Afghanistan

Pakistan has carried out strikes inside Afghanistan, with reports framing the action alongside Türkiye as a coordinated show of strength. The strikes signal rising tensions between Islamabad and Kabul over cross-border security concerns, and commentary suggests Pakistan and Türkiye are sending a strong joint message to the Afghan Taliban leadership. The development is drawing widespread attention across South Asia and the wider Muslim world.

India will meet Afghanistan in the cricket quarter-final at the Asian Games 2026, a rematch of the Hangzhou 2023 final where India took gold. The match is a knockout, so the loser is eliminated. Fans are searching for live broadcast and streaming details as the tournament reaches its decisive stages in Japan.

Dozens of political and civil society activists have issued a joint call urging international recognition of the "Hazara Genocide," referring to the persecution and killings of the Hazara community in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The activists argue that formal recognition by governments and international bodies is a necessary step toward justice, accountability and protection for the Hazara minority, who have long faced targeted violence.

South Africa and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai held talks focused on the rights of Afghan women, who have faced sweeping restrictions on education and public life under Taliban rule. The meeting signals growing international pressure on the issue, with Malala remaining one of the most prominent advocates for girls' schooling in Afghanistan.

A public event in Milan is drawing attention to women's rights, connecting the experiences of captivity under Hamas and Isis with the situation of women in Iran and Afghanistan. Organisers are framing these cases together as part of a broader discussion on violence and repression against women worldwide. The gathering reflects growing international concern over women's rights in these regions.

Rain threatens to disrupt the quarter-final between India and Afghanistan in the ongoing cricket tournament. Forecasters warn wet weather could interfere with play in what is already viewed as a heavily one-sided matchup, with India firm favourites to advance. Fans and commentators are watching both the skies and the toss, as a washout could affect how the tie is decided.

Taliban authorities have arrested three people in Khost province, Afghanistan, over the alleged use of Starlink satellite internet terminals, according to the Kabul Tribune. The detentions highlight the Taliban's restrictions on internet access and their efforts to control unlicensed satellite communications, which bypass the country's state-controlled telecommunications infrastructure.

India are set to play Afghanistan in a cricket quarter-final at the Asian Games 2026, with the fixture drawing attention to its schedule and broadcast details. Fans are looking for information on live streaming and telecast options as both teams bid for a place in the medal rounds of the tournament's cricket competition.

California State Senator Aisha Wahab, the first Afghan-American elected to a US state legislature, is calling on Washington to pursue diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan. She argues that continued isolation of the country worsens conditions for ordinary Afghans and that dialogue is needed to address humanitarian and security concerns, a position that is drawing attention among Afghan communities and policymakers.

The India men's cricket team has arrived in Nagoya, Japan, ahead of its Asian Games quarterfinal clash against Afghanistan. The knockout tie will decide who advances in the medal race at the continental multi-sport event. India, one of the favourites in the cricket competition, face an Afghanistan side capable of springing an upset, making the match a talking point among cricket followers.

Zabihullah, a spokesman for Afghanistan's Taliban administration, said the government is creating a favorable environment to attract foreign investment. The statement comes as the administration seeks international engagement and economic recognition amid widespread sanctions and a prolonged financial crisis. Officials have repeatedly promoted mining, trade and investment opportunities to potential foreign partners, though large-scale international investment has yet to materialize on a significant scale.

Authorities in Kabul have carried out inspections of 75 medicine importers, according to Pajhwok Afghan News. The checks target companies bringing pharmaceutical products into Afghanistan, a sector long plagued by concerns over counterfeit and substandard drugs. The report has drawn attention regionally as Afghans follow efforts to improve oversight of the medicine supply chain.