US military orders new interviews on the deadly 2021 Afghan airport attack as criticism persists
The Pentagon’s Central Command has ordered interviews of roughly two dozen more service members who were at the Kabul airport when suicide bombers attacked during U.S. forces’ chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal, as criticism persists that the deadly assault could have been stopped.
Who wants to fly over Taliban-held Afghanistan? New FAA rules allow it, but planes largely avoid it
Two years after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the United States has begun easing rules that could allow commercial airlines to fly over the country in routes that cuts time and fuel consumption for East-West travel.
UN envoy says ICC should prosecute Taliban for crimes against humanity for denying girls education
The U.N. special envoy for global education says the International Criminal Court should prosecute Taliban leaders for crimes against humanity for denying education and employment to Afghan girls and women.
Islamic State group still has thousands in Syria and Iraq and poses Afghan threat, UN experts say
U.N. experts say the Islamic State group still commands between 5,000 and 7,000 members across its former stronghold in Syria and Iraq and its fighters pose the most serious terrorist threat in Afghanistan today.
Death toll from IS bombing at a pro-Taliban cleric's rally in Pakistan earlier this week rises to 63
Pakistani officials say the death toll from an Islamic State group's suicide bombing at a rally of a pro-Taliban cleric's party over the weekend has risen to 63, after eight more of the wounded died in hospital.
Philippines considering US request to host visa processing center for Afghans despite concerns
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. says a request for his country to temporarily host a U.S. immigrant visa processing center for thousands of Afghans faces security and other concerns but is still being considered by his administration.
UN warns Taliban that restrictions on Afghan women and girls make recognition `nearly impossible'
The U.N. envoy for Afghanistan is warning the country’s Taliban rulers that international recognition as the country’s legitimate government will remain “nearly impossible” unless they lift severe restrictions on women and girls’ education and employment.
GOP pauses Blinken contempt push after gaining access to classified Afghanistan cable
The chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee says he is pausing an effort to hold Secretary of State Antony Blinken in contempt of Congress now that the State Department is letting him view a redacted classified cable from U.S. diplomats in Kabul sent shortly before the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
State Department offers Republican lawmaker a chance to view Afghanistan dissent cable
The State Department is offering to allow the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee to view a classified cable from U.S. diplomats in Kabul sent shortly before the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.
AP sources: Biden to allow Afghans to stay longer in US
The Biden administration will continue to allow tens of thousands of Afghans who fled Taliban control more than two years ago to stay and work in the U.S. That is according to two White House officials familiar with the plan, who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss details that haven’t been released.
UN draft urges Afghan rulers to reverse bans on women, girls
A U.N. resolution that calls on Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers to swiftly reverse their increasingly harsh restrictions on women and girls and condemns their ban on Afghan women working for the United Nations is set to be voted on Thursday by the Security Council.
Afghan rulers urged to reverse ban on women aid workers
The vast majority of U.N. Security Council members are urging Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers to immediately reverse all “oppressive” restrictions on girls and women including the latest ban on woman working for humanitarian organizations which is exacerbating the already critical humanitarian crisis in the country.