The split outcome was a stumble for the Justice Department in its effort to hold the defendant, Mohammad Sharifullah, responsible for the attack outside Abbey Gate at Hamid Karzai International Airport. The bombing killed 13 American troops and more than 150 Afghans.
The terrorist group known as Islamic State Khorasan, or ISIS-K — a foe of the Taliban and the United States alike — took responsibility for the attack. The jury unanimously agreed that Mr. Sharifullah was a member of ISIS-K, convicting him of conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
But the jury deadlocked on whether there was proof beyond a reasonable doubt that his support for the group had resulted in death. Essentially, some jurors did not believe the evidence was sufficient to blame the Abbey Gate attack on him.
The material support conspiracy conviction, by itself, carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Had the jury found that Mr. Sharifullah’s actions had resulted in death, he would have been eligible for a life sentence.
The Abbey Gate attack became a symbol of the chaotic U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan in the opening months of the Biden administration. A bomber walked into a crowd of civilians thronging an entrance to the airport in the hope of fleeing the country during the Taliban’s takeover, then detonated an explosive hidden under his clothing.
Pakistani security forces arrested Mr. Sharifullah near the Afghan border in early 2025. U.S. officials have said that the Central Intelligence Agency provided information about his location. President Trump trumpeted the arrest during his first address to a joint session of Congress during his second term.
“Three and a half years ago, ISIS terrorists killed 13 American service members and countless others in the Abbey Gate bombing during the disastrous and incompetent withdrawal from Afghanistan,” Mr. Trump said, adding, “Tonight I am pleased to announce that we have just apprehended the top terrorist responsible for that atrocity, and he is right now on his way here to face the swift sword of American justice.”
After his transfer to American custody, Mr. Sharifullah told F.B.I. agents that he was not only a member of ISIS-K, but that he had also assisted in several terrorist attacks, including scouting the attacker’s route to the Kabul airport. But his defense lawyers later disavowed that confession, saying it was false and coerced by his fear of Pakistani security forces.
The prosecution’s case that Mr. Sharifullah was specifically involved in the Abbey Gate attack rested heavily on his own confession. Judge Anthony J. Trenga, of the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, instructed the jury that they could not convict based on a confession if it was not corroborated by other evidence.
Early Wednesday afternoon, the head juror sent the judge a note saying that there was unanimous agreement on the charge of conspiring to provide material support to ISIS-K, but that they were at an impasse on whether Mr. Sharifullah’s actions had specifically contributed to the deadly attack.
“We are, and have been for some time, deadlocked,” the note said, adding: “An unanimous verdict will not be reached.”
Seamus Hughes contributed reporting.
Charlie Savage writes about national security and legal policy for The Times.
Jury Delivers Mixed Verdict in Case of Afghan Charged in 2021 Kabul Attack
A rights group warned closing Afghanistan embassies abroad could limit services, weaken advocacy and deepen humanitarian and political challenges for vulnerable citizens.
A coalition of human rights activists warned that closing or weakening Afghanistan’s diplomatic missions abroad could have serious humanitarian and political consequences, particularly for vulnerable communities relying on consular support.
In a statement, the group said reports about a possible closure of Afghanistan’s embassy in Australia are concerning and could restrict access to essential services for Afghan nationals.
It added that shutting such missions could unintentionally strengthen the narrative of the Taliban by reducing alternative representation of Afghan citizens internationally and limiting advocacy efforts.
Diplomatic missions have become key support hubs for Afghans overseas, especially women, civil society actors and migrants, providing documentation, legal assistance and a channel for raising concerns.
Since 2021, several Afghanistan embassies have faced uncertainty over funding and recognition, with some scaling down operations or closing, further reducing access to services for diaspora communities.
The group urged host countries to reconsider such decisions, warning that closures could weaken the voice of Afghans abroad and worsen existing humanitarian and human rights challenges.
Activists voice concern over Afghanistan embassy shutdowns abroad
A UK envoy urged restraint over Afghanistan-Pakistan border clashes, warning rising tensions risk civilians and calling for dialogue to prevent further escalation.
Richard Lindsay has expressed concern over ongoing clashes along the Durand Line, urging both sides to exercise restraint and prioritize the protection of civilians. He warned that the situation in border areas, particularly in Kunar province, remains volatile.
In a statement posted on X, Lindsay called for immediate steps to prevent further escalation, emphasizing that dialogue should be the primary means of resolving disputes. He stressed that safeguarding civilian lives must remain the central focus amid rising tensions.
The remarks come after Taliban authorities summoned a Pakistani diplomat to protest reported cross-border attacks, including strikes on civilian areas and public facilities. Officials described the incidents as violations of sovereignty and international norms.
Border tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have persisted for years, often flaring into clashes due to disputes over the poorly demarcated frontier and mutual security concerns. These incidents frequently affect local populations living near crossing points.
The Durand Line has long been a source of political and security friction, with both sides accusing each other of cross-border militancy and incursions. Periodic escalations have disrupted trade, movement, and daily life in border communities.
Humanitarian concerns have grown as civilians face displacement, casualties, and limited access to services during periods of intensified fighting. Aid organizations have repeatedly called for de-escalation and improved protection measures.
The latest developments highlight the fragility of security along the border, as international actors urge restraint and renewed diplomatic engagement to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
UK envoy urges restraint as Afghanistan-Pakistan border tensions rise
A UN expert urged release of detained journalists in Afghanistan, warning press freedom has sharply declined under growing restrictions, threats and censorship.
Richard Bennett has called on authorities in Afghanistan to immediately and unconditionally release detained journalists, warning of a worsening environment for press freedom. His appeal comes ahead of World Press Freedom Day.
In a statement released on Friday, May 1, Bennett said media freedom has deteriorated significantly since the Taliban returned to power, with journalists operating under increasing pressure, censorship, and threats. He noted that reporting on sensitive issues, particularly women’s and girls’ rights, has become increasingly risky.
He added that journalists face arbitrary detention, intimidation, and surveillance, while civil society activists and individuals cooperating with media outlets are also being targeted. These conditions, he said, have created a climate of fear affecting both professionals and the broader public.
Since 2021, Afghanistan’s media landscape has undergone major changes, with many independent outlets closing or scaling back operations due to financial constraints and regulatory restrictions. Female journalists have been particularly affected, with many forced out of work or limited in their roles.
International organizations have repeatedly raised concerns about declining press freedom in Afghanistan, warning that restrictions on information flow undermine transparency and accountability. Access to reliable news has become more limited, especially in remote areas.
Bennett warned that these pressures are fueling widespread self-censorship, reducing the free flow of information and limiting public awareness of critical issues. He stressed that an independent media sector is essential for protecting human rights and ensuring accountability.
Despite the challenges, Afghan journalists continue to play a crucial role in documenting developments and exposing rights concerns. Bennett called for stronger international support to protect media workers and uphold freedom of expression.
The statement underscores growing concern that without urgent action, the space for independent journalism in Afghanistan could shrink further, with long-term consequences for human rights and democratic principles.
UN expert urges release of detained journalists in Afghanistan
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — An alleged Islamic State group militant from Afghanistan was convicted on Wednesday of aiding the terror organization that took credit for a deadly suicide bombing at a Kabul airport, but a jury couldn’t agree on whether he bears some responsibility for that attack during the U.S. military’s chaotic withdrawal from the country in 2021.
Mohammad Sharifullah faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years after his one-count conviction in an international terrorism case that President Donald Trump heralded last year during a speech to a joint session of Congress. Sharifullah didn’t testify at his weeklong trial.
Approximately 160 Afghans and 13 U.S. service members were killed in the Aug. 26, 2021, attack at the airport, where U.S. troops were conducting an evacuation operation when a lone suicide bomber detonated an improvised explosive device near an entry point known as Abbey Gate.
A federal jury in Virginia convicted Sharifullah of providing material support to an Islamic State regional branch known as ISIS-K. But the jurors deadlocked on whether any deaths at the airport “resulted from” that conspiracy. Sharifullah could have faced a possible life sentence if the jury had unanimously decided that question.
Sharifullah didn’t appear to have any visible reaction to the verdict. U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga didn’t immediately set a date for Sharifullah’s sentencing.
The jury deliberated for roughly eight hours over two days. In a note to the judge, jurors indicated that they quickly reached a unanimous decision to convict Sharifullah of conspiracy but couldn’t agree on the element that could have significantly enhanced the severity of his sentence. The judge rejected a prosecutor’s request to give them more time to deliberate.
Defense attorney Lauren Rosen argued that prosecutors failed to present any evidence tying Sharifullah to the bombing besides his own words during hours of FBI questioning. Rosen said Sharifullah told FBI agents what he thought they wanted to hear, possibly because he was afraid of being tortured in Pakistani custody before he was brought to the U.S.
“The problem was, he didn’t know much about what actually happened that day,” Rosen told jurors during the trial’s closing arguments. “The government has told you nothing about how this attack actually happened.”
Justice Department prosecutor Ryan White said Sharifullah played a crucial role in planning the Abbey Gate bombing and was involved in several other attacks by ISIS-K, including its March 2024 attack at a Moscow concert hall that killed roughly 140 people.
“The defendant thought nothing of killing,” White said. “For him, it was just another day at the office.”
A review by U.S. Central Command found that the Abbey Gate bomber was Abdul Rahman al-Logari, an Islamic State group militant who had been released from an Afghan prison by the Taliban. Sharifullah recognized the alleged bomber as an operative he had known while incarcerated, according to an FBI affidavit.
A former Marine testified to Congress that he and others had spotted two possible suspects behaving suspiciously on the morning of the bombing but didn’t get permission to act. However, the Central Command review concluded that the snipers hadn’t seen the actual bomber and that the attack was not preventable.
A prosecutor assigned to the Abbey Gate case was fired last year after a right-wing commentator publicly criticized him over his work during President Joe Biden’s Democratic administration. Michael Ben’Ary’s ouster was part of a broader purge of Justice Department veterans deemed to be insufficiently loyal to Trump, a Republican.
During his most recent presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly condemned Biden for his role in the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal and blamed him for the Abbey Gate attack.
Biden’s White House was following a withdrawal commitment and timeline that the first Trump administration had negotiated with the Taliban in 2020. A 2022 review by a government-appointed special investigator concluded decisions made by both Trump and Biden were the key factors leading to the rapid collapse of Afghanistan’s military and the Taliban takeover.
White, the prosecutor, said Sharifullah told a journalist that he wanted to “catch and kill the crusaders” from the U.S. for invading his country after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
“This case is not complicated,” White said. “The defendant told you everything you need to know.”
Rosen said U.S. authorities accepted ISIS propaganda at face value when the group took responsibility for the airport bombing. She suggested that militants from a Taliban offshoot were manning Abbey Gate and could have been involved in the attack.
“You can’t base your verdict on mere conjecture and speculation,” Rosen said. “That’s what the prosecution is asking you to do.”
Man convicted of aiding IS group, but jury deadlocks on alleged role in deadly Kabul airport bombing
Civilian casualties in Kunar raise tensions as Pakistan denies role, casting shadow over ceasefire and peace talks.
Islamabad, Pakistan – Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities say Pakistani mortars and missiles struck a university and residential neighbourhoods in the eastern province of Kunar on Monday, killing at least seven people and wounding more than 80.
Taliban deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat said the strikes hit the city of Asadabad, the provincial capital, as well as surrounding districts.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Higher Education said about 30 students and professors were among the wounded, with Sayed Jamaluddin Afghani University sustaining extensive damage to its buildings and grounds.
Fitrat called the attacks “unforgivable war crimes” against civilians and academic institutions.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting rejected the account, describing reports that Pakistani forces had struck the university as a “blatant lie”.
In a statement posted on X, the ministry said no strike had been carried out on the university and that Pakistan’s targeting is “precise and intelligence based”, though it did not explicitly rule out any attack within Afghan territory.
Afghan and Pakistani officials have separately confirmed to Al Jazeera that the two sides have been exchanging fire along their porous border, even though they are formally observing a ceasefire. Kunar is a border province.
The competing claims over the attack on the university have now raised fears that the already fragile ceasefire might completely collapse. The heightened tensions follow days after peace talks held in the Chinese city of Urumqi between the two sides that Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi described as “positive”.
A process under strain
The Urumqi talks, hosted by China in early April, brought delegations from both sides together for the first time since the conflict’s most intense phase in February and March, when Pakistan struck Kabul multiple times and declared it was in “open war” with Afghanistan.
Afghanistan described the discussions as “useful”. Pakistan said further progress would depend on Kabul. The talks ended without a formal agreement or joint statement.
Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of providing sanctuary to the Pakistan Taliban, known by the acronym TTP, which emerged in 2007 and, while distinct from the Afghan Taliban, shares deep ideological, social and linguistic ties with the group. The TTP and other groups have carried out a sustained campaign of attacks across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, according to Pakistani authorities.
Afghanistan rejects accusations that it is sheltering or aiding the TTP and other anti-Pakistan groups.
Mehmood Jan Babar, a Peshawar-based political and security analyst, said the engagement in Urumqi was thin from the start.
Delegations were at the level of diplomats, with no political contact throughout. Pakistan, he said, maintained a firm position and demanded action in writing.
“Until Afghanistan puts something in writing, no verbal commitment will be trusted,” Babar told Al Jazeera. “That is what was said in Urumqi, and that is where things stand.”
Representatives of China, Pakistan and Afghanistan held weeklong informal talks in Urumqi, Xinjiang, from April 1 to 7, 2026. The delegations of the three sides included representatives from authorities in charge of foreign affairs, defence and security [Handout/Ministry of Foreign Affairs for People’s Republic of China]
Tameem Bahiss, a Kabul-based security analyst, said the outcome reflected how little ground either side had shifted.
“The negotiations in Urumqi did not achieve a clear settlement or agreement,” he told Al Jazeera. “Both sides may agree to talks under pressure from regional countries, but once the talks end, the same problems return.”
Babar noted some softening on the Afghan side.
Muttaqi had reportedly instructed senior ministers to use more restrained language on Pakistan, he said, given how much Kabul has at stake in its relationship with Islamabad.
“But Pakistan’s core position has not changed,” Babar said.
The limits of mediation
This is not the first time a diplomatic opening has quickly unravelled.
A ceasefire mediated by Qatar and Turkiye in October 2025 was followed by continued low-level clashes.
A temporary Eid ceasefire in March after fighting had resumed in February – brokered at the request of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye – was almost immediately disputed.
The Taliban alleged Pakistan carried out dozens of mortar strikes in Kunar while the truce was still in effect.
The most contentious episode came on March 16, when a Pakistani air strike destroyed the Omar Hospital in Kabul, a 2,000-bed addiction treatment facility.
Afghan officials put the death toll at more than 400. The United Nations recorded 143.
Pakistan insisted that its target was not the hospital, but nearby military installations and an ammunition depot. The incident remains the most disputed of the conflict.
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and China have all attempted to broker a lasting arrangement.
Babar said Pakistan had briefed all of them on its position that cross-border attacks on Pakistani soil had decreased when Pakistan carried out its own operations.
“That is a valid argument, and it is holding weight right now,” he said.
But Bahiss said the repeated failures point to something structural.
“The main problem is that Pakistan and Afghanistan have very different views of the security situation,” he said. “If both sides cannot even agree on the nature of the problem, it becomes very difficult for mediators to agree on a solution.”
The Kabul-based analyst added that internal pressures make compromise difficult on both sides.
“Pakistan risks looking weak domestically if it accepts vague assurances and the Taliban risks looking as though it is yielding to outside pressure [if it accepts Islamabad’s assertions],” he said.
The TTP impasse
At the core of the conflict is a dispute that predates the current fighting.
Kabul denies harbouring the TTP and has accused Islamabad of using attacks in Pakistan as a pretext for interference in Afghan affairs.
Pakistan maintains that the burden lies with Kabul to take verifiable action and has sought written assurances that it says have not been provided.
Bahiss said months of military pressure have yielded little.
“The Taliban have not accepted Pakistan’s main demand in the way Islamabad wants,” he said. “They may be unwilling because of ideological or historical links, or unable because acting against the TTP could create internal divisions. Whatever the reason, the outcome is the same: Pakistan’s demands remain unmet.”
Babar said the picture inside Afghanistan is more complex than a flat refusal.
Several factions within the Taliban hold differing views, he said, with some facing public pressure.
He added that the Afghan Taliban had arrested a significant number of TTP members and their families and transferred them from the eastern provinces deeper into Afghanistan, though it remained unclear whether this constituted a policy shift or a tactical adjustment.
Afghan officials, meanwhile, argue that Pakistan’s campaign has caused civilian casualties that harden public opinion without addressing the underlying drivers of violence.
Talks without trust?
China’s role as host of the Urumqi talks carries weight. Beijing is Pakistan’s largest trading partner and has significant infrastructure investments in both countries through the economic corridor. It has a direct interest in stabilising the border.
But Babar said no agreement is possible without a written guarantee and a guarantor to enforce it.
He pointed to the Doha accord in 2020, in which the Taliban gave a written commitment that Afghan soil would not be used against any country, a commitment Pakistan says was violated.
The Doha Agreement, signed in February 2020 between the United States and the Afghan Taliban, committed the Taliban to preventing Afghan soil from being used by any group to threaten US or allied security, in exchange for a full withdrawal of US and NATO forces from Afghanistan.
“Pakistan does not want to enter into any agreement that brings it no tangible benefit,” he said. “Until a written commitment comes, nothing else moves.”
Afghanistan has its own demands: That Pakistan keep borders open, allow trade, resume visas and accommodate Afghan refugees already in the country.
Babar acknowledged those as legitimate. But he said Pakistan’s line remained firm – that cross-border attacks must end in writing first.
“And since that commitment is not coming,” he said, “I do not see any agreement possible in the near future.”
Bahiss said external mediation cannot substitute for trust.
“A credible verification mechanism would require both sides to agree on how incidents are investigated, who verifies violations, and what happens if either side breaks the agreement,” he said.
“Without that, any agreement will remain fragile and may collapse as soon as the next attack or accusation takes place.”
‘War crime’: Afghan-Pakistan truce under strain after university strike
UN OCHA reports rising security incidents disrupting aid in Afghanistan as hunger crisis worsens, with the country ranked among worst globally.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said 86 security incidents and aid disruptions were recorded in Afghanistan in March, resulting in the death of one aid worker.
The agency said most incidents occurred in eastern and southeastern region, particularly during cross-border tensions, while three aid workers were detained during the same period.
OCHA also reported major access challenges, including road closures in Nuristan’s Kamdesh and Barg-e-Matal districts, which significantly hindered humanitarian operations.
Restrictions on women further impacted aid delivery, with 14 cases recorded where female staff were barred from working, including exclusion from a midwifery training session in Nangarhar.
The disruptions come as Afghanistan faces one of the world’s worst hunger crises, recently ranked fifth globally for acute food insecurity in the Global Food Crises 2026 report.
Aid agencies warn that millions remain dependent on humanitarian assistance, with access constraints and insecurity worsening already fragile conditions.
Flooding, heavy rains, and natural disasters have further complicated relief efforts, damaging infrastructure and limiting the ability of agencies to reach vulnerable populations.
Humanitarian groups stress that continued restrictions, funding shortages, and security risks could deepen the crisis, threatening food access, healthcare delivery, and overall stability across the country.
UN: Aid Disruptions Rise in Afghanistan, One Worker Killed
US lawmakers criticize reported Trump administration plan to relocate Afghan allies from Qatar camp to conflict-hit Democratic Republic of Congo.
US Senator Jeff Merkley has strongly condemned reported plans by the Trump administration to transfer Afghan nationals from a holding facility in Qatar to the Democratic Republic of Congo, calling the proposal “evil and wrong.”
Merkley said the individuals include families of US service members and Afghan allies who served as interpreters and special operations support during the war in Afghanistan, risking their lives for American forces.
He warned that sending vulnerable Afghan refugees to a conflict-affected country like Democratic Republic of the Congo would endanger civilians, including hundreds of children currently housed in the Qatar facility.
The comments come as reports indicate around 1,100 Afghan evacuees remain in the Qatar camp after being relocated during the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, awaiting long-term resettlement decisions.
The situation reflects ongoing uncertainty for thousands of Afghan refugees who remain stranded in transit countries, particularly in Qatar, amid stalled relocation programs and shifting US immigration policies.
Humanitarian groups warn that prolonged stays in temporary facilities are worsening mental health conditions, family separation, and legal insecurity for Afghan evacuees waiting for resettlement.
Afghanistan continues to face a deep humanitarian crisis, with widespread poverty, unemployment, and limited access to basic services following years of conflict and economic isolation.
Aid agencies including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees have repeatedly urged faster international solutions for Afghan refugees, warning that delays in resettlement increase vulnerability and instability.
Several US senators, including Tammy Duckworth, Tim Kaine, and Ed Markey, have also criticized the reported relocation plan, calling for an immediate halt and stronger protections for Afghan allies.
US Senators Condemn Reported Plan to Transfer Afghan Allies From Qatar to Congo
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghanistan’s foreign ministry says Afghans who helped America’s war effort and have been stuck in Qatar in the hope of reaching the United States, can safely return to Afghanistan.
The statement Saturday by foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi comes after reports emerged that the Trump administration is in discussions to potentially send 1,100 Afghans who assisted the U.S. during its war in Afghanistan and relatives of U.S. service members to Congo.
An organization called #AfghanEvac that supports Afghan resettlement efforts said Wednesday that U.S. officials had informed the group of discussions between the United States and Congo about taking the Afghan refugees who have been in limbo at Camp As-Sayliyah, a U.S. base in Doha, for the past year.
The State Department said it is working to identify options to “voluntarily” resettle the refugees in a third country, but did not confirm which nations were being discussed.
An alternative provided to the refugees was to return to Afghanistan, #AfghanEvac said, where they fear reprisals or even death at the hands of the Taliban, who have been running the country since they seized power in the wake of the chaotic withdrawal of U.S.-led forces in 2021, for working alongside the U.S. during the two-decade war.
Afghanistan’s foreign ministry “reiterates that Afghanistan constitutes the shared homeland of all Afghans and it invites all those concerned, as well as others sharing a similar situation, (to) return to their homeland, whose doors remain open to them, to do so with full confidence & peace of mind,” Balkhi wrote in his statement.
He added that “those intending to travel to another country may do so at an appropriate juncture through legal & dignified channels.” Afghanistan’s foreign ministry “stands ready to engage with all countries,” Balkhi said, adding that the foreign ministry “underscores to all sides that there exist no security threats in Afghanistan, & none is compelled to leave the country on account of security considerations.”
In a joint statement posted by the #AfghanEvac group on behalf of those in Camp As-Sayliyah, the Afghans said they had received no information from U.S. officials about the talks to potentially relocate them, and had found out about it from the press. The state of limbo they have been living in is taking a severe toll on them, they said.
“Many of us are not well. The uncertainty has been more than some of us can carry. There is deep depression,” the group said, adding that some were struggling with their mental health because of the situation.
“We will say this plainly. We do not want to go to the Democratic Republic of Congo,” the group said, adding that “it is a country in its own war. We have been in enough war. We cannot take our children into another one.”
The African country has been battered by decades-long fighting between government forces and Rwanda-backed rebels in its eastern region.
The Afghans in the camp in Doha said returning to Afghanistan was also not an option. “The Taliban will kill many of us for what we did for the United States,” the group said in their statement. “This is not a fear. This is a fact. The United States knows this, because the United States is the reason we cannot go home.”
That policy left thousands of refugees who fled war and persecution, and had gone through a sometimes yearslong vetting process to start new lives in America, stranded at places worldwide, including the base in Qatar.
Becatoros reported from Athens, Greece.
Afghanistan calls on Afghans who helped US in war and are now stuck in Qatar to return home
Fighting along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border has disrupted education for 12,000 students, as displacement and damage to schools worsen humanitarian conditions.
The United Nations said clashes between the Taliban and Pakistan have disrupted education for around 12,000 Afghan students in border areas.
Many children have been displaced or are unable to continue schooling, particularly in Kunar Province, where villages have been partially emptied and schools damaged.
According to reports, at least 22 schools in Kunar have been affected or destroyed, leaving thousands of children without access to classrooms and basic educational services.
The border has remained volatile for nearly two months, with both sides exchanging accusations, as Islamabad claims militant groups operate from Afghanistan territory, which the Taliban denies.
The escalation has triggered a broader humanitarian crisis, with thousands of families forced to flee their homes and seek shelter in temporary camps under harsh conditions.
Local educators say school buildings have been damaged and students who were previously attending classes are now cut off from learning opportunities.
Displaced families report severe hardship, with limited access to shelter, food, and education, and have called on the international community to provide urgent assistance.
The UN has also warned that hundreds of civilians have been killed since the clashes began, underscoring the growing impact of insecurity on vulnerable communities.
Pakistan clashes disrupt education for 12,000 students in Afghanistan
The United Nations says aid workers are still in a “race against time” to remove rubble and rebuild after the devastating earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan last month, killing at least 2,200 people and cutting off remote areas.
The 6.0-magnitude quake on Aug. 31 was shallow, destroying or causing extensive damage to low-rise buildings in the mountainous region. It hit late at night, and homes — mostly made of mud, wood, or rocks — collapsed instantly, becoming death traps.
Satellite data shows that about 40,500 truckloads of debris still needs to be cleared from affected areas in several provinces, the United Nations Development Program said Wednesday. Entire communities have been upended and families are sleeping in the open, it added.
The quake’s epicenter was in remote and rugged Kunar province, challenging rescue and relief efforts by the Taliban government and humanitarian groups. Authorities deployed helicopters or airdropped army commandos to evacuate survivors. Aid workers walked for hours on foot to reach isolated communities.
“This is a race against time,” said Devanand Ramiah, from the UNDP’s Crisis Bureau. “Debris removal and reconstruction operations must start safely and swiftly.”
People’s main demands were the reconstruction of houses and water supplies, according to a spokesman for a Taliban government committee tasked with helping survivors, Zia ur Rahman Speenghar.
People were getting assistance in cash, food, tents, beds, and other necessities, Speenghar said Thursday. Three new roads were under construction in the Dewagal Valley, and roads would be built to areas where there previously were none.
“Various countries and organizations have offered assistance in the construction of houses but that takes time. After the second round of assistance, work will begin on the third round, which is considering what kind of houses can be built here,” the spokesman said.
Afghanistan is facing a “perfect storm” of crises, including natural disasters like the recent earthquake, said Roza Otunbayeva, who leads the U.N. mission to the country.
Afghanistan Peace Campaign
![Representatives of China, Pakistan and Afghanistan held week-long informal talks in Urumqi, Xinjiang from April 1 to 7, 2026. The delegations of the three sides included representatives from authorities in charge of foreign affairs, defense and security. [Handout/Ministry of Foreign Affairs for People's Republic of China]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/china-pak-afgg-1777371538.jpg?w=770&resize=770%2C563&quality=80)
