UNAMA Chief Warns of Severe Food Crisis in Afghanistan

She described food security as Afghanistan’s most pressing challenge at present.

Roza Otunbayeva, the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), has warned of a severe food crisis in the country.

She described food security as Afghanistan’s most pressing challenge at present.

Referring to the health situation in Afghanistan, Otunbayeva noted that alongside a high birth rate, child and maternal mortality rates have also alarmingly increased.

She stated: “the most important thing right now is to feed the nation. We are trying to mobilize all of the donor community to provide seeds to farmers, not to the Taliban.”

“We must enhance agricultural activities and production in Afghanistan, prioritize increasing exports, and make better use of Afghanistan’s mineral and economic resources so that we are not dependent on foreign aid in the long run,” said Mir Shakir Yaqoubi, an economic affairs analyst.

Poverty, unemployment, the devastating effects of climate change, and the forced deportation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan and Iran are among the challenges that have consistently concerned the international community.

Some Kabul residents say they are facing many difficulties and call on authorities and international organizations to create job opportunities in the country.

“Job opportunities must be available, and companies should exist so that people can sustain their livelihoods. Unfortunately, there are neither factories nor anyone offering us permanent jobs,” said Islamuddin, a resident of Kabul.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Economy emphasizes the Islamic Emirate’s efforts to reduce unemployment and poverty while calling for continued humanitarian aid from the international community.

Abdul Latif Nazari, the deputy minister of economy, stated: “The Islamic Emirate has launched employment programs and large-scale economic and national projects to address economic challenges and food insecurity. At the same time, we urge the international community to continue assisting the Afghan people.”

Previously, various UN agencies and the World Bank had also warned about escalating food insecurity in Afghanistan, stating that one-third of the country’s population—approximately 12.6 million people—urgently need humanitarian assistance.

UNAMA Chief Warns of Severe Food Crisis in Afghanistan
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Today Marks Fifth Year of Doha Agreement

At times, officials from the previous US administration also accused Afghanistan of violating certain parts of the agreement.

The Doha Agreement between the Islamic Emirate and the United States marks its fifth anniversary today.

Five years ago, on the 10th of Hoot (February 29, 2020), the two sides signed an agreement in Doha, Qatar, which led to the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan.

The Islamic Emirate delegation, led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, and Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, signed the Doha Agreement after eighteen months of negotiations.

“The Doha Agreement was signed between US Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad and Mullah Baradar, along with Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, in Doha under Qatar’s mediation,” said Hadi Quraishi, a political analyst.

The agreement focused on four key points:
–Preventing the use of Afghan soil against the security of the US and its allies
–Complete withdrawal of all foreign forces from Afghanistan
–Initiation of intra-Afghan negotiations
–Establishment of a permanent ceasefire

“Afghanistan should not pose a threat to regional and international countries, and the Americans should not violate Afghanistan’s airspace. Additionally, intra-Afghan dialogues should be properly managed. Unfortunately, the Americans did not fulfill some of these commitments,” said Zalmay Afghanyar, a political analyst.

On this occasion, Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, also stated that the United States has failed to implement some of its commitments under the agreement.

Mujahid said: “There were certain provisions in the agreement that the US was supposed to implement, but they have not been carried out yet. These include removing names from sanction lists and taking steps toward engagement with Afghanistan, which have not yet been fulfilled. We want these commitments to be completed. On the other hand, the Islamic Emirate has adhered to the general contents of the agreement, and so far, we see no issues in this regard.”

At times, officials from the previous US administration also accused Afghanistan of violating certain parts of the agreement.

According to the agreement, the US committed to withdrawing all its forces and those of its allies from Afghanistan within 14 months.

Following this process, US forces left Afghanistan in August 2021, resulting in the Islamic Emirate taking control of the country.

Today Marks Fifth Year of Doha Agreement
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Key Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing remains shut, disrupting trade and movement of people

By Riaz Khan | AP
The Washington Post
February 27, 2025
Officials say a nearly week-long closure of a key crossing on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border has disrupted bilateral trade and the movement of people

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — A nearly weeklong closure of a key crossing on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border has disrupted bilateral trade and the movement of people, causing financial losses to traders and leaving people stranded in harsh winter conditions, officials said Thursday.

The Torkham border crossing has remained closed since Feb. 21 after Pakistan shut it down over a dispute concerning Afghanistan’s construction of a border post.

Since then, more than 5,000 trucks and vehicles carrying goods, including fruits and vegetables, have been stranded on both sides, awaiting the reopening of the trade route, according to Ziaul Haq Sarhadi, a director of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Torkham also serves as a vital corridor for transporting goods between Pakistan and Central Asian countries, and Sarhadi urged both countries to resolve their dispute so that bilateral trade and movement of people could resume.

At Torkham, truck driver Najeeb Ullah said that he was forced to sleep in his vehicle because he can’t leave it unguarded on the road.

“We request Pakistan and Afghanistan to have mercy on us, as we are suffering without any reason,” he told reporters.

Hundreds stranded near the border

Mustafa Khan, another driver, said that he was hoping to return to his northwestern city of Peshawar after delivering a supply of cement in Afghan city Jalalabad, but “I am stuck here since Friday, and I have no idea for how many days we will have to face this trouble.”

Farhad Nusrat, an Afghan citizen, said that he was returning home with his mother and children, and the closure of the border crossing has forced them to spend their days and nights in the open area. He appealed to Pakistani authorities to reopen the border.

Authorities said that hundreds of Pakistanis were also stranded on the other side of the border.

There was no immediate comment from Pakistan. However, Abdul Jabbar Hikmat, the commissioner on the Afghan side of the border, confirmed the closure by Pakistan.

“Whenever Pakistani authorities conduct construction on their side, we say nothing. But whenever we do something, they close the border,” Hikmat said.

Border fence to strengthen control

Abdul Salam Jawad, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s Ministry of Trade and E-commerce, said that the border crossing was shut by Pakistan unilaterally and the Afghan authorities were trying to resolve this issue.

He said the closure also affected landlocked Afghanistan’s transit trade. He provided no further details, but other Afghan Taliban and Pakistani local officials said those stranded on both sides included Afghan women, children, and patients who were either returning home or wanted to travel to Pakistan to receive medical treatment.

Border closures at Torkham are common because of disputes over new posts along the porous Durand Line, which Afghanistan has never officially recognized. Pakistan, meanwhile, has nearly completed a border fence to strengthen control.

The Torkham crossing is located on the edge of Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where Pakistani Taliban militants frequently target security forces.

The Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, are a separate group but allied with the Afghan Taliban, which seized power in 2021. The Taliban takeover in Afghanistan has emboldened the TTP, and increasing attacks by TTP on security forces in Pakistan has strained relations between Islamabad and Kabul.

Rasool Dawar contributed to this report.

Key Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing remains shut, disrupting trade and movement of people
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These countries could lose the most, if U.S. stops aid

By

Reuters

The U.S. Agency for International Development, Washington’s primary humanitarian aid agency, has been a top target of a government reduction program spearheaded by billionaire and Trump ally Elon Musk since President Donald Trump took office on January 20.

Hours after he was sworn in, Trump ordered a 90-day pause to all U.S. foreign assistance pending assessments of efficiencies and consistency with his foreign policy. Four days later, on January 24, the U.S. State Department issued a “stop-work” order for all existing foreign assistance and paused new aid with the exception of waivers for military financing for Israel and Egypt. While the government gave an exemption for emergency food assistance and issued waivers for certain life-saving aid, uncertainty around most other programs has put thousands of jobs and millions of dollars’ worth of aid material in jeopardy.

The effects of shutting foreign aid down permanently could have impacts globally, especially for countries in Africa and the Middle East. The U.S. has contributed the largest foreign assistance among countries, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Why does USAID matter?

Foreign assistance is provided by different agencies of the U.S. government. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) was the primary foreign assistance agency between 2014 and 2024. The agency disbursed, or spent, $314.3 billion out of the total $635.2 billion in this period. The State Department disbursed $175 billion. Obligations are money that was owed.

The agency also disbursed a substantial amount to provide food, water, shelter, healthcare and other such services for communities affected by natural and human-made disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, drought and wars.

Most of USAID’s assistance goes to health and humanitarian causes

The U.S. state and defense departments provide most of their assistance to peace and security measures.

Programs in the Peace and Security sector received the most assistance given by the Department of State and the Department of Defense. The Stabilisation operations and security sector reform program, which was the top program for the sector, attempts to stabilise conflict-affected regions and help improve a country’s security institutions like the military, police, and intelligence services.

Reliance on the U.S. for foreign assistance

As many as 31 countries, the majority in the Asia and Oceania and Sub-Saharan Africa regions, were reliant on the United States for at least one-fourth of their total foreign aid. The Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Thailand in Asia and Botswana and Eswatini in Sub-Saharan Africa were reliant on the U.S. for over half of their foreign aid.

Different regions, different priorities

The Middle East and North Africa region received nearly half of the aid disbursed for the Peace and Security sector. Israel, Afghanistan and Egypt were the top beneficiaries. The Trump administration exempted military aid to Israel and Egypt when it first decided to pause all foreign assistance.

The Sub-Saharan Africa region, which has received a bulk of the aid disbursed for the Health and Humanitarian Assistance sectors, may not be so lucky. Due to the sudden freeze in aid, anti-malaria programs in Kenya and Ghana have come to a standstill. They had received $434 million and $334 million respectively to combat the vector-borne disease. The vast majority of the world’s 597,000 malaria deaths in 2023 were African children aged under five years old, the WHO had said in December last year.

Although HIV/AIDS programs have been exempted from the freeze, the uncertainty around the future of the programs has caused widespread concerns. The United Nations AIDS agency has said that more than 6 million people could die from the disease in the next four years if funding is pulled from all programs. South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania have received the most aid to combat AIDS.

Ukraine, which has been dependent on the U.S. to rebuild its economy after its war with Russia, is likely to be affected as well. It has received more than $28 billion in assistance for Economic Development sector, nearly 90% of the total aid for the sector received by Europe and Eurasia.

Peace and security is the largest sector, with most funding going to the Middle East and North Africa

Other sectors such as health and humanitarian causes were more funded in Sub-Saharan Africa, or in world programs.

Region by region breakdown

The charts below show the four countries which have received the most foreign aid from the United States, in each region, and the five programs for which the most aid was disbursed.Along with Israel and Egypt, Jordan and Iraq received the most aid in the Middle East and North Africa region. While Israel, Iraq and Egypt received the most military assistance, Jordan benefitted from assistance across all sectors including economic development, health and basic education. Investment bank JP Morgan noted that USAID has provided significant budgetary support in Ukraine and Jordan in particular and making up the lost support for healthcare, agriculture and infrastructure in those countries and elsewhere will be tough.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Health was the top sector for U.S. foreign assistance in the Sub-Saharan Africa region

Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan and Nigeria received the most aid from the U.S. in the Sub-Saharan Africa region. The Health and Humanitarian Assistance sectors accounted for the highest aid disbursements for these four countries with the top health programs being assistance for HIV/AIDS patients and tackling Malaria. Kenya accounted for 9% of all deaths recorded due to HIV/AIDS in 2021, according to Our World in Data while Nigeria recorded 305 new cases of malaria per 1,000 people in 2022, which was among the highest in the world.

Protection, Assistance and Solutions, which was also a top program, aims to provide support on basic necessities in case of losses due to natural and human-made disasters. It also intends to identify risks and provide strategies to safeguard persons in possible harm.

Asia and Oceania

Peace and security was the top sector for U.S. foreign assistance in the Asia and Oceania region

Afghanistan has received $53.1 billion from the U.S., the highest for any country between 2014 and 2024. The majority of its aid was disbursed for the Stabilization Operations and Security Sector Reform program. It has also received significant assistance towards the Economic Development sector and Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance sector.

The United States’ assistance to Afghanistan significantly reduced over the years. Between 2014 and 2019, it disbursed $810 million on average every year. However, after it decided to pull out its troops from the country in early 2020, its aid has significantly reduced. Between 2020 and 2024, it disbursed $217 million on average every year.

Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Philippines were the other major beneficiaries in the region.

Europe and Western Hemisphere

Economic development, largely due to Ukraine, was the top sector for U.S. foreign assistance in Europe, Eurasia and Western Hemisphere.

anistan, Ukraine has received the most foreign assistance from the U.S. However, unlike Afghanistan, Ukraine received the majority of its aid from 2022. Before Russia invaded Ukraine, the country had received just over $4 billion between 2014 and 2021. However, since 2022, this figure increased by over nine times. From 2022, it has received nearly $40 billion from the U.S. for all sectors. Now with aid frozen, non-military programs are severely affected as a lot of them depend on the U.S. for its finances.

Note

Data for 2024 is as of December 19, 2024 from ForeignAssistance.gov. All data are for disbursements unless specified otherwise. All disbursements amounts are in constant USD (2023). Foreign assistance benefitting multiple countries may be assigned ‘World Programs’ for global programs

These countries could lose the most, if U.S. stops aid
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Trump and Defense Secretary to review failed Afghanistan withdrawal, will call for General firings

Khaama Press

U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced on Wednesday that they are reviewing the failed withdrawal from Afghanistan. Trump urged Hegseth to fire all generals involved in the withdrawal process.

In a cabinet meeting, Trump stated, “I wouldn’t tell the Secretary of Defense what to do, but if I were him, I would fire all of them. I don’t think the generals involved in Afghanistan will get promoted, most of them will retire.”

Trump and Hegseth emphasized that they will thoroughly review all aspects of the failed U.S. withdrawal, vowing to be more accountable than the previous administration in handling the situation.

Pete Hegseth confirmed during the meeting that a comprehensive review of the entire Afghanistan withdrawal process is underway. He assured that they would take full responsibility for the outcome and its implications.

Trump reiterated his call for accountability from those responsible for the deaths and injuries of U.S. soldiers during the withdrawal. He expressed deep concern over the casualties and described the handling of the situation as “horrific.”

The last U.S. soldier left Kabul on August 15, 2021, marking the complete withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan. This event coincided with the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban after the flight of President Ashraf Ghani.

While the new U.S. administration has yet to announce a clear strategy for Afghanistan, Trump’s continued focus on retrieving military equipment and holding those responsible for the chaotic exit reflects ongoing tensions over the handling of the withdrawal.

Trump and Defense Secretary to review failed Afghanistan withdrawal, will call for General firings
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China continues economic support to Taliban, will plan refugee settlement: Chinese Envoy

Khaama Press

Chinese Ambassador to Kabul, Zhao Xing, during a meeting with Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, the Taliban Minister for Refugees and Returnees, stated that Beijing would continue its economic cooperation with Afghanistan.

 

The Ministry of Refugees and Returnees of the Taliban announced on Wednesday, February 26, that China has plans to build a settlement for refugees and returnees.
Zhao Xing emphasized the importance of diplomatic relations between China and the Taliban, highlighting the significance of maintaining strong ties for future cooperation. Mawlawi Abdul Kabir noted that in order to build the settlement for migrants, they would need assistance from humanitarian organizations.

 

Over the past three years, China and the Taliban have strengthened their economic and political relations, with China supporting the Taliban in various sectors.

This partnership reflects China’s long-term interest in the region, as it aims to solidify its role in Afghanistan’s economy and political landscape.

 

Amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan have been forcibly deporting Afghan refugees, exacerbating the dire conditions many face.

 

This forced deportation comes as the country struggles with severe instability and economic challenges, leaving many refugees vulnerable to further hardship.

China continues economic support to Taliban, will plan refugee settlement: Chinese Envoy
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Trump: Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan should have been retained for strategic reasons

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

February 27, 2025

Donald Trump, the President of the United States, stated during a cabinet meeting that the U.S. should have kept Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan. He emphasized that retaining the base was crucial for strategic purposes, not just for Afghanistan.

Trump reiterated his earlier claims about the disastrous U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, specifically highlighting his desire to keep Bagram Airbase. He noted that the base was just one hour away from China’s missile production area and was strategically vital.

Trump further argued that U.S. forces should have left through Bagram instead of Kabul airport, suggesting that the chaotic withdrawal would have been avoided. He criticized the handling of the withdrawal and the choice of Kabul airport for the operation.

He pointed out that Bagram provided a solid, fortified base with hundreds of hectares of land, whereas Kabul’s small, inadequate airport led to the disorganized evacuation.

Trump’s comments reflect his ongoing criticism of the Afghanistan withdrawal and his belief that the loss of Bagram Airbase was a strategic blunder, potentially benefiting China.

Meanwhile, Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with U.S. weapons remaining in Afghanistan, stating that the Taliban is selling them. He emphasized that Afghanistan has become one of the largest sellers of military equipment globally.

He estimated that the U.S. left behind $85 billion worth of military equipment, including helicopters, vehicles, and firearms. Trump insisted that these weapons should be reclaimed, as they are now in the hands of the Taliban.

Trump: Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan should have been retained for strategic reasons
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UN Special Rapporteur warns of worsening Crisis for women in Afghanistan

UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett has warned that the situation for women in Afghanistan is deteriorating rapidly.

The 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council began in Geneva on Thursday, February 27. Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Afghanistan, stated that the situation in Afghanistan is worsening daily, especially for women.

Bennett highlighted that the Taliban’s policies against women have become more severe compared to the previous regime, with signs of further oppression on the horizon. He emphasized the urgent need for global attention to address the deteriorating situation.

He called on the international community to fulfill its responsibility in addressing Afghanistan’s crisis and expressed support for the creation of an independent accountability mechanism that aligns with his work.

Bennett is expected to present his report on Afghanistan today, Thursday, but several side meetings will be held before the main session. The eight-day session, running from February 24 to March 4, will see high-level officials from 100 countries and global organizations participate.

A human rights activist underscored the importance of establishing a UN-led mechanism to collect evidence and documentation in Afghanistan. This approach, which has been utilized in other cases, is seen as vital for providing Afghanistan’s citizens with the support they deserve.

Fatima Amiri, a human rights activist, a survivor of the Kabul Kaj Education Center attack, called on countries to take practical actions in support of Afghanistan’s women and girls. She highlighted the severe impact the current situation is having on women in Afghanistan, stressing the urgent need for international attention to address their plight.

The ongoing efforts by the UN Human Rights Council highlight the growing international awareness and action regarding the human rights abuses in Afghanistan, especially those targeting women and girls.

As the session progresses, it is hoped that concrete actions will be taken by the international community to support the victims in Afghanistan and ensure justice for the crimes committed. Continued advocacy and pressure are needed to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

This session marks a crucial moment for the international community to take responsibility and act decisively in the face of Afghanistan’s ongoing human rights challenges, offering a glimmer of hope for the people of Afghanistan.

UN Special Rapporteur warns of worsening Crisis for women in Afghanistan
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rump Orders Review of US Military Equipment Left in Afghanistan

Trump claimed that Afghanistan is one of the largest sellers of military equipment in the world.

US President Donald Trump has instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to review the process of retrieving American military equipment left in Afghanistan.

In his first cabinet meeting with the US Secretaries of Defense and State, Trump claimed that Afghanistan is one of the largest sellers of military equipment in the world.

The US President stated: “I think we should get a lot of that equipment back. I told Pete to study that, but we left billions, tens of billions of dollars worth of equipment behind, brand new trucks you see them display it every year.”

Trump also stressed that he had intended to keep Bagram Air Base—not for Afghanistan, but due to its proximity to China; however, the Biden administration lost control of the base.

Regarding Bagram Air Base, Trump said: “We were going to get out, but we were going to keep Bagram, not because of Afghanistan but because of China because it’s exactly one hour away from where China makes its nuclear missiles.”

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in the cabinet meeting, stated: “We’re doing a complete review of every single aspect of what happened with the botched withdrawal of Afghanistan and plan to have full accountability, it’s one of the first things we announced at the Defense Department.”

The interim government of Afghanistan has not yet reacted to this statement. However, a spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate previously dismissed the idea of retrieving US military equipment as unrealistic and also asserted that Bagram Air Base is not under the control of any foreign country.

“It is better to find a solution to these tensions through dialogue, understanding, and diplomacy, and the stance of the Islamic Emirate should also be political in this matter,” said Janat Fahim Chakari, a military analyst.

This is not the first time that the US president has spoken about the military equipment left in Afghanistan. He has previously said that continued US aid to Afghanistan is conditional on the return of these military assets.

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Torkham Border closure: Fifth day of $3 million losses and disrupting trade and travel

Khaama Press

The Torkham border crossing has been closed for five days, causing significant problems for travelers and traders on both sides of the border. This closure has disrupted normal movement and trade, creating a severe bottleneck for businesses and individuals relying on this route.

According to local sources, the closure on Wednesday, February 26, was due to the construction of a Taliban checkpoint and facilities near the border. The Pakistani border forces took this action in response to the security concerns posed by these developments on the Afghanistan side.

Pakistani media have reported that the closure of the Torkham crossing is resulting in daily losses of approximately $3 million for traders on both sides. The ongoing shutdown is having a detrimental effect on trade and travel, exacerbating the economic difficulties for people in the region.

So far, the Taliban has not taken any action to resolve the issue or reopen the crossing. Despite the growing concerns, the group has remained silent on the matter, leaving the situation unresolved for now.

Pakistan has not yet officially commented on the closure or provided a statement on how long it expects the situation to last. The tension remains high as the blockage continues, impacting both the local economy and daily life.

The Torkham border has been closed before due to border tensions. In August 2024, the crossing was shut down after clashes between Pakistani forces and the Taliban over road construction near the border. Similar closures have occurred at other crossings like Ghulam Khan and Kharlachi following military confrontations.

Despite ongoing talks between Taliban officials in Nangarhar and Pakistani authorities, no resolution has been reached. Pakistan has requested the Taliban halt construction near the border, but the Taliban have refused. As the closure continues, hundreds of trucks with essential goods are stranded, raising concerns about price hikes and shortages in Afghanistan.

Torkham Border closure: Fifth day of $3 million losses and disrupting trade and travel
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