Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.

Afghanistan’s Central Bank working to shift economy from cash to cards
Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB), the country’s central bank, says it is stepping up efforts to reduce Afghanistan’s dependence on cash by promoting the use of electronic payment systems—including bank cards and automated machines—as part of a broader...

Afghanistan: From Pariahs To Partners, A Deadly Shortcut To Legitimacy
Is India’s abstention from the recent UN General Assembly resolution on Afghanistan part of a disturbing trend of violent, extremist regimes quietly gaining global legitimacy? New Delhi’s decision came just days after Moscow formally recognised...

Trump calls Gen. Milley an ‘idiot’ for leaving US military equipment behind in Afghanistan
President Donald Trump on Tuesday criticized retired General Mark Milley, the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, over the decision to leave behind U.S. military equipment during the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan – calling it a...

Indo-Bangla Pharma set to export drugs to Afghanistan
Indo-Bangla Pharmaceuticals, a listed drug maker, is likely to start exporting its products to Afghanistan from this year. In a disclosure at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) yesterday, the company said its board of directors has approved the...
Illegal drug discovered, 4 detained in N. Afghanistan
KABUL, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Police have discovered 354 kg of illegal drugs, including opium poppy and hashish, in northern Afghanistan's Badakhshan province and taken into custody four people on charges of involvement in the drug business,...

‘Message to America’: US tourists invited to explore Afghanistan in surreal video featuring a ‘comedy’ hostage scene
Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our...

Relations between Central Asia’s nations and Afghanistan are warming
15:07, todayAuthor: Asia-Plus Eurasianet reports that relations between the five Central Asian countries and Afghanistan are warming as plans move ahead for new rail links, increased trade and creating opportunities for ordinary Afghans. The...

Afghanistan on brink of emergency as mass deportations accelerate, UN Warns
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has issued a stark warning that the country faces a rapidly unfolding humanitarian emergency due to a dramatic increase in the forced return of Afghan migrants from neighboring...

Russia, Afghanistan working on prospects for trade and economic cooperation — diplomat
MOSCOW, July 9. /TASS/. Russia and Afghanistan continue to engage in substantive discussions on the prospects for trade and economic cooperation, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing. "At present, there is...

Russia’s recognition of Emirate of Afghanistan paves way for full-fledged partnership
MOSCOW, July 9. /TASS/. Russia’s decision to recognize the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has paved the way for establishing a full-fledged partnership between Moscow and the authorities in Kabul, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria...

Afghanistan’s ICC umpire Jan Shinwari dies at 41
International Cricket Council (ICC) Chairman Jay Shah expressed deep sorrow at Shinwari’s passing. “Bismillah was a prominent umpire respected by players, peers, and officials alike. He was a regular on the international circuit and had a long...

Afghanistan is starving—and its farmers are fighting to save the poppy
The Brotherhood of Universal Love, it called itself, a label that, in 1969, invited no ironic raising of eyebrows. From Balkh and Mazar-i–Sharif, where children sold hashish beads, hashish-filled belts, and hashish-heeled shoes, members of the...
Afghan police seize illicit drugs in east Afghanistan
KABUL, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Afghan counter-narcotics police have seized 13 kg of Ice (methamphetamine) and heroin in eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, the office of the deputy minister of interior for counter-narcotics said in a statement on...

Saudi Arabia Reaffirms Support for Afghanistan’s Security and Stability
Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its unwavering support for Afghanistan’s security and stability on Tuesday, calling for respect for the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while voicing deep concern over the humanitarian and economic...
Police arrest 11 on charges of digging historical site in Afghanistan's Helmand
KABUL, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Police have taken into custody 11 people on charges of digging a historical site in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province, Provincial Director for Information and Culture Abdul Bari Rashid said Wednesday. The...

Trump calls Gen. Milley an “Idiot” over weapons left in Afghanistan
President Donald Trump criticized Joint Chiefs Chairman General Mark Milley for leaving U.S. weapons in Afghanistan during the 2021 military withdrawal. The U.S. President Donald Trump has renewed his sharp criticism of the U.S. military’s...

Afghanistan rejects ICC's ruling on arrest of senior Taliban leaders
Listen to article The spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Zabihullah Mujahid, has issued a strong rebuttal to the recent ruling by the International Criminal Court (ICC), which called for the arrest and prosecution of senior...

Afghanistan Spotlights Plight Of Afghan Detainees And Refugees In Pakistan
(MENAFN- IANS) Kabul, July 8 (IANS) Afghanistan has yet again highlighted the importance of addressing the issues faced by Afghan detainees and refugees in Pakistan besides facilitating the visa issuance process for Afghan patients and...

Afghanistan’s population estimated at 36.4 million in 2025
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has announced that it will assess the contents of the recent United Nations Resolution on Afghanistan in accordance with Islamic teachings and national interests. In an official...

Arrest warrant issued for Taliban’s supreme leader over persecution of women and girls in Afghanistan
Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our...