VOA

U.S. Demands Afghan Soccer Official Be Brought To Justice For Sexual Abuse

The United States is pressing authorities in Afghanistan to bring to justice an influential former head of the South Asian country’s soccer federation who is on the run from criminal charges of sexually assaulting multiple female players.

Pakistan Hospitals Tackle COVID-19 Misinformation

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented authorities in Lahore, Pakistan, with all kinds of challenges. They’re dealing with shortages, a rise in cases, and now a rise in disinformation about the virus. VOA’s Saman Khan reports.

China's Investments In Pakistan-Administered Kashmir Seen As 'Blow' To India

Taliban: Calls For Halting War Before Afghan Peace Talks 'Illogical'

Afghanistan’s Taliban movement has dismissed as “illogical” escalating domestic and foreign calls for the insurgent group to cease hostilities before the commencement of intra-Afghan peace negotiations.

Top Afghan Leader to Visit Pakistan Amid Improving Ties

Pakistan says it has formally invited Afghanistan’s chief peace negotiator, Abdullah Abdullah, to pay an official visit to Islamabad at “mutually convenient dates.”

Pakistan Use Of Spy Technology For Coronavirus Patients Raises Concerns

Pakistan has turned to its spy agency’s terror surveillance technology to track coronavirus patients, which rights activists and medical professionals worry could lead to the “militarization of a health emergency” and stigma toward infected people.

UN Report Shows Member States Grow Doubtful About Future Of U.S.-Taliban Deal

Intelligence compiled by the United Nations shows member states have growing doubts about the Taliban’s intent to stick to the terms of a landmark agreement with the United States that was supposed to set the stage for an end to the nearly two-decade-long war in Afghanistan.

Lawmaker Sees State-Sponsored Militants Behind Pashtun Activist’s Killing

A prominent leader of Pakistan's Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) and member of the country’s National Assembly blamed “state-sponsored militants” for last week’s fatal attack on a leader of the movement in the country’s South Waziristan region.

US 'Appalled' At Iran's Alleged Drowning Of Afghan Migrants

The United States has denounced as “appalling” reports that Iranian border guards tortured and drowned dozens of migrants from Afghanistan last week to prevent their entry into Iran.

Save Afghan Sikhs And Hindus From Genocide, Activists Urge

Many in tiny Sikh and Hindu community of approximately 700 people in Afghanistan say they cannot feel safe in a country where Islamist militant groups like Islamic State (IS) have put a target on their backs.

Exile Not Always Guarantee Of Safety For Pakistani Journalists

News of Sajid Hussain’s disappearance from Uppsala, Sweden, which became public March 28, sent shock waves through Pakistan’s journalism community and brought the risks, even in exile, into focus.

India Shuts Down Taj Mahal, Ramps Up Measures To Control Coronavirus Outbreak

Pakistani Art School Fosters Talent And Tolerance

An accomplished Pakistani painter has taken over a venerable art school in Karachi. Shahid Rassam has made it his mission to foster talent and tolerance, regardless of means.

Top U.S. Commander Doubts Afghan Taliban Commitment To Peace

The United States is not ready to abandon its agreement with the Taliban in Afghanistan, but the general in charge of U.S. forces in the region says there are signs the deal ultimately may be doomed.

New Afghan Radio Station For Women, By Women

A new radio station, for women by women, has launched in Afghanistan's eastern Khost Province. It focuses on issues such as health, education, and domestic violence. "There are lots of topics that male journalists cannot discuss," says one presenter.

Taliban Defends Its Chief As 'Legal' Ruler Of Afghanistan

The Taliban says its peace pact with the United States does not alter the status of the insurgent group’s supreme leader as the “lawful ruler” of Afghanistan, saying he is duty-bound by religion to establish an “Islamic government” after foreign “occupation” troops exit the country.

Diverging Ways Forward In Afghanistan As U.S. Prepares Withdrawal

U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper says the United States will soon begin a partial withdrawal of troops from about 13,000 down to 8,600 in Afghanistan.

Afghan Women Fear Taliban Peace Deal Will Erode Freedoms

Afghan women are worried about losing their hard-fought freedoms after the United States signed a peace deal with the Taliban aimed at ending 18 years of conflict.

An Afghan Cafe Offers Comfort Food And Opportunities For Women

Zahira Haidari, a restaurant owner in Bamiyan Province, doesn't just offer hearty Afghan dishes like mantu dumplings. She also offers job opportunities to an all-female crew of cooks and servers who are making a place for themselves in a male-dominated society.

Afghan Leaders See 'Notable Progress' In U.S.-Taliban Talks

Leaders in Afghanistan say the United States has made “notable progress” in ongoing peace talks with representatives of the Taliban that are taking pace in the Gulf state of Qatar.