China Conducts Largest-Ever Live-Fire War Games Around Taiwan Amid Rising Cross-Strait Tensions 
Zohran Mamdani Names Steve Banks as New York City Corporation Counsel Amid Clash With Trump 
U.S. Government Agrees to Review Frozen NIH Diversity Research Grants After Legal Challenge 
Russia Accuses Ukraine of Drone Plot Against Putin as Peace Talks Face New Strain 
Kremlin Says Ukrainian Drone Attack Hardens Russia’s Stance on Peace Talks 
U.S. Lifts Sanctions on Three Intellexa-Linked Executives Amid Spyware Controversy 
Philippines Challenges Chinese Research Vessel Spotted Near Cagayan Coast 
Trump–Netanyahu Talks Aim to Revive Gaza Ceasefire and Address Iran, Hezbollah Tensions 
Trump and Netanyahu Diverge on West Bank Policy Amid Rising Tensions 
Israel’s Recognition of Somaliland Sparks U.N. Debate and Regional Tensions 
Zelenskiy Says Ukraine Discussing Possible U.S. Troop Presence as Security Guarantee 
Lockheed Martin Secures $92.8M AEGIS Sustainment Contract from U.S. Navy 
Global Concern Grows as Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza Deepens Despite Ceasefire 
Najib Razak Files Appeal Against Latest 1MDB Corruption Conviction and 15-Year Sentence 
Peruvian Shamans’ New Year Ritual Predicts Illness for Trump, Fall of Maduro, and Global Political Shifts 
MSF Faces Possible Ban From Gaza as Israel Enforces New Aid Registration Rules 
FBI Surges Resources to Minnesota Amid Fraud Investigations Linked to Somali Community 
Now under the control of the Taliban, the insurgent group is looking to restart government operations in Afghanistan under its new administration. The Taliban recently announced that Afghanistan will restart issuing passports and IDs to its citizens this week.
Afghanistan, under the Taliban, will restart the issuance of passports and IDs to its citizens, starting Tuesday, according to Reuters. The insurgent group’s spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid took to Twitter to make the announcement. Issuing passports and IDs were temporarily paused following the Taliban’s capture of the western-backed Afghan government on August 15, posing a roadblock to citizens who were looking to flee the country as evacuation efforts were going on by the US and its allies.
“Council of ministers of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in its meeting on Monday instructed the Ministry of Interior to resume the issuance of passport and Tazkira or national ID card,” tweeted Mujahid.
The operation had already been delayed prior to the Taliban’s takeover as the insurgent group was engaged in a bloody conflict with Afghan defense forces. An official has revealed that those who will now apply for passports and IDs will be provided with documents identical to that issued by the previous administration. They added that women employees will be processing applications meant for female citizens, noting the insurgent group’s plan to enforce gender segregation as per their interpretation of Sharia law.
The acting head of the office-in-charge, Alam Gul Haqqani, said that around 5000 to 8000 passports would be issued every day. The interior ministry spokesperson Qari Sayeed Khosti also informed the press during a briefing that 25,000 applicants are already in the last stage of payment for their passports.
Along with the restarting of passport and ID issuing by the new administration, the Taliban had previously asked airlines to resume their international flights to Afghanistan, citing that they will have their complete cooperation. The group has also said that the international airport in Kabul is back to being fully operational, following the damages that occurred during the evacuation efforts. Technical teams from Turkey and Pakistan assisted in repairing the damages.
“As the problems in Kabul International Airport have been resolved and the airport is fully operational for domestic and international flights, the IEA assures all airlines of its full cooperation,” said foreign ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi.
