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Saturday, February 14, 2026
TopicAfghanistan

Topic: Afghanistan

India halves aid to Bangladesh, boosts support for Afghanistan and Sri Lanka in Union Budget 2026

In the immediate neighbourhood, Bhutan sees the highest allocation of roughly Rs 2,288 crore, up from Rs 2,150 crore in 2025.

Crime & punishment, Taliban adaptation: 15 days’ jail for beating wife, only if there are ‘bruises’

New ‘criminal code’ in Afghanistan also legalises ‘Caste-like slavery’, prescribes flog-at-sight for ‘sinners’ & proposes 3 months’ jail for wife visiting kin without ‘permission’.

Taliban pulls down veil on free speech. Public criticism of regime now punishable

Public flogging & executions have become increasingly common under the Taliban regime. In 2025 alone, 1,000 people, including over 150 women, were punished likewise, Afghanistan's top court has stated. 

No images of ‘living beings’, avoid necktie, grow beard—Taliban extends media crackdown in Herat

Decree from Department for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice & Department of Information and Culture reported to be in force in 23 provinces, 20 TV stations shut.

US-made MQ-9 Reaper downed in Afghanistan? Claims by Pro-Taliban accounts hint at Pakistan angle

The unmanned aerial vehicle crashed in the Maidan Wardak province in Central Afghanistan. If the drone is confirmed as a MQ-9 Reaper, its likely origin would be from Pakistan.

Taliban hiding boom in cross-border narcotics trade behind veil of piety, UN monitors say

UN monitors also warn that areas where the industry is being relocated could potentially benefit ISIL-Khurasan and TTP.

Italian museum brings Afghan Buddhist artefacts to India—it’s a symbol of shared history

The artefacts, all from Rome’s Museo Delle Civilta, will be on display till May next year at the Humayun's Tomb Museum, Delhi.

Washington shooter’s story is about American barbarism, not ‘Third World’ backwardness

Part of a CIA-trained zero unit, Rahmanullah Lakanwal was evacuated to the US before the fall of Kabul in 2021. But his long journey failed to wash the blood from his mind.

India & Afghanistan to appoint trade attaches; Kabul commits to lower air-cargo rates for Indian imports

New Delhi: India and Afghanistan are set to appoint commercial attaches within the next month, Taliban’s acting Commerce and Industry Minister Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi...

On Camera

The so-called ‘socialist pattern’ and democracy cannot co-exist for long: Minoo Masani

The main enemies of grassroots vigilance are personality cult, loyalty to party 'high command', sycophancy and a controlled economy where permit-licence is a pre-condition to economic survival, Minoo Masani wrote in 1989.

7 lakh jobs created, Rs 50 lakh-cr investments bagged, says UP CM. Oppn flags MoU-reality gap

CM Yogi Adityanath claims that from being called a ‘bimaru’ state, UP is now among the top-3 economies in India. The 2026 Budget session of the UP assembly is currently underway.

Australian amphibian aircraft firm eyes Indian civil & military market, ties up with Apogee Aerospace

Aligning with India's push to promote inter-coastal air connectivity, Apogee has ordered 15 seaplanes in a deal valued at Rs 3,500 crore.

The new Great Game—Trump’s playing for time, China for leverage & India for wiggle room

This is the game every nation is now learning to play. Some are finding new allies or seeing value among nations where they’d seen marginal interest. The starkest example is India & Europe.