Taliban orders detention of Afghan chess players who fled for world championship

Four Afghan chess players fled to Uzbekistan to compete in the world championship; an order signed by a Taliban sports director, with over 20 annexes, was issued to all Afghan airports an hour after their departure, demanding their detention upon return. The regime's targeting of chess players signals a broader crackdown on perceived Western cultural influence, and the players now seek international protection. The order's enforcement and the players' asylum prospects remain uncertain.