The Taliban leader slams Trump's travel ban on Afghans and calls the US an 'oppressor'
The top
Taliban leader
on Saturday slammed President Donald Trump's travel ban on Afghans, calling the United States an oppressor, as
Afghanistan
's rulers seek greater engagement with the international community.
The comments from
Hibatullah Akhundzada
marked the first public reaction from the Taliban since the Trump administration this week moved to bar citizens from 12 countries, including Afghanistan, from entering the U.S.
Trump's executive order largely applies to Afghans hoping to resettle in the U.S. permanently, as well as those hoping to go to America temporarily, including for university studies.
Play Video
Pause
Skip Backward
Skip Forward
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
0:00
Loaded
:
0%
0:00
Stream Type
LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
1x
Playback Rate
Chapters
Chapters
Descriptions
descriptions off
, selected
Captions
captions settings
, opens captions settings dialog
captions off
, selected
Audio Track
default
, selected
Picture-in-Picture
Fullscreen
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text
Color
White
Black
Red
Green
Blue
Yellow
Magenta
Cyan
Opacity
Opaque
Semi-Transparent
Text Background
Color
Black
White
Red
Green
Blue
Yellow
Magenta
Cyan
Opacity
Opaque
Semi-Transparent
Transparent
Caption Area Background
Color
Black
White
Red
Green
Blue
Yellow
Magenta
Cyan
Opacity
Transparent
Semi-Transparent
Opaque
Font Size
50%
75%
100%
125%
150%
175%
200%
300%
400%
Text Edge Style
None
Raised
Depressed
Uniform
Drop shadow
Font Family
Proportional Sans-Serif
Monospace Sans-Serif
Proportional Serif
Monospace Serif
Casual
Script
Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values
Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Utilice el servicio de élite para la aplicación de la Green Card
Green Card Lottery Experts
Solicita ahora
Undo
Since returning to power in Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban have imposed harsh measures, banned women from public places and education for women and girls beyond the sixth grade. And though they have so far failed to gain recognition as the country's official government, the Taliban have diplomatic relations with several countries, including China and Russia.
A message from the leader Akhundzada released his message on the Islamic holiday of
Eid al-Adha
, also known as the "Feast of Sacrifice," from the southern city of Kandahar, where he has set up base but is rarely seen in public.
Live Events
In a 45-minute audio recording shared by Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on X, Akhundzada denounced the Trump administration for imposing "restrictions on people."
"Citizens from 12 countries are barred from entering their land - and Afghans are not allowed either," he said. "Why? Because they claim the Afghan government has no control over its people and that people are leaving the country. So, oppressor! Is this what you call friendship with humanity?"
He blamed the U.S. for the deaths of Palestinian women and children in Gaza, linking this allegation to the travel ban. "You are committing acts that are beyond tolerance," he added.
The Trump administration says the measure is meant to protect U.S. citizens from "aliens who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security, espouse hateful ideology, or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes."
It argues that Afghanistan lacks a competent central authority for issuing passports or civil documents and lacks appropriate screening and vetting measures. It also says Afghans who visit the U.S. have a high visa overstay rate.
Trump also suspended a core refugee program in January, all but ending support for Afghans who had allied with the U.S. and leaving tens of thousands of them stranded.
The Taliban offer amnesty Also on Saturday, the Taliban prime minister said that all Afghans who fled the country after the collapse of the former Western-backed government are free to return home, promising they would be safe.
"Afghans who have left the country should return to their homeland," Mohammad Hassan Akhund said. "Nobody will harm them."
"Come back to your ancestral land and live in an atmosphere of peace," the Taliban prime minister said in a message on X and instructed officials to ensure returning refugees were given shelter and support.
He also used the occasion to criticize the media for making what he said were "false judgements" about Afghanistan's Taliban rulers and their policies.
"We must not allow the torch of the Islamic system to be extinguished," he said. "The media should avoid false judgments and should not minimize the accomplishments of the system. While challenges exist, we must remain vigilant."
The return of the Taliban rule The Taliban swept into the capital of Kabul and seized most of Afghanistan in a blitz in mid-August 2021 as the U.S. and NATO forces were in the last weeks of their pullout from the country after 20 years of war.
The offensive prompted a mass exodus, with tens of thousands of Afghans thronging the airport in chaotic scenes, hoping for a flight out on the U.S. military airlift. People also fled across the border, to neighboring Iran and Pakistan.
Among those escaping the new Taliban rulers were also former government officials, journalists, activists, those who had helped the U.S. during its campaign against the Taliban.
Separately, Afghans in neighboring Pakistan who are awaiting resettlement are also dealing with a deportation drive by the Islamabad government to get them out of the country. Almost a million have left Pakistan since October 2023 to avoid arrest and expulsion.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
24 minutes ago
- Time of India
A Song of ICE and Fire: How Donald Trump's immigration raids sparked the LA riots
A demonstrator waves an American and Mexican flag during a protest in Compton, Calif., Saturday, June 7, 2025, after federal immigration authorities conducted operations. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Protesters clashed with federal immigration agents in Los Angeles County for a second consecutive day on Saturday, after raids at a Home Depot and a nearby meatpacking plant sparked renewed unrest in the Latino-majority suburb of Paramount. The clashes came just 24 hours after ICE detained over 121 people across the city, prompting protests outside a federal processing centre where agents used flash-bang grenades and what advocates said was tear gas. The Trump administration accused city officials of failing to support enforcement efforts, with White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller calling the protests an 'insurrection.' Meanwhile, California leaders, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom, condemned the federal crackdown as provocative and politically motivated, even as the National Guard prepared for deployment under a rarely used rebellion clause. ICE, Rubber Bullets, and a Home Depot Cart Ablaze Over 121 immigrants were detained in a single day. Protesters hurled glass bottles and fireworks. Law enforcement responded with pepper balls and flash-bangs. At one point, a Home Depot shopping cart was set on fire and melted into a barricade. In Paramount, one of the epicentres of resistance, federal officers used rubber bullets to disperse a growing crowd—many of whom were chanting in Spanish and waving phones in one hand and makeshift placards in the other. Down the street, motorbikes revved between police and protesters like a surreal video game gone wrong. Music blasted, tear gas lingered, and the tension was palpable. Newsom vs. Trump: A Constitutional Showdown Governor Gavin Newsom called the deployment 'a spectacle,' arguing that it was not about maintaining order but staging political theatre. 'There is no shortage of law enforcement,' he said. 'There is a shortage of federal restraint.' The state had not requested troops. It didn't want them. And yet, by nightfall, they were en route. Trump's memo referred to the protests as a 'form of rebellion.' By invoking the same clause Lyndon B. Johnson once used in 1965 to protect civil rights protesters in Alabama, Trump flipped the script: this time, troops weren't defending dissent—they were suppressing it. A Warning Shot—or a Political War? According to White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, the country faced an 'insurrection.' He posted online, 'Deport the invaders, or surrender to insurrection. These are the choices.' Meanwhile, Trump's border czar Thomas Homan doubled down, promising the ICE raids would not stop. 'They're not going to shut us down,' he said. If that sounds familiar, it should. The Trump administration attempted similar tactics during the George Floyd protests of 2020, but ultimately held back on federalizing National Guard forces. This time, there was no hesitation. Marines on Alert, a City on Edge In a move not seen since the Rodney King riots in 1992, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that active-duty Marines at Camp Pendleton were on high alert—ready to be deployed into a major US city. The last time this happened without a governor's request was nearly 60 years ago. The legal justification? 'To protect ICE and federal property.' The political context? Midwestern rallies. Red-state donor pressure. And a GOP base increasingly radicalised by apocalyptic narratives about immigration. Why the Workplaces? Los Angeles County Sheriffs stand during a protest in Compton, Calif., Saturday, June 7, 2025, after federal immigration authorities conducted operations. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Trump's ICE playbook has evolved. Where once the administration focused on 'criminal aliens,' it now targets workforces wholesale—garment factories, construction sites, fast-food chains. In just one week, over 2,000 immigrants were arrested per day, many in dawn raids backed by FBI logistics and IRS intel. The strategy is simple: scale. You can goose arrest numbers faster by raiding a warehouse than by sending agents after individual overstayers. Plus, it sends a chilling message to undocumented workers: no place is safe—not even a laundromat. Collateral Damage: An Economic Shock The raids don't just affect undocumented migrants. They hit American businesses, too. In industries like construction and landscaping, undocumented workers make up up to 20% of the labour force. One Cleveland builder, Gus Hoyas, put it bluntly: 'You get rid of these folks, and it's going to kill us.' Even hospitality is feeling the pinch. Greg Casten, who runs several D.C. restaurants, warned that losing even 10% of his staff would cripple operations. He's received annual letters from the IRS about mismatched Social Security numbers. But in today's climate, those letters now feel like warning shots. The Legal Abyss: Employers Damned Either Way Employers walk a tightrope. If they suspect a worker is undocumented and act, they risk discrimination suits. If they don't, they could be next on the ICE radar. It's a paradox by design—one that ensures maximum fear with minimal due process. As one immigration lawyer put it: 'You're damned if you do and damned if you don't.' The Politics of Spectacle In the end, this isn't just about law enforcement—it's about optics. Trump knows that workplace raids filmed on mobile phones, protests with burning carts, and National Guard convoys on CNN aren't liabilities. They're campaign material. It's a spectacle that energises the base, demoralises the opposition, and distracts from more complex questions—like why America's immigration system has remained broken through Reagan, Clinton, Bush, Obama, Biden, and two rounds of Trump. The End of Sanctuary? What's happening in Los Angeles isn't just about California. It's a test case for the limits of federal authority over states—and the future of sanctuary jurisdictions. Trump's memo, laced with legalese about rebellion and insurrection, effectively criminalises protest when it clashes with immigration enforcement. That should alarm anyone who remembers what the First Amendment stands for. Or what 'checks and balances' used to mean. As the dust settles and the tear gas fades, one question lingers: Is this the beginning of a new federal playbook—or the end of state sovereignty? Either way, America just entered a dangerous new chapter. And Los Angeles is its ground zero. With inputs from agencies
Indian Express
25 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Knowledge Nugget: Golden Dome missile defence system — A must know for UPSC Exam
Take a look at the essential events, concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up your knowledge. Here's your knowledge nugget for today on Golden Dome. (Relevance: Various air defence systems, missiles, fighter jets, and aircraft types are some of the important topics of defence technology that have been asked by UPSC in prelims. In 2018, a question was asked on Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD). As in the backdrop of Operation Sindoor, air defence systems have been in the news; it becomes important to know about the Golden Dome and Iron Dome. US President Donald Trump has offered the 'Golden Dome' missile defence system for free to Canada, which had shown interest after the Republican leader announced it but added a rider that Ottawa can have it without paying any charge 'if it becomes part of the US' 51st State'. Notably, on May 20, US President Donald Trump said he has shortlisted a design for the 'Golden Dome' missile defence shield and made General Michael Guetlein of the US Space Force in charge of the project. In this context, let's know about Trump's proposed 'Golden Dome' and what it is inspired by. 1. First floated by Trump this January, the Golden Dome is inspired by Israel's much lauded Iron Dome system — a short-range, ground-to-air, air defence system. But it is far more ambitious in scale and scope, and seeks to integrate 'next-generation' technologies across land, sea, and even space. 2. Trump said that the system will comprise, among other things, space-based sensors and interceptors. If this were to be true, this would make the Golden Dome the very first truly space-based weapon system. 3. As of right now, the use of space technology in defence has largely been restricted to reconnaissance. Satellites provide crucial targeting and other data for Earth-based weapon systems such as long-range missiles, guided munitions, etc. 4. The proposed Golden Dome goes one step further, with the introduction of interceptors to be launched from space. Exactly how they will work is still unclear. But according to the initial plans, the system will comprise thousands of small satellites orbiting Earth, which will intercept an enemy missile mere moments after it is launched, NPR reported. 5. Trump said the defense shield would cost some $175 billion, and will be operational by January 2029, when his term ends. But industry experts are skeptical of both this timeline and estimated cost, Reuters reported. 6. Technologically speaking, the idea behind Golden Dome is not far-fetched. But it is untested, and at the moment, more of a 'concept'. 'Right now, Golden Dome is, it's really an idea,' one source had told CNN in March. This also makes projecting timelines and costs very difficult, the article added. 1. Iron Dome is a short-range, ground-to-air, air defence system that includes a radar and Tamir interceptor missiles that track and neutralise any rockets or missiles aimed at Israeli targets. It is used for countering rockets, artillery & mortars (C-RAM) as well as aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles. 2. The genesis of the Iron Dome goes back to the 2006 Israeli-Lebanon war, when the Hezbollah fired thousands of rockets into Israel. The following year, Israel announced that its state-run Rafael Advance Systems would come up with a new air defence system to protect its cities and people. It was developed with Israel Aerospace Industries. 3. Notably, the idea behind Trump's proposed Golden Dome is inspired by Israel's much lauded Iron Dome system. But the Iron Dome's capabilities pale in comparison to what Trump wants with the Golden Dome. 📌 The Iron Dome does not rely on satellites for any aspect of its functionality, even tracking. It primarily relies on radars to identify and track enemy targets. Although Trump's Golden Dome will likely comprise radar and other ground-based targeting systems as well, its main selling point, thus far, is the deployment of space-based systems. 📌Israel is nearly 400 times smaller than the US, and consists of mostly flat desert terrain, which makes short-range interceptors ideal and cost-efficient for air defence. Moreover, its primary threats come from non-conventional actors like Hezbollah and Hamas. The US requires a far more expansive air defence system. Most notably, the US must be able to defend against Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs), technology which both China and Russia — Washington's two main geopolitical rivals — possess. ICBMs can be launched from tens of thousands of kilometres away, and travel to space as a part of their flight trajectory. Tracking ICBMs necessitates the use of satellites. And while they can be neutralised using ground-based interceptors, space-based weapons have long been thought to be more effective for this task given that they re-enter Earth's atmosphere at hypersonic speeds. 1. The United Nations' Outer Space Treaty is an international agreement binding member states to only use outer space for peaceful purposes. It spells out the principles governing the activities of states in the exploration and use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies. 2. The treaty came into force in October, 1967, during the peak of the Cold War, after being ratified by Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. It lays down the following governing principles: 📌 The exploration and use of outer space will be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries and will be the province of all mankind. 📌 Outer space will be free for exploration and use by all states. 📌 Outer space is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty. 📌 States will not place nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in orbit or on celestial bodies or station them in outer space in any other manner. 📌 The Moon and other celestial bodies will be used exclusively for peaceful purposes. 📌 Astronauts will be regarded as the envoys of mankind. 📌 States will be responsible for national space activities whether carried out by governmental or non-governmental entities. 📌 States will be liable for damage caused by their space objects. 📌 States shall avoid harmful contamination of space and celestial bodies. 1. The Artemis Accords, launched by NASA and the US Department of State in 2020, have 53 signatories, including India. 2. It implements fundamental commitments from the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and emphasises commitment to the Registration Convention, the Rescue and Return Agreement, and best practices for responsible behaviour, such as the public distribution of scientific data. 3. The accords are a series of non-binding agreements that establish principles to be respected in outer space. With reference to the Outer Space Treaty, consider the following statements: 1. It entered into force during the peak of World War II and provides the basic framework on international space law that remains in place to date. 2. As per one of the Articles of the treaty the activities of non-governmental entities in outer space shall require authorisation and continuing supervision by the appropriate State Party to the Treaty. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (Sources: What we know about Trump's 'Golden Dome', Trump offers Golden Dome missile shield to Canada 'for free', but 'only if it joins US as 51st state', What is the Outer Space Treaty and why the US and Russia are at odds over it? ) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – Indian Express UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for May 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Roshni Yadav is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She is an alumna of the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she pursued her graduation and post-graduation in Political Science. She has over five years of work experience in ed-tech and media. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. Her interests lie in national and international affairs, governance, economy, and social issues. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
California unrest: How Los Angeles immigration protests turned ugly after citywide ICE operations
Hundreds of protesters rallied in Los Angeles late Friday afternoon, to condemn the ICE immigration raids that took place at three different locations across L.A. earlier in the day. US President Donald Trump is deploying 2,000 National Guardsmen in Los Angeles to deal with unrest over raids on undocumented migrants. His border czar, Tom Homan, told Fox News on Saturday: "We are making Los Angeles safer." Here are ten points you need to know on California protests: -On Saturday, California witnessed unrest for second day in a row as residents of a predominantly Latino district clashed with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) federal agents. Cops resorted to tear gas and batons to disperse crowds in the Paramount district. -The protests broke out following dozens of arrests the day prior in citywide Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. On Friday, ICE officers executed search warrants at multiple locations including outside a clothing warehouse in the Fashion District, reports CBS News by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Mini House for 60 sqm for Seniors with Toilet and Bath (Click Here) Pre Fabricated Homes | Search Ads Search Now Undo -The action came after a judge found probable cause that the employer was using fictitious documents for some of its workers, according to representatives for Homeland Security Investigations and the US Attorney's Office. ALSO READ: Trump deploys 2,000 national guard troops to LA amid growing anti-ICE protests Live Events -A tense scene unfolded as a crowd attempted to prevent agents from leaving in their vehicles. Meanwhile, protests on Friday also erupted around a federal building in downtown Los Angeles, after demonstrators heard reports that detainees were allegedly being held in the building's basement. -Advocates for immigrants' rights said there were also migration detentions outside Home Depot and Dale's Donuts stores. On Saturday, protests erupted in the L.A. County city of Paramount after it appeared that federal law enforcement officers were conducting another immigration operation there. -The Department of Homeland Security announced that recent ICE operations in Los Angeles led to the arrest of 118 immigrants this week, with 44 of those detained during Friday's actions. According to the DHS, the arrests included five individuals connected to criminal organizations, as well as others with prior criminal records. ALSO READ: Amid Trump-Musk spat, Tesla CEO's immigration status under scanner. Can President deport him? -Following the Friday arrests, protesters gathered in the evening outside a federal detention center, chanting, "Set them free, let them stay!" Some held signs with anti-ICE slogans, and some scrawled graffiti on the building. -Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth wrote on X that his department was "mobilising the National Guard IMMEDIATELY to support federal law enforcement in Los Angeles". "And, if violence continues, active duty Marines at Camp Pendleton will also be mobilised - they are on high alert," he added. ALSO READ: Thomas Fugate: A novice who replaced an army veteran to lead US terror prevention centre -The California governor, Gavin Newsom, said in a statement on X that the federal government was 'moving to take over' the California national guard. Newsom said the mobilization was 'purposefully inflammatory' and warned that it would 'only escalate tensions'. 'The federal government is taking over the California National Guard and deploying 2,000 soldiers in Los Angeles — not because there is a shortage of law enforcement, but because they want a spectacle,' he said later. 'Don't give them one.' -Trump hit out at the governor on his Truth Social platform, saying that if he and Bass could not do their jobs, "then the Federal Government will step in and solve the problem, RIOTS & LOOTERS, the way it should be solved!!!"
