Afghanistan: Taliban opens fire at dress-code protest, two women killed — Kabul

Footage verified by ABC's Kabul correspondent shows that a group of around 60 women protesting the Ministry of Virtue's 9 June dress-code circular in the Shar-e-Naw district were fired on by Taliban security forces. UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) head Roza Otunbayeva said in a written statement that "the incident is a clear violation of human-rights conventions and an independent investigation is required." Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid posted on X claiming "the response to an unauthorised gathering was within standard protocol."

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas said in Brussels that "the EU will review its development assistance framework and the OFAC-equivalent individual sanctions list will be updated by September." US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said "the violence is unconditionally condemned and the channel via Islamabad will be activated." Human Rights Watch Kabul representative Hina Jilani said "the monitoring mechanism will release field information."

The afghani weakened 1.8% on the Kabul open market against the dollar to 88.40. Transport in the Pakistan-Afghanistan trade corridor was temporarily halted. World Bank Afghanistan Director Faris Hadad-Zervos said in a statement that "active education and health projects will be reviewed." Not investment advice.