Afghan Witness Reports

In a rare and unannounced visit to Kabul, Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada addressed officials, underscoring unity and anti-corruption measures, while insurgent groups seized the opportunity to launch attacks in the capital.

A surge in verified Taliban accounts on X, formerly Twitter, highlights the group's strategic use of the platform's features to spread propaganda and legitimise their presence. This trend raises questions about the implications of the verification feature and the moderation of extremist content on social media.

An armed attack took place in Bamyan city, confirmed by Taliban officials, which killed three Spanish tourists and three Afghans, and injured seven others. It was claimed by ISKP as targeting Christian coalition citizens and their Shiite companions.

On 5 May 2024, two local media outlets shared an old video, previously circulated in 2019 and 2022, showing Taliban members harassing an elderly Shia Ismaili man in Badakhshan; AW investigators confirmed the video’s age, highlighting ongoing repressions against Ismailis despite the footage being presented as new.

On 9 May 2024, Kochi nomads protested against the Taliban's plans to demolish their homes on the Jalalabad-Torkham highway, leading to Taliban gunfire that caused several casualties, amid ongoing claims of land usurpation and forced displacements.

On 3 and 4 May 2024, protests in Badakhshan's Darayim and Argo districts erupted after clashes between locals and Taliban counter-narcotics teams over the destruction of poppy fields, resulting in deaths and ongoing protests despite Taliban attempts to resolve the issue.

NRF and AFF jointly commemorated fallen commanders in their first shared online event, where leaders emphasised the need for unity; both groups have intensified their activity in Kabul in recent months, but while the NRF notably increased attacks during Ramadan, the AFF announced a suspension of operations.

After a two-month hiatus in ISKP activity, the group resumed attacks in Kandahar, Kunar, Kabul, and Herat, targeting critical infrastructure and Shia communities, highlighting the group’s ongoing presence and capabilities in Afghanistan.

The Afghan media landscape has been under sustained pressure since the Taliban takeover, with the closure of two TV channels linked to political parties and a series of journalist detentions in recent weeks, indicating the Taliban's ongoing efforts to control the media landscape.

In audio clips circulated online in March, the Taliban’s Supreme Leader emphasised the strict implementation of Sharia punishments and spoke of harsher punishments for women.

According to the Taliban, the land that Hizb-e Islami party leader Hekmatyar was living on had been provided by the Republican government and was not legitimate, as recognising it as such would imply recognition of the previous administration.

Female-led newsroom Zan Times used investigative reporting and open source techniques to document killings, disappearances and arrests of Afghan women.