afghan nationals

FIFA has approved a landmark rule change allowing the Afghan women’s team, now competing as Afghan Women United, to return to international football despite being in exile since the Taliban takeover in 2021. The decision removes the need for approval from Afghanistan’s ruling federation, restoring their pathway to competition and marking a major step for displaced athletes in global sport.

Shapoor Zadran is battling a rare life-threatening immune disorder, HLH, in a New Delhi hospital. His family has urgently appealed for A-positive blood donors through an emotional message shared by brother Ghamai Zadran. Former teammates including Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi have rallied around the ex-Afghanistan pacer during his critical health battle.

A seemingly routine stabbing of two security guards in Mira Road escalated into a major security probe after disturbing notes indicating a desire to join ISIS were found at the accused's residence. The 31-year-old suspect, who previously lived in the US, allegedly targeted the guards after questioning their religion.

Despite being the world's top bowler, Rashid Khan was once rejected at an under-19 national trial in Afghanistan after being forced to choose between batting and bowling. He chose batting, faced a few balls, and was dismissed. Later, he made history as the first Afghan to captain and win an IPL match.

For the moment, the Pakistan army looks comfortably ensconced. But plenty could go wrong. And if that happens, the army's perceived erosion of authority could prompt it to sponsor a grave terror strike in India, says Lt Gen Katiyar (Retd)

A year after the Pahalgam incident, India-Pakistan relations remain strained, with the Punjab international border largely shut. Restrictions have halted trade, suspended customary interactions, and altered the Attari retreat ceremony, despite Pakistan's global mediation role. The Kartarpur Corridor also remains closed, impacting religious travel.

Fourteen-year-old Rishan Sen Gupta debuts with "Brezhnev's Gamble," exploring the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. The book delves into the ideological and geopolitical drivers, the key events of the conflict, and its impact on the Soviet Union's decline. Sen Gupta aims to pursue higher studies in global politics and economics.

In Rashid Khan: From Streets to Stardom, set to be released on Monday, Rashid told author Mohammad Haand Jafar that both India and Australia made such offers.

Many Pak generals have cosied up to US presidents. So, this version isn’t surprising. Deals, like on cryptocurrency, cringe-worthy flattery, and Pak-Saudi-Türkiye-Egypt emerging quad have made Munir the go-between. But, any peace talk is good for India

Pakistan faces a strategic crossroads, caught between alliances and regional conflicts. Past involvements in foreign wars, driven by external powers, have led to domestic instability and blowback. Now, a new defence pact with Saudi Arabia and escalating conflict with Afghanistan highlight the nation's struggle to balance relevance with long-term stability, risking further entanglement.

Pakistan is grappling with a severe surge in terrorist violence, with terrorism-related deaths skyrocketing to 4,001 in 2025, the highest in over a decade. The report highlights the nation as a hub for numerous armed groups, many designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan bearing the brunt of the attacks.

American academic Dennis Coyle, detained for over a year in Afghanistan, has been released by Taliban authorities on humanitarian grounds coinciding with Eid al-Fitr. While Washington welcomes this positive step, it renews calls for the return of other Americans still believed to be held, emphasizing an end to 'hostage diplomacy'.

India has sent a 2.5-ton consignment of medical supplies and equipment to Kabul following a deadly airstrike on a drug rehabilitation center. The shipment aims to support the treatment and recovery of those injured in the March 16 attack, which reportedly killed over 400 people. India reiterated its solidarity with the Afghan people and commitment to humanitarian support.