Afghanistan’s Climate Crisis Displaces Nearly 400,000 in 2025

 

Afghanistan faces worsening climate disasters, with droughts and floods displacing nearly 400,000 people this year. Over five million have been affected, deepening the country’s humanitarian crisis.

Afghanistan is experiencing increasing displacement as droughts, flash floods, and other climate change impacts continue to devastate communities, according to a recent report by Agence France-Presse.

Since the Taliban regained power in 2021, the country has struggled with recurring environmental disasters that have driven thousands from their homes and disrupted livelihoods nationwide.

The United Nations says more than five million Afghans have been affected by climate-related events so far this year, with nearly 400,000 people forced into displacement.

Many Afghans live in fragile mud houses and depend heavily on farming and livestock, leaving them especially exposed to changing weather patterns and environmental shocks.

Water shortages are adding to the crisis, with some villages in Bamiyan reporting severe difficulty in accessing safe drinking water, according to local accounts.

While Taliban officials have announced new water management projects, they also insist that drought relief should be “left to God,” casting doubt on their capacity to address the crisis.

UNICEF has previously warned that nearly one-third of Afghanistan people lack access to clean water, underscoring how climate change, poor infrastructure, and weak governance are driving a deepening humanitarian emergency.

Afghanistan’s Climate Crisis Displaces Nearly 400,000 in 2025
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Fazlur Rehman: Forced Deportation of Afghans Hurts Kabul–Islamabad Ties

He warned that the Pakistani government must categorize Afghan refugees and refrain from deporting Afghan investors and students.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman added: “The issue of deporting Afghan refugees has been raised. The process of forced deportations has already begun, and this has affected Afghanistan–Pakistan relations. Even before the Taliban government, during the presidencies of Ashraf Ghani and Hamid Karzai, this issue was discussed. At that time, a high-level meeting was held in which we were asked to categorize Afghan refugees. There were Afghans who had invested in Pakistan and had money in banks; if they withdrew their money, banks would collapse. So, we had to consider the interests of our own country as well.”

Some deported refugees have complained about mistreatment by Pakistani authorities and are urging the Islamic Emirate to pay attention to their situation.

Zainullah, one of the deported Afghans, said: “One of the main reasons for leaving Pakistan was government harassment. There were many problems. Even going to the city was difficult. Refugees were always blamed for every issue. That’s why we left and came to Afghanistan.”

Another deportee, Safiullah, said: “We ask the Islamic Emirate to provide education opportunities for the newly returned refugees.”

Political analysts believe the refugee issue has become a tool of political pressure in the region, and the Islamic Emirate must find a solution through serious dialogue to prevent further harm.

Political analyst Mohammad Aslam Danishmal stated: “The refugee issue is being used as pressure by Iran and Pakistan. It is clear that migration happens due to deprivations. First, those factors inside the country must be eliminated, and afterward discussions with neighboring countries should take place through diplomatic channels.”

This comes after the Pakistani government announced that holders of PoR (Proof of Registration) cards only have until September 1 to leave the country. The decision has heightened concerns among thousands of Afghan families, leaving them facing an uncertain future.

Fazlur Rehman: Forced Deportation of Afghans Hurts Kabul–Islamabad Ties
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After 1,400 Days, Afghan Girls Remain Locked Out of Schools

Education experts believe this deprivation has not only crushed the hopes of thousands of girls but also cast a dark shadow over the country’s future.

With the Islamic Emirate marking its fourth year in power in Afghanistan, schools above the sixth grade remain closed for girls.

Sana and Basira, both 11th-grade students and sisters, have been confined to their home since the day schools were shut to girls.

Although more than 1,400 days have passed since this decision, their passion for learning is still alive.

Sana said: “I was very excited because only one year was left, and I told myself, God willing, I will go to university. I was trying very hard, and besides school, I was also attending courses so I could go to university, become a doctor, and serve people. But after staying at home, overthinking started, illnesses and anxieties appeared, and our minds fell behind.”

Another student, Basira, added: “At least open the doors for those who wear hijab! If you want to be strict, hold those accountable whom you think are not following the rules, but don’t keep us deprived. Please open the schools so that we can have a bright future and be a proud nation.”

Their plea is shared by thousands of Afghan girls who have been deprived of education over these years. Several other students also insist that schools must reopen this year.

Bushra, another student, said: “It has been four years we have been waiting. In this fifth year, schools should finally open for us. Our hopes are gone, our dreams are dead. We are just sitting at home, with no courage left.”

Similarly, Hanifa expressed: “Our request from the Islamic Emirate is to open the schools for us. This waiting has gone on long enough.”

Education experts believe this deprivation has not only crushed the hopes of thousands of girls but also cast a dark shadow over the country’s future.

According to them, a nation’s human capital develops through education, and depriving girls of schooling means losing half of society’s potential for progress.

University professor Janat Faheem Chakari said: “If schools and universities remain closed to girls, our society will suffer greatly. It will cause serious damage from religious, social, and moral perspectives. Our request from the Islamic Emirate is to open the doors of education for girls as soon as possible, because without knowledge, we will reach nowhere.”

This comes after the Islamic Emirate’s spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, told TOLOnews that efforts are underway to find a precise religious justification for girls’ education.

After 1,400 Days, Afghan Girls Remain Locked Out of Schools
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Afghan Women Still Barred from Education and Work, UN Says

According to UN findings, half of female employees in civil society organizations have lost their jobs this year due to reduced funding.

The UN Special Representative for Women in Afghanistan has said that four years into the current rule, women remain excluded from government structures as well as the right to education and work.

Susan Ferguson stressed that the continuation of this situation is harmful not only to women but to Afghanistan as a whole. She stated: “Regarding education and employment, women and girls are still barred from attending secondary schools, universities, and most jobs. This has destroyed the future of an entire generation of young Afghan girls. The exclusion of women not only harms them personally, but also damages families, communities, and the country as a whole.”

According to UN findings, half of female employees in civil society organizations have lost their jobs this year due to reduced funding. Ferguson emphasized that Afghan women and girls are bearing the heaviest burden of declining international aid.

She added: “Half of female staff in civil society organizations have lost their jobs due to funding cuts. More than one-third of these organizations reported that if the current situation continues, their ability to reach women and girls will be severely reduced, limited, or completely halted.”

The UN stressed that despite ongoing challenges, it remains committed to investing in organizations, businesses, and ensuring women’s participation in international dialogues to safeguard their rights.

Women’s rights activist Faryal Sayedzada told TOLOnews: “The deprivation of Afghan girls and women from education will have negative consequences and will harm Afghanistan in the years to come. We hope that with the start of the new academic year, the Afghan government will prepare a procedure that allows Afghan girls to continue their education.”

Human rights issues especially women’s right to education and employment remain key points of contention between the international community and Afghanistan’s interim government, frequently debated over the past four years.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan recently said that work is underway on this matter in order to obtain proper Sharia approval.

Afghan Women Still Barred from Education and Work, UN Says
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Pakistan Army Chief Urges Kabul to End Policies Destabilizing Pakistan

By Fidel Rahmati

Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir urged Kabul to halt destabilizing policies, warning that cross-border unrest endangers Pakistani citizens and regional stability amid ongoing security tensions.

Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, has called on the Taliban to stop policies that destabilize Pakistan, warning the group is accountable for the blood of Pakistani citizens.

Speaking to reporters in Brussels on Saturday, August 16, Munir underlined Islamabad’s concerns about cross-border militancy and the Taliban’s alleged role in fueling unrest inside Pakistan.

He also addressed Pakistan’s foreign relations, stressing that Islamabad will maintain balanced ties with both China and the United States, and will not sacrifice one friendship for another.

Turning to India, Munir accused New Delhi of attempting to destabilize Pakistan through proxy groups and claimed Indian intelligence activity has increased following setbacks in recent conflicts between the two countries.

On global affairs, Munir said Pakistan supports U.S. efforts to end the war in Ukraine, adding that Islamabad was the first to endorse Donald Trump’s nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.

His remarks come as tensions persist along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, with Islamabad repeatedly accusing the Taliban of providing safe havens and support to militant groups targeting Pakistan.

Analysts warn that without tangible cooperation from the Taliban, cross-border violence will likely escalate further, threatening regional stability and complicating Pakistan’s delicate diplomatic balancing with global powers.

Pakistan Army Chief Urges Kabul to End Policies Destabilizing Pakistan
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UN warns of funding shortages amid mass deportations of Afghan Refugees

UNHCR warns its funds are depleting as 2.2 million Afghans are expelled from Iran and Pakistan, urging urgent aid amid worsening poverty and dire humanitarian crisis.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has warned that its budget is running out as the mass expulsion of Afghan refugees from Iran and Pakistan continues.

In a statement on Sunday, August 17, the agency appealed for urgent international assistance to sustain its operations supporting Afghan returnees.

According to UNHCR figures, since the start of this year, more than 2.2 million Afghans have been deported from Iran and Pakistan.

The UN highlighted that poverty and unemployment in Afghanistan are rising sharply, with more than half of the population dependent on humanitarian aid for survival.

Other UN bodies have also voiced concern over the collective expulsions, stressing that many returnees face restrictions and threats under Taliban rule upon their return.

Humanitarian groups warn that without immediate funding, assistance programs for returning Afghans could collapse, leaving millions without access to food, shelter, and basic services.

The crisis underscores the urgent need for a coordinated international response, as both the expulsion of Afghan migrants and the worsening humanitarian conditions in Afghanistan continue to escalate.

UN warns of funding shortages amid mass deportations of Afghan Refugees
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Qane: Afghan Attacks Orchestrated Abroad with Foreign Involvement

The ministry’s spokesperson adds that the Ministry of Interior is working to also neutralize anti-security incidents planned outside Afghanistan’s borders.

The Ministry of Interior says that some of the anti-security incidents that occurred in Afghanistan over the past year were planned outside the country’s borders, and some citizens of neighboring countries were involved in them.

The ministry’s spokesperson adds that the Ministry of Interior is working, in cooperation with neighboring and regional countries, to also neutralize anti-security incidents planned outside Afghanistan’s borders.

Abdul Mateen Qaneh says: “Their key and remote control is with outsiders and not inside Afghanistan at all. You saw that there were attacks in some of the safest countries like Russia, Uzbekistan, and Turkey, and citizens of some neighboring countries were involved. We tried to eliminate them outside Afghanistan’s borders in cooperation with neighboring countries, and we are confident that no one else has control or presence inside Afghanistan. So there is no need for concern either inside or outside the country.”

Mohammad Zalmai Afghanyar, a political affairs expert, says: “Unfortunately, neighboring and regional countries, in pursuit of their deep strategic political interests, have managed plans targeting Afghanistan—even affecting members of the Afghan cabinet. I hope regional and extra-regional countries have realized that a politically stable Afghanistan can contribute to ensuring global security.”

Qaneh says the ministry has worked over the past year to effectively equip and provide the necessary facilities for security forces.

He provides statistics stating that the Ministry of Interior currently has 200,000 police personnel, of which around 2,000 are women.

The ministry’s spokesperson said: “The police force comprises around 200,000 individuals who are capable of fulfilling their assigned tasks. Organizational reviews will be done as needed.”

Previously, the Central Commission for Security and Clearance Affairs had also said that attacks carried out in Afghanistan over the past year were planned abroad and conducted by foreign nationals, especially citizens of Tajikistan and Pakistan.

Qane: Afghan Attacks Orchestrated Abroad with Foreign Involvement
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Pakistan Shifting Course by Hosting Afghan Opposition?

Khaama Press

Pakistan hosting Afghan opposition in Islamabad signals a potential policy shift, raising questions about its changing approach toward Afghanistan and the broader regional dynamics at play.

Pakistan is preparing to host a two-day meeting of Afghan opposition figures, including young leaders, political activists, party representatives, and women, in Islamabad on August 25–26.

According to reports, this is the first open gathering of Afghanistan’s diverse political groups since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

Former U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad reacted strongly, calling Pakistan’s move “unwise and provocative,” warning it could deepen mistrust between Kabul and Islamabad rather than help regional stability.

The Taliban and their supporters have opposed the event, but sources claim Pakistan insists the group does not represent the whole of Afghanistan’s political spectrum.

Observers believe this could mark a fundamental shift in Pakistan’s approach to Afghanistan, reflecting a recognition of the country’s pluralism beyond Taliban rule.

Pakistan’s relations with the Taliban have soured in recent years due to rising insecurity on its soil and the presence of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters in Afghanistan.

Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Taliban of sheltering TTP militants, an allegation the group denies. The dispute has fueled mistrust despite earlier years of close engagement.

Earlier this year, Pakistan’s intelligence officials even met former Afghan leaders and jihadi figures in Ankara, while its army chief Asim Munir warned the Taliban to stop directing TTP attacks into Pakistan.

Pakistan Shifting Course by Hosting Afghan Opposition?
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Khalilzad: Pakistan to Host Meeting of Taliban Opponents

Zalmay Khalilzad criticized Pakistan’s plan to host Afghan opposition leaders, calling it unwise and provocative, warning it could worsen mistrust and undermine fragile Afghanistan-Pakistan relations.

Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, said on Saturday that Pakistan will host a meeting of exiled Afghan opposition groups later this month.

Writing on social media platform X, Khalilzad noted that while Afghan citizens have the right to express their political views, Pakistan’s decision to host such a gathering was “very unwise and a deliberate provocation.”

He argued that the same principle would apply if the roles were reversed, explaining that if the Taliban hosted a meeting of Pakistani opposition groups seeking to overthrow a military-backed government, he would also condemn it.

“On August 25th and 26th, Pakistan is hosting a meeting of Afghan exiles opposed to the Taliban, including some who support the violent overthrow of the current authorities. Afghan citizens are entitled to their political views, but Pakistan’s seeming support of them by hosting their conference is hugely unwise and an intended provocation,” he stated.

According to Khalilzad, Afghanistan and Pakistan already suffer from a serious lack of trust and cooperation. He warned that this move by Islamabad is likely to further erode confidence and could backfire.

He described Pakistan’s action as “immature, irresponsible, and regrettable,” suggesting it risks inflaming tensions rather than promoting regional stability.

Khalilzad’s comments reflect long-standing suspicions between the two neighbors, where political disputes and security concerns have often overshadowed opportunities for cooperation. His statement underscores the fragile state of bilateral relations at a time when Afghanistan remains politically unstable under Taliban rule.

Khalilzad: Pakistan to Host Meeting of Taliban Opponents
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Mujahid: Work on Girls’ Education Continues Pending Religious Approval

In another part of his remarks, Mujahid said that the Islamic Emirate has decided to remove the term “acting” from government titles and structures.

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, stated that the matter of girls’ education is still under consideration, pending the issuance of a clear religious ruling.

In an interview with TOLOnews, in response to a question about the delay in reopening schools and universities for girls, he said: “The chastity of our sisters is important, as is their movement. From a religious standpoint, we must obtain a precise and legitimate ruling so we can convince religious scholars and move forward.”

In another part of his remarks, Mujahid said that the Islamic Emirate has decided to remove the term “acting” from government titles and structures.

He explained that this decision was made to ensure better management and improved effectiveness of the current administrative structure: “The Islamic Emirate decided that the term ‘acting’ is no longer needed in the system, and it was agreed that the government should serve the people with full responsibility.”

Mujahid also attributed the continued lack of international recognition of the Islamic Emirate to the wartime policies of foreign countries toward Afghanistan.

Regarding the formation of an inclusive government, he said that committed individuals can be included in the government structure.

“The Minister of Commerce is one of the country’s national businessmen. There are also officials at the deputy minister level who previously were not part of the Emirate. This does not mean we reject those without prior affiliation. Anyone who is committed, loyal, and experienced, and who possesses piety, religious values, and competence, will have a place,” he said.

As the Islamic Emirate enters its fifth year in power in Afghanistan, several issues including girls’ education remain unresolved, a matter that has drawn both domestic and international criticism over the past four years.

Mujahid: Work on Girls’ Education Continues Pending Religious Approval
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