Former Afghan Soldiers In Iran Face Uncertainty, Warns Researcher

On Wednesday, May 28, 2025, sources reported that the Taliban instructed table football clubs to remove the heads of the player figures to continue the game. Failure to comply will result in a complete ban.

The Taliban have not issued an official statement on the prohibition.

Over the past four years, the Taliban government has increasingly restricted or banned various games and recreational activities in Afghanistan. Earlier, the Taliban’s sports authority suspended the Afghan Chess Federation, declaring chess “haram” (forbidden).

According to official data, over 40 million litres of gasoline and fuel were exported to Afghanistan between January and March. This represents a more than 100-fold rise compared to the same period in 2024, when the total value of exports to Afghanistan stood at just $212,000. By contrast, this year’s figure reached $18.5 million, with most of the fuel reportedly shipped to the northern Afghan province of Kunduz.

Kyrgyz media, citing the statistical committee, reported that Afghanistan accounted for more than 90 percent of Kyrgyzstan’s total gasoline exports during this period. Uzbekistan was the second-largest recipient, importing 2.5 million litres valued at $1 million.

The average export price was around $0.50 per litre. Media sources also clarified that none of the exported gasoline originated from Russia. Under a bilateral agreement between Bishkek and Moscow, fuel imported from Russia at preferential rates is strictly reserved for domestic use and cannot be re-exported.

In addition to fuel, Kyrgyzstan has been exporting other essential goods to Afghanistan, including flour, cooking oil, cement, and metal construction materials. Trade between the two countries is not one-sided: Kyrgyzstan also imports approximately 200,000 units of goods from Afghanistan each year, including dried fruits, nuts, textiles, carpets, and handicrafts.

Speaking during a meeting with political activists in Ankara, Dostum accused the Taliban of implementing "fascist plans" by resettling Pakistani migrants in areas predominantly inhabited by Afghanistan’s Turkic communities. He condemned what he called a deliberate effort to alter the demographic composition of these regions.

Dostum also criticised the silence of Central Asian states in response to these policies, noting that aside from Türkiye, other Turkic-speaking countries have remained indifferent to the plight of Afghan Turks.

In a further allegation, the former vice president claimed that former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani harboured negative sentiments towards Turkic Afghans and that this animosity influenced his alignment with the Taliban. Dostum alleged that Ghani had held meetings with the Haqqani Network and advised them to focus on capturing Jowzjan province, Dostum’s political stronghold, believing that control of the region would be key to dominating the rest of the country, due to the population’s support for a federal system.

Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, Dostum has lived in exile in Türkiye. Though historically a fierce opponent of the Taliban and a central figure in Afghan politics, he has maintained a relatively low public profile over the past four years. He is currently affiliated with the broader anti-Taliban political front operating in exile.

Speaking on the second day of the Antalya Process, Rahimi said the Taliban’s crackdown on press freedom has driven numerous media organisations out of the country. Those that remain operational within Afghanistan, he claimed, are compelled to promote the Taliban’s views and function as propaganda tools.

Rahimi, who previously served as spokesperson for both the High Council for National Reconciliation and the Office of the Chief Executive of Afghanistan, said the Taliban are not only exerting control over domestic media but are also leveraging social media platforms, YouTubers, and selected analysts to manufacture what he described as a “strange atmosphere” in their favour.

He revealed that the Taliban have distributed a list of approved experts to media outlets and have prohibited them from featuring voices outside this list. “Media are not allowed to ignore the list or invite alternative analysts to speak on their programmes,” Rahimi said.

According to him, the Taliban are systematically attempting to construct an idealised image of their governance, projecting the impression that all public needs are being met, while silencing dissent and critical perspectives.

Rahimi added that several media outlets unable to comply with these restrictions have been forced to cease operations within Afghanistan. A few have managed to resume broadcasting or publishing from abroad. He noted that some of these exiled media organisations are affiliated with former political parties or religious groups and seek to present an alternative narrative of the country.

Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, they have imposed sweeping curbs on press freedom, prompting widespread condemnation from international media watchdogs. Journalists, civil society activists, and independent media have come under increasing pressure, with many fleeing the country to avoid persecution.

The unrest follows growing discontent over the destruction of poppy fields and recent deadly clashes between Taliban forces and local farmers in the Jurm district.

According to sources, protesters have issued a one-week ultimatum to the Taliban to dismiss the governor. The demand has reportedly received backing from some Taliban members native to Badakhshan.

Protesters insist the provincial governor should be selected from among the local population and that non-local Taliban officials should leave the province. The unrest reflects broader frustrations among residents, who accuse the Taliban leadership of disregarding local needs and traditions.

The tensions escalated after Taliban counter-narcotics units clashed with farmers in Jurm district. Local Taliban members are said to have sided with the residents during the confrontation, which forced the enforcement team to withdraw. Several residents were reportedly killed or injured during the clashes.

The Taliban have yet to issue any formal statement on the ongoing protests in Badakhshan.

Previously, community elders had urged local Taliban members to align themselves with the people of the province rather than follow directives from the Taliban’s central leadership. Badakhshan has witnessed repeated unrest in recent years, particularly over poppy eradication campaigns that locals argue threaten their livelihoods in the absence of viable economic alternatives.