The Pentagon defended the strike at first, claiming it had killed an ISIS-K operative planning an imminent attack on US forces… EKO HOT BLOG reports that the US military released videos Wednesday of the botched August 29 drone strike in Kabul that killed 10 Afghan civilians, including seven children. The newly released videos show the … Read more
Local media in Pakistan reported that Balti had been shot dead by unidentified gunmen… EKO HOT BLOG reports that a senior leader of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (Pakistan Taliban or TTP) has been killed in eastern Afghanistan, Pakistani security officials say, as a peace talks process between the armed group and the government remain stalled. Khalid … Read more
…he handed Sohail over the airport wall to a uniformed soldier who he believed to be an American… EKO HOT BLOG reports that an infant boy handed in desperation to a soldier across an airport wall in the chaos of the American evacuation of Afghanistan has been found and was reunited with his relatives in … Read more
Since returning to power in August, the Taliban have increasingly imposed a harsh interpretation of Islamic law… EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Taliban have ordered shop owners in western Afghanistan to cut the heads off mannequins, insisting figures representing the human form violate Islamic law. A video clip showing men sawing the heads off … Read more
It said revealed that the cartel had been operating in Nigeria since late 2019 EKO HOT BLOG reports that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has said a Nigerian drug syndicate is supplying a potent central nervous system stimulant, methamphetamine, locally known as ‘Mpuru Mmiri’, to South Africa. This was disclosed in … Read more
Taliban Ban Barbers From Shaving, Trimming Beards In Afghanistan, Say It Is Not Islamic EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Taliban government in Afghanistan has issued a directive prohibiting barbershops from shaving or trimming men’s beards, citing Islam’s prohibition on such practices. This comes only days after the Taliban rulers in Afghanistan put travel restrictions on … Read more
He was heavily criticised and accused of abandoning the country at the time. EKO HOT BLOG reports that Afghanistan’s former president has defended his decision to flee the country as the Taliban closed in earlier this year, saying he did it to prevent the destruction of Kabul. The Taliban seized power in August after taking … Read more
The move followed the Taliban barring many women in public-sector roles from returning to work in the wake of their August 15 seizure of power… EKO HOT BLOG reports that Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have said that women seeking to travel long distances should not be allowed on road transport unless they are accompanied by … Read more
Nearby, ambulances containing people too sick to queue were parked at the side of the road… EKO HOT BLOG reports that hundreds of people braved sub-zero temperatures in Afghanistan’s capital to queue outside the passport office early Sunday, a day after the Taliban government announced it would resume issuing travel documents. Many began their wait … Read more
The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in mid-August and many fear they are gradually imposing harsh restrictions EKO HOT BLOG reports that women have been banned from appearing in television dramas in Afghanistan under new rules imposed by the Taliban government. Female journalists and presenters have also been ordered to wear headscarves on screen, although … Read more
Taliban Police Arrest Man for Selling 130 Women in Afghanistan After saying he would find them a wealthy husband, he would move them to a different province where they were instead sold into servitude. EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Taliban have detained an unidentified man for reportedly selling scores of women in northern Afghanistan … Read more
The parade was linked to the graduation of 250 freshly trained soldiers… EKO HOT BLOG reports that Taliban forces held a military parade in Kabul on Sunday using captured American-made armoured vehicles and Russian helicopters in a display that showed their ongoing transformation from an insurgent force to a regular standing army. The Taliban operated … Read more
It happened during Friday prayers in Spin Ghar district of the eastern province, near the border with Pakistan EKO HOT BLOG reports that at least three people were killed and 15 wounded Friday by a blast at a mosque in Afghanistan’s restive Nangarhar province, a hotbed of Islamic State activity, officials said. The blast — … Read more
The attack began with a suicide bomber detonating his explosives near the facility’s entrance… EKO HOT BLOG reports that a top Taliban military commander was killed when his men responded to an Islamic State suicide bomb and gun attack on a hospital in the Afghan capital. The Taliban spent 20 years waging an insurgency against … Read more
Taliban has increased its recruiting efforts in order to fulfill a vow to keep the country secure. The Taliban’s ultimate commander has not been seen in public since the organization seized control over three months ago EKO HOT BLOG reports that Haibatullah Akhunzada, the Taliban’s top leader, has cautioned the organization that there may be … Read more
The Taliban’s government is pressing for the release of billions of dollars of central bank reserves… EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Taliban has announced a complete ban on the use of foreign currency in Afghanistan. The move is expected to cause further disruption to an economy pushed to the brink of collapse by the … Read more
There was tight security at the event and no photographs or video have emerged EKO HOT BLOG reports that Taliban supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada addressed supporters in the southern city of Kandahar, officials announced on Sunday, his first public appearance since taking control of the group in 2016. Akhundzada has been the spiritual chief of … Read more
One top central bank official called on European countries including Germany to release their share of the reserves to avoid an economic collapse… EKO HOT BLOG reports that Afghanistan’s Taliban government is pressing for the release of billions of dollars of central bank reserves as the drought-stricken nation faces a cash crunch, mass starvation and … Read more
Von der Leyen said that 87 million of the doses had been funnelled through the WHO-led Covax scheme… EKO HOT BLOG reports that the European Union has exported “over one billion” doses of Covid-19 vaccines in the past 10 months, the bloc’s chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday. “Very clearly, the European Union … Read more
The attack came a week after a bombing claimed by the local Islamic State affiliate killed 46 people at a Shiite mosque in northern Afghanistan EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Islamic State group (ISIS) has claimed responsibility for a deadly suicide bombing on a Shiite mosque in southern Afghanistan that killed 47 people and wounded several … Read more