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Asian Football Confederation postpones 2nd-leg knockout ties in West Region

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The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed the postponement of all second-leg knockout matches in the West Region of its club competitions, extending an earlier decision to delay first-leg fixtures amid ongoing regional instability.

The governing body announced Tuesday that the second-leg matches originally scheduled between March 9 and 11, 2026, will be postponed until further notice. The affected fixtures include the Round of 16 second legs in the AFC Champions League Elite, as well as the quarter-final second legs in the AFC Champions League Two and the AFC Challenge League involving West Region clubs.

The move follows the AFC’s March 1 decision to postpone the first-leg knockout matches in the West Region, citing safety and security concerns.

The confederation stated that the wellbeing of players, officials, supporters and commercial partners remains its top priority. The AFC also stated that updated schedules will be announced in due course.

Teams Affected

In the AFC Champions League Elite Round of 16 (West Region), the postponed second legs involve leading clubs from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and Uzbekistan, including:

  • Al Hilal SFC (Saudi Arabia)
  • Al Nassr FC (Saudi Arabia)
  • Al Sadd SC (Qatar)
  • Al Duhail SC (Qatar)
  • Shabab Al Ahli (United Arab Emirates)
  • Persepolis FC (Iran)
  • Sepahan SC (Iran)
  • Navbahor Namangan (Uzbekistan)

In the AFC Champions League Two and AFC Challenge League quarter-finals (West Region), postponed ties involve clubs such as:

  • Al Kuwait SC (Kuwait)
  • Al Wehdat SC (Jordan)
  • Al Riffa SC (Bahrain)
  • Istiklol Dushanbe (Tajikistan)

(Final match pairings are subject to AFC confirmation once new dates are set.)

The AFC Champions League Elite represents the top tier of Asian club football following the competition’s restructuring, while the AFC Champions League Two serves as the second-tier tournament.

The AFC Challenge League provides continental competition opportunities for emerging football nations.

The West Region encompasses clubs from West and Central Asia, while East Region teams — including clubs from Japan, South Korea, China, Thailand, and Australia — remain unaffected.

The AFC confirmed that all East Region matches across its competitions will proceed as scheduled.

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Afghanistan-Pakistan talks in Urumqi were positive: Muttaqi

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Islamic Emirate Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has said the recent talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan in Urumqi, China, have had positive results.

At the graduation ceremony of the Institute of Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he called on politicians, scholars, professors, writers and media activists to deal with sensitive issues between the two neighboring and Islamic countries with “responsibility” and refrain from publishing irresponsible content.

Muttaqi stressed that diplomacy should be based on ethics and Sharia principles, adding that some youths publish content that could harm the country without knowing the consequences.

He also said there was no armed opposition movement across Afghanistan and no reports of attacks on checkpoints or capture of areas by the opposition.

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Kabul responds to reports of possible relocation of Afghans from Qatar to Congo by U.S.

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan has responded to media reports suggesting that around 1,100 Afghans awaiting U.S. visa processing in Qatar may be relocated to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In a statement on Saturday, the ministry’s spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi said it had taken note of reports indicating that Afghan nationals in Qatar were being asked to choose between returning to Afghanistan or being transferred to a third country.

The ministry reiterated that Afghanistan is the shared homeland of all Afghans and encouraged voluntary return, stressing that returnees can come back with “full confidence and peace of mind.”

It said that those intending to travel to another country may do so at an appropriate juncture through legal and dignified channels.

The statement added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is ready to engage with all countries through consular and bilateral channels to protect the rights of Afghan citizens abroad.

It further stated that there are no security threats inside Afghanistan, rejecting the notion that citizens are being forced to leave for other countries due to conditions at home.

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Pentagon to release Afghanistan review findings later this summer

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The U.S. Department of War said on Friday it will release the findings of a major internal review of the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan later this summer, in what officials describe as one of the most comprehensive assessments ever conducted on a single military operation.

Speaking to reporters, U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth said the review examines decisions leading up to and including the evacuation at Kabul airport, particularly the deadly attack at Abbey Gate during the final days of the withdrawal.

Hegseth said the department is conducting a full internal accounting of the events, noting that previous investigations and congressional reviews did not provide a complete or detailed picture of what took place.

He described the withdrawal as a “disastrous” moment with long-term implications, saying its impact was felt beyond Afghanistan and influenced perceptions of U.S. deterrence worldwide.

On Aug. 26, 2021, as U.S. forces were withdrawing from Afghanistan, a suicide attack at the Abbey Gate entrance to Kabul’s airport killed 13 Americans.

The bombing has remained a central focus of criticism and political debate in the United States.

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