Latest News
Taekwondo federation to appeal COVID-related Olympic disqualification
Afghanistan’s Taekwondo Federation said that it hopes the country still has a chance to participate in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games despite having missed out on qualifying last week in Jordan.
Federation head, Najibullah Sikandari stated that Afghanistan would submit an appeal to the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) on their disqualification ruling.
According to Sikandari, Afghanistan could send a team to the Olympics if the ITF grants the country a White Card after the national team missed the 2021 Asian Taekwondo Olympic Qualification Tournament for the Tokyo Olympic Games.
The team was forced to pull out after three members tested positive for COVID-19.
According to protocol, when 50 percent of a team tests positive for COVID-19 all team members are disqualified.
Sikandari, however, stated: “No one or organization including the General Directorate of Physical Education and Sports, the National Olympic Committee, and the National Taekwondo Federation can be blamed for 50 percent of the team testing positive.”
He added that the Afghan athletes have been practicing under strict COVID-19 safety and hygiene regulations over the past few months in order to participate at the Olympics.
Farzad Mansoori, a member of the team who missed qualifications, said he hopes the team will be given a waiver and be allowed to take part at the Games.
The Taekwondo Federation – which has gained three Olympic medals so far – is one of the most popular and promising sports federations in Afghanistan.
The Afghan National Para-Taekwondo Team meanwhile also took part in last week’s qualifiers but failed to qualify for the Tokyo Games.
However, three team members won bronze medals in their categories.
Zakia Khodadadi, a female member of the team, in the 43kg weight category; Zabihullah Haidary, in the 44kg weight category; and Matin Hotak in the 43kg weight category all won bronze medals.
Latest News
IEA leaders contact Maulana Fazlur Rehman to express condolences over Sheikh Idris’s death
According to a statement issued by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan (JUI-F), senior leaders of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) contacted JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to express condolences following the killing of prominent religious scholar Sheikh Muhammad Idris in Charsadda.
The statement said that the callers included Defense Minister Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, Interior Minister Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani, Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, and spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid.
According to JUI-F media cell, the Afghan leadership expressed sorrow over Sheikh Idris’s death and prayed for his elevated status. They also strongly condemned his killing and said they share the grief of the bereaved family and religious community.
The statement further added that the Islamic Emirate expressed solidarity with JUI-F, religious scholars, and students, and said that the people of Afghanistan share the grief of the Pakistani people over the incident.
Sheikh Idris, a senior member of JUI-F was shot dead by armed motorcyclists in the Utmanzai area of Charsadda on May 5, while he was traveling to a madressah. Daesh claimed responsibility for the attack.
Hundreds of former U.S. officials are calling on Washington to cancel a reported plan to relocate Afghan refugees from Qatar to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In an open letter addressed to the U.S. State Department, more than 600 former civilian and military officials, along with around 100 organizations, urged the administration to stop the proposed transfer. The letter was sent to Marco Rubio.
The signatories argue that the Afghan nationals in question were brought to Qatar by the United States to complete legal immigration procedures after undergoing extensive security vetting. The letter states that while the individuals were cleared for resettlement in the United States, they are now being considered for relocation to Congo, a country for which they were never screened.
“Those individuals were vetted and approved for the United States, not for the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” the letter reads.
According to the report, more than 1,100 Afghan allies and their family members are currently being held at Camp As Sayliyah in Qatar under U.S. supervision. Around 800 of them have already completed all security checks and received authorization to travel to the United States. More than half are women and children, and many have remained in transit limbo for over 15 months.
The situation has drawn criticism from former officials and policy observers, who describe the proposed relocation as a betrayal of Afghan allies who supported U.S. missions and risked their lives during the war in Afghanistan. Critics also warn that the move could damage U.S. credibility with future partners.
Several members of the U.S. Congress had previously expressed opposition to the proposal, cautioning that it could significantly undermine trust in the United States among its allies.
Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s former special envoy for Afghanistan, has said that no country should interfere in Afghanistan’s internal affairs, stressing that it is up to Afghans themselves to bring about any change in their country.
In a post on X, Durrani said Afghans should be “left to their own devices” and that they would eventually “find the way out” of their challenges.
However, he warned that instability inside Afghanistan could have negative consequences for neighbouring countries, adding that Afghan leaders and their supporters should take responsibility to address such risks.
Durrani described his remarks as a simple expression of goodwill and best wishes for the Afghan people and their future.
Canada to host opening ceremony for FIFA World Cup 2026 in Toronto
Afghanistan rises 7 places to 21st in FIFA Futsal World Rankings
IEA leaders contact Maulana Fazlur Rehman to express condolences over Sheikh Idris’s death
Mexico City to launch 2026 FIFA World Cup with star-studded opening ceremony
Trump releases government UFO files, more expected
Bayat Power extends gas supply deal with Afghan Gas
Etihad Airways to expand Kabul–Abu Dhabi flights to daily service amid surging demand
Afghanistan’s new cricket head coach Richard Pybus arrives in Kabul
Afghanistan moves toward self-sufficiency in car battery production
Germany to launch online visa system for Afghan study and work applicants in Pakistan
Tawsia: Discussion on Afghanistan’s economic path and position
Tahawol: Pressure on Afghan refugees from Tajikistan to Europe discussed
Saar: Ongoing criticism of Pakistan’s Afghanistan policy discussed
Tahawol: Diplomatic turn in Iran–US confrontation discussed
Saar: Expanding interaction between countries and IEA discussed
-
Sport5 days agoAfghanistan set for Maldives four-nation tournament
-
Latest News5 days agoLeadership reshuffle announced across Afghanistan’s admin and security sectors
-
Business1 day agoNew Afghanistan-China transport corridor launched via Turkmenistan
-
Latest News4 days agoPakistan’s Achakzai pushes for Afghanistan dialogue amid economic strain
-
Business3 days agoAfghanistan presses Chinese contractor over delays in Mes Aynak copper project
-
Business3 days agoUzbekistan launches new cargo corridor linking China and Afghanistan
-
Latest News4 days agoFood prices surge 20% in Afghanistan as Hormuz crisis disrupts supply routes
-
Latest News5 days agoAustrian interior minister heads to Uzbekistan to finalize Afghan deportation deal