Afghanistan’s defence ministry said it carried out drone strikes in response to a Pakistani military base in the northern city of Kohat, causing heavy damage.
Pakistan bombed the fuel depot of private airline Kam Air near Afghanistan’s Kandahar airport, the Taliban said on Friday, a significant escalation in the worst conflict in years between the neighbours despite China’s efforts to mediate.
Following Beijing’s stepped-up mediation efforts, no Pakistani air strikes were reported by either side in over a week until the bombing in Kandahar. Ground clashes along the 2,600 km (1,600-mile) border had also tapered off, although there had been intermittent bouts of fighting.
“The company (Kam Air) supplies fuel to civilian airlines as well as to United Nations aircraft,” Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said.
Pakistan also carried out bombings in other areas, including the capital Kabul, with women and children among those killed as civilian homes were targeted in some locations, he said, adding that the aggression would “not go unanswered”.
Pakistani security sources said the military had carried out overnight strikes on four militant hideouts in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia province, including one targeting an oil storage facility at the Kandahar airfield.
Afghanistan’s defence ministry said it carried out drone strikes in response on a Pakistani military base in the northern city of Kohat, causing heavy damage.
Pakistan’s military and information ministry did not respond to a request for comment.
The fighting erupted last month with Pakistani air strikes inside Afghanistan that Islamabad said targeted militant strongholds. Afghanistan called the strikes a violation of sovereignty as it launched retaliatory attacks.
Militancy has been a bone of contention between allies-turned-foes Pakistan and Afghanistan, with Islamabad saying Kabul provides a safe haven to militants executing attacks on Pakistan.
The Taliban, however, denies the allegation and says militancy is Pakistan’s internal problem.
Reuters had reported on Thursday that mediation efforts by China, which had been urging an end to the violence, had helped ease the fighting.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi had also said that Islamabad and Beijing were engaged in a “dialogue process” on Afghanistan.
Pakistan bombs airline fuel depot near Afghanistan’s Kandahar airport: Taliban
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghanistan’s Taliban government on Tuesday rejected U.S. allegations that it detains foreigners to obtain leverage over other countries, saying Afghan authorities arrest people for violating laws not to make a deal.
The U.S. State Department on Monday announced the designation of Afghanistan as a sponsor of wrongful detention, accusing it of engaging in “hostage diplomacy.” Afghanistan joined Iran as countries singled out by the U.S. in the past two weeks for detaining Americans in hopes of extracting policy concessions.
On Tuesday, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul called that designation “regrettable.”
In July, the Taliban delegation to a U.N.-led meeting in Doha said that Afghans detained at the U.S. military base in Guantanamo Bay should be exchanged for Americans detained in Afghanistan. The ministry on Tuesday described ongoing diplomatic discussions with the U.S. on the matter as constructive. But it underlined that any foreigners detained in Afghanistan had violated Afghan law.
“The government of Afghanistan underscores that no foreign nationals have been detained for purposes of a deal,” the ministry said. “Certain individuals have been detained on charges of violating established laws, and in many instances, they have been released in the normal course following the completion of legal procedures.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday warned Americans not to travel to Afghanistan, saying that the Taliban “continues to unjustly detain our fellow Americans and other foreign nationals.”
“The Taliban continues to use terrorist tactics, kidnapping individuals for ransom or to seek policy concessions. These despicable tactics need to end,” Rubio said.
Rubio called for the release of two Americans believed to be in Taliban custody: Dennis Coyle, an academic researcher detained in the country since January 2025, and Mahmood Habibi, an Afghan American businessman who worked as a contractor for a Kabul-based telecommunications company and vanished in 2022.
The FBI and Habibi’s family have said they believe Habibi was taken by Taliban forces, but the Taliban has denied holding him.
In September, 2025, the Afghan Taliban government freed U.S. citizen Amir Amiri from Afghan prison in a bid to normalize relations with the United States.
Afghanistan’s Taliban government rejects US allegation that it engages in ‘hostage diplomacy’
Representatives of 40 countries at the United Nations Security Council issued a joint statement condemning the restrictive policies imposed on women and girls in Afghanistan.
The statement was released on Wednesday to mark International Women’s Day, with the countries expressing solidarity with Afghan women and girls facing increasing limitations on their rights and freedoms.
The announcement was made ahead of a Security Council briefing on the work of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), where the situation of women’s rights remains a key concern.
The joint position was presented by countries with shared commitments on women, peace, and security, along with members of the “Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security” at the United Nations.
The countries criticized what they described as systematic violations of the rights of Afghan women and girls and called for greater international attention to the issue.
They also warned that preventing girls from accessing education and restricting women from working could have long-term consequences for Afghanistan’s economic development and social stability.
According to new findings by UNAMA, women in Afghanistan face significantly greater barriers in accessing justice, with the process being four times more difficult for women than for men.
Diplomats and rights advocates say the international community continues to urge stronger engagement and policy changes to improve the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan.
40 Countries at UN Condemn Restrictions on Women in Afghanistan
A United Nations official says thousands of Afghan migrants living in Iran are crossing the border back into Afghanistan every day due to ongoing attacks by the United States and Israel. The UN refugee agency warns that many Afghans are leaving Iran amid growing insecurity and fear caused by the escalating conflict.
Arafat Jamal, the UN refugee agency’s representative in Afghanistan, told Al Jazeera that returning Afghans are effectively “fleeing one war only to arrive in another.” He said many of the returnees are heading back to a country already facing tensions and instability.
According to Jamal, Afghanistan is currently experiencing heightened tensions along its border with Pakistan, making the situation even more difficult for returning migrants. “For these people, there are no good choices,” he said, describing the harsh realities facing displaced Afghan families.
The UN official said many Afghans are escaping the wartime conditions that people inside Iran are currently experiencing. Fear of airstrikes and the deteriorating security situation have pushed many migrants to leave the country.
Jamal said that since the beginning of this year alone, around 110,000 Afghan migrants have left Iran. He added that the departures appear to be largely preventive, as families attempt to avoid the worst consequences of the conflict.
Afghanistan has long hosted large numbers of returnees from neighboring countries, particularly Iran and Pakistan, where millions of Afghans have lived as refugees or migrant workers for decades.
Humanitarian organizations warn that Afghanistan’s fragile economy and limited aid funding make it difficult to absorb large numbers of returning migrants, many of whom arrive with few resources or support networks.
The UN refugee agency says urgent humanitarian assistance will be needed to support the growing number of returnees, as continued regional tensions risk worsening displacement across the region.
UN Official Says Afghans Flee War in Iran Only to Face Another Crisis in Afghanistan
ATaliban official in northern Afghanistan has threatened to kill Americans using weapons seized from US forces, as tensions between Washington and the Taliban escalated following America’s designation of Afghanistan as a state sponsor of wrongful detention.
Ataullah Zaid, spokesman for the Taliban governor of Balkh province, issued the threat on Tuesday after resharing a post by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on X. Writing directly to Rubio, Zaid said: “You once brought us to our knees here. If you wish to do so again, we are ready, and we will give you a devastating response.”
He added: “Do not forget that we will kill you with your own weapons, the very weapons we have acquired.”
The remarks came a day after the State Department placed Taliban-controlled Afghanistan on its list of governments that wrongfully detain American citizens, only the second entity to receive the designation, after the Islamic Republic of Iran.
At least three US nationals are currently believed to be held in Taliban custody. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who announced the designation on Monday, accused the Taliban of using hostage-taking as a tool of political leverage and said the tactic would not yield results against the current administration.
The fate of the detained Americans has been a central issue in Washington’s dealings with the Taliban in recent months. US special envoy for hostage affairs Adam Boehler travelled to Kabul in late 2025 alongside former US Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad for talks with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on securing their release.
Taliban Official Threatens To Kill Americans With US-Supplied Weapons
Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday designated Afghanistan as a “state sponsor of wrongful detention” and urged the ruling Taliban to release two U.S. citizens he said are “unjustly detained.”
“Today, I am designating Afghanistan as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention. The Taliban continues to use terrorist tactics, kidnapping individuals for ransom or to seek policy concessions. These despicable tactics need to end,” Rubio said in a release.
“It is not safe for Americans to travel to Afghanistan because the Taliban continues to unjustly detain our fellow Americans and other foreign nationals,” he added.
Rubio also called on the Taliban to release Dennis Coyle, Mahmood Habibi and “all Americans unjustly detained in Afghanistan now and commit to cease the practice of hostage diplomacy forever.”
Coyle, 64, was detained in January of last year without charges by the Taliban General Directorate of Intelligence, according to a website run by his family. At the time, Coyle was “legally working to support Afghan language communities as an academic researcher” and has still not been charged with a crime, his family said.
The State Department declared last June that Coyle was wrongfully detained.
“Dennis has been held in near-solitary conditions, requiring permission even to use the bathroom, and without access to adequate medical care,” Coyle’s family said. “His family is deeply concerned for his health and well-being. … Dennis’s elderly mother, Donna, and his three sisters—Amy, Patti, and Molly—miss him profoundly. This past year has been marked by absence and grief.”
In August of 2022, the Taliban’s General Directorate of Intelligence abducted Habibi, an American citizen who was born in Afghanistan, and his driver from their vehicle in the capital of Kabul, according to the State Department.
Habibi, 38, was previously Afghanistan’s director of civil aviation and worked for the Kabul-based telecommunications company Asia Consultancy Group, according to the FBI. The bureau, which is seeking information regarding Habibi’s disappearance, notes that the Taliban detained 29 other employees of the company and has released all but Habibi and one other.
Habibi has not been heard from since his arrest, while the Taliban has not provided information on his whereabouts or condition, according to the State Department and FBI.
The Taliban retook power in Afghanistan in 2021, upon the U.S. military’s chaotic withdrawal from the country after two decades of war under Trump and former presidents Bush,Obama and Biden.
The conflict, the longest in American history, cost $2.3 trillion, according to the Costs of War Project at Brown University. That initiative also determined 2,324 U.S. service members, 3,917 U.S. contractors, 1,144 allied troops and 46,319 civilians died in the war.
The cost of caring for veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq will reach between $2.2 trillion and $2.5 trillion by 2050, according to the project.
Meanwhile, the Taliban has no “political or armed opposition that represent a serious threat to the group or its authoritarian rule” and places “severe restrictions” on Afghan women and girls, according to a March 2025 report from the Congressional Research Service.
Rubio designates Afghanistan as ‘state sponsor of wrongful detention’
UN Women says 90% of households headed by women in Afghanistan do not have adequate access to food, highlighting severe levels of food insecurity among vulnerable families.
The UN agency said Sunday, marking International Women’s Day, that women who lead households face some of the largest barriers in meeting their families’ basic needs.
It added that many of these women struggle to secure food and essential resources as they cope with economic hardship and limited livelihood opportunities.
UN Women stressed that expanding humanitarian assistance and improving women’s access to food support could significantly help female-headed households and reduce immediate hardship.
Afghanistan has been facing a deep humanitarian and economic crisis since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, leaving millions of people dependent on aid.
Restrictions on women’s employment and participation in public life have further reduced income opportunities for many families, particularly those led by women.
Humanitarian organizations warn that without sustained assistance and improved access to livelihoods, food insecurity among female-headed households in Afghanistan could worsen further.
UN Women says 90% of female-headed households in Afghanistan lack sufficient food
Afghan traders have warned that rising regional tensions and trade disruptions could push the country toward a serious food shortage if the situation continues.
Khan Jan Alokozay, a board member of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, said Taliban authorities are pressuring traders to sell essential food items at lower prices despite increasing import costs.
He stated in an interview with Amu TV that the prices of several basic commodities have risen after key trade routes with Pakistan were closed and regional instability disrupted supply chains. Traders fear continued pressure could discourage imports and reduce food availability.
The warning comes as tensions between the Taliban administration and Pakistan have escalated into border clashes in recent weeks, further affecting the movement of goods between the two neighbors.
Both sides have traded accusations over the conflict. Pakistani officials say militants operating from Afghanistan territory have launched attacks inside Pakistan, while Taliban authorities deny the claims and accuse Pakistan of violating Afghanistan territory through cross-border strikes.
Alokozay said Afghanistan currently has enough food supplies in markets for about one to one and a half months, but warned that without alternative trade arrangements shortages could emerge.
He noted that rice imports are particularly vulnerable because Afghanistan largely relies on South Asian suppliers rather than Central Asian markets for the commodity.
Imports from countries such as Bangladesh typically arrive through Iran’s Bandar Abbas and Chabahar ports, but recent regional conflict and instability have disrupted these routes and slowed deliveries.
Alokozay urged stronger coordination between trade associations, chambers of commerce and the Taliban’s commerce ministry to address the crisis, warning that continued regional war could significantly worsen Afghanistan’s food supply situation.
Afghanistan risks famine if pressure on traders continues, chamber of commerce says
A UN human rights expert warns restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan risk worsening the health crisis and causing preventable deaths.
Richard Bennett, the UN Human Rights Council’s Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, says policies restricting women are creating a serious health crisis in the country.
Bennett said on Monday that women and girls have increasingly been deprived of access to healthcare services and education. He warned that these policies could lead to suffering, illness, and unnecessary deaths, and may even amount to femicide if restrictions continue.
Bennett also called for the removal of limitations on women and urged authorities to allow girls to resume education, particularly in medical fields.
Since 2021, sweeping restrictions have been imposed on women and girls in Afghanistan, including bans on secondary and university education in many areas.
Human rights organizations say the decline in female health workers has limited women’s access to medical care in a country already facing a fragile health system.
Bennett stressed that denying women their rights not only threatens their lives but also risks undermining Afghanistan’s already strained healthcare system.
UN Expert Warns Women’s Rights Restrictions Could Trigger Health Crisis in Afghanistan
Pakistan launched air strikes deep inside Afghanistan in late February, marking a serious escalation in already fragile bilateral relations. The operation appears to be a calculated military move by Islamabad, reflecting mounting security concerns along one of the most volatile frontiers in the region. Pakistani officials stated that the strikes targeted entrenched Islamist militant positions accused of using Afghan territory as a launchpad for deadly attacks inside Pakistan. According to Islamabad, the objective was to dismantle extremist camps operating along the porous frontier that has long served as a corridor for insurgent networks.
The United Nations has voiced alarm over the crisis, especially at a time when other conflicts — from Myanmar to Sudan— are already straining global humanitarian resources. Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, urged both sides to step back from military escalation and instead pursue dialogue.
According to UN reporting, the humanitarian consequences are already severe. UN News stated that since the recent intensification of hostilities, 56 Afghan civilians — including 24 children and six women — have been killed, while 129 people have been injured. Up to 66,000 people have also been displaced by the fighting.
Some observers believe the true toll may be higher, given the limited information released by both sides. Military casualties also remain unclear.
Türk warned that civilians are paying the highest price for the conflict, stating that people on both sides of the border are fleeing airstrikes, artillery fire, mortar shelling, and gunfire. He urged all parties to end the violence and prioritise humanitarian assistance for those facing extreme hardship.
Initial Pakistani strikes reportedly targeted Afghan military installations in Kabul and Kandahar, along with other locations across the country. The scale of the operation highlights the seriousness with which Pakistan views the militant threat emanating from across the border.
At the heart of the dispute is Pakistan’s assertion that the Afghan Taliban authorities have taken insufficient action against militants linked to Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Kabul strongly rejects this accusation, maintaining that Afghan territory should not be blamed for Pakistan’s internal security challenges.
Regional actors, including the Russian Federation and Saudi Arabia, have called for restraint and urged both sides to de-escalate before tensions spiral further. In this context, the diplomatic role of the United Nations and other neutral actors may prove critical in facilitating dialogue.
Taliban authorities in Kabul condemned the Pakistani operation as a violation of Afghan sovereignty and territorial integrity. From their perspective, the strikes represent not only counterterrorism actions but also an infringement on Afghan state authority — further deepening mistrust between the two neighbours.
As Modern Tokyo Times recently noted, “Pakistan remains under sustained pressure from Islamist militancy, particularly from groups such as Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group. Islamabad argues that these Sunni extremist factions exploit safe havens inside Afghanistan to carry out attacks against Pakistani civilians, security personnel, and religious minorities. From Pakistan’s perspective, the strikes were framed as a matter of national security rather than regional provocation — a stance strongly disputed by the Taliban authorities.”
Türk emphasised the broader humanitarian stakes, warning that “the cycle of retaliation and violence only deepens the suffering of the wider population.” He urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to address their security concerns through dialogue, negotiation, and cooperation.
Millions of Afghans already rely on humanitarian assistance, meaning any prolonged escalation will only deepen the misery faced by an already vulnerable population.
At the same time, Pakistan can ill afford a prolonged military campaign given its economic challenges and internal pressures. For this reason, it is hoped that the United Nations and responsible regional actors can act as honest brokers, encouraging both sides to pursue a diplomatic path that addresses security concerns while preventing further human suffering.
Afghanistan and Pakistan Military Clashes: UN Calls for Dialogue
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
