UNAMA Warns of Rising Censorship and Attacks on Journalists

July 21, 2026 Current News Articles

Khaama Press

July 21, 2026

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said journalism is facing unprecedented pressure.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has warned that press freedom and independent journalism are facing growing global pressure from censorship, attacks on journalists, AI-generated misinformation and declining support for independent media.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Monday highlighted growing threats to journalism worldwide, citing a UNESCO-supported report on the challenges facing independent media and the importance of free journalism.

In a post on Facebook, UNAMA said the report examines the role of independent journalism in providing reliable information, promoting transparency, combating corruption and helping societies respond to crises.

The UN mission posed the question, “If free journalism is weakened, what will we lose?”, warning that the erosion of independent media could undermine the public interest and limit people’s access to accurate and reliable information.

The warning comes as journalists and independent media outlets in Afghanistan continue to face significant restrictions and pressure following the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021.

Media rights organisations have documented restrictions on journalists, limited access to information and growing challenges for independent media outlets. Economic pressures, reduced media funding and the departure of journalists from the country have also weakened Afghanistan’s media sector.

Journalists in Afghanistan have faced restrictions on reporting, while media organisations have repeatedly raised concerns about censorship and limited access to official information.

UNAMA’s warning also comes amid wider global concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on journalism. The rapid spread of AI-generated misinformation and disinformation has raised concerns about public trust in news, while declining financial support for independent media has placed additional pressure on news organisations.

The UNESCO-supported report cited by UNAMA highlights the broader importance of independent journalism in ensuring that citizens can access trustworthy information and hold institutions accountable.

Flash Floods Kill at Least 23 in Afghanistan

July 21, 2026 Current News Articles

By Elian Peltier and Safiullah Padshah

Reporting from Kabul, Afghanistan.

The New York Times

July 21, 2026, 5:38 a.m. ET

At least 23 people died and more than 80 others were injured in flash floods that struck a province in eastern Afghanistan on Monday, local officials said, adding that the death toll would likely rise as dozens remained missing.

The floods, caused by heavy monsoon rains, hit communities in Parun, the capital city of Nuristan Province on the border with Pakistan. Torrents of muddy water cascaded down surrounding mountains in the middle of the afternoon and killed Parun’s mayor, according to Faraidoon Samim, a spokesman for Nuristan’s governor.

Afghanistan, which is prone to extreme weather events, was already battling a severe humanitarian crisis compounded by U.S. aid cuts and the forced return of more than 3.5 million Afghans from neighboring Iran and Pakistan since the beginning of last year.

Only seven of the 23 bodies recovered in Nuristan had been identified as of Tuesday because they had been severely damaged by the floodwaters, Mr. Samim said. He added that because of the province’s isolation, support from Kabul, the capital, was not expected to reach Parun until late Tuesday.

Local teams from the Red Crescent, as well as the police and intelligence officers, were participating in the rescue operation, according to Mr. Samim.

Although Parun is 115 miles northeast of Kabul, it takes 10 to 12 hours by road to reach it. Nuristan is among Afghanistan’s least developed regions — most districts there are still not connected to Parun by paved roads and telephone and internet services remain limited.

Forests and shrub land cover more than a quarter of Nuristan, making it Afghanistan’s most forested province. But it has been ravaged by decades of mass deforestation, driven by illegal logging, that has slowed down absorption of water into soils. The Taliban banned illegal logging shortly after they came back to power in 2021 and even created a military unit dedicated to fighting it.

Two United Nations officials urged Western countries to remain engaged in Afghanistan on a visit to the country earlier this month, warning that isolating the Taliban-ruled nation would only push it further into instability.

“In Afghanistan, there is never a crisis just on its own,” Alexander De Croo, the head of the U.N. Development Program, told The Associated Press during his visit. “It’s always crisis on top of crisis.”

Deadly floods are an annual occurrence in Afghanistan, especially in the winter and spring. They killed at least 77 people and injured 137 others across the country earlier this year.

Elian Peltier is The Times’s bureau chief for Pakistan and Afghanistan, based in Islamabad.

Afghanistan floods kill at least 20 people, with more than 100 missing

July 21, 2026 Current News Articles

Agence France-Press in Kabul

The Guardian

20 Jul 2026

National disaster agency confirms ‘severe financial and human losses’ in remote province of Nuristan

In Parun, the provincial capital, a further 105 people including the mayor were missing, said Feraidon Samim, a spokesperson for the Nuristan governor.

Journalists familiar with the remote north-eastern area said a market, shops and other buildings were located near Parun’s riverside.

Ashiqullah Safi, the head of an NGO based in the town, said the flood had “completely destroyed the municipality”, including hotels and dozens of shops.

He added that flood waters had left big boulders in the town and residents were searching for the missing without equipment.

Afghanistan’s national disaster management agency said floods had caused “severe financial and human losses” in Parun, where efforts were under way to rescue the injured and recover the bodies of those killed.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the chief spokesperson for the Afghan government, posted on X to confirm reports of deaths and property damage in Nuristan.

Earlier this month, the head of Afghanistan’s environmental protection agency, Matiul Haq Khalis, said flooding in the country had increased.

He said environmental problems “have severely affected the Afghan people and have contributed to a humanitarian crisis in the country”.

Extreme rainfall has become more common and more intense across most of the world because of the human-caused climate crisis. This is because warmer air can hold more water vapour, leading to more severe downpours.

Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Tensions Rise After Reported Clash Between Forces

July 21, 2026 Current News Articles

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

July 20, 2026

Pakistan’s security forces targeted Taliban positions with artillery fire after an attack on Pakistani border posts, Pakistani security sources said, according to a report by Dawn newspaper published on Sunday.

Dawn reported that Taliban fighters attacked Pakistani border posts using light and heavy weapons, but did not identify the exact location of the clashes or provide details on possible casualties.

According to the report, Pakistani forces responded with artillery strikes against Taliban positions across the border. Pakistani security officials said the fighters later withdrew from their positions, though the claim could not be independently verified.

The reported exchange comes amid continued tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities over border security and accusations related to armed groups operating along the frontier.

Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Taliban authorities of failing to prevent Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants from using Afghanistan territory to plan and carry out attacks inside Pakistan. Taliban officials have rejected the allegations and said they do not allow Afghanistan soil to be used against other countries.

The two sides have experienced several armed confrontations along their shared border since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021. Previous disputes have involved border fencing, military installations, and the movement of people and armed groups across the frontier.

No separate public statement from Pakistan’s government or Kabul officials regarding the reported incident was available at the time of publication.

EU Warns Afghanistan Still Faces One of World’s Highest Maternal Mortality Rates

July 21, 2026 Current News Articles

By idel Rahmati

Khaama Press

July 20, 2026

The European Union highlighted maternal healthcare support in Afghanistan, warning the country remains among those with the world’s highest maternal mortality rates.

The European Union has highlighted ongoing efforts to improve maternal and newborn healthcare in Afghanistan, saying the country continues to face one of the world’s highest maternal mortality rates.

In a post on X on Sunday, the EU said its representatives, together with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), visited a midwife-led maternity care center in Logar province.

The EU said the facility, supported financially by the bloc, provides maternal and newborn healthcare services through trained midwives, including support for safe childbirth and essential care before and after delivery.

The bloc said access to skilled healthcare workers, prenatal services, safe delivery facilities and postnatal care remains critical to preventing avoidable deaths among Afghan mothers and newborns.

Afghanistan continues to face major challenges in maternal and child health due to decades of conflict, economic hardship, shortages of medical professionals and limited access to healthcare facilities, particularly in remote and rural areas.

International health agencies have repeatedly warned that disruptions to healthcare funding and reduced humanitarian support could further affect essential services for women and children across the country.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNFPA have called for sustained investment in maternal and reproductive healthcare, emphasizing the importance of trained birth attendants, emergency obstetric services and access to basic medical care.

The European Union remains one of Afghanistan’s key humanitarian donors, supporting healthcare programs that include maternal health services, reproductive healthcare and training for medical workers.

Afghanistan has historically recorded one of the world’s highest maternal mortality rates, with many deaths linked to preventable complications during pregnancy and childbirth. Health organizations say improved access to skilled birth attendants, emergency care and timely medical assistance can significantly reduce maternal and newborn deaths.

The country’s healthcare system has faced increasing pressure since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, as international development funding declined and humanitarian needs expanded. Aid agencies have warned that continued financial constraints could threaten access to life-saving healthcare services, especially for women and children.

Contact Commission Reports Return of 26 Afghan Figures in One Month

July 21, 2026 Current News Articles

Hadia Ziaei

Tolo News

20 July 2026

Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islami Chief Urges Continued Dialogue With Afghanistan

July 21, 2026 Current News Articles

TOLOnews

TV Network

Tolo News

20 July 2026

He Stressed that the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan share longstanding historical ties and should not bear the cost of disputes between their governments.

Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islami leader has expressed concern over the continued tensions between Kabul and Islamabad, stressing that dialogue must continue to resolve the disputes between the two sides.

In an interview with a Pakistani media outlet, Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman said talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan could proceed with the participation of the Pakistani government, religious scholars, and an international organization comprising Islamic scholars.

Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman, leader of Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islami, said: “Our foreign policy and overall approach have become weak, and those whom we once considered friends are no longer our friends. We need to reflect on the mistakes we made in the past. The issue of Afghanistan cannot be managed by saying we have reached a point of no return and that if they attack, we will attack in return. Dialogue and exchange of views must continue.”

Naeem ur Rehman also emphasized that the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan share longstanding historical ties and should not bear the cost of disputes between their governments.

The Pakistani politician stressed the need to resume talks between Kabul and Islamabad, saying the failure of previous negotiations should not bring dialogue between the two countries to an end.

He added: “What wrong have the people done that they should be set against one another? The government should seriously pursue the proposal to establish a joint trade zone instead of blaming each other and allowing the current difficult situation to deteriorate to an irreparable point.”

This is not the first time Pakistani political parties have called for resolving tensions with Afghanistan. Previously, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), the Tahafuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan party, and an opposition alliance led by Mahmood Khan Achakzai also urged an end to tensions between Kabul and Islamabad.

Mohammad Akram Arefi, a university lecturer, said: “Ordinary people and politicians in Pakistan do not support tensions with Afghanistan because such tensions harm both countries equally.”

In recent months, escalating tensions, cross-border attacks, and Pakistan’s forced deportation of Afghan migrants have further strained relations between Kabul and Islamabad, leaving the future of dialogue between the two sides uncertain.

Flash floods kill at least 20 in Afghanistan and leave more than 100 missing

July 21, 2026 Current News Articles

By ABDUL QAHAR AFGHAN

Associated Press

July 20, 2026

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Flash floods in eastern Afghanistan have killed 20 people, injured about 80 more and left more than 100 missing, Afghan authorities said Monday.

The floods struck the eastern province of Nuristan, said Yousaf Hammad, spokesman for the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority, adding that a search and rescue operation was underway to locate the missing.

“Unfortunately, severe floods today in Parun city and several other areas of Nuristan province have caused heavy loss of life and property among our fellow citizens,” Hammad said, adding that the floods had caused extensive damage to people’s homes, agricultural land and public facilities.

“We urge all citizens to stay away from flood-prone areas and zones at risk,” he said.

Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, with snow and heavy rain that trigger flash floods, often killing dozens, or even hundreds, of people at a time. In 2024, more than 300 people died in springtime flash floods. Earlier this year, at least 110 people were killed by widespread flooding and landslides in several parts of the country

Decades of conflict, along with poor infrastructure, a struggling economy, deforestation and the intensifying effects of climate change, have amplified the impact of such disasters, particularly in remote areas where many homes are built of mud and offer limited protection against sudden deluges or heavy snowfall.

“We were saddened to learn that floods caused loss of life and property damage in Nuristan province this afternoon,” said government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. “We pray for those who lost their lives in this incident and for a speedy recovery for the injured.”

More extreme weather was forecast, with heavy rain, thunderstorms, strong winds accompanied by dust and sand, and flash floods predicted for 10 of the country’s 34 provinces, the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation’s meteorology department said. The ministry warned residents to avoid riverbanks and other areas at risk of flooding.

___

Elena Becatoros contributed from Athens, Greece

Nearly One Million Afghans Work in Carpet Industry: Report

July 18, 2026 Current News Articles

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

July 18, 2026

Nearly one million Afghans work directly or indirectly in the carpet industry, with exports topping 760,000 square meters this year, officials said.

Nearly one million people in Afghanistan are employed directly or indirectly in the country’s carpet industry, according to the Taliban’s Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, which says the sector remains one of the country’s largest sources of employment and export earnings.

In a statement posted on X on Saturday, the office said Afghanistan has exported more than 760,000 square meters of handwoven carpets so far this year, with Turkey, several European countries and Arab states among the main export destinations.

Officials said only a small share of carpets produced in Afghanistan is sold domestically, while most output is shipped to foreign markets. They added that Afghan carpets are increasingly being exported under Afghanistan’s own name and branding rather than being re-exported through third countries, although the figures and claims could not be independently verified.

The administration attributed the industry’s international reputation to the traditional craftsmanship, handmade production methods and distinctive designs of Afghan carpets, describing the sector as an important contributor to economic activity and foreign trade.

Carpet weaving is one of Afghanistan’s oldest traditional industries and remains a vital source of income for hundreds of thousands of households, particularly in the northern, western and central provinces. In addition to weavers, the industry supports employment in wool processing, dyeing, washing, packaging, transportation and export services.

Afghan handwoven carpets are internationally recognized for their craftsmanship, geometric patterns and high-quality wool. The industry has historically ranked among Afghanistan’s most valuable non-agricultural export sectors, generating foreign currency earnings and supporting rural livelihoods.

Despite its export potential, the carpet industry continues to face significant challenges. Producers and exporters have long cited transportation bottlenecks, limited access to international markets, banking restrictions, high shipping costs and broader economic difficulties as major obstacles to expanding exports.

International organizations have also noted that many Afghan carpet weavers work in low-income households, where access to finance, modern production facilities and global marketing opportunities remains limited. Industry representatives have argued that improving market access, trade logistics and financial services could help increase exports and create additional employment across the sector.

UN Official: Al-Qaeda Still Maintains a Presence in Afghanistan

July 18, 2026 Current News Articles

Mitra Majeedy

Journalist

Tolo News

18 July 2026

Last Wednesday, Russia’s FM Sergey Lavrov also said that ISIS-K is attempting to use Afghanistan as a base to expand its activities and establish a caliphate.

The acting UN Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism has claimed in an interview with Russia’s TASS news agency that Al-Qaeda still maintains a presence in Afghanistan, although its activities in the country have significantly declined.

According to TASS, Alexander Zuev said that the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are currently the most active militant groups operating in Afghanistan.

TASS quoted Zuev as saying: “Over the past decades, various terrorist groups have traditionally operated in Afghanistan. Al-Qaeda is not currently highly active there, but it continues to maintain its presence in the country.”

Last Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also said that ISIS-K is attempting to use Afghanistan as a base to expand its activities and establish a caliphate.

Responding to those remarks, the spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Ministry of Interior said the Islamic Emirate remains committed to its obligations under the Doha Agreement and does not allow any group to operate from Afghan territory.

Abdul Matin Qani, the ministry’s spokesperson, said: “We have fulfilled the commitment we made in Doha that Afghanistan’s territory will remain secure. We have carried out this responsibility at the regional level. There is no subversive group in Afghanistan that poses a threat to the country’s internal or cross-border security.”

Military analyst Turyalai Zazai said: “Their concerns should hold no value for the people of Afghanistan because these are not genuine concerns; rather, they are propaganda aimed at the Afghan people to achieve political objectives.”

This comes after the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate previously stated that ISIS has been suppressed in Afghanistan and that no group will be allowed to use Afghan territory against other countries.

Agence France-Press in Kabul

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