Pakistan–Afghanistan Trade Falls 53% as Border Closures Persist

January 9, 2026 Current News Articles

Khaama Press

January 9, 2026

Trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan has dropped 53 percent amid prolonged border closures, with exporters suffering heavy losses, Pakistani officials and media reports say.

Trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan has dropped by 53 percent, largely due to prolonged border closures, Pakistan’s The Nation newspaper reported, citing official sources.

According to the data, bilateral trade fell to $594 million in the first half of the 2025–2026 fiscal year, down from $1.26 billion in the same period of 2024–2025.

An official source told the newspaper that the main reason for the sharp decline is the continued closure of key border crossings between the two neighbours.

Pakistan reportedly closed eight border points with Afghanistan following clashes between Pakistani forces and Taliban fighters on October 11, 2025. As a result, Pakistani exporters are losing an estimated $177 million per month due to restricted cross-border trade.

Pakistan and Afghanistan share several major trade routes that are vital for the movement of food, fuel and consumer goods, particularly for landlocked Afghanistan.

Border closures in the past have repeatedly disrupted supply chains, causing economic losses for traders on both sides and increasing prices in local markets.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry has said border crossings will remain closed until written and credible assurances are provided to prevent militant attacks and action is taken against the Pakistani Taliban, or TTP.

The prolonged shutdown has raised concerns among business groups and analysts, who warn that continued disruptions could further strain economic ties and deepen regional instability.

AfghanEvac Says U.S. Offering Cash to Afghan Refugees to Return to Afghanistan

January 9, 2026 Current News Articles

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

January 9, 2026

AfghanEvac says the U.S. government is offering cash to Afghan refugees to abandon resettlement, warning many face serious threats if they return home.

Shawn VanDiver, head of the Afghan refugee advocacy group AfghanEvac, said reports indicate the U.S. government is offering cash to Afghan refugees at the Silia camp to abandon resettlement and return to Afghanistan.

VanDiver warned that many of those refugees would face persecution, violence or death if forced back under Taliban rule.

More than half of the Afghan refugees affected are women and children, according to the statement, raising humanitarian and protection concerns.

The group said the refugees include Afghan prosecutors, lawyers and former U.S. partners who worked alongside American forces during the war.

VanDiver said these are “exactly the people the Taliban have sworn to punish,” stressing they trusted U.S. assurances of a legal pathway to safety.

Following the Taliban takeover in August 2021, thousands of Afghans fled the country fearing reprisals for their links to Western governments and institutions.

The United States has repeatedly pledged to protect Afghan allies through resettlement programs, though many applicants remain stranded or in temporary facilities.

VanDiver said offering money under such conditions does not make the return voluntary but instead amounts to coercion.

He added that paying approved refugees in U.S. custody to accept life-threatening returns violates international law and U.S. refugee commitments.

The AfghanEvac organization has called for immediate government transparency and urgent congressional oversight, questioning who authorized the policy and why the U.S. is withdrawing at the final stage.

MSF Warns Afghan Refugee Expulsions from Pakistan Spark Winter Humanitarian Crisis

January 8, 2026 Current News Articles

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

January 8, 2026

Doctors Without Borders warns that mass Afghan refugee expulsions from Pakistan are creating a severe winter humanitarian crisis, putting children, women, and families at risk.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has warned that the large-scale expulsion of Afghan refugees from Pakistan is creating a serious humanitarian crisis, particularly during the harsh winter months, endangering the lives of children, women, and families.

The organization said in a report released Wednesday, January 7, that many of the expelled refugees are being kept in temporary camps without proper shelter, and access to healthcare, clean water, and food remains extremely limited.

The report added that the forced deportations affect undocumented migrants, holders of Afghan citizenship cards, and temporary registration cards (POC), making conditions increasingly dangerous as winter intensifies across the region.

Xu Weibing, head of MSF’s mission in Pakistan, said Afghan families are caught between living in fear of deportation and returning to Afghanistan, urging the international community to provide immediate humanitarian and protective assistance.

Pakistan hosts one of the largest populations of Afghan refugees in the world, many of whom have lived in the country for decades. Previous repatriation efforts during winter have been criticized for lacking proper support systems, leaving vulnerable populations at risk.

According to UN agencies, Afghan refugees already face chronic challenges including limited access to healthcare, malnutrition, and overcrowded shelters, conditions that are significantly worsened during extreme winter weather.

MSF emphasized that without adequate shelter, medical care, and food, the winter season becomes a silent killer for Afghan refugees, threatening the survival of many vulnerable individuals.

Humanitarian experts have called for urgent international action, including temporary protection measures, emergency aid, and winterized shelter provisions, to prevent further loss of life among Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

EU to Hold Special Meeting on Afghanistan’s Worsening Water Crisis

January 8, 2026 Current News Articles

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

January 8, 2026

The European Union will hold a special meeting this month to assess Afghanistan’s deepening water crisis and explore practical solutions to growing shortages.

The European Union delegation in Afghanistan announced that it will hold a special meeting on January 21 to examine the country’s worsening water crisis. The session is organized in collaboration with the XCEPT research program and aims to identify practical solutions to mitigate the impacts of water shortages.

The meeting will bring together researchers, local officials, and representatives of international organizations to gather accurate information, exchange experiences, and propose strategies for better water resource management. Officials said the goal is to find actionable measures to alleviate water scarcity across the country.

Afghanistan has faced a severe water crisis in recent years, with many regions suffering from dwindling freshwater sources. Environmental authorities and experts warn that without urgent action, shortages could have far-reaching consequences for agriculture, drinking water supply, and daily life.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recently reported that the rainy season in Afghanistan has begun warmer and drier than usual. Multi-model precipitation forecasts for November 2025 to January 2026 suggest that rainfall will remain below average, particularly in northern, northeastern, and central highlands. Snow accumulation is also significantly lower than normal, marking a critical hydrological deficit.

According to FAO, the Global Agricultural Monitoring initiative shows that the 2025/26 snow season started with the lowest “snow water equivalent” levels in 25 years, threatening spring irrigation, especially for wheat-growing areas reliant on river-fed systems.

Experts stress that with already low snowpack and continuing dry seasonal forecasts, concerns over adequate irrigation for spring 2026 are growing, potentially worsening food insecurity in affected regions.

Officials and humanitarian organizations are calling for immediate interventions, including improved water management, emergency aid, and infrastructure support, to protect vulnerable farmers and communities from further hardship.

UK MP Says Turning Back on Women in Afghanistan Betrays Women Worldwide

January 7, 2026 Current News Articles

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

January 7, 2026

A UK MP warned that turning back on women in Afghanistan would betray women and undermine women’s rights globally.

Alice McDonald, a member of the UK Parliament, said in a statement that the government cannot turn its back on the crisis in Afghanistan. She emphasized that failing to act on gender apartheid and systemic oppression would betray not only Afghanistan women but women worldwide.

The MP described the situation for Afghanistan women and girls as “devastating,” but stressed that neither the UK nor the international community should surrender. Afghanistan women remain determined, resilient, and continue finding ways to run businesses and lead on the frontlines despite harsh restrictions.

McDonald added that combating systematic repression of Afghanistan women is essential for achieving global equality. She argued that gender equality is not only a moral imperative but also crucial for sustainable peace, security, and international progress.

Since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, they have progressively stripped Afghanistan women of basic human rights, banning access to secondary schools and universities.

International condemnation has been widespread, with governments and civil society organizations calling on the Taliban to reverse these policies. Despite pressure, the group has continued enforcing restrictions and limiting women’s freedoms.

McDonald urged that the UK and other nations uphold global values and lead by example, offering hope to oppressed populations. She emphasized that concrete support for Afghanistan women must be a priority of international policy and humanitarian efforts.

Pakistan warns that Afghanistan is becoming ‘hub for terrorists’ and poses regional threat

January 7, 2026 Current News Articles

By MUNIR AHMED

Associated Press

January 6, 2026

Pakistan’s military is warning that Afghanistan is becoming a “hub for terrorists.”

ISLAMABAD — ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan ’s military on Tuesday warned that Afghanistan is becoming a “hub for terrorists and non-state actors,” widening its allegations to assert that its Taliban government is patronizing al-Qaida, the Islamic State group and the Pakistani Taliban.

Military spokesman Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry also told a news conference, without offering evidence, that about 2,500 foreign militants recently entered Afghanistan from Syria following the ouster there of former President Bashar Assad. Chaudhry asserted that the militants were invited to Afghanistan.

“These terrorists are neither Pakistanis nor Afghan citizens and belong to other nationalities,” Chaudhry said, adding that the reemergence of international militant groups could pose security risks beyond neighboring Afghanistan’s borders.

There was no immediate comment from Kabul to Chaudhry’s claim. Syria’s nearly 14-year civil war ended with Assad’s ouster in December 2024 but left behind a patchwork of armed groups on all sides of the conflict, shaped by years of foreign intervention.

Fighters from Syria have since taken part in other wars in the region and beyond, including Turkish-backed combatants sent to Libya and militants recruited by Russia to fight in Ukraine. Foreign fighters have joined Syrian rebel factions, pro-government forces and extremist groups such as the Islamic State group.

Chaudhry’s remarks came a day after Pakistan and China called for more “visible and verifiable” measures to eliminate militant organizations operating from Afghan territory and to prevent it from being used for attacks against other countries.

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have deteriorated in recent months, with tensions occasionally spilling into violence. In October, the countries came close to a wider conflict after Pakistan carried out airstrikes on what it described as Pakistani Taliban hideouts inside Afghanistan. Kabul retaliated by targeting Pakistani military posts. The fighting ended after Qatar brokered a ceasefire.

Pakistan has long accused Afghanistan and India of backing the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, and the outlawed Baloch National Army. Both Kabul and New Delhi deny the allegations.

Chaudhry also said Pakistan killed 2,597 militants in 2025, up from 1,053 a year earlier. The country recorded 5,397 militant attacks, up from 3,014 in 2024.

“Yes, this is a big number,” he said of the 2025 attacks. “Why? Because we are engaging them everywhere.” He added that Afghan nationals were involved in almost all major attacks inside Pakistan last year.

3 Killed, 6 Injured in Takhar Protests Over Unregulated Gold Mining

January 7, 2026 Current News Articles

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

January 6, 2026

Three people were killed and six injured during protests in Chah Ab, Takhar, as residents demonstrated against unregulated gold mining and environmental destruction.

Residents of Chah Ab district in Takhar province clashed with local forces during protests over unregulated gold mining and water resource damage, sources said. At least three protesters were killed and six others injured.

The demonstrations, which began several days ago, escalated on Monday, January 5, when locals took to the streets with sticks and tools to voice their grievances against mining companies.

Video footage on social media shows protesters confronting Taliban forces, including an incident where a Taliban member firing at demonstrators was beaten by the crowd.

During the clashes, sources reported that protesters also set fire to the property of the mining company. Unverified reports suggest that one Taliban member was killed in the confrontation.

The Taliban have increasingly focused on exploiting Afghanistan’s mineral resources, particularly gold in Takhar and Badakhshan provinces, sparking widespread local opposition over environmental and economic concerns.

Similar protests occurred in Badakhshan earlier when residents opposed opium poppy destruction. UN reports indicate at least ten protesters were killed during that crackdown.

Analysts say the growing tension reflects deeper grievances in resource-rich provinces, where locals demand sustainable management and accountability from both the Taliban and private operators.

Observers warn that continued violent crackdowns on peaceful demonstrations could escalate unrest, further undermining public trust in the Taliban’s governance and their claims of legitimacy.

Pakistan and China call for ‘visible and verifiable’ steps against Afghan-based terror groups

January 6, 2026 Current News Articles

By MUNIR AHMED

Associated Press

January 5, 2026

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan and China called for more “visible and verifiable” steps to eliminate terrorist organizations based in Afghanistan and to prevent Afghan territory from being used for militancy against any country, according to a joint statement.

The statement issued Monday followed talks between Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, who met in Beijing on Dec. 4.

The two countries said “terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan continue to pose serious threats to regional and global security and stressed the need to prevent them from using Afghan soil to carry out attacks against other countries.”

There was no immediate response from Afghanistan’s government in Kabul.

China praised Pakistan for what it described as “comprehensive counterterrorism measures” and for protecting Chinese citizens and projects related to the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor, a program of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Thousands of Chinese workers and engineers are engaged in CPEC-related projects involving improvements to road and rail links between China’s western Xinjiang region and Pakistan’s Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea. In 2024, five Chinese people were killed when a suicide car bomber hit a bus in northwest Pakistan.

Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers of sheltering the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, which has been blamed for attacks inside Pakistan that have increased since 2021. The TTP is separate from Afghanistan’s Taliban, which has governed the country since 2021 and says it does not allow its territory to be used for attacks against other countries.

Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have persisted since early October when Pakistan carried out airstrikes on what it described as Pakistani Taliban hideouts inside Afghanistan, killing dozens of alleged insurgents.

Afghan forces retaliated by targeting Pakistani military posts and claimed to have killed 58 soldiers. Pakistan acknowledged losing 23 troops.

The fighting stopped after Qatar brokered a ceasefire in its capital Doha. The agreement was followed by more talks in Istanbul, which failed to produce additional results.

Taliban spokesman accuses Pakistan of seeking to destabilise Afghanistan

January 2, 2026 Current News Articles

by Bais Hayat

AMU TV

January 2, 2026

Taliban chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has accused Pakistan of seeking to destabilise Afghanistan in coordination with major powers, including the United States, as relations between the two sides remain strained despite multiple rounds of talks.

Mujahid said some elements within Pakistan’s military were acting at the behest of Washington to undermine security in Afghanistan and the wider region.

“Certain military circles in Pakistan, in cooperation with and at the request of major powers, are trying to destabilise Afghanistan,” Mujahid told an interview streamed on YouTube.

He linked the allegation to renewed US statements about Afghanistan’s former Bagram air base, adding: “When the United States raises the issue of Bagram, the question of Pakistan’s role in destabilising Afghanistan also arises. This can be pursued in a coordinated manner between the US and some military circles in Pakistan.”

Mujahid said the Taliban administration was not dependent on any foreign power and warned Islamabad against seeking influence over Kabul. “The Islamic Emirate is not reliant on any country, and Pakistan should not harbour dreams of dominance over Afghanistan,” he said. He again denied the presence of militant groups operating from Afghanistan’s territory.

Pakistan has repeatedly rejected such accusations and says militant groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), operate from Afghanistan’s territory.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesman Tahir Andarabi said in recent remarks that Afghanistan’s territory was being “widely used” by militant groups to carry out attacks inside Pakistan, and called on the Taliban to provide formal guarantees.

“Our demand from Afghanistan is clear: do not allow terrorists to operate against Pakistan from your soil,” Andarabi said. “These militants are not Pakistani citizens; more than 70% of them are Afghan nationals. We now expect a written commitment to ensure Afghan soil is not used against us.”

The Taliban have consistently denied supporting the TTP, saying security incidents in Pakistan are an internal matter for Islamabad.

Tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan have intensified over the past three months, with border closures, rising rhetoric and Pakistani air strikes on Afghanistan’s border provinces. Pakistani forces also carried out strikes that, for the first time, reached areas in Kabul and Kandahar.

At least four rounds of talks between Taliban and Pakistani delegations, held in Doha, Istanbul and Riyadh, have failed to produce a breakthrough, leaving relations between the two sides at one of their lowest points since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021.

Pakistan deports more than 2,000 migrants in a day

January 2, 2026 Current News Articles

by Habib Mohammadi

AMU TV

January 2, 2026

Returning migrants from Pakistan. Archive photo.

Pakistan deported more than 2,000 Afghan migrants on Thursday, Jan. 1, the Taliban’s commission for refugee said, as Islamabad presses ahead with a campaign to expel immigrants without valid documents.

The commission said the returnees crossed into Afghanistan via the Torkham, Spin Boldak and Bahramcha border crossings. In the same period, 284 individuals returned from Iran through the Islam Qala and Silk Bridge crossings, it added.

The latest returns come amid a sharp rise in deportations from neighbouring countries. The United Nations says more than 2.6 million Afghans were returned to Afghanistan in 2025, mostly from Pakistan and Iran, warning that the influx is putting severe strain on the country’s limited resources.

International aid agencies have repeatedly cautioned that many returnees arrive with few possessions and little access to shelter or jobs, raising the risk of deepening poverty, renewed displacement and a worsening humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

By MUNIR AHMED

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