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Trump administration weighs travel ban on dozens of countries including Afghanistan

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The Trump administration is considering issuing sweeping travel restrictions for the citizens of dozens of countries as part of a new ban, Reuters reported citing sources and a memo.

The memo lists a total of 41 countries divided into three separate groups. The first group of 10 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba and North Korea among others, would be set for a full visa suspension.

In the second group, five countries — Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar and South Sudan — would face partial suspensions that would impact tourist and student visas as well as other immigrant visas, with some exceptions.

In the third group, a total of 26 countries that includes Belarus, Pakistan and Turkmenistan among others would be considered for a partial suspension of U.S. visa issuance if their governments “do not make efforts to address deficiencies within 60 days”, the memo said.

A U.S. official speaking on the condition of anonymity cautioned there could be changes on the list and that it was yet to be approved by the administration, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The New York Times first reported on the list of countries.

The move harkens back to President Donald Trump’s first term ban on travelers from seven majority-Muslim nations, a policy that went through several iterations before it was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.

Trump issued an executive order on January 20 requiring intensified security vetting of any foreigners seeking admission to the U.S. to detect national security threats.

That order directed several cabinet members to submit by March 21 a list of countries from which travel should be partly or fully suspended because their “vetting and screening information is so deficient.”

Trump’s directive is part of an immigration crackdown that he launched at the start of his second term.

He previewed his plan in an October 2023 speech, pledging to restrict people from the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and “anywhere else that threatens our security.”

The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

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Da Afghanistan Bank reports increase in public bank deposits

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Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB) says public deposits in the country’s banks have increased this year, with significant progress also recorded in the banking sector.

Sediqullah Khalid, First Deputy Governor of DAB, made the remarks at a meeting of the bank’s Supreme Council, saying the increase in deposits reflects greater stability in the banking sector and increased public confidence in the country’s banking system.

The meeting discussed the country’s monetary policies, the current condition of the banking sector, the development of Islamic banking, the expansion of electronic banking, and broader public access to financial services.

Khalid emphasized the implementation of effective monetary policies, assessment of the banking sector, continued efforts to develop Islamic banking, expansion of electronic banking, and improving public access to financial services.

He also highlighted the stability of the Afghan afghani, saying that despite global economic challenges, the currency had maintained its stability over the past year compared with many regional and international currencies.

According to Khalid, the stability of the afghani reflects the effectiveness of DAB’s well-calibrated and targeted monetary policies.

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Pakistani airstrikes kill nine Afghan civilians, injure 11

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The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) said on Thursday Pakistani aircraft carried out airstrikes on civilian homes in Kunar and Helmand provinces last night, killing nine Afghan civilians, including women and children.

IEA spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on X that the strikes targeted the Chogam area of Shultan district in Kunar and the Safar area of Garmser district in Helmand.

According to Mujahid, 11 other people were injured and three homes were destroyed in the attacks.

He condemned the strikes as an act of aggression and a crime, saying they violated all accepted principles.

The Helmand governor’s office also said that four civilians were killed and six others were injured following a Pakistani military airstrike on the Safar area of Garmser district in the province.

 

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US extends Qatar camp stay for more than 1,000 Afghans

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the extension.

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The US administration has extended the operation of a camp in Qatar housing more than 1,000 Afghans who supported US forces during the war in Afghanistan, as well as relatives of American service members.

The United States has agreed to keep Camp As Sayliyah open for another nine months after it had been scheduled to close at the end of the US fiscal year, according to The Associated Press.

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the extension.

The decision affects 1,039 Afghans, many of whom worked as interpreters or in other roles supporting US forces between 2001 and 2021. Many have remained in Qatar for more than a year while Washington considers options for their resettlement.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Congress in June that Washington was discussing possible arrangements for resettling the Afghans in third countries. AP has previously reported that the Democratic Republic of Congo was among the countries considered by the administration.

The US State Department said it continues to seek a solution that would ensure the safety of those remaining at the camp while addressing US security concerns.

The department has also described the camp as part of a legacy of the Biden administration’s Afghan resettlement effort, a characterization disputed by some former US officials and refugee advocates.

According to figures cited by AfghanEvac, more than 70 percent of the camp’s residents are women and children. The organization has been advocating for the resettlement of Afghans who have remained in limbo following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

Shawn VanDiver, a US Navy veteran and head of AfghanEvac, welcomed the nine-month extension but said a permanent solution was still needed.

Despite the extension, the residents have not been given a clear pathway to the United States. AfghanEvac says only five Afghans from the camp have been admitted to the US since October 2025.

Advocates have warned that without alternative resettlement arrangements, some residents could eventually face the possibility of returning to Afghanistan.

The State Department said it would use the nine-month extension to continue exploring options for the voluntary resettlement of all Camp As Sayliyah residents.

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