Southern Afghan city; capital of Kandahar Province
The Taliban-era ban on girls' secondary education persists as multiple reports show rising suicides and personal tolls among Afghan women. New investigations quantify deaths and ongoing suppression, while international condemnation continues amid economic and health concerns.
The CIA has released 71 presidential daily briefs from February 1998 to September 12, 2001. The 101-page set shows analysts tracked Osama bin Laden’s movements, financing and networks and repeatedly warned of possible attacks on US soil, including hijackings and interest in unconventional weapons; many pages remain redacted.
A UN-backed assessment cited by The Washington Post finds that al-Qaeda and Islamic State–Khorasan have established training camps in at least 14 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces, with risks of regional conflict overshadowing global jihad. The Taliban’s permissive environment is enabling a limited but persistent jihadist presence.