Sources in Kabul have told Afghanistan International that a recent directive from Taliban supreme leader to downsize security forces and government staff has caused significant discontent within the group’s own ranks, particularly among members of the security institutions.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice has announced that it held more than 1,000 meetings with media representatives and journalists over the past year.
The human rights organisation Hengaw has reported that the Islamic Republic of Iran executed at least 122 prisoners during April 2025, including six Afghan nationals. This marks a 59 percent increase compared to April of the previous year, when 77 executions were recorded.
The Taliban’s Supreme Court has announced that an individual convicted of theft was publicly flogged in Sar-e Pol province. The court stated that the person was sentenced to one year in prison and received 39 lashes.
Amnesty International has condemned the Taliban’s ongoing crackdown on freedom of expression and the media in Afghanistan, accusing the group of detaining and torturing journalists while imposing harsh restrictions on media outlets.
The Taliban’s High Commission for Addressing Migrants’ Issues has announced that a total of 3613 Afghan migrants were deported from Pakistan and Iran on Friday, 2 May.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has announced that media professionals in Afghanistan are enduring threats, detention, torture, and mistreatment due to severe restrictions imposed by the Taliban.
Turkmenistan has expressed its willingness to export medicines and medical equipment to Afghanistan, aiming to strengthen bilateral cooperation in healthcare.
Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, has called on the Taliban to immediately release all imprisoned journalists and media workers.
Hibatullah Akhundzada, the reclusive leader of the Taliban, made a rare trip from Kandahar to the Afghan capital on Friday, 12 April, to address a one-day conference attended by senior officials of the group.
Russia’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, has announced that Moscow is prepared to assist the Taliban in combatting the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K), which he described as a “common enemy” of both countries.
Afghanistan has been ranked 175th out of 180 countries in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, placing it marginally ahead of Iran but still among the world’s most repressive environments for journalists, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
United Nations diplomats are reportedly in consultations over a political framework that could lead to the handover of Afghanistan’s UN seat to Suhail Shaheen, the Taliban’s proposed representative.
US President Donald Trump has renewed his criticism of the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, claiming that the strategically significant Bagram Air Base is now under Chinese control.
The National Resistance Council for the Salvation of Afghanistan has appealed to the Iranian government to suspend the deportation of vulnerable Afghan nationals, particularly former security personnel, judges, and government employees who may face persecution under Taliban rule.
Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s Foreign Minister, has dismissed the possibility of future intra-Afghan dialogue, describing previous negotiations as a “bitter experience” that should not be repeated.
Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Agriculture has announced the signing of several agreements with the Taliban in Afghanistan, covering trade, economic cooperation, agriculture, and the joint management of transboundary water resources.
The Taliban’s Supreme Court has announced that a man convicted of theft was publicly flogged in Ghazni province. According to the court, the individual received 39 lashes and was sentenced to three years in prison.
The Taliban’s High Commission for Migrants’ Affairs has said that a total of 4721 Afghan nationals were deported from Iran and Pakistan on Wednesday alone, marking one of the largest single-day returns in recent months.
Yousuf Wafa, the Taliban-appointed governor of Balkh province, has called on China to enhance its economic engagement with Afghanistan by investing in cold storage facilities and standardised agricultural production centres.
Tom Fletcher, the United Nations Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, has stated that despite the cessation of active conflict, Afghanistan continues to grapple with profound and multifaceted crises.