Afghan Witness Reports

The local population's opposition to the Taliban's new mining deal with Namak Kalfgan has led to clashes, highlighting the tensions over resource control and employment.

While no deaths were reported this year, the level of repression has increased, with ceremonies barred from public spaces amid reports of violence, arrests and protests.

Images show the Taliban’s destruction of murals representing religious or national figures conflicting with official values.

Local residents of Kargian village protested the Taliban's destruction of poppy fields, leading to reported gunfire and injuries.

Claims emerge in the media that the Taliban has allowed the operation of certain girls' schools, which the Taliban later denies.

The Taliban's decree to cap female salaries has caused widespread confusion and sparked protests among women employees.

The Taliban's decision to delay Eid-ul-Adha in 2024 sparked widespread defiance and criticism from Afghan communities and leaders.

Calls for armed resistance against the Taliban at a conference of Shia Afghans in Germany were largely met with reticence from Shias both in Afghanistan and abroad.

The harrowing video of a young Afghan man being tortured by a Taliban commander sparked global outrage.

In September 2023, the Taliban announced that they had signed more than $6.5 billion in new mining deals. Afghan Witness delves into the sector dubbed the Taliban’s “cash cow”.

At the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, Moscow and the Taliban signalled closer ties, while Russian involvement in a railroad project in Herat underscores strengthening relations.

The recent usage of AI-generated videos to claim ISKP attacks has stirred controversy within pro-IS communities over the religious permissibility of AI technology. Despite increased accessibility to AI tools for propaganda, the isolated efforts and mixed reception suggest AI use in extremist content may remain limited.