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The United States has indefinitely halted all Afghan immigration processes after an Afghan national attacked two National Guard soldiers near the White House, prompting a review of security protocols and signaling a tougher stance on immigration.

US suspends Afghan immigration following White House shooting incident

The United States has indefinitely halted all Afghan immigration processes after an Afghan national attacked two National Guard soldiers near the White House, prompting a review of security protocols and signaling a tougher stance on immigration.

The United States has announced an immediate and indefinite suspension of all immigration processes involving Afghan nationals, citing the need for a thorough reassessment of current security and vetting protocols.&nbsp;
This decision puts a temporary stop to visa applications, asylum petitions and other immigration routes for Afghans until the review concludes.
The development follows a shooting incident on Thursday, in which two National Guard personnel were attacked by an Afghan national near the White House.
According to an official statement, safeguarding the homeland and ensuring the safety of Americans remain the government&rsquo;s &ldquo;singular focus and mission."
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Effective immediately, processing of all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals is stopped indefinitely pending further review of security and vetting protocols. The protection and safety of our homeland and of the American people remains our singular focus and&hellip;
&mdash; USCIS (@USCIS) <a href="https://twitter.com/USCIS/status/1993882694640415163?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump identified an Afghan man who had fled the Taliban as the suspect in the shooting of two National Guard soldiers near the White House, describing the attack as &ldquo;an act of terror."
In a short video message, Trump linked the episode to three polarising political issues &mdash; the domestic deployment of military forces, immigration policy, and the aftermath of the United States&rsquo; two-decade-long war in Afghanistan.
The broad-daylight shooting, which left two Guard members critically injured just two blocks from the White House, was denounced by Trump as &ldquo;an act of evil, an act of hatred and an act of terror," noting that &ldquo;It was a crime against our entire nation." He also stated that the individual apprehended &ldquo;was a foreigner who entered our country from Afghanistan."
Trump said the suspect had arrived in the U.S. in 2021 &ldquo;on those infamous flights," a reference to the evacuation of Afghans who escaped the country after the Taliban regained control during the withdrawal of American forces. The attack, carried out near a busy metro station during peak hours, has intensified scrutiny of Trump&rsquo;s contentious deployment of military personnel in several Democrat-run cities, including Washington, Los Angeles, and Memphis &mdash; an approach that has prompted lawsuits and accusations of federal overreach.
Trump&rsquo;s comments further signalled a tougher stance on immigration. &ldquo;We must now reexamine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan" under former president Joe Biden, he said. He added, &ldquo;We must take all necessary measures to ensure the removal of any alien from any country who does not belong here, or add benefit to our country. If they can&rsquo;t love our country, we don&rsquo;t want them."

Afghanistan’s Taliban government alleged Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Khost, Kunar, and Paktika provinces, killing ten civilians including nine children, escalating tensions after recent cross-border clashes and attacks in Peshawar.

Tensions Escalate: Afghan Accusations of Pakistan Airstrikes

Afghan Accusations Escalate Against Pakistan

Afghanistan&rsquo;s Taliban government alleged Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Khost, Kunar, and Paktika provinces, killing ten civilians including nine children, escalating tensions after recent cross-border clashes and attacks in Peshawar.

Afghanistan's Taliban government on Tuesday accused Pakistan of launching overnight airstrikes in three eastern provinces, killing 10 civilians, including nine children, in a sign of worsening tensions between the two neighbours.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the chief spokesperson for the Afghan government, said on X that Pakistan &ldquo;bombed&rdquo; the home of a civilian in Khost province, killing nine children and a woman. He said additional strikes were carried out in the provinces of Kunar and Paktika, injuring four others.
Pakistan's military and government did not immediately comment on the allegation, which comes more than a month after cross-border clashes erupted when the Afghan government claimed Pakistani drone strikes hit Kabul.
The latest escalation follows a deadly attack a day earlier in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar, where two suicide bombers and a gunman stormed the headquarters of the Federal Constabulary. Three officers were killed, and 11 others were wounded in the Monday morning attack.
No group has claimed responsibility for the Peshawar attack, but suspicion quickly fell on the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan.
It is a separate group but closely allied with the Afghan Taliban, and many of its leaders are hiding in Afghanistan.
Pakistan has repeatedly urged Afghanistan's Taliban rulers to prevent TTP militants from using Afghan territory to launch attacks. Kabul denies the accusation, but relations further deteriorated after Afghanistan blamed Pakistan for the October 9 drone strikes on its capital and threatened retaliation.
The clashes that followed killed dozens of soldiers, civilians and militants before Qatar brokered a ceasefire on October 19.
Two subsequent rounds of talks in Istanbul failed to resolve the dispute, when Pakistan said Afghanistan had refused to provide a written guarantee that TTP fighters would not operate from Afghan soil.
The Afghan government, in recent years, has said that it does not allow anyone to its soil for attacks against any country, including Pakistan.

Pakistan and Afghanistan resumed talks in Istanbul to address cross-border militancy, while a brief clash tested the fragile ceasefire between their forces.

Pakistan and Afghanistan Discuss Peace Amid Border Tensions

Pak-Afghan Peace Talks Amid Tensions

Pakistan and Afghanistan resumed talks in Istanbul to address cross-border militancy, while a brief clash tested the fragile ceasefire between their forces.

As officials of Pakistan and Afghanistan held talks in Turkiye to find a lasting solution to cross-border militancy, their forces traded fire, testing the fragile peace between the two sides.&nbsp;
The talks began in Istanbul to defuse tension between Islamabad and Kabul that erupted in an open border conflict last month.&nbsp;
Both sides reported human losses during the clashes from October 11-15, which were brought under control after a temporary ceasefire that was extended and is still holding. However, it came under strain on Thursday after a fire exchange for which the two sides blamed each other, but the situation was brought under control.
&ldquo;We strongly reject claims circulated by the Afghan side regarding today&rsquo;s incident at the Pak-Afghan border at Chaman,&rdquo; Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said in a statement.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Firing was initiated from the Afghan side, to which our security forces responded immediately in a measured and responsible manner. The situation was brought under control due to responsible action by Pakistani forces and the ceasefire remains intact,&rdquo; it said. The ministry also said that &ldquo;Pakistan remains committed to ongoing dialogue and expects reciprocity from Afghan authorities.&rdquo;
Meanwhile, Pakistan and Afghan Taliban officials resumed talks on Thursday, aiming to tackle the issue of cross-border terrorism and avoid further escalation between the two sides.&nbsp;
The third round was planned to last for two days and was arranged after the two sides failed to agree on the contentious issues during the two rounds of talks held on October 19 in Doha and October 25 in Istanbul.
For the third round, Pakistan&rsquo;s delegation is being led by Lt Gen Asim Malik, Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence and national security advisor, and includes senior officials from the military, intelligence agencies, and the Foreign Office. The Afghan Taliban&rsquo;s delegation, meanwhile, includes General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) chief Abdul Haq Waseq, Deputy Interior Minister Rehmatullah Najib, Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen, Anas Haqqani, Qahar Balkhi, Zakir Jalali, and Afghanistan&rsquo;s charg&eacute; d&rsquo;affaires in Ankara.
So far no details have been shared by any side about the talks, but sources said that talks were held in a "good atmosphere" and could be extended if needed. Earlier, during the conflict in October, Pakistan claimed that at least 206 Afghan Taliban and 110 Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operatives were killed, while 23 Pakistani soldiers were killed.

A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan near Mazar-i-Sharif, killing at least 20 people and injuring over 500. The tremor damaged homes, the historic Blue Mosque, and worsens the country’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.

Afghan govt says quake kills 20, injures over 500

A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan near Mazar-i-Sharif, killing at least 20 people and injuring over 500. The tremor damaged homes, the historic Blue Mosque, and worsens the country&rsquo;s ongoing humanitarian crisis.

A strong earthquake killed at least 20 people in northern Afghanistan, authorities said Monday, just months after another deadly tremor that left the country reeling.
The 6.3-magnitude quake struck overnight at a depth of 28 kilometres (17 miles) with the epicentre near the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, according to the US Geological Survey.
"Based on the information we have so far, 534 people have been injured and more than 20 fatalities have been taken to hospitals in Samangan and Balkh provinces," health ministry spokesman Sharafat Zaman told journalists.
In Mazar-i-Sharif, one of Afghanistan's largest northern cities, an AFP correspondent saw residents scrambling out into the streets.
The city's famed Blue Mosque, a 15th-century landmark known for its vibrant tiles, was also damaged.
Pieces of the structure, particularly from one of its minarets, broke off and lay scattered across the mosque's grounds, one of the country's few remaining tourist spots.
Correspondents in the capital Kabul, around 420 kilometres by road to the south, also said they felt shaking.
Poor communication networks and infrastructure in mountainous Afghanistan have hampered disaster responses in the past, preventing authorities for hours or even days from reaching far-flung villages to assess the extent of the damage.
- 'Significant material losses' -
The defence ministry said it had cleared and reopened the main road between Mazar-i-Sharif and the town of Kholm, and that it had rescued people who had been stranded there overnight.
"Numerous homes have been destroyed, and significant material losses have been incurred," Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the Taliban authorities, wrote on X, without specifying a number.
It is the latest natural disaster for the Taliban government, which has faced three major deadly earthquakes since taking over Afghanistan in 2021, even as the foreign aid that formed the backbone of the country's economy has dramatically dropped.
In August, a shallow 6.0-magnitude quake in the country's east wiped out mountainside villages and killed more than 2,200 people.
According to the World Bank, the August earthquake caused an estimated $183 million worth of damage to buildings and infrastructure.
Earthquakes are common in Afghanistan, particularly along the Hindu Kush mountain range, near where the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates meet.
Large tremors in western Herat, near the Iranian border, in 2023, and in eastern Nangarhar province in 2022 killed hundreds and destroyed thousands of homes.
Many homes in the predominantly rural country -- devastated by decades of war -- are shoddily built.
Afghanistan is suffering from a humanitarian crisis compounded by drought, economic restrictions on the banking sector, and the pushback of millions of Afghan citizens from neighbouring Iran and Pakistan.
The United Nations and aid agencies have warned that hunger is rising.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to uphold a ceasefire after peace talks in Istanbul mediated by Turkey and Qatar. The nations will meet again on Nov 6 to finalise monitoring and verification mechanisms.

Pakistan, Afghanistan agree to maintain ceasefire after peace talks in Istanbul

Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to uphold a ceasefire after peace talks in Istanbul mediated by Turkey and Qatar. The nations will meet again on Nov 6 to finalise monitoring and verification mechanisms.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to maintain a ceasefire following peace talks in Istanbul, Turkey's Foreign Ministry has announced, after a dialogue between the two sides collapsed earlier in the week.
The sides plan to meet again at a higher-level gathering in Istanbul on Nov 6 to finalise how the ceasefire will be implemented, the ministry said in a statement released on behalf of Pakistan, Afghanistan and mediators Turkey and Qatar on Thursday.
&ldquo;All parties have agreed to put in place a monitoring and verification mechanism that will ensure maintenance of peace and imposing penalty on the violating party,&rdquo; the statement read.
The new round of negotiations, facilitated by Turkey and other friendly nations, was aimed at easing border tensions between the two sides who earlier this month exchanged fire, leaving dozens of soldiers, civilians and militants dead.
Despite the collapse of the previous round of talks, a ceasefire has largely held and no new border clashes were reported this week. However, both countries have kept major crossings closed, leaving hundreds of trucks carrying goods and refugees stranded on each side.
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif told the Geo news channel the decision to give peace another chance was made by Pakistan at the request of Qatar and Turkey, and that the Pakistani delegation, set to return home Wednesday night, was asked to stay in Istanbul.
According to Pakistani state-run television, Islamabad said the talks will be based on Pakistan's central demand that Afghanistan take clear, verifiable and effective action against militant groups.
In Islamabad, two senior security officials told The Associated Press that Pakistan has once again stressed that Afghan soil should not be used for what it called &ldquo;terrorism&rdquo; against Pakistan and that it appreciates the constructive role of its hosts and remains committed to seeking a peaceful resolution in good faith. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the matter with the media on the record.
Tensions flared earlier this month after explosions were heard in Kabul, and Afghanistan's Taliban government accused Pakistan of carrying out airstrikes in the capital and bombing a market in the country's east. Afghan officials on Oct 12 said they retaliated by targeting Pakistani military posts, claiming 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed. However, Pakistan's military said the fighting left 23 of its soldiers dead and that its operations were targeting militant hideouts inside Afghanistan.
The clashes prompted Qatar to host emergency talks between the two neighbours, resulting in a ceasefire on Oct 19. That was followed by four days of negotiations in Istanbul that ended inconclusively on Tuesday. Since then, Qatar and Turkey have been working to bring the delegations back to the negotiating table, the Pakistani officials said.
On Thursday, Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, told a gathering of tribal elders in Peshawar that Pakistan seeks peace with all its neighbours, including Afghanistan, but will not tolerate cross-border terrorism from Afghan soil.
He said Pakistan in recent years exercised restraint and made diplomatic and economic overtures to improve ties, but the Taliban government instead supported the TTP, which was listed as a terrorist group by the United Nations and the United States over a decade ago.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant attacks in recent months, most claimed by the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, a group closely allied to the Taliban in Afghanistan. Many of their leaders and fighters are believed to be sheltering in Afghanistan since the Taliban's return to power in 2021.
The Pakistani military said Thursday it killed 18 militants in two separate operations in the southwestern province of Balochistan. In a separate statement, it said four Pakistani Taliban, including a high-value target, were killed as they attempted to sneak into Bajaur, a city bordering Afghanistan.

Pakistan's talks with the Afghan Taliban in Turkiye failed, citing Kabul's retreat from commitments on terrorism prevention. Islamabad vows to continue its counter-terror efforts.

Pakistan-Afghan Taliban Talks Fail Over Terrorism Concerns

Negotiations between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban in Turkiye end in failure over unresolved terrorism issues. Pakistan remains committed to counter-terrorism efforts.

Pakistan-Afghan Taliban Talks Breakdown

Pakistan's peace negotiations with the Afghan Taliban in Turkiye failed, citing Kabul's retreat from commitments on countering terrorism. Islamabad vows to continue counter-terror efforts.

Pakistan authorities on Wednesday confirmed that talks with the Afghan Taliban to tackle cross-border terrorism failed, saying Kabul backtracked on commitments to control militancy.
The four-day talks began on Saturday and were facilitated by the host, Turkiye, where officials from Pakistan and Afghanistan attempted to find a common ground but failed to reach a consensus.
Pakistan&rsquo;s Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, confirmed the peace talks ended without a breakthrough. &ldquo;The dialogue thus failed to bring about any workable solution,&rdquo; Tarar said in a post on social media. He said Pakistan had long sought cooperation from Kabul against militants targeting the country.
Tarar said, ever since the assumption of control in Kabul, Pakistan has repeatedly engaged with the Afghan Taliban Regime regarding persistent cross-border terrorism. Tarar added that Islamabad had asked the Taliban regime &ldquo;time and again to fulfil their written commitments to Pakistan and to the international community in the Doha Agreement.&rdquo;
However, he said, &ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s fervent efforts proved futile due to the Afghan Taliban Regime&rsquo;s unabated support to anti-Pakistan terrorists.&rdquo; &ldquo;The Taliban regime bears no responsibility towards the people of Afghanistan and thrives on a war economy,&rdquo; he said, adding that it &ldquo;desires to drag and mire the Afghan people into a needless war.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Pakistan has always desired, advocated and immensely sacrificed for peace and prosperity for the people of Afghanistan,&rdquo; Tarar said. He said Pakistan has held countless rounds of talks and parleys with the Afghan Taliban Regime, but unfortunately, they have always remained indifferent to Pakistan&rsquo;s losses. "Sadly, after sustaining such huge losses of men and material for four long years, Pakistan&rsquo;s patience has run its course,&rdquo; he added.
He said Pakistan joined the talks in Doha and later Istanbul &ldquo;to give peace a chance,&rdquo; acting on the request of &ldquo;brotherly countries of Qatar and Turkiye.&rdquo;
Tarar said Pakistan presented &ldquo;sufficient and irrefutable evidence&rdquo; of terrorist activity, which &ldquo;was acknowledged by Afghan Taliban and the hosts,&rdquo; but &ldquo;regrettably, the Afghan side gave no assurances.&rdquo; &ldquo;The Afghan side kept deviating from the core issue, evading the key point upon which the dialogue process was initiated. Instead of accepting any responsibility, the Afghan Taliban resorted to a blame game, deflection, and ruses,&rdquo; Tarar said. He thanked Qatar, Turkiye, and other friendly nations &ldquo;for their support and sincere efforts to bring about a peaceful solution to the problem of terrorism.&rdquo;
Tarar reaffirmed that Pakistan&rsquo;s security comes first. &ldquo;The security of its people is of paramount importance to Pakistan,&rdquo; he said.
Separately, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told Geo News on Tuesday night that an agreement was about to be reached with Afghanistan, but Afghan negotiators backpedalled due to intervention from Kabul during the negotiations, elaborating that Taliban negotiators went back on an agreement &ldquo;four or five times&rdquo; after receiving instructions from Kabul.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Whenever we got close to an agreement &mdash; either in the last four days or last week &mdash; when negotiators reported to Kabul, then there was intervention and the agreement was withdrawn,&rdquo; he outlined. Asif also blamed India for the failure of the talks, calling Kabul &ldquo;a tool for Delhi.&rdquo;
After the failure of talks, security sources in Pakistan said that the security of its people is of paramount importance to Pakistan. &ldquo;We will continue to take all possible measures necessary to protect our people from the menace of terrorism and assure them that the Government of Pakistan will continue to employ all the resources which are required in this regard to decimate the terrorists, their sanctuaries, their abetters and supporters,&rdquo; they said.

A 13-year-old Afghan boy sneaked into a Kabul-Delhi flight’s landing gear out of curiosity. Discovered at IGI Airport, he was repatriated to Afghanistan the same day.

Afghan boy lands in Delhi by hiding in plane's landing gear

A 13-year-old Afghan boy sneaked into a Kabul-Delhi flight&rsquo;s landing gear out of curiosity. Discovered at IGI Airport, he was repatriated to Afghanistan the same day.

A 13-year-old Afghan boy's "curiosity" brought him to Delhi from Afghanistan after he somehow managed to get inside the landing gear compartment of an aircraft that took off from Kabul, official sources said.
The incident was reported around 11 am on Sunday when KAM airlines flight number RQ-4401 reached the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport after a 2-hour journey. The teenager was, however, repatriated to Afghanistan on Sunday itself, on the same flight, sources said.
The airline authorities reported to the airport security control room about a 13-year-old boy who was found roaming near the flight after it touched down, they said.
The boy, a native of Kunduz city, was apprehended by the airline personnel and handed over to the Central Industrial Security Force personnel, who brought him to Terminal 3 of the airport for questioning.
He told the officials that he sneaked into the Kabul airport and somehow managed to get inside the rear central landing gear compartment of the said aircraft. He said he did this out of curiosity, the sources said After quizzing, the Afghan boy was sent back by the same flight that departed around 12:30 pm, they said.
Security officials of the KAM airline carried out a security check of the landing gear compartment and found a small red-coloured speaker, apparently carried by this boy.
The aircraft was declared safe after a thorough inspection and anti-sabotage checks, they said.&nbsp;

Aid groups pressed the global community to step up support after a deadly 6.0-magnitude earthquake killed over 1,400 in Afghanistan, with limited funding and difficult conditions hampering relief efforts.

Afghanistan Earthquake: Aid Agencies Call for Urgent Assistance

Afghanistan Earthquake: Assistance Needed

Aid groups pressed the global community to step up support after a deadly 6.0-magnitude earthquake killed over 1,400 in Afghanistan, with limited funding and difficult conditions hampering relief efforts.

Aid agencies on Wednesday urged the international community to increase funding to Afghanistan after a major earthquake killed at least 1,400 people and injured thousands more.
Just a few countries have publicly committed money since Sunday night's 6.0-magnitude quake struck several provinces in the mountainous and remote east, levelling villages and trapping people under rubble.
It's the latest crisis to beset the country, and the third strong quake since the Taliban seized power in 2021.
The United Kingdom is giving 1 million pounds (USD 1.3 million) to help. This money will go to aid organisations and not the Taliban government, which the UK doesn't recognise. South Korea on Wednesday said that it would provide USD 1 million through the United Nations.
Australia on Thursday pledged USD 1 million and said it worked with established partners to ensure its support helped those in need and not the Taliban government.
A further USD 11 million is being released through funds overseen by the UN and the European Union, while development agencies are channelling money through nongovernmental organisations or charities.
But many traditional donor countries have yet to come forward with financial assistance. The US was once the largest humanitarian funder to Afghanistan until it gutted this support earlier this year.
&ldquo;Afghans are weary of this never-ending crisis upon crisis, which they have to meet with dwindling external help and their own often desperate efforts,&rdquo; said Thamindri De Silva, national director of World Vision Afghanistan.
&ldquo;International governments are queasy about investing in the longer-term solutions that can address the drivers of crises, such as the lack of preparedness, rural health care, and fragile infrastructure that made the impacts of these earthquakes so devastating.&rdquo; World Vision has launched a private fundraising campaign, De Silva added.
Some governments and ambassadors have pledged assistance in kind to Afghanistan. India is sending tents and food. The United Arab Emirates dispatched a rescue team and essential relief supplies.
Taliban authorities have appealed for international help despite restricting and, in some cases, interfering with the work of NGOs.
International funding to Afghanistan has fallen dramatically since the Taliban takeover, and just 28 per cent of the humanitarian funding target has been met this year.
Local resources were stretched to breaking point, and the lack of money was limiting the scale and speed of the response to the quake, said Jacopo Caridi, the country director for the Norwegian Refugee Council.
Rescue teams have struggled to reach affected communities in Kunar, the worst-affected province, hampered by rockfalls and landslides. Some are walking for hours to deliver aid and medicine, often up steep hills. People from surrounding areas have rushed in to help.
&ldquo;The earthquake is not a stand-alone disaster,&rdquo; Caridi said. &ldquo;It hit communities that were already struggling with displacement, food insecurity, drought, and the return of hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees from neighbouring countries. Our teams in Kunar report that families are sleeping in the open, enduring repeated aftershocks.&rdquo; On Wednesday, UN spokesperson St&eacute;phane Dujarric told reporters that more than 25 square kilometres of land was contaminated by mines and explosive ordnance in earthquake-affected areas because of years of conflict.
He said that assessments of the quake's impact and response efforts have been &ldquo;very challenging&rdquo; because of blocked roads, but the distribution of food and shelter materials and health assistance has started. The priorities are shelter, medical supplies, drinking water, food and sanitation.
&ldquo;The needs remain immense, and we call on all those who are able to provide support for the earthquake response to do so,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;

A powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, killing more than 1,400 people and injuring over 3,000. Rescue operations continue amid devastation in Kunar and Nangarhar provinces.

Earthquake in Afghanistan Claims 1400+ Lives, Urgent Aid Needed

Afghanistan Earthquake: 1400+ Dead, Urgent Aid Needed

A powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, killing more than 1,400 people and injuring over 3,000. Rescue operations continue amid devastation in Kunar and Nangarhar provinces.

A powerful earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan at the weekend killed more 1,400 and injured 3,000 others, the Taliban government said Tuesday, making it one of the deadliest to hit the country in decades.
The casualty toll has mounted steadily since the 6.0-magnitude earthquake hit late Sunday night, devastating remote areas in mountainous provinces near the border with Pakistan.
Chief Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on X Tuesday that 1,411 people were killed and 3,124 people were injured in the hard-hit province of Kunar alone.
Another dozen people were killed and hundreds injured in neighbouring Nangarhar province.
The earthquake could impact "hundreds of thousands", said United Nations humanitarian coordinator in Afghanistan Indrika Ratwatte.
Rescuers were still desperately searching Tuesday for survivors in the rubble of homes flattened in Kunar.
Emergency "operations continued throughout the night", the head of the Kunar Provincial Disaster Management Authority, Ehsanullah Ehsan, told AFP.
He said there were "still injured people left in the distant villages" in need of evacuation to hospitals.
Villagers joined the rescue efforts, using their bare hands to clear debris from mud and stone homes built into steep valleys.
Obaidullah Stoman, 26, who travelled to the village of Wadir to search for a friend, was overwhelmed by the level of destruction.
"I'm searching here, but I didn't see him. It was very difficult for me to see the conditions here," he told AFP.
"There is only rubble left."
The dead, including children, were wrapped in white shrouds by villagers who prayed over their bodies before burying them.
Some of the hardest-hit villages remain inaccessible due to blocked roads, the UN migration agency told AFP.
The earthquake epicentre was about 27 kilometres (17 miles) from Jalalabad, according to the US Geological Survey, which said it struck just eight kilometres below the Earth's surface.
Such relatively shallow quakes can cause more damage, especially since the majority of Afghans live in low-rise, mud-brick homes vulnerable to collapse.
After decades of conflict, Afghanistan is one of the poorest countries in the world, facing a protracted humanitarian crisis and the influx of millions of Afghans forced back to the country by neighbours Pakistan and Iran in recent years.
Since the Taliban seized power in 2021, foreign aid to the country has been slashed, undermining the already impoverished nation's ability to respond to disasters.
The United States was the largest aid donor until early 2025, when all but a sliver of funds were cancelled after President Donald Trump took office.
In June, the United Nations said it was drastically scaling back its global humanitarian aid plans due to the "deepest funding cuts ever".
On Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement the organisation was working with authorities to "swiftly assess needs, provide emergency assistance and stand ready to mobilise additional support", and announced an initial $5 million.
 - 'Whole house collapsed' -
Many of those living in the quake-hit villages were among the more than four million Afghans who have returned to the country from Iran and Pakistan in recent years.
Helicopters shuttled the injured from the remote village of Wadir in Nurgal district to hospitals in the nearest city, Jalalabad.
Fourteen-year-old Akhlaq was injured and evacuated to the hospital, but five members of his family were killed when the earthquake shook Nurgal.
"Our whole house collapsed, my brothers and father were all buried. Only I survived and made it out," he told AFP. "Then I heard my father's voice and I managed to rescue him."
"There are victims who are still under the rubble, but there is nobody to help them and pull them out."
Afghanistan is frequently hit by earthquakes, especially in the Hindu Kush mountain range, near the junction of the Eurasia and India tectonic plates.
In October 2023, western Herat province was devastated by a 6.3-magnitude earthquake, which killed more than 1,500 people and damaged or destroyed more than 63,000 homes.
A 5.9-magnitude quake struck the eastern province of Paktika in June 2022, killing more than 1,000 people and leaving tens of thousands homeless.

A 6.0 magnitude earthquake in eastern Afghanistan has killed 900 and injured 3,000. Rescue teams battle landslides, blocked roads, and limited aid access as the Taliban appeals for international help.

Afghanistan Earthquake: Death Toll Rises Amid Rescue Efforts

Afghanistan Earthquake: 900 Dead, Aid Sought

A 6.0 magnitude earthquake in eastern Afghanistan has killed 900 and injured 3,000. Rescue teams battle landslides, blocked roads, and limited aid access as the Taliban appeals for international help.

Rescue teams continued to scour Afghanistan's mountainous east for survivors on Tuesday as the death toll from a strong earthquake rose to 900 with 3,000 people injured, an official said.
&ldquo;The injured are being evacuated, so these figures may change significantly,&rdquo; Yousaf Hammad, a spokesman for Afghanistan's National Disaster Management Authority, told The Associated Press.
&ldquo;The earthquake caused landslides in some areas, blocking roads, but they have been reopened, and the remaining roads will be reopened to allow access to areas that were difficult to reach.&rdquo; The 6.0 magnitude quake struck late Sunday night in several provinces, flattening villages and leaving people trapped under the rubble of homes constructed mostly of mud bricks and wood and unable to withstand the shock.
The majority of casualties were in Kunar province, where many people live in steep river valleys separated by high mountains. Helicopters are being used to evacuate the injured to hospital, and aid agencies said their teams were making journeys on foot to reach the most isolated areas because of the rough terrain and ruined roads.
The Taliban government has appealed for international help.
The UK has pledged 1 million pounds (USD 1.3 million) in emergency funding to be split between humanitarian agencies rather than the Taliban government, which the UK does not recognise.
Other governments, including China, have offered disaster relief assistance.
It is the third major earthquake since the Taliban seized power in 2021, and the latest crisis to beset Afghanistan, which is reeling from deep cuts to aid funding, a weak economy, and millions of people forcibly returned from Iran and Pakistan.
Mark Calder, advocacy director at the World Vision Afghanistan aid agency, warned of more than 250,000 people &ldquo;swelling the ranks&rdquo; of those needing help to access basic needs and services if resources were not made available.
&ldquo;This will mean more people living without proper shelter, access to nutritious food to feed their families, clean water, and by extension malnutrition and disease in a context where the healthcare system simply can't stretch,&rdquo; said Calder.

A powerful 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, killing at least 800 and injuring more than 2,500. Rescue efforts face challenges due to rubble, blocked roads, and isolated communities.

Afghanistan Earthquake Leaves 800 Dead, 2,500 Injured

Afghanistan Earthquake: 800 Dead, 2,500 Hurt

A powerful 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, killing at least 800 and injuring more than 2,500. Rescue efforts face challenges due to rubble, blocked roads, and isolated communities.

Desperate Afghans clawed through rubble in search of missing loved ones after a strong earthquake killed some 800 people and injured more than 2,500 in eastern Afghanistan, according to figures provided Monday by the Taliban government.
The 6.0 magnitude quake late Sunday hit towns in the province of Kunar, near the city of Jalalabad in neighbouring Nangarhar province, causing extensive damage.
One resident in Nurgal district, one of the worst-affected areas in Kunar, said nearly the entire village was destroyed.
&ldquo;Children are under the rubble. The elderly are under the rubble. Young people are under the rubble,&rdquo; said the villager, who did not give his name.
&ldquo;We need help here,&rdquo; he pleaded. &ldquo;We need people to come here and join us. Let us pull out the people who are buried. There is no one who can come and remove dead bodies from under the rubble.&rdquo; The quake hit just before midnight and was centred 27 kilometres east-northeast of Jalalabad at a depth of 8 kilometres, the US Geological Survey said. Shallower quakes tend to cause more damage. Several aftershocks followed.
Footage showed rescuers taking injured people on stretchers from collapsed buildings and into helicopters as people frantically dug through rubble with their hands.
The Taliban government's chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, told a press conference on Monday that the death toll had risen to at least 800 with more than 2,500 injured. He said most of the casualties were in Kunar.
The quake was felt in parts of Pakistan, including the capital Islamabad. There were no reports of casualties or damage.
Homes collapsed and people screamed for help Eastern Afghanistan is mountainous, with remote areas and the quake has worsened communications. Blocked roads are forcing aid workers to walk four or five hours to reach survivors. Dozens of flights have operated in and out of Nangarhar Airport, transporting the injured to hospitals.
Buildings in Afghanistan tend to be low-rise constructions, mostly of concrete and brick, with homes in rural and outlying areas made from mud bricks and wood. Many are poorly built.
One survivor described seeing homes collapse before his eyes and people screaming for help.
Sadiqullah, who lives in the Maza Dara area of Nurgal, said he was woken by a deep boom that sounded like a storm approaching. Like many Afghans, he uses only one name.
He ran to where his children were sleeping and rescued three of them. He was about to return to grab the rest of his family when the room fell on top of him.
&ldquo;I was half-buried and unable to get out,&rdquo; he told The Associated Press by phone from Nangarhar Hospital. &ldquo;My wife and two sons are dead, and my father is injured and in hospital with me. We were trapped for three to four hours until people from other areas arrived and pulled me out." It felt like the whole mountain was shaking, he said.
'Numbers may increase' Rescue operations were underway and medical teams from Kunar, Nangarhar and the capital, Kabul, have arrived in the area, said Sharafat Zaman, a health ministry spokesman.
Zaman said many areas had not been able to report casualty figures and that &ldquo;the numbers were expected to change&rdquo; as deaths and injuries are reported.
The chief spokesman, Mujahid, said helicopters had reached some areas but road travel was difficult. &ldquo;There are some villages where the injured and dead haven't been recovered from the rubble, so that's why the numbers may increase,&rdquo; he told journalists.
Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said the earthquake intensified existing humanitarian challenges in Afghanistan and urged international donors to support relief efforts.
&ldquo;This adds death and destruction to other challenges including drought and the forced return of millions of Afghans from neighbouring countries,&rdquo; Grandi wrote on X. &ldquo;Hopefully the donor community will not hesitate to support relief efforts.&rdquo; Search and rescue support Entire roads and communities have been cut off from accessing nearby towns or hospitals and 2,000 casualties were reported within the first 12 hours, said Sherine Ibrahim, the country director for the aid agency.
&ldquo;Although we have been able to act fast, we are profoundly fearful for the additional strain this will have on the overall humanitarian response in Afghanistan," said Ibrahim. " Global funding cuts have dramatically hampered our ability to respond to the ongoing humanitarian crisis.&rdquo; The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said in a statement that immediate needs include search and rescue support, emergency healthcare and medical supplies, food, clean water, and restoring road access to reach isolated communities.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he was deeply saddened by events in Afghanistan. &ldquo;Our hearts go out to the victims and their families. We are ready to extend all possible support in this regard,&rdquo; he said on X.
Pakistan has expelled tens of thousands of Afghans in the past year, many of them living in the country for decades as refugees. At least 1.2 million Afghans have been forced to return from Iran and Pakistan so far this year, according to a June report by UNHCR.
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Afghanistan on October 7, 2023, followed by strong aftershocks. The Taliban government estimated at least 4,000 people perished in that quake.
The UN gave a lower death toll of about 1,500. It was the deadliest natural disaster to strike Afghanistan in recent memory.
Sunday's latest earthquake was likely to &ldquo;dwarf the scale of the humanitarian needs&rdquo; caused by the disaster of 2023, according to the International Rescue Committee.

A powerful earthquake and multiple aftershocks struck eastern Afghanistan, killing over 800 people and injuring thousands.

Strong earthquake jolts Afghanistan

A powerful earthquake and multiple aftershocks struck eastern Afghanistan, killing over 800 people and injuring thousands.

A massive rescue operation was underway in Afghanistan Monday, after a strong earthquake and multiple aftershocks flattened homes in a remote, mountainous region, killing more than 800 people, the Taliban authorities said.
The earthquake struck just before midnight, shaking buildings from Kabul to neighbouring Pakistan's capital, Islamabad.
More than 1.2 million people likely felt strong or very strong shaking, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
Near the epicentre in the east of Afghanistan, around 800 people were killed and 2,500 injured in remote Kunar province alone, chief Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.
Another 12 people were killed and 255 injured in neighbouring Nangarhar province, he added.
"Numerous houses were destroyed," interior ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qani told AFP.
The majority of Afghans live in low-rise, mud-brick homes that are vulnerable to collapse.
Some of the most severely impacted villages in remote Kunar provinces "remain inaccessible due to road blockages", the UN migration agency warned in a statement to AFP.
The Taliban authorities and the United Nations mobilised rescue efforts to hard-hit areas. The defence ministry said 40 flight sorties had so far been carried out.
A member of the agricultural department in Kunar's Nurgal district said people had rushed to clear blocked roads to isolated villages, but that badly affected areas were remote and had limited telecoms networks.
"There is a lot of fear and tension... Children and women were screaming. We had never experienced anything like this in our lives," Ijaz Ulhaq Yaad told AFP.
He said that many living in quake-hit villages were among the more than four million Afghans who have returned to the country from Iran and Pakistan in recent years.
"They wanted to build their homes here."
The quake, which struck at a relatively shallow depth of eight kilometres, was 27 kilometres from the city of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province, according to the USGS.
Nangarhar and Kunar provinces border Pakistan, with the Torkham crossing the site of many waves of Afghan returnees deported or forced to leave, often with no work and nowhere to go.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres added his condolences to those shared by the Taliban government and several nations.
"I stand in full solidarity with the people of Afghanistan after the devastating earthquake that hit the country earlier today," he said.
 - Frequent quakes -
After the initial quake, a series of at least five aftershocks followed throughout the night, with the strongest being one of magnitude 5.2 just after 4:00 am (2330 GMT Sunday).
Afghanistan is frequently hit by earthquakes, especially in the Hindu Kush mountain range, near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.
Nangarhar province was also hit by flooding overnight Friday to Saturday, which killed five people and destroyed crops and property, provincial authorities said.
In October 2023, western Herat province was devastated by a 6.3-magnitude earthquake, which killed more than 1,500 people and damaged or destroyed more than 63,000 homes.
In June 2022, a 5.9-magnitude quake struck the impoverished eastern border province of Paktika, killing more than 1,000 people and leaving tens of thousands homeless.
Ravaged by four decades of war, Afghanistan is already contending with a series of humanitarian crises.
Since the return of the Taliban, foreign aid to Afghanistan has been slashed, undermining the already impoverished nation's ability to respond to disasters.

Over half a million Afghan refugees have returned from Pakistan since April, following a phased government repatriation plan.

500K  Afghan Refugees Return from Pakistan

A major movement as over 500,000 Afghan refugees return from Pakistan, facilitated by government initiatives.

Pakistan's repatriation plan has resulted in over 500,000 Afghan refugees returning to Afghanistan. Deadline was June end.

Over 500,000 refugees have returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan since April 1 this year, a Pakistan Interior Ministry report said on Wednesday.
As many as 562,659 refugees, including 40,221 with Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC), have returned to Afghanistan since the Pakistani government implemented a phased plan for the return of undocumented and temporarily staying Afghan nationals, the report said.
The repatriation process has been accelerated, with facilities arranged at border points to assist departing refugees, the report said.
The first phase focused on Proof of Registration (POR) and ACC holders, with the deadline for Afghan refugees holding POR cards to stay in Pakistan set for June 30.
The Ministry of Interior said the stay period would expire on July 1, and any illegal Afghan found to be staying beyond the deadline would invite legal action per the law.

The Taliban assures China that Afghan territory won't be used against them, reinforcing security collaboration. Talks with Wang Yi deepen ties amid regional dynamics.

Taliban Pledges Afghanistan Safety to China

Afghanistan commits to not threatening China, marking significant diplomatic dialogues. Meetings enhanced security ties, key amid 70 years of diplomatic relations.

The Taliban pledged to China that Afghan soil won't threaten it, supporting security cooperation. Meetings with Wang Yi focused on stability, marking 70 years of ties.

The Taliban interim government of Afghanistan on Wednesday assured Beijing that it will not allow &ldquo;any force&rdquo; to use country's territory against China.
The Afghan side attaches great importance to China's security concerns and will never allow any force to use Afghan territory to engage in activities that harm China, Afghanistan's Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi told top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi during their meeting here.
Afghanistan is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in the security field, combat violent crimes, safeguard China's interests in Afghanistan, and jointly maintain regional security and stability, Muttaqi told Wang, a Chinese Foreign Ministry press release here said.
Muttaqi, who also attended an informal tripartite meeting of the foreign ministers of China, Pakistan and Afghanistan on Wednesday, met Wang separately and discussed bilateral issues.
China was one of the early countries to continue diplomatic relations with Taliban government after it captured power in 2021.
Afghanistan shares a narrow strip of territory called Wakhan corridor connecting Afghanistan&rsquo;s Badakhshan province with China&rsquo;s volatile Xinjiang province where Beijing has launched a crackdown on the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), which allegedly maintains links with the Islamic State and Al-Qaida.
Muttaqi told Wang that the Afghan interim government values the traditional friendship with China and places Beijing in an important position in its foreign policy.
The Afghan government will continue to firmly abide by the one-China principle and oppose interference in China's internal affairs, he said.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party, welcomed Muttaqi's visit to China on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Afghanistan.
China respects Afghanistan's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the independent choices made by the Afghan people, Wang said, noting that China will, as always, support the government of Afghanistan in achieving long-term peace and stability in the country at an early date.

The Taliban-led Afghan government and India have strongly denied Pakistan's claim that an Indian missile struck Afghan territory, calling the allegations baseless and ludicrous.

Taliban-led Afghan govt refutes Pakistan's claim that Indian missile hit Afghanistan

The Taliban-led Afghan government and India have strongly denied Pakistan's claim that an Indian missile struck Afghan territory, calling the allegations baseless and ludicrous.

The Taliban-led government in Kabul on Saturday refuted Pakistan's claim that an Indian missile hit Afghanistan, saying no such incident has taken place.
Afghan Defence Ministry spokesperson Enaitullah Khawarzmi labelled Pakistan's claims as "false", Hurriyat Radio reported.
He said Pakistan's allegations were "unfounded".
"Afghanistan is safe and secure. No such incident has taken place,&rdquo; Khaama Press reported, quoting a spokesperson for the Afghan Ministry of Defence.
India has described Pakistan's allegations as "false" and a "completely ludicrous claim".
Pakistan Army spokesman Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry, early Saturday, claimed that one of the missiles fired by India had landed inside Afghan territory.

Afghanistan’s victory over England has thrown Group B wide open in the ICC Champions Trophy. With Australia, South Africa, and Afghanistan fighting for a semi-final spot, every match is crucial. Who will advance?

Champions Trophy 2025: Afghanistan's win over England turn on the heat in Group B 

Afghanistan&rsquo;s victory over England has thrown Group B wide open in the ICC Champions Trophy. With Australia, South Africa, and Afghanistan fighting for a semi-final spot, every match is crucial. Who will advance?

Just when everyone thought the ICC Champions trophy was smooth sailing... Just when it seemed like there'd be no upsets in this mega event...
BOOM!
Team Afghanistan storms in and shakes up Group B!
The race for a final-four spot is now wide open. Who will make it to the semifinals? The battle goes right down to the wire!&nbsp;
Afghanistan&rsquo;s thrilling win over England has kept their hopes for a semi-final spot alive but for England it&rsquo;s all curtains.
Afghanistan will join Australia and South Africa, who split points after a washout on Tuesday, in a final push for the knockouts.&nbsp;
Let us try to find out how each of the three teams can reach the last four.
<h3>Points table at the moment for the Group B </h3>
South Africa- 3 points (from 2 matches and 1 win)&nbsp; Australia- 3 points (from 2 matches and 1 win) Afghanistan- 2 points (from 2 matches, 1 win and 1 loss)&nbsp; England- 0 points (from matches, 0 wins)
<h3>Afghanistan: &lsquo;Jazba abhi baaki hain&rsquo;</h3>
Afghanistan now faces Australia next. Just one point behind Australia and South Africa, Friday&rsquo;s match in Lahore can be called a virtual quarter-final.
A win secures a semi-final spot, but a loss could end their dream. It&rsquo;s all on the line for Afghans and they will not leave any stone unturned for this match.
<h3>Australia: Almost qualified? </h3>
The ODI world champions would have wanted to secure their semi-final spot against South Africa but god had other plans and rain washed out the match.
Despite this, they can still qualify by beating Afghanistan. If rain disrupts again, their one-point lead could see them through. But a win is what the yellow brigade would want. &nbsp;It&rsquo;s all to play for!
<h3>South Africa: It is a crunch time for the Proteas!</h3>
A win against England in their final group-stage match will secure South Africa&rsquo;s spot in the semi-finals.
But even if they lose, they still have a chance&mdash;if Australia beats Afghanistan.
However, if England wins and Afghanistan stuns Australia, it&rsquo;ll come down to Net Run Rate, with South Africa and Australia battling it out for the last spot.
<h3>Get ready for some electrifying matches ahead!</h3>
The stakes are high, and the competition is fierce. Which team do you think will take the semi-finals spots?

A high-level meeting between Indian officials and Taliban representatives took place in Dubai to discuss strengthening ties across various sectors including humanitarian aid, trade, regional security, and cultural exchange.

India and Afghan Taliban government hold crucial talks in Dubai

A high-level meeting between Indian officials and Taliban representatives took place in Dubai to discuss strengthening ties across various sectors including humanitarian aid, trade, regional security, and cultural exchange.

A high-level meeting between senior Indian officials and the Afghan Taliban leadership took place in Dubai on Wednesday. Representing India was Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, while Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting foreign minister of the Taliban government, represented Afghanistan.
This meeting is seen as a significant step in reviving and fostering bilateral ties, which have remained largely dormant since the Taliban&rsquo;s return to power in 2021. Despite limited engagement, New Delhi has continued providing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. 
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Foreign Secy <a href="https://twitter.com/VikramMisri?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VikramMisri</a> met Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai today. Both sides discussed 🇮🇳's ongoing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, bilateral issues and security situation in the region. India reiterated its commitment to&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/a3UyuIqkAG">pic.twitter.com/a3UyuIqkAG</a>
&mdash; Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/1876979447175217450?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The primary agenda of the Dubai meeting was to enhance cooperation across various sectors, including humanitarian aid, developmental assistance, trade, commerce, sports, cultural exchanges, regional security, and critical infrastructure projects. One focal point of the discussions was the Chabahar Port in Iran, which serves as a strategic supply route for goods to Afghanistan. While India and Afghanistan share a land border, it has remained inaccessible due to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). 
Commitments and Support During the meeting, India pledged further humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, with priority placed on healthcare, medicine supply, and refugee rehabilitation. Over recent years, New Delhi has provided significant aid, including 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat, 300 tonnes of medicines, earthquake relief aid, vaccines, hygiene kits, and other essential supplies.
The Afghan foreign minister expressed gratitude for India&rsquo;s continued support and engagement with the Afghan people. India's Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its readiness to address the urgent developmental needs of Afghanistan. "In view of the current need for development activities, it was decided that India would consider engaging in development projects in the near future," a statement from the ministry confirmed. 
Regional Security and Strategic Projects Kabul assured India of its sensitivity to regional security concerns, emphasizing full cooperation on this front. A joint statement highlighted the agreement to further utilize Chabahar Port to support trade, commercial activities, and humanitarian aid delivery.
Foreign Secretary Misri also underscored India&rsquo;s deep-rooted cultural and historical ties with Afghanistan. "The foreign secretary underlined India's historic friendship with the Afghan people and the strong people-to-people contacts between the two countries," noted the ministry.
&nbsp;
Strengthening Sporting Ties Sports, particularly cricket&mdash;a shared passion in both nations&mdash;was also discussed during the talks. Both sides agreed to explore ways to strengthen their sporting connections. 
&nbsp;
Regional Tensions and Pakistan&rsquo;s Airstrikes The Dubai meeting followed India&rsquo;s strong condemnation of Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan earlier this week. On December 24, Pakistani airstrikes in Barmal district, Paktika province, killed 46 people, including women and children. This marked the second such strike in 2024, with a similar attack in March claiming eight lives, including children.
In response to the airstrikes, India issued a sharp statement: &ldquo;We unequivocally condemn any attack on innocent civilians. It is an old practice of Pakistan to blame its neighbors for its own internal failures,&rdquo; said the foreign ministry.
&nbsp;
 Historical Context The Taliban, a predominantly Pashtun group, refers to itself as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Initially forming a government in 1996, the Taliban was ousted in 2001 by the US-led coalition following the 9/11 attacks. However, in 2021, the group regained power after the abrupt withdrawal of US forces, establishing itself as the governing authority in Afghanistan.
This meeting in Dubai marks a key effort by India and Afghanistan to navigate complex geopolitical challenges while strengthening mutual cooperation in the region.

Pakistan's airstrikes targeting militant hideouts in Afghanistan have led to significant civilian casualties, with Afghan officials condemning the attacks as violations of sovereignty. 

Pakistan's Airstrikes in Afghanistan: Rising Tensions and Civilian Impact

The Afghan Taliban regime lodged a strong protest with Islamabad over the airstrikes, warning to give a response to the attack.

Pakistan on Thursday confirmed that it carried out strikes targeting militants' hideouts in Afghanistan, amid strong protest from the Afghan leadership, which condemned it as a "brutal act" and said such arbitrary actions are not a solution to any problem.
According to the Afghan officials, at least 46 people, including women and children, were killed and several others injured in airstrikes by Pakistani fighter jets on parts of the Barmal district in Paktika province on Tuesday night that also damaged several homes.
"The intelligence-based operation was conducted by Pakistani security forces in the border areas of Afghanistan," Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in response to a query about the Tuesday night strikes at the weekly press briefing here.
She added that the operation was carried out "based on threats to the security of Pakistani citizens".
The spokesperson, however, emphasised that Pakistan had "always prioritised dialogue in matters relating to ties with Afghanistan". "We respect Afghanistan's integrity and sovereignty."
She also said that Pakistan's security forces and law enforcement agencies routinely conduct operations "against terrorist groups in the border areas".
"Preparations for these operations are made in an extremely careful manner,&rdquo; she said, adding that protecting its citizens was Pakistan's top priority.
The spokesperson reiterated that there were threats posed by terrorist elements to Pakistan and its citizens. "Pakistan is committed to the security of its public,&rdquo; she said.
Earlier, sources said that Pakistan targeted four locations of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists in Afghanistan's eastern Paktika province, killing several terrorists.
The Afghan Taliban regime lodged a strong protest with Islamabad over the airstrikes, warning to give a response to the attack.
The Afghan Taliban regime's Ministry of Defence spokesperson Enayatullah Khwarazmi said the Islamic Emirate considers this brutal act a violation of all international principles and an outright aggression.
"Pakistan must realize such arbitrary actions do not solve any problems," he was quoted as saying by TOLOnews.
Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai and some other leaders also condemned Pakistan's airstrikes, with Karzai describing it as blatant aggression and a violation of Afghanistan's sovereignty.
The former president attributed tensions in the relations between the two countries to Pakistan's flawed policies of promoting extremism in the region and emphasized that Pakistan must reassess its policies toward Afghanistan, according to a statement released by his office.
Abdullah Abdullah, the former Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, also stated that Pakistan's airstrikes on Paktika province are a clear violation of Afghanistan's national sovereignty.
Pakistan has been facing a spike in terrorist attacks since the Afghan Taliban came to power in 2021, while it demanded the Kabul regime to control the terrorists using its soil against Pakistan.

Pakistan's airstrikes in Paktika, Afghanistan, have left 15 dead, including women and children, intensifying border tensions. The Taliban promises retaliation, citing sovereignty violations.

Pakistan Conducts Airstrikes in Afghanistan

While Pakistan has not officially confirmed the strikes, military sources claim the operation aimed to neutralize militant hideouts near the border.

Pakistan has reportedly conducted airstrikes in Afghanistan's Paktika province on December 24, targeting several villages in the Barmal district. The attacks resulted in the deaths of at least 15 people, including women and children, with local sources warning that the toll could rise. Among the hardest-hit areas was Murg Bazaar, which suffered significant destruction, compounding the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.
While Pakistan has not officially confirmed the strikes, military sources claim the operation aimed to neutralize militant hideouts near the border. Afghan officials, however, strongly condemned the attacks, with the Taliban's Ministry of Defence accusing Pakistan of targeting civilians, including Waziristani refugees. The Ministry declared the strikes a violation of Afghanistan&rsquo;s sovereignty and vowed to retaliate, asserting their right to defend their territory.
The airstrikes have further strained relations between the two nations, already fraught with tensions over the activities of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Islamabad has repeatedly accused Kabul of harboring TTP militants, who have intensified attacks on Pakistani forces in recent months. The Afghan Taliban denies these allegations, maintaining that their territory is not being used as a safe haven for militants.
The civilian toll of the strikes has sparked outrage, with reports of children among the victims and entire families displaced. Waziristani refugees, long uprooted by military operations in Pakistan&rsquo;s tribal regions, now face renewed suffering as they are caught in the crossfire of escalating hostilities.
This latest incident highlights the fragile state of Pakistan-Afghanistan relations and the growing risk of broader conflict. As both sides exchange blame and promises of further action, the region faces mounting instability and an uncertain future.

 The seeds of Afghanistan cricket were sown in the early 2000s, a time when the nation was grappling with the aftermath of decades of turmoil. 

The Meteoric Rise of Afghanistan Cricket Team

The seeds of Afghanistan cricket were sown in the early 2000s, a time when the nation was grappling with the aftermath of decades of turmoil.

Just two decades ago, Afghanistan found themselves in the depths of the 6th division of the World Cricket League. Fast forward to today, and their rise from those humble beginnings to the pinnacle of international cricket is nothing short of legendary! &nbsp; The seeds of Afghanistan cricket were sown in the early 2000s, a time when the nation was grappling with the aftermath of decades of turmoil. With limited facilities and recognition, cricket faced an uphill battle. However, in 2001, the Afghanistan Cricket Federation was elected as an affiliate member of the ICC, marking the dawn of a new era. &nbsp; Fast forward just eight years, and Afghanistan celebrated a monumental achievement: securing their ODI status. This victory wasn't just a win; it was a bold statement of their potential on the global stage. The under-19 team further showcased their talent by qualifying for the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in 2012, igniting hope for future generations. &nbsp; Their first appearance in a 50-over World Cup came in 2015, earning a memorable victory against Scotland. But the real turning point came on June 22, 2017, when they were granted Test status, cementing their place among cricket&rsquo;s elite. &nbsp; While the 2019 World Cup was a challenging chapter, the 2023 ODI World Cup marked a renaissance for Afghanistan cricket. Winning four out of nine matches against established teams like Pakistan, England, and Sri Lanka, they showcased their skill and determination. A near upset against the eventual champions, Australia, further highlighted their potential. &nbsp; The crowning achievement came during the recent T20 World Cup, where Afghanistan reached their first-ever T20 semifinal, stunning giants like Australia and Bangladesh along the way. &nbsp; Despite a defeat to South Africa in the semifinals, their first-ever victory against the Proteas in the first of the 3-match ODI series in September, where they reduced them to 36/7 at one point, was a statement of their growing prowess. &nbsp; Afghanistan's incredible journey reflects not only their talent but the unwavering spirit of a nation striving for recognition on the global stage. They&rsquo;ve proven they can take on anyone, and with every match, they continue to inspire millions back home. The rise of Afghanistan cricket is a testament to the power of perseverance, and their story is far from over!

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