Pakistan Defence Minister Warns of Possible Airstrikes in Afghanistan

February 18, 2026
Khaama Press

Pakistan warned it may conduct airstrikes in Afghanistan if cross-border militant attacks continue, as regional security tensions sharply escalate following recent violence.

Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Asif said Islamabad would not hesitate to launch air operations if militants continue using Afghanistan territory to attack Pakistan.

He claimed armed groups operating from Afghanistan are involved in cross-border attacks and alleged regional actors maintain contacts with militant networks targeting Pakistan.

Asif said banned groups, including Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan and Islamic State militants, remain active and pose ongoing threats to regional security.

His remarks followed a deadly bombing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that killed several Pakistani security personnel, intensifying security concerns along border regions.

Meanwhile, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan recently said trade and diplomatic engagement with Taliban administration would not resume unless militant safe havens are dismantled.

Afghan authorities led by Taliban have repeatedly denied allowing militants to operate from their territory, but tensions with Pakistan remain high.

Meanwhile, escalating accusations and security incidents risk further destabilizing relations between Pakistan and neighboring states if diplomatic solutions fail to reduce violence.

Pakistan Defence Minister Warns of Possible Airstrikes in Afghanistan
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Flawless Asphalt, Empty Homes: A 300-Mile Drive Through Afghanistan

February 18, 2026
By Elian Peltiera

The New York Times

Feb. 18, 2026

Life and business are back along a road once defined by war damage. But even with improved security, Afghans are desperate for jobs and development.

Highway 1 was once among the most dangerous, damaged arteries in Afghanistan.

But on a recent 300-mile road trip between Afghanistan’s two largest cities, Times journalists only encountered order and security — and not a single pothole.

Since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021, they have worked to replace the violence that largely defined this highway, and the country, with strengthened security and administration.

Once littered with bomb craters and trenches dug by overweight trucks, the road is now smooth enough for travelers to nap while riding through the barren plains of Afghanistan’s east.

Seen through car and bus windows, some of the damage from generations of war is beginning to fade.

On a recent evening, we watched a man training his pigeons as the sun set. Bus and truck drivers queued at shiny gas stations before stopping for a bite of lamb kebab. Young boys cycled past solar-panel-covered religious schools, some of them nested in former military outposts.

This is the Afghanistan that the Taliban government has rebuilt over the past four and a half years, after the United States withdrawal. It is what the Taliban want the world to see as they try to attract foreign investment and recognition. There is order, security and signs of an economic rebound, they say. The Afghan economy grew by 4.3 percent last year, according to the World Bank, up from 2.5 percent in 2024.“All the heavy weapons and the money of the previous government didn’t accomplish much,” said Iqbal Noori, the owner of a mobile phone shop in Kandahar, Afghanistan’s second-largest city. “We have to trust the Taliban. We don’t have another option.”

Highway 1 was once the showpiece of the U.S. reconstruction effort in Afghanistan. But it also became a symbol of squandered billions in Western aid. In 2016, an audit by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction found that 95 percent of the paved roads had been damaged or destroyed. Amid frequent fighting, the 300-mile trip between Kabul and Kandahar could stretch to 18 hours.

Travelers can now complete the journey in eight.

The Taliban are now renovating what they once sought to dismantle during their insurgency. They are expanding Highway 1 with two extra lanes and strictly enforcing weight limits on trucks to preserve the new asphalt. They are erecting a mosque every 40 miles and urging real estate developers to build around them.

In the evening, we stopped at a roadside stall where Nasibullah Khaksar sold almonds and dried apricots. Growing up next to Highway 1 meant a life of constant interruption, where playing outside or going to school was often impossible. “The sight of a Taliban patrol was a sign that fighting would start soon,” he said.

Now, Mr. Khaksar said, he can ride his motorcycle at night without fear, and he never locks his shop.

But the flawless asphalt can be a thin veneer. From the hills, the road looks like a lonely snake cutting through a parched landscape. Farmers say their fields have grown barren because of drought and contaminated groundwater.

Women and girls were all but invisible on the journey save for a few glimpsed in the back of passing taxis and buses. The Taliban have effectively erased them from public life, banning them from most jobs and school beyond sixth grade, and forbidding them to travel long distances without a male companion. The Afghan economy may be losing $1.4 billion every year because of it, according to World Bank estimates.

The men we encountered at every stop shared concerns about their livelihoods. Truck drivers and fruit sellers, welders and butchers all said that better security was welcome but not enough. They kept asking about the development needed to lift Afghans out of deprivation.

“The youth are jobless and sit at home doing nothing. We need factories,” said Noor Agha Rahmani, a carpenter working by the side of the road in Ghazni Province.

“Growing up next to Highway 1 meant a life of constant interruption.”

Nasibullah Khaksar, 24

More than 40 percent of the population faces acute malnutrition, according to the World Food Program.

“There was no security before, but work was OK,” Mr. Rahmani, the carpenter, said about opportunities under the old U.S.-supported government. “Now there’s security but far fewer jobs.”

As we approached Kabul, military bases in ruins lined the route. So did rows of abandoned houses.

In a village in Maidan Wardak Province, a handful of the 300 houses are inhabited. The mosque has also been abandoned, its walls peppered with bullet holes.

The war is over, but in many places, those who remain said the silence of peace was paired with the quiet of neglect.

The war took his mother and two siblings, Mr. Himayat said, but at least he was fighting for a cause — the establishment of Taliban rule. Now that it is here, “there is nothing for us.”

Safiullah Padshah and Yaqoob Akbary contributed reporting.

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

Flawless Asphalt, Empty Homes: A 300-Mile Drive Through Afghanistan
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Afghanistan, UN Hold 2026 Development Framework Coordination Meeting

February 18, 2026
Liluma Qadiry
Tolo News
17 Feb 2026

Several representatives of the United Nations and aid organizations emphasized the continuation of cooperation and a focus on development projects.

The Minister of Economy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan stated at a coordination meeting on the 2026 Development Framework with the United Nations, the European Union, and aid organizations that the continuation of sanctions, the freezing of foreign exchange reserves, and the reduction of humanitarian assistance have seriously affected vulnerable segments of society.

Din Mohammad Hanif added that since 2021, Afghanistan has faced major challenges; however, the Islamic Emirate, through prudent economic policymaking, a focus on national priorities, and the design and implementation of numerous support and development programs, has largely contributed to maintaining the country’s economic stability.

Din Mohammad Hanif, Minister of Economy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, said: “Despite the current situation, the Islamic Emirate has, through carefully designed economic policies and a focus on national priorities, developed and implemented numerous supportive and development programs and projects.”

The Minister of Economy described the role of the United Nations in humanitarian assistance as significant, stating that more than one billion dollars in international aid was provided to Afghanistan last year, of which 590 million dollars was allocated to project expenditures.

However, he noted that assistance in 2025 has declined compared to 2024 and called on the United Nations to continue its cooperation in Afghanistan’s sustainable development. He emphasized that aid must continue and should not be politicized.

Mr. Hanif further added: “We request all heads and representatives of the United Nations and donor agencies to align their programs and projects for 2026 with the national development strategy and to increase the level of their cooperation.”

Meanwhile, several representatives of the United Nations and aid organizations emphasized the continuation of cooperation and a focus on development projects.

Indrika Ratwatte, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Afghanistan, said: “And finally, to again reassure you that despite global financial challenges, multiple crises from Gaza to Sudan and conflicts, we will continue to advocate for resources and support to the programs in Afghanistan for the people of Afghanistan.”

Stephen Rodriques, Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Afghanistan, said: “For UNDP in 2026, our program is very much fully aligned with the national development strategy and the core priorities that have been outlined in that strategy and which you yourself enumerated a short while ago.”

The Ministry of Economy also emphasized that extensive facilitation has been provided for the activities of aid organizations and that Afghanistan’s economic growth can be achieved through cooperation with the United Nations and the international community.

Ensuring a balanced distribution of projects across provinces, reducing operational costs of organizations, and aligning programs with Afghanistan’s development strategy were among other key issues emphasized during the meeting.

Afghanistan, UN Hold 2026 Development Framework Coordination Meeting
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Pakistan, Russia Discuss Security Concerns in Afghanistan

February 18, 2026

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press-

 

Pakistan and Russia held talks on regional security concerns, focusing on terrorism threats and diplomatic efforts addressing instability linked to Afghanistan.

Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s special envoy for Afghanistan, said on Tuesday that he met Albert Khorev to discuss militant groups operating in Afghanistan.

Sadiq wrote on social media that both sides exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, including regional security and cross-border terrorism concerns.

He added discussions also covered threats posed by armed groups operating under the rule of the Taliban and diplomatic efforts to address these risks.

A day earlier, Sadiq also discussed cross-border terrorism concerns with diplomats representing Australia, reflecting Islamabad’s broader regional consultations.

Pakistan has repeatedly raised concerns at the United Nations about militant groups allegedly using Afghanistan territory to conduct cross-border attacks while kabul deny these allegations.

Regional governments remain worried that continued instability in Afghanistan could strengthen extremist networks and threaten security cooperation across South and Central Asia.

Pakistan, Russia Discuss Security Concerns in Afghanistan
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Mujahid: Three Pakistani Soldiers Freed at the Request of Saudi Arabia

February 18, 2026
Khaama Press

Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid announced three Pakistani soldiers were released following Saudi mediation.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said three Pakistani soldiers captured during earlier border clashes were released following a request from Saudi Arabia.

He stated the release was carried out as part of the group’s policy of maintaining positive relations with countries and in consideration of Ramadan’s arrival.

Officials said the soldiers, captured during clashes last October, were handed over to a Saudi delegation visiting Kabul earlier this week.

The spokesman added that the move also reflected respect for ongoing diplomatic engagement aimed at easing tensions between authorities in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Relations between Taliban and Islamabad have deteriorated in recent months due to repeated border clashes, security disputes, and closures affecting cross-border trade and civilian travel.

Pakistani media previously reported that closure of the Torkham Border Crossing has caused trade losses exceeding 240 million dollars for both sides.

Analysts say prisoner releases and diplomatic engagement could help reduce tensions, but long-term stability depends on resolving broader security and border disputes.

Mujahid: Three Pakistani Soldiers Freed at the Request of Saudi Arabia
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Zabihullah Mujahid: Ready to Support Iran if US Launches Attack

February 15, 2026
Khaama Press
Spokesman of the Islamic Emirate Zabiullah Mujahid speaks at a gathering on Mass Media in Afghanistan, September 6, 2022.

Zabihullah Mujahid stated on Sunday that Afghanistan’s people would show sympathy and possible cooperation with Iran if requested, should the United States launch military action.

Taliban spokesperson, Mujahid added that Iran had demonstrated resilience in recent conflicts and expressed hope that war between Washington and Tehran could still be avoided.

He stressed that Afghanistan does not favor war and prefers peaceful solutions as negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program continue amid regional uncertainty.

Tensions remain high as Washington boosts military presence in the Middle East while preparing for possible escalation if diplomacy fails.

Officials say new rounds of US–Iran negotiations are expected soon, while military preparations continue in case talks collapse.

Regional countries have repeatedly warned that any conflict involving Iran could destabilize neighboring states and worsen economic and humanitarian conditions across the wider region.

Reports, including from Reuters, say US forces are preparing contingency plans should President Donald Trump authorize military action, while Marco Rubio has expressed doubts about negotiation success.

At the same time, diplomatic contacts between Kabul and Tehran have expanded, with both sides increasing economic and political engagement in recent years.

Zabihullah Mujahid: Ready to Support Iran if US Launches Attack
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Afghanistan Marks 37th Anniversary of Soviet Withdrawal

February 15, 2026
Bibi Amina Hakimi
TOLOnews’ Reporter
15 Feb 2026

On this occasion, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan held a gathering attended by senior officials.

Today (Sunday, 26 Dalwa on the solar calendar) marks the day recorded in Afghanistan’s historical memory as the official end of the Soviet Union’s military presence — the day when the last Red Army soldier crossed the Friendship Bridge in Hairatan and left Afghanistan.

On this occasion, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan held a gathering attended by senior officials.

Speaking at the event, Defense Minister Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid expressed appreciation for the sacrifices of the country’s citizens against the Soviet Union and emphasized the need to avoid internal divisions and revenge.

Mujahid said: “All differences must be set aside. If you do not want to face problems again, and if we are not to witness occupation and civil wars once more, we must forget the past and put our differences aside.”

The Administrative Deputy of the Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate, during the ceremony marking the 37th anniversary of the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, stated that all those who fought against the occupation are worthy of praise.

Abdul Salam Hanafi, Administrative Deputy of the Prime Minister, said: “After the Mujahideen’s victory, they failed to reach agreement over power. The presidency was limited and could not be divided among several individuals, but some did not accept this and dragged the nation into another conflict.”

The Minister of Hajj and Religious Affairs also stated that Afghans should not be satisfied solely with victory over three superpowers.

According to him, there must always be full preparedness to confront any kind of threat.

Noor Mohammad Saqib, Minister of Hajj and Religious Affairs, said: “When the Soviets came to Afghanistan, they martyred one and a half million people, disabled hundreds of thousands, and forced millions into migration.”

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, marking the 26th of Dalwa — which coincides with the 37th anniversary of the withdrawal of former Soviet forces from the country — described the day as a proud one for the people of Afghanistan.

The statement noted that the former Soviet forces were defeated as a result of the jihad, struggle, sacrifices, migrations, and hardships endured by all Afghans.

Hamdullah Fitrat, Deputy Spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, said: “For the third time, Afghanistan has been liberated from occupation with the help and support of Almighty Allah. This shows that our Muslim people possess firm determination and commitment in safeguarding their religion and preserving independence.”

This comes as Soviet forces entered Afghanistan on the 27th of December 1979 (6th of Jadi 1358), overthrowing Hafizullah Amin and bringing Babrak Karmal to power.

The invasion, which involved nearly 100,000 Red Army troops, had widespread security, social, and economic consequences and marked the beginning of more than nine years of Soviet military presence in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan Marks 37th Anniversary of Soviet Withdrawal
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Defense Minister: Doors to Engagement with World Open Under Mutual Respect

February 15, 2026
Bibi Amina Hakimi
TOLOnews’ Reporter
15 Feb 2026

Abdul Salam Hanafi, Administrative Deputy of the Prime Minister, also said at the event that all available means must be used to preserve the Islamic system.

Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, Minister of Defense of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, during the ceremony marking the 26th of Dalwa (solar calendar) and the 37th anniversary of the withdrawal of former Soviet forces from Afghanistan, emphasized the country’s political independence and said that the doors of engagement between the Islamic Emirate and the international community are open, provided that such engagement is based on mutual respect, beliefs, religion, and Afghanistan’s national interests.

The Defense Minister said: “Anyone who wishes to engage with Afghanistan, our doors of interaction are open. We have no problems in the areas of trade, legal extraction of mines, and investment.”

In part of his remarks, Mujahid stated that some countries and intelligence circles oppose the establishment of security in Afghanistan and seek their interests in the country’s instability.

He also assured that Afghan soil will not be used against any country and that the Islamic Emirate will not allow any threat to be directed at other nations from its territory.

Mujahid added: “We have been able to ensure security in Afghanistan and prevent attacks from Afghanistan on other countries. We have this capability and do not need anyone’s assistance; they should only refrain from creating problems.”

Abdul Salam Hanafi, Administrative Deputy of the Prime Minister, also said at the event that all available means must be used to preserve the Islamic system.

He stated that prejudice has no place in the Islamic system and principles, emphasizing that unity and solidarity guarantee the survival of the Islamic system.

Hanafi further stressed that since the re-establishment of the Islamic Emirate in the country, security has been ensured and the cultivation and trafficking of narcotics have been curbed.

The Administrative Deputy of the Prime Minister said: “After the rule of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as a result of the liberation and the establishment of the Islamic system, many positive measures have been taken in the country; nationwide security has been ensured and a general amnesty has been implemented.”

In another part of his speech, Defense Minister Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid also called on the country’s citizens to cooperate with security forces in maintaining security and to prevent the activities of those who seek to disrupt it.

Defense Minister: Doors to Engagement with World Open Under Mutual Respect
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British couple held by Taliban describe ‘culture shock’ returning to UK

February 14, 2026
BBC News
February 14, 2026
‘It’s a huge culture shock’ say British couple after release by Taliban

A British couple detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan for seven-and-a-half months have described a “huge culture shock” after returning to the UK.

Peter, 80, and his wife Barbie Reynolds, 76, said they were never told why they were being held, nor why they were released in September.

The couple, who have run a charity programme in Afghanistan for almost two decades, told BBC Newsnight the last five months in the UK have been “totally different”.

“What we’ve been through changes us. What we’ve been through in the last, well decades, but also obviously last year, it reshapes you,” said Barbie.

While living in their long-term home in Afghanistan’s Bamiyan province, Barbie said she wore a Hijab at all times and was not allowed out in public without her husband.

“The freedom here is very striking; people are free to wear what they want, go where they want,” she said.

They were arrested on 1 February 2025 after taking a chartered flight from Kabul to Bamiyan province, along with friend Faye Hall and their translator who were later released.

The Taliban said the pair had broken Afghan laws and were released after judicial proceedings – but has never disclosed the reason for their detention.

They were released through Qatari mediation but Peter said the reason for their detention was “a complete mystery”.

The couple, who married in Kabul in 1970, previously said they were detained in 10 different prisons and at one point thought they would be executed.

“I wasn’t sure whether Barbie was alive,” Peter said.

Barbie said she shared a prison block with 240 women but there were “many more blocks with women, with 40 children”.

“It was cramped, there were about seven toilets for that number of people. They tried to fix the showers but they broke again and the drains were always overflowing,” she said.

During Ramadan, Barbie had one meal a day but after Ramadan, they were given the same amount of food but just divided at lunchtime and dinner.

“I became very malnourished and I got anaemia – Peter said I aged 20 years when I next saw him,” she said.

“Sometimes I could hardly walk and I became really quite poorly.”

Taliban officials maintained the pair received adequate medical care during their detention and that their human rights were respected.

One of the prisons Peter and Barbie were held in was Pul-e-Charkhi, a notorious maximum security prison outside Kabul that is home to some of the most dangerous criminals.

At one point they were held in basement cells with no windows for two months. For the final weeks of their detention they were moved above ground, where they say they had access to better food and were treated with kindness.

Peter said he was “shocked” when he saw Barbie after months apart.

“She was no longer a 76-year-old, she was in her 90s,” he said, adding that his wife was unable to steady herself to walk.

They previously said they wished to “hug” the people who decided to jail them and forgive them.

“I’d want them to know I’m not holding a grudge against them,” Peter said.

He added that he would love still to work with the government of Afghanistan “for the good of the people of the country”.

They sent a message to Craig and Lindsay Foreman, who were arrested and detained in Iran in January 2025.

“Hang in there, don’t lose your hope,” said Barbie.

British couple held by Taliban describe ‘culture shock’ returning to UK
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British Couple Freed from Kabul Detention Describe Harsh Conditions

February 14, 2026

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

 

 

A British couple held in Bamyan, Afghanistan, for seven-and-a-half months returned home, describing severe detention conditions and experiencing a profound cultural shock.

Peter, 80, and his wife Barbie Reynolds, 76, ran a charitable program in Afghanistan for nearly two decades. They were arrested on February 1, 2025, along with a friend and their translator, after arriving in Bamiyan province on a chartered flight from Kabul.

The couple was detained in ten different prisons and were told only that they had violated Afghan laws. The Taliban never disclosed the exact reasons for their arrest.

BBC reported on Saturday, Febraury 14, that the couple described the experience as traumatic. Barbie said she was housed in a prison with 240 women, while other facilities contained women and 40 children, often in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions.

Barbie described severe food shortages, noting she received only one meal per day during Ramadan, and later the same portion was split into two meals. She suffered malnutrition and anemia, appearing 20 years older upon release.

Peter and Barbie were freed in September 2025 after mediation by Qatar. Despite their release, the psychological and physical toll of months in detention has left lasting effects.

The couple emphasized that the detention conditions were harsh, with broken bathrooms, overflowing sewage, and limited space, reflecting the severe hardships faced by those imprisoned by the Taliban.

The US deputy representative at the United Nations Security Council recently stated that the Taliban use foreign detainees as leverage in negotiations, highlighting a broader pattern of hostage-taking.

The Reynolds’ ordeal sheds light on the ongoing risks faced by foreign nationals in Afghanistan and underscores the international community’s concerns over the treatment of detainees.

British Couple Freed from Kabul Detention Describe Harsh Conditions
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