Deportations & Consular Ties: Germany is bringing Taliban-linked technical teams into the country to set up document procedures for more Afghan deportations, with Berlin confirming short-term support visits and reporting that 228 people have been deported since March 2025, including a recent flight of 23 from Leipzig. Media Freedom: Kabul’s Afghanistan Journalists Center urged the Taliban to reopen the Lapis Media Office after Taliban intelligence shut it down, confiscating equipment and threatening staff with arrest. Rights & Representation: During Prophet’s Birthday events in Kabul, Shia scholars and community figures renewed calls for Taliban government inclusion and recognition of Shia personal status laws. International Policy Signals: Taliban acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said the group is seeking to normalize relations with the U.S., while avoiding any clear timeline on reopening education for girls beyond middle school. Security Claims: Afghanistan’s Interior and Defense ministries rejected claims that Afghan soil threatens neighbors, saying no substantiated proof has been provided and border forces are deployed. Humanitarian/Abuse Claims: Rights groups say at least 20 Afghans have been executed in Iran since 2026, raising concerns about due process and access to lawyers. Diaspora/Access to Study: An Afghan activist blocked from taking up an Oxford place after winning a visa case, citing the UK’s “emergency brake” on Afghan nationals. Regional Diplomacy: Uzbekistan reiterated a “constructive approach” toward Afghanistan, tying engagement to economic diplomacy and hopes for peace and stability.