Trump Pledges Support For Afghan Allies Seeking Asylum In US

The Taliban alleges that the editor accepted financial support from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the UN’s cultural agency UNESCO, and the Islamic Republic of Iran. The ministry claims the funds were used to “bring women out of their homes under the pretext of work” and to produce “negative reports” about the Taliban government.

The ministry has also accused the editor of “moral corruption” and “espionage,” alleging that he secretly submitted reports to what it called “anti-Islamic media outlets” in exchange for thousands of dollars. A video of the detainee’s purported confession was later released by Taliban officials.

However, international human rights groups and independent observers warn that such confessions are often obtained through coercion, intimidation, or torture, and lack credibility under international legal standards.

The Ministry claimed the media outlet operated as a “centre for foreign espionage and moral corruption,” and that the accused admitted to receiving funding for religious and cultural projects, while producing critical material and sending it to international media.

Further charges include promoting gender mixing, distributing what the Taliban labels “harmful” religious texts, and attempting to undermine the regime through media reports. No independent evidence has been presented to substantiate the allegations.

Daricha, a Taliban-affiliated outlet, reported that additional individuals linked to similar organisations have also been detained, though no details were provided.

The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue, which functions as police, prosecutor, and judge, has sweeping authority over social and public life. International organisations have described the ministry’s enforcement of so-called virtue laws as a systematic campaign of repression, particularly targeting women and dissenting voices.

In recent weeks, the Taliban has intensified its crackdown on journalists and women’s rights advocates. On Tuesday, the Afghanistan Journalists Center reported that Taliban authorities had detained at least seven journalists in Kabul and other provinces over the past three weeks. A total of 15 journalists are currently being held in Taliban custody.

Since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban has imposed strict curbs on press freedom and expression. Journalists and media workers have been regularly arrested, threatened, and in some cases tortured, often on vague or unsubstantiated charges such as espionage or moral misconduct.

International human rights and press freedom organisations have condemned the Taliban’s actions, calling them blatant violations of international law and fundamental human rights. They continue to call for the immediate release of detained journalists and the restoration of media freedoms in Afghanistan.

The announcement comes amid growing concern over Afghanistan's capacity to absorb the mass return of its citizens.

Abdul Rahman Rashid, the Taliban's deputy minister for technical affairs at the ministry, made the remarks during a press conference on Wednesday, as part of the ministry’s annual performance briefing.

Rashid also reported that 184,459 Afghan nationals have been forcibly repatriated from Pakistan so far this year, and an additional 5,134 were deported from Türkiye.

Speaking at the Taliban’s media centre in Kabul, Rashid estimated that around six million Afghan migrants remain in host countries, while approximately 2.5 million people are internally displaced within Afghanistan.

He claimed the Taliban administration has established at least 38 residential settlements for returnees across 29 provinces. Surveys have reportedly been completed for 29 of these sites, with assessments still underway in the remaining nine.

Despite these claims, large-scale deportations continue. The Taliban’s High Commission for Addressing Migrant Issues reported that Iran is currently expelling nearly 10,000 Afghans each day.

At the same time, reports from Pakistan indicate that authorities have resumed the detention and deportation of Afghan migrants in parts of Islamabad.

International organisations have repeatedly warned that Afghanistan, under Taliban rule, lacks the infrastructure and resources to manage the reintegration of such vast numbers of returnees.

Abdullah Raihan, who served for more than two decades as a close assistant to Haqqani and now identifies as a journalist, made the remarks in a written commentary published on Wednesday.

“We must do what we believe in, but the people should be given the freedom to judge the legitimacy of the government,” Raihan wrote, directly addressing Taliban officials. “Our goals are greater; minor issues should not prevent us from achieving our major objectives.”

Raihan cautioned against labelling those who express emotional attachment to Afghanistan’s former tricolour national flag as traitors. “Perhaps we have not yet served this nation with the honesty and sacrifice it truly deserves,” he wrote.

Acknowledging the country’s long history of struggle, Raihan argued that Afghanistan’s challenges cannot be resolved within four years and called on Taliban leaders to use this time to improve governance. “The people of Afghanistan have endured hardship for over a century,” he said. “Everything cannot be fixed in just four years. The people need time, and the leadership must seize this opportunity.”

Khalid Zadran, spokesperson for the Taliban police in Kabul, described Raihan in his memoir, 15 Minutes, as one of Haqqani’s most trusted comrades during the war against the former Afghan government. He referred to Raihan as a “devoted companion,” noting his leadership of the Manba al-Jihad media studio, which produced several pro-Taliban films including Karwan-e-Ghaziyan and Lashkar-e-Badri.

Despite his former role, Raihan’s recent commentary reflects a more conciliatory tone. “It doesn’t matter to me who supports which flag and why. What matters is that the message of truth and justice behind the white flag reaches the hearts of the people,” he wrote. “More importantly, this fractured and downtrodden nation must unite under one flag and live with dignity.”

He also urged Taliban leaders to reflect on past mistakes and to earn public trust through action. “When we prove our beliefs in practice and strengthen the foundations of the system, this country will no longer face collapse,” he wrote. “But that requires effort, sacrifice, and determination.”

Raihan’s statement came a day after Afghanistan’s National Flag Day. In recent years, the Taliban has detained and allegedly tortured numerous citizens for expressing support for the former national flag, highlighting the deepening divide between the regime and sections of Afghan society.

Jackie Birov, a 35-year-old American tourist, told the Associated Press she was touched by the hospitality of Afghans during her visit. “I’m very aware that I have a lot more freedom than local women,” she said, referring to the contrasting experiences of foreign and Afghan women.

Tourism in Afghanistan remains a niche industry, attracting only a few thousand visitors annually, most of whom are adventure travellers. However, organised tours from countries including China, Greece, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom are gradually increasing.

Despite facing global condemnation over its restrictions on women and widespread human rights abuses, the Taliban is working to expand the tourism sector, seeing it as a potential source of revenue and a way to reshape its international image.

Tourist visas, typically single-entry and valid for up to 30 days, have become more accessible. The resumption of commercial flights to and from Kabul, with regular routes to cities like Dubai and Istanbul, has also made travel to the country easier.

The Taliban’s lenient approach toward foreign tourists has drawn particular interest from female travellers. In response, some tour operators have begun offering women-led tours designed specifically for female visitors.

Somaya Moniry, a 24-year-old tour guide, told the Associated Press that she hopes to present a different perspective of Afghanistan.

While tour companies emphasise the economic benefits of attracting foreign visitors, some critics argue that travel to Afghanistan under Taliban rule is ethically problematic. They point to the stark contrast between the freedoms granted to foreign women and the severe limitations placed on Afghan women and girls.

Under Taliban policies, Afghan girls are barred from education beyond grade six, prohibited from working, and restricted from entering parks or dining at restaurants. The disparity has led many to view the regime’s hospitality toward tourists as a reflection of its double standards.

In a statement posted on the social media platform X, the IOM reported that widespread flooding and avalanches in the first three months of 2025 triggered mass displacement and worsened humanitarian conditions across the country.

According to the agency, approximately 175,000 people were internally displaced during the first quarter, with 79 precent of those displacements linked to climate events and natural disasters. An additional 396,000 people were forced to migrate due to related pressures.

The United Nations said rural communities have borne the brunt of the devastation, with many losing their homes and struggling to access safe drinking water.

The IOM highlighted that food insecurity remains the most pressing concern, with 47 percent of affected communities identifying food shortages as their greatest challenge.

Afghanistan ranks among the ten countries most severely impacted by the effects of climate change, which include prolonged droughts, irregular rainfall, flooding, and declining water resources.

Earlier this year, Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, warned that the country is facing intensifying climate shocks and accelerating environmental degradation.