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Afghan Taliban carry out over 1,100 floggings, six public executions in past year

The Afghan Taliban flogged at least 1,186 people and carried out six public executions in Afghanistan during the the last year – March 2025 to March 2026. The official statements and data compiled by an Afghan television channel, and drawn from statements issued by the Taliban’s Supreme Court, indicate the continued application of corporal punishment in most parts of the country. The total excluded the final 12 days of July 11 to 22, implying that the actual number of floggings could be higher. These punishments took place across dozens of provinces, including Kabul, Herat, Balkh, Kandahar, Nangarhar, Khost, Badakhshan, Ghor, Paktia, Paktika, Faryab, Laghman, Kapisa, Parwan, Uruzgan, Zabul, Kunar, Maidan Wardak, Ghazni, Kunduz, Baghlan, Takhar, Badghis, Farah, Nimroz, Logar, Jawzjan, Helmand, Sar-e-Pul, Daikundi and Bamiyan. Read More: Govt rejects Afghan Taliban’s claim of Pakistan breaking truce Taliban court statements showed an increase in the use of corporal punishment du...
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India's projects in Maldives gain pace, despite strained security ties

India has stepped up development assistance to the Maldives with projects gaining pace last year, even as ties have soured over new Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu's demand for Indian troops to leave his country. As global powers jostle for influence in the Indo-Pacific region, India and China have wooed the Indian Ocean nation, which has traditionally been close to neighbour India, but recently pivoted towards China under Muizzu. New Delhi has spent nearly 7.71 billion rupees ($93 million), or almost twice its budgeted 4 billion on projects in the Maldives during this fiscal year, which ends in March, according to an Indian official and government documents. That comes despite strained ties since Muizzu rode to office in October pledging to end the country's "India First" policy and ensure it removed nearly 80 Indian troops. Despite the roadblock, "development co-operation has not changed or stopped," said an Indian official aware of the matter, who added that New Delhi had a two-fold engagement strategy for Male. Read also: India to replace troops in Maldives with civilians by May Rather, "the pace of the projects is faster," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, attributing the swifter pace to India's increased allocations this fiscal year. Muizzu's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The efforts include a $500-million project for roads and bridges around Male, and two airports worth nearly $130 million each in the archipelago's distant islands, supported through a line of credit from India. Muizzu made a state visit to Beijing last month but has yet to visit India. Read: China, Maldives upgrade ties as presidents hold talks The two countries agreed this month to replace the troops by May. India says they provide help with humanitarian aid and medical evacuations using aircraft it has provided. Indian budget documents presented to parliament on Feb. 1 show that New Delhi spent 1.83 billion rupees in fiscal 2022-23, which went up to 7.71 billion this year, a figure that is second only to neighbouring Bhutan, where India spent 24 billion. India has set aside 6 billion rupees in initial allocation for the Maldivian projects next year. But Male's closer engagement with Beijing saw it recently allow a Chinese research vessel to dock at its port, despite New Delhi's concerns that information gathered by such ships can be used by China's military for deployment in India's backyard. "The presence of extra-regional powers that impact the security of the Indian Ocean region is a red line for us," the official said, referring to China.

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