Taliban steal government aid intended for deprived Herat families

Herat residents and provincial council members accuse the Taliban of stealing Dastarkhwan-e-Meli aid intended for families grappling with poverty, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

International probe reaches Wuhan, but what evidence will it find?

Beijing's history of secrecy, disinformation and delays raises concerns that the team of World Health Organisation specialists will find a cold trail more than a year after COVID-19 first emerged.

Taliban assassinations aim to sow chaos, silence critics and gain leverage

By killing journalists, civil society activists and other civilians, the Taliban seek to create a climate of fear and stifle dissent, analysts say.

Jordan sentences 3 ISIS members in absentia after travelling to Afghanistan

The three travelled to Afghanistan in 2019 to join the group in its fight against US forces and the Taliban, and stayed in touch with eight others back in Jordan who were planning attacks there.

Al-Qaeda shifts 'home base' to Iran under Tehran's protection: Pompeo

Iran and al-Qaeda "are partners in terrorism, partners in hate", US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said.

'We were killing our brothers': ISIS, Taliban members regret taking up arms

Taliban and ISIS fighters who surrendered to Afghan forces in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces say they were deceived by the extremist groups.

Afghan forces foil ISIS plot to assassinate top US envoy

While deadly violence continues to rock Afghanistan, officials announced they have foiled an ISIS plot to kill the US charge d'affaires in Kabul, Ross Wilson.

Herat governor decries Iran's role in illegal drug trade

Counter-narcotics police have destroyed more than 34 tonnes of drug precursor chemicals smuggled from Iran.

New factories open in Afghanistan amid hopes for peace

In December alone, five factories with more than $25 million (1.9 billion AFN) worth of private investment began operations in Herat Industrial City.

Afghan forces arrest 3 in connection to ongoing targeted killings

Violence has surged across the country in recent months, and a new trend of targeted killings has sowed fear, especially in Kabul.

Khamenei blocks US, UK COVID-19 vaccines from reaching Iranian people

Iran's Supreme Leader banned the government from importing COVID-19 vaccines from the US and UK, revealing he prioritises political alliances over the Iranian public's health and interests.

Kandahar youth relish freedom, fear Taliban return will roll back progress

Men and women are enjoying trendy cafes, co-ed universities, gyms and other entertainment that was banned under the Taliban. The uptick in Taliban violence threatens that hard-earned freedom.

Russia, China spin election strife in US to justify domestic oppression

The regimes eagerly jumped on the news of electoral problems in the United States, but their reactions and attempted manipulations further exposed their human rights failures.

Badghis protesters slam foreign meddling in Afghan affairs

Iran, Russia and China have failed to support the peace process and have fuelled and extended the bloodshed in Afghanistan, demonstrators say.

Profiting from COVID-19, Chinese economy to be world's largest by 2028

As the world grapples with the economic effects of the pandemic, China's share of the global market has increasingly become larger in part through its sale of personal protective equipment.

Officials concerned Taliban deliberately stalling intra-Afghan talks

In Herat, residents called for an end to the war and to targeted killings ahead of talks in Qatar between the Afghan government and the Taliban.

Taliban glorify destruction of vital roads in Nimroz and Ghor provinces

By ruining infrastructure, the Taliban are preventing vital tasks like transferring patients to hospitals and buying food and medicine.

Tehran continues to pose threat to region a year after Soleimani killing

Any further Iranian miscalculation or provocation could have devastating consequences, US military sources say, as the one-year anniversary of Qassem Soleimani's killing passes.

US military blames Taliban for series of assassinations ahead of peace talks

Ahead of the Afghan government's peace talks with the Taliban in Qatar, the US military blamed the Taliban for killing a number of prominent Afghan figures in the last months.

A year on, Iran yet to hold anyone accountable for downing of Ukrainian airliner

One year after a Ukrainian airliner was shot down by Iranian forces, killing all onboard, Tehran continues to obfuscate the details of what happened and shield culpable, top commanders.

Soleimani's legacy to Iran: diverting citizens' money to costly proxy wars

While the Iranian people grapple with a worsening economic crisis, the Iranian regime continues to pursue Soleimani's failed legacy of spreading 'revolution' throughout the region.