanistan’s security institutions still lack transparent accountability, despite new internal mechanisms and directives, warning that limited public information weakens deterrence. Media Freedom: Reporters Without Borders says the Taliban has tightened control of Afghanistan’s media through more than 20 directives and new legal steps, leaving journalists exposed and criticism increasingly punished. Humanitarian Pressure: The Norwegian Refugee Council accuses NATO countries of breaking promises as humanitarian funding drops and unemployment rises among returning Afghans. Diplomacy & Regional Ties: Iran’s president says Afghanistan helped prevent unrest spilling into Iran during the US-Iran conflict, while Iran’s Kabul embassy highlights efforts to expand transit and economic diplomacy. Economy & Industry: Balkh’s new $30m oil refinery begins operations, and Herat starts a $143m cement project to cut reliance on imports. Diaspora & Rights: A US appeals court ordered a do-over for an Afghan man facing deportation after a translator used the wrong calendar in his case. Press in Pakistan: Pakistan’s Peshawar High Court halted deportation of two Afghan journalists and ordered authorities to decide their cases within 60 days.

Afghan Women’s Rights: The Afghanistan Women’s Political Participation Network says Taliban rule has pushed women out of public life, with repression and detention for dissent. Pakistan-Afghanistan Tensions: Pakistan rejects Kabul’s claim of weapons smuggling, calling it “frivolous, baseless,” and instead urges action against militant sanctuaries in Afghanistan. Border & Trade: Pakistan says it will reopen border crossings and transit routes with Afghanistan, aiming to remove obstacles to legal trade after months of disruption. Economy & Jobs: A new Sar-e-Pul oil refinery has started operations using locally sourced crude, creating over 100 jobs and boosting domestic fuel production. Mining Impacts: In Badakhshan, Afghanistan’s gold rush is drawing thousands of miners but leaving dust, damaged farmland, and polluted water for local families. Humanitarian Pressure: Reports say malnutrition is rising in many Afghan communities as aid dries up, while returns from Pakistan continue to strain vulnerable areas. Regional Politics: Pakistan’s Punjab is running a crackdown to identify and repatriate undocumented Afghan residents, with holding centers and transfers to Torkham. Local Security: Two young men in Kandahar reportedly attempted suicide amid unemployment and severe economic hardship.

Women’s Rights Under Taliban: Afghan women’s groups mark five years since the Taliban’s return, saying restrictions have turned life into a “prison without walls,” with women excluded from public life and facing intimidation and detention. Humanitarian Pressure: UN-linked reporting warns aid shortfalls are deepening and child malnutrition remains severe as unemployment and poverty bite. Economy & Jobs: In Kandahar, two young men attempted suicide amid economic hardship; in Jawzjan, a university graduate sells street food after years of joblessness. Energy & Industry: A new oil refinery in Sar-e-Pul has started operations, using locally sourced crude to produce diesel, petrol and mazut and creating over 100 jobs. Taliban Governance & Property: Tenants in Haji Nabi Township (Omid-e-Sabz) were told to pay rent to the Islamic Emirate via banks, sparking disputes over fairness and eviction fears. Regional Security: Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban trade accusations over alleged weapons smuggling, with Kabul denying Islamabad’s claims and Islamabad rejecting Taliban allegations. Geopolitics & Trade Routes: Russia floated a rail link to the Indian Ocean via Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan to reduce reliance on Hormuz and Bosphorus. Media & Expression: Pakistan’s foreign media guidelines drew criticism from press freedom groups, with warnings of administrative retaliation. International Spotlight: Malala Yousafzai and South African leaders condemned Taliban bans on girls’ education and called it “gender apartheid.”

Taliban Rule & Rights: Afghan Shia figures urge the Taliban to address discrimination, reopen religious and media institutions, and halt plans tied to the Omid-e Sabz township evacuation. Media Under Pressure: A new report says Afghan journalists face a growing mental health crisis as outlets close, jobs vanish, and reporters face arrests, threats, and restrictions on digital work. Governance & Property: The Taliban’s Ministry of Justice bans new property transactions in townships it calls state-owned, ordering tenants to pay rent directly to Taliban authorities. Humanitarian Strain: UNHCR says more than 600,000 Afghans have returned or been forced back from Pakistan since the start of the year, with detention and livelihood shocks at crossings like Torkham. Economy & Extraction: In Badakhshan’s Shiwa gold rush, miners and companies expand fast, but residents report polluted water, lost farmland, and broken restoration promises. Security & Armed Claims: Two anti-Taliban groups claim separate attacks on Kabul Airport’s military section, while the Taliban has not commented.

Taliban Land Rules: The Taliban has banned new property transactions in “state-owned” residential and commercial townships, ordering tenants to pay rent directly to Taliban authorities after court decisions. Return Pressure: UNHCR says more than 600,000 Afghans have returned or been forced back from Pakistan since the start of the year, with many facing detention and loss of belongings at crossings like Torkham. Humanitarian Strain: A REACH/UN-supported assessment says malnutrition cases are rising as migrants return and aid falls, with shortages of medicines and unaffordable treatment costs reported across hundreds of districts. Women Under Scrutiny: International debate is growing over Taliban restrictions on women and social freedoms, including new rules that have raised concerns among medical professionals. Housing Costs: In Ghazni, residents say rent hikes are squeezing families as migrant returns swell demand. Border Trade Hit: Afghanistan-Pakistan border closures have now lasted 300 days, disrupting trade and pushing businesses toward longer, costlier routes. Security & Rights: The Afghanistan Freedom Front warns of an order to evacuate Omid-e Sabz Township in Kabul, calling it discriminatory land seizure targeting Hazara and Shiite residents.

Press Freedom in Pakistan: Human rights groups say Pakistan’s new foreign media curbs are tightening the noose on reporting, with foreign journalists and even local staff needing permission to travel beyond Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi. Afghanistan Humanitarian Crisis: UNICEF and UN-linked reporting warn Afghanistan’s malnutrition emergency is worsening as aid gaps grow, with children increasingly missing treatment and facing rising hunger. Taliban Pressure on Critics: Reports say Taliban authorities detained journalists and activists in Badakhshan and Khost, adding to concerns about shrinking space for dissent. Women’s Rights Under Taliban Rule: Coverage highlights ongoing restrictions and discrimination, including allegations of systematic bias against Hazara Shia representatives and continued pressure on women’s public life. Pakistan-Afghanistan Tensions: Pakistan’s foreign ministry reiterates it does not want war with Afghanistan, but points to Taliban support for the TTP as the main obstacle. Security and Abductions: In Pakistan’s Balochistan, armed attackers hit a checkpoint on the Dalbandin–Taftan highway and abducted excise officials, prompting a search and new road security measures.

UN Security Council & Taliban stance: The UN again warned about threats from terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan, but the Taliban rejected the concerns, saying Afghanistan is under its full control and no independent armed group is allowed. Rights & Hazara-Shia tensions in Kabul: Hazara-Shia representatives accused the Taliban justice minister of “systematic discrimination,” citing arrests, closures of religious institutions, and an order for residents of Omid-e Sabz/Haji Nabi Township to vacate land declared state-owned. Humanitarian pressure: Reports say malnutrition is worsening across Afghanistan, with aid shortfalls pushing clinics to turn families away. UK resettlement risk: The UK admitted Afghans awaiting relocation to Britain remain at risk from the Taliban, including people whose details were exposed in a MoD data breach—while still not helping them flee. Regional trade: Turkmenistan and Afghanistan discussed expanding trade and a new logistics corridor to Mazar-i-Sharif. International justice: ICC judges ordered a Taliban gender-persecution probe to be split from the broader Afghanistan war crimes case. Afghan-linked incident abroad: A Red Cross film about an Afghan migrant accused in the Athens suitcase death was removed after the suspect was charged.

US-Iran Fallout: The AP reports nearly 700 U.S. service members have been wounded in Iran-linked attacks, with traumatic brain injuries raising fears of long-term damage that may show up years later. UN Security Council: The UNSC condemned a Swat suicide blast after Pakistan warned of Afghan-based terrorist safe havens, underscoring rising cross-border tensions. Taliban Rights Pressure: Five years after the Taliban takeover, UNESCO says girls are still barred from education beyond primary level, with new figures highlighting the harm to Afghanistan’s future. Humanitarian Funding Crunch: UN agencies warn child malnutrition and hunger are worsening as aid falls short, leaving many cases untreated. Afghan Business & Trade: Afghanistan’s Chamber of Commerce pushed talks with Turkmenistan on expanding trade and a new logistics corridor toward Mazar-i-Sharif. Pakistan Media Curbs: Pakistan issued new rules limiting foreign media reporting outside major cities, drawing criticism from press freedom groups. Athens Case: Afghan boxer Sharif Ahmadzai faces charges in the suitcase death of British aid worker Elisabeth-Jane Ross, as court proceedings continue.

Pollution Protest in Baghlan: Residents near Ghori Cement in Baghlan say smoke and dust are worsening health, especially for children and the elderly, and accuse the factory of using substandard fuels without effective filtration. Economic Planning: Afghanistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Investment held a second think-tank session to push a practical economic strategy focused on self-sufficiency, jobs, and boosting domestic production and exports. Trade Talks with Iran & Turkmenistan: Afghan officials met Iran’s Herat leadership to ease visas and border trade, while a separate chamber delegation in Turkmenistan proposed a new transit route linking Charjow to northern Afghanistan and Mazar-e-Sharif. UN Security Council vs Islamic Emirate: The UN raised terrorism concerns, and the Islamic Emirate rejected the claims, saying it controls the country and bars any unauthorized groups. Humanitarian Pressure: UN reporting highlights rising child malnutrition and hunger risks as funding cuts disrupt food distributions. Anti-Taliban Resistance: The Afghan United Front says it has started operations against the Taliban, claiming attacks in Kandahar and Helmand. Rights Case Abroad: In Greece, an Afghan boxer accused in the Athens “suitcase” death of a Scottish aid worker appeared in court as lawyers allege his rights were violated.

Taliban under fire: Afghans in Kabul and Jalalabad are circulating videos criticizing Taliban governance, saying inflation, unemployment, and repression have worsened daily life and calling for an end to the regime. Humanitarian pressure: UNDP and UNHCR chiefs urged sustained international investment as millions return from abroad, warning aid cuts and fading attention could deepen poverty and trigger more displacement. Food crisis deepens: The UN says child deaths and malnutrition are rising as food distributions face cuts, with WFP warning severe hunger is spreading across Afghanistan. Refugee returns: UNHCR reports nearly 130,000 Afghan refugees returned from Pakistan in one month, adding strain to already fragile communities. Health updates: WHO says polio vaccination coverage must expand, while Afghanistan’s health system faces disruptions from global funding cuts. Security and regional tensions: Pakistan told the UN Security Council that terrorist groups still operate from safe havens inside Afghanistan, urging action and warning of threats to regional stability. Cyber threat: Kaspersky says new Windows backdoors, dubbed OctLurk and SilkLurk, have targeted government and public institutions across Afghanistan and Central Asia since 2025.

Taliban Online Influence: Afghan residents allege the Taliban run fake social media accounts under girls’ names and photos, while intelligence and security bodies back hundreds of YouTube channels to defend abuses and attack critics. Humanitarian Crisis: UN agencies warn Afghanistan’s child malnutrition is at record crisis levels, with funding shortfalls forcing clinics to turn families away and leaving only a fraction of acutely malnourished children and mothers treated. Energy & Daily Life: Kabul residents face persistent power outages and rising fuel prices; analysts say solar could ease the grid strain but needs investment and financing. Trade Uncertainty: Afghanistan’s access to open waters via Chabahar is clouded after a US sanctions waiver expired, raising costs and disruption risks for Afghan traders. UN Seat & Recognition: UN officials say recognition of Afghanistan’s government and the UN seat is up to member states, with no current process to transfer the seat. Kunduz Narcotics Claims: Sources in Kunduz accuse some Taliban members of narcotics trade and harassment of women to recruit them into selling drugs. Women’s Rights & Education: EU urges the Islamic Emirate to reopen schools for girls as international pressure grows. International Court Case: An Afghan boxer accused in Greece’s “suitcase murder” appears in court as claims about an “old man” and alleged deception continue.

Hunger Crisis: UN warns Afghanistan’s child malnutrition is worsening, with critical levels in 12 provinces as food distributions face cuts and thousands of children miss treatment. Humanitarian Access: WFP says many children arrive severely malnourished or never reach care, while health centers closed in 2025 due to aid reductions. UN Warning on Families: OCHA says Afghans are “exhausted” by hunger, poverty, debt and repeated climate shocks, with mothers fearing for daughters’ futures. Afghan Resistance: An anti-Taliban front led by Sami Sadat claims operations against Taliban forces along the Kandahar–Spin Boldak route, as clashes and protests intensify in Badakhshan. Migration Pressure: Reports highlight Afghan migrants dying on the route to Iran and the lack of legal pathways, pushing people into dangerous smuggling networks. Diplomacy/Connectivity: India says it is in contact with partners over Chabahar Port operations, citing the port’s role in connectivity for Afghanistan’s reconstruction and trade. Regional Tensions: Pakistan’s military and officials react sharply to Taliban remarks about ties with India, underscoring strain as Afghanistan–India links grow.

Taliban Diplomacy Under Scrutiny: A Taliban Agriculture Ministry delegation’s visa-approved trip to Moldova has sparked an investigation in Chisinau, with officials saying no official meetings will occur and questioning how the visit was authorized. Health System Push: The Islamic Emirate launched a five-year national health strategy aimed at standardized care, stronger health-worker capacity, and reduced maternal and neonatal deaths, with a focus on boosting domestic medicine and vaccine production. Humanitarian Alarm: WFP warns child malnutrition is at critical levels in a third of Afghanistan’s provinces, with funding shortfalls forcing clinic closures and food-distribution cuts that could drive more child deaths. Return Pressure: UN-Habitat says nearly 6 million Afghans have returned since late 2023, straining housing, services, and livelihoods, while UNHCR reports nearly 130,000 returns from Pakistan in one month amid intensified deportations. Floods and Disasters: Flash floods in eastern Kunar killed two and damaged shelters, adding to a wider pattern of deadly weather across multiple provinces. Regional Trade and Connectivity: Turkmenistan says it will accelerate TAPI pipeline work, while Afghanistan’s first international agriculture and livestock exhibition is set for Kabul Aug 11–16, signaling efforts to expand markets and investment.

Afghanistan Rights & Society: A new report says Afghanistan’s ban on women working is costing the economy about $1 billion a year (around 5% of GDP), deepening household hardship and weakening humanitarian and reconstruction efforts. Return & Local Development: A Herat study highlights that returning Afghans can help rebuild the country if authorities better manage programs to use skills, capital, and experience brought from abroad. Flood Response in Nuristan: Mullah Baradar visited flood-hit families in Nuristan, promising compensation and urging more health-sector support as residents call for additional aid. Security & Resistance: Ex-Afghan Lt. Gen. Sami Sadat announced a phased armed campaign against the Taliban under the Afghanistan United Front, saying negotiations failed and resistance is the remaining path. International Watch: HRW warns Afghanistan’s rights crisis is worsening under Taliban rule, with intensified crackdowns on women and media. Sports & Protest Risk: Cricket Ireland says it has security plans for an ODI series vs Afghanistan in Northern Ireland, amid criticism over the plight of women in Afghanistan and possible protests.

Taliban Diplomacy: The Islamic Emirate’s foreign ministry says UN engagement should expand, including Afghanistan’s own representation at the UN, while officials also praise Iran’s stance and insist Tehran won’t interfere in Kabul’s internal affairs. Rights & Restrictions: Human Rights Watch marks five years of Taliban rule, calling Afghanistan one of the world’s gravest rights crises and warning that abuses—especially against women and girls—have deepened. Women in Public Life: Taliban restrictions are now hitting even everyday moments like photography, with women complaining they’re excluded from keepsake photos and even family pictures at some sites. Security & Violence: Armed clashes between two Afghan tribes over a disputed mountain area in Khost and Paktia have entered a fourth day, with light and heavy weapons reported. Humanitarian & Health: Afghanistan’s health ministry says construction has started on four new general health facilities in Kandahar and Zabul, aiming to improve access in underserved districts. Flood Impact: WHO reports flash floods across multiple eastern and central provinces killed at least 29 people and injured 129, with mobile health teams deployed. Diaspora & Community: A Hazara Diaspora Network forum in Sweden focused on integration, participation, and combating hate and extremism. International Mobility: A U.S. federal court orders the State Department to process travel documents for families of Afghan refugees in a lawsuit over travel restrictions.