Reports Archive - Centre for Information Resilience

Jul 16

Taliban destroys murals in Kabul and Nangarhar

Images show the Taliban’s destruction of murals representing religious or national figures conflicting with official values.

Afghan Witness Poppy clearance Protests Taliban

Jul 16

Protests and clashes over poppy cultivation in Badakhshan

Local residents of Kargian village protested the Taliban's destruction of poppy fields, leading to reported gunfire and injuries.

Afghan Witness Education Women's rights Taliban

Jul 16

No reopening: Taliban disputes claims of girls' schools allowed in Kabul

Claims emerge in the media that the Taliban has allowed the operation of certain girls' schools, which the Taliban later denies.

Afghan Witness Women's rights Protests Taliban

Jul 16

Confusion after Taliban decree to cap women's salaries

The Taliban's decree to cap female salaries has caused widespread confusion and sparked protests among women employees.

Sudan Witness Fires NTC Tower Manshiya Buri Al-Lamap

Jul 5

Khartoum’s NTC tower up in flames

On 20 July, a pro-Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) Telegram channel posted a video showing a skyscraper on fire. The post stated that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) bombed the National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) tower in Sudan’s capital city Khartoum. However, the SAF’s claim that the RSF was responsible for the damage has been contested. Sudan Witness verified the footage (figure 1), which showed an active fire and smoke plumes coming from the tower and was filmed from a moving vehicle on Manshiya Bridge. Analysis of Planet and Sentinel satellite imagery shows a smoke plume coming from the NTC Tower on 20 July.

Afghan Witness Religion Resistance Taliban

Jul 3

Taliban’s religious authority challenged over delay of Eid celebrations

The Taliban's decision to delay Eid-ul-Adha in 2024 sparked widespread defiance and criticism from Afghan communities and leaders.

Afghan Witness NRF Resistance Taliban

Jul 3

Shia Afghan leader calls for armed resistance at Frankfurt conference

Calls for armed resistance against the Taliban at a conference of Shia Afghans in Germany were largely met with reticence from Shias both in Afghanistan and abroad.

Afghan Witness Violence Human Rights Taliban

Jul 3

Torture of young man by Taliban commander

The harrowing video of a young Afghan man being tortured by a Taliban commander sparked global outrage.

Afghan Witness Economy Resources Industry Taliban

Jun 25

Afghanistan's mining sector under the Taliban

In September 2023, the Taliban announced that they had signed more than $6.5 billion in new mining deals. Afghan Witness delves into the sector dubbed the Taliban’s “cash cow”.

Afghan Witness Foreign relations Russia Taliban

Jun 19

Forging New Paths: Russia and Taliban's Growing Cooperation

At the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, Moscow and the Taliban signalled closer ties, while Russian involvement in a railroad project in Herat underscores strengthening relations.

Afghan Witness Media Information environment ISKP

Jun 19

ISKP: Use of Generative AI presenters to create newscasts

The recent usage of AI-generated videos to claim ISKP attacks has stirred controversy within pro-IS communities over the religious permissibility of AI technology. Despite increased accessibility to AI tools for propaganda, the isolated efforts and mixed reception suggest AI use in extremist content may remain limited.

Afghan Witness Security Violence Terrorism Taliban ISKP

Jun 19

ISKP: attacks against Taliban officials in Ghor and expansion of area of operations

ISKP has stepped up its attacks on Taliban officials, recently killing Mullah Hassan in Ghor province and expanding its operations across Afghanistan. The group's increasing activity from Kabul to Herat and Kandahar highlights a growing challenge for the Taliban's efforts to control them.