New Penal Code Introduces Prison Terms for Drug Use and Trafficking in Afghanistan

February 10, 2026 Current News Articles

Khaama Press

February 9, 2026

New penalties for drug use and trafficking have been introduced under a new penal code, imposing prison terms as drug consumption in Afghanistan shifts toward synthetic substances.

Under the Taliban’s new penal code, individuals using narcotic substances can face up to six months in prison depending on their condition.

Drug sellers face tougher punishment, with prison sentences ranging from one to seven years, while poppy and cannabis cultivation also carries jail terms.

The code lists substances including heroin, opium, hashish, alcohol, tramadol, and other narcotics, with punishments increasing based on quantities seized.

The regulations also remove appeal rights in narcotics-related cases, making lower court rulings final in many instances.

A recent UN report shows drug consumption patterns in Afghanistan are shifting from traditional narcotics toward synthetic drugs and misuse of pharmaceutical medicines.

Despite Taliban announcements banning narcotics production and use, international reports suggest drug consumption and production challenges remain widespread across the country.

Afghanistan Halts Medicine Imports from Pakistan

February 10, 2026 Current News Articles

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

February 9, 2026

Finance authorities announced medicine imports from Pakistan have been halted nationwide, urging traders to secure alternative supply routes to maintain domestic availability.

A spokesperson for the Finance Ministry said the ban on Pakistani medicines has been enforced across all customs points, with officials confirming immediate nationwide implementation.

Authorities also stated that medicine smuggling is under strict monitoring, warning that violators will face legal action under customs regulations to prevent illegal drug supplies entering markets.

The ministry urged pharmaceutical traders to quickly find alternative import routes to avoid potential shortages and ensure continuous medicine availability in hospitals and private pharmacies nationwide.

Officials added that facilities and procedures for importing medicines from other countries will be eased to maintain steady supply chains and prevent disruptions in healthcare services.

Authorities earlier announced agreements to import medicines from Uzbekistan and India, aiming to reduce reliance on limited trade routes and diversify pharmaceutical supply sources.

Following trade tensions and partial disruptions in commerce between Afghanistan and Pakistan, concerns have grown over supplies of essential goods, especially medicines required by hospitals and patients.

Analysts say the success of the decision will depend on how quickly alternative supply channels become operational to prevent shortages and stabilize medicine prices nationwide.

Pakistan says Afghanistan has created conditions ‘similar to or worse than’ pre-9/11 attacks

February 10, 2026 Current News Articles

By MUNIR AHMED

Associated Press

February 9, 2026

Pakistan’s president warns that the Taliban’s government in Afghanistan has created conditions “similar to or worse than” those before the 9/11 attacks in 2001

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s president has warned that the Taliban’s government in Afghanistan has created conditions “similar to or worse than” those before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, a sign of rising tensions with Kabul after last week’s mosque attack in Islamabad, which analysts said Monday highlights militants’ reach to the capital.

Asif Ali Zardari made the remarks while thanking the international community for condemning Friday’s suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque that killed 31 worshippers and wounded 169. Without directly blaming India, Zardari also said Pakistan’s eastern neighbor was “assisting the Taliban regime and threatening not only Pakistan but regional and global peace.”

In a statement issued Sunday, Zardari said Pakistan “takes strong exception to the situation in Afghanistan where the Taliban regime has created conditions similar to or worse than pre-9/11, when terror organizations posed threats to global peace.” He added that Pakistan had long maintained terrorism cannot be confronted by any single country in isolation.

The unusually strong comments were likely to irk Kabul and New Delhi, both of which have condemned the suicide attack claimed by the Islamic State group and have denied any involvement.

The previous Afghan Taliban government, which ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, had been blamed for sheltering the al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden who was behind the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks that killed more than 3,000 people in the United States. The Afghan Taliban also allowed al-Qaida to operate training camps within Afghanistan, despite international warnings. However, bin Laden was killed during a U.S. commando operation in Pakistan in May 2011.

Last week, Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry and New Delhi, in separate statements, rejected the Pakistani allegations, saying Islamabad had irresponsibly linked them to the attack.

Pakistan frequently accuses the Afghan Taliban, who returned to power in August 2021 in Afghanistan, of backing militants including the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Both deny the accusations.

There was no immediate response from India or Afghanistan to Zardari’s latest allegations, which came after Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the bomber involved in the attack was a Pakistani and trained by the IS group in Afghanistan.

Naqvi said security forces had arrested four suspects, including an Afghan national accused of links to the militant group and of helping mastermind the attack. The detainees included the bomber’s mother and brother-in-law, according to officials who said investigations into the attack were still ongoing.

Pakistan has not shared full details about the involvement of the bomber’s family, however.

On Monday, Naqvi received telephone calls from his Italian counterpart Matteo Piantedosi and European Commissioner Magnus Brunner, who condemned the mosque attack. According to a government statement, Naqvi maintained that “Pakistan is a shield for the world against terrorism and emphasized that strong global-level measures are needed today to protect the world from terrorism”.

Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s former special representative for Afghanistan, said Zardari’s warning was “unambiguous: terrorism thrives where it is tolerated, facilitated, or used as a proxy.” He wrote on X that “allowing terrorist groups to operate from Afghan soil and India’s use of proxies to destabilize Pakistan is a dangerous path with grave regional and global consequences.” Durrani added, “Peace demands responsibility, not denial.”

Another Islamabad-based analyst, Abdullah Khan, said the preliminary findings into the mosque bombing suggest the attack may reflect a pattern seen in some IS attacks involving close family networks. He said the IS affiliates have at times recruited entire families, pointing to past attacks in Pakistan and Indonesia.

Although Islamabad has seen fewer attacks than some other regions, Pakistan has experienced a recent rise in militant violence, much of it attributed to Baloch separatist groups and the TTP, which is separate from but allied with Afghanistan’s Taliban.

The Islamic State’s regional affiliate, a major Taliban rival, has carried out attacks across Afghanistan.

Baradar: Afghanistan ‘Not Sweet Morsel for Enemies’

February 8, 2026 Current News Articles

TOLOnews

TV Network

8 Feb 2026

The senior official of the Islamic Emirate also assured the security and inviolability of Afghanistan’s territory in another part of his remarks.

The Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, speaking at the graduation ceremony of the 17th round of the National Defense University “Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah” in Kabul, emphasized positive engagement with all countries.

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar added that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, within the framework of an economy-oriented policy, believes in regional and global partnerships.

He said: “We are committed to appropriate engagement with all countries within the framework of our principles. To ensure long-term political and economic interests, it is necessary for countries to respect one another’s values and sensitive boundaries.”

The senior official of the Islamic Emirate also assured the security and inviolability of Afghanistan’s territory in another part of his remarks.

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar stressed that Afghanistan harbors no ill will toward other countries and expects the same from others.

The Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs added: “Afghanistan neither wants to harm anyone nor will it accept being harmed by anyone; however, if someone harbors malicious intentions, it will respond without delay. History bears witness that this country is not a sweet morsel but a Zaqqum tree, one that has made the throats of ancient empires bitter, and which newborn children can never digest.”

Several other senior officials of the Islamic Emirate, including the Minister of Higher Education and the Minister of Borders, also emphasized the preservation of the current system in the country.

Without naming any specific country, Noorullah Noori, Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs, said: “If someone wants a military base, they give a military base; if they want an army, they give an army. This is a sign of servitude. Praise be to God, an Islamic system is established in Afghanistan, and Afghanistan is independent in its policies.”

Strengthening unity, implementing Islamic Sharia, and safeguarding the current system were among other issues emphasized by senior officials of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan at the event.

UNAMA Reports Killings, Arrests, Public Punishments in Afghanistan

February 8, 2026 Current News Articles

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

February 8, 2026

A new UNAMA quarterly report covering October to December 2025 highlights ongoing human rights concerns across Afghanistan, including killings, detentions and civilian protection issues.

UNAMA reports killings, arbitrary arrests, media restrictions and public punishments in Afghanistan during late 2025, raising concerns over human rights conditions nationwide.

UNAMA’s quarterly report says 14 former Afghan security personnel were killed between October and December 2025, alongside 28 arbitrary detentions and seven cases of torture or mistreatment.

The report notes that several victims were former officials forcibly returned from neighboring countries, some later facing extrajudicial killings or unlawful detention after returning home.

Media restrictions also expanded, with bans on broadcasting images of living beings imposed or tightened in several provinces, affecting both state and private television operations.

UNAMA further recorded growing arrests and threats against social media users, while internet disruptions and online restrictions negatively affected businesses, including women-led enterprises.

Public punishments also continued, with 287 people, including women and minors, flogged in public, while two individuals convicted of murder were executed before crowds.

UNAMA has documented civilian harm and rights concerns in Afghanistan for more than a decade, tracking abuses affecting civilians and vulnerable groups nationwide.

Human rights organizations say economic hardship, displacement, and shrinking civic space continue to worsen conditions, leaving many communities increasingly exposed to insecurity and rights violations.

UNAMA urged respect for human rights and accountability measures, warning that continued abuses risk deepening instability and further isolating Afghanistan internationally.

613 civilians killed and wounded in Pakistan’s attacks on Afghanistan

February 8, 2026 Current News Articles

Sohrab Sarwari

Pajhwok News

8 Feb 2026

KABUL (Pajhwok): The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has announced that during the past Gregorian year, 613 Afghan civilians were killed or wounded as a result of attacks by the Pakistani army.

In a report released today (Sunday), UNAMA stated that in the past Gregorian year, 613 Afghan civilians were killed or injured due to attacks by the Pakistani army. This is the highest number of Afghan civilian casualties caused by Pakistan’s attacks since 2011.

The organization specified that in the last three months of 2025, a total of 70 civilians were killed and 478 others were wounded, and a large portion of these casualties resulted from Pakistan’s artillery, rocket, and air strikes.

UNAMA’s report mentions civilian casualties in the provinces of Paktia, Kunar, Helmand, Kandahar, Khost, Paktika, and Kabul.

The mission has called on all parties to respect international human rights law and to protect the lives of civilians.

Meanwhile, Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, said: “Unfortunately, a large number of our civilian citizens have been martyred or wounded in such attacks. Over the past year, Pakistani forces have repeatedly and sporadically targeted residential areas along the so-called Durand Line.”

He added that among the victims were women, children, and even athletes.

According to reports, on the 6th of Mizan this year, as a result of an attack by Pakistan’s military regime, three cricket players named Kabir, Sibghatullah, and Haroon were killed, and seven others were wounded in Argon district of Paktika province.

Fitrat said: “After each of these incidents, media reports were published, and the section of the mentioned report related to civilian casualties largely corresponds with the existing realities. With deep regret, we confirm that dozens of innocent civilians, most of whom were women and children, were targeted by the Pakistani army.”

Islamic Emirate, China Discuss Expanding Political, Economic Cooperation

February 6, 2026 Current News Articles

TOLOnews

TV Network

6 Feb 2026

According to the statement, both sides also stressed the need to expand diplomatic relations between Kabul and Beijing.

Gul Hassan Hassan, the ambassador of the Islamic Emirate in Moscow, met with Zhang Hanhui, the Chinese ambassador in Russia to discuss political and economic cooperation and emphasized joint efforts to strengthen sustainable security and regional cooperation.

According to the statement, both sides also stressed the need to expand diplomatic relations between Kabul and Beijing.

Part of the statement issued by the Embassy of the Islamic Emirate in Russia said: “During the meeting, discussions were held on political and economic cooperation between Afghanistan and China, joint efforts to strengthen sustainable security in the region, and regional cooperation. Both sides emphasized the expansion and strengthening of bilateral relations.”

Abdul Jabbar Akbari, a university lecturer, said in this regard: “The more the two sides build confidence, Afghanistan on security issues and China on economic and trade relations, I believe this could further pave the way for the recognition of the Islamic Emirate.”

At the same time as this meeting, Bilal Karimi, the ambassador of the Islamic Emirate in China, also met with Liu Jinsong, Director-General of the Asian Affairs Department of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Yue Xiaoyong, China’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan.

The discussions focused on political and economic relations, activation of the Wakhan Corridor, and consular services.

According to the embassy’s statement, the Chinese side emphasized respect for Afghanistan’s independence and territorial integrity, adding that cooperation between the two countries is essential.

Another part of the statement from the Embassy of the Islamic Emirate in China read: “The Chinese side, while emphasizing respect for Afghanistan’s independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty, stressed the continuation of cooperation. At the same time, the Afghan ambassador appreciated China’s positive stance and described cooperation between the two countries as necessary.”

Enayatullah Hammam, a political analyst, said: “We have extensive trade relations with China, and there are major initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative. In this regard, Afghanistan needs ties with China, and China also needs Afghanistan.”

These diplomatic consultations aimed at improving Kabul–Beijing relations are taking place at a time when, over the past more than four years, China has not formally recognized the Islamic Emirate, but has continued its cooperation with Afghanistan in various fields.

Uzbekistan Power Cut Again Hits Kabul and 12 Provinces of Afghanistan

February 6, 2026 Current News Articles

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

February 6, 2026

Power outages spread across Kabul and 12 Afghanistan provinces after Uzbekistan’s imported electricity line failed due to technical problems and severe weather conditions.

Afghanistan’s power company, Breshna, announced that electricity imported from Uzbekistan was cut again after a technical failure on the 220-kilovolt transmission line in the Naibabad–Pul-e-Khumri section.

Following the disruption, parts of Samangan and Baghlan, along with Parwan, Panjshir, Kapisa, Kabul, Logar, Paktia, Khost, Maidan Wardak, Ghazni, Nangarhar, and Laghman provinces lost access to imported electricity.

Power company said technical teams were dispatched to repair the fault, but severe storms in the area have delayed the start of restoration work until weather conditions improve.

The company added that domestic power sources are temporarily supplying electricity but warned that bad weather could delay full restoration of imported power.

Power interruptions have repeatedly occurred during winter months, when heavy snowfall and storms often damage transmission lines connecting Afghanistan to neighboring countries.

Afghanistan remains heavily dependent on imported electricity from Central Asian countries, making the national grid vulnerable to technical failures and cross-border disruptions.

Frequent power cuts worsen humanitarian challenges in Afghanistan, where many households and hospitals rely on stable electricity during harsh winter conditions.

Economy Ministry: Afghanistan Not Dependent on Foreign Aid

February 6, 2026 Current News Articles

Hadia Ziaei

Tolo News

5 Feb 2026

However, some economic experts believe that significant foundational work has been carried out in recent years compared to the past.

The Ministry of Economy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, responding to a report by The New York Times, says that national revenue and economic stability in the country are not dependent on foreign assistance.

The ministry’s spokesperson said that unemployment, declining household purchasing power, and climate vulnerability are the main causes of malnutrition and food insecurity, and assured that efforts are underway to address economic and livelihood challenges by relying on the country’s economic capacities and domestic revenue.

Abdul Rahman Habib, spokesperson for the Ministry of Economy, said: “Direct support for farmers, water resource management, support for domestic production and small enterprises, implementation of job-creation programs, and measures to mitigate the risks of climate change and drought are among the key priorities of the relevant ministries to reduce food insecurity.”

Previously, The New York Times reported that after the administration of former US President Donald Trump sharply reduced foreign aid to Afghanistan nearly a year ago, the country faced an unprecedented crisis.

According to the report, about four million children are currently at risk of death due to malnutrition the highest level in the past 25 years. During the same period, 450 health clinics have been closed, increasing the risk of death for newborns, mothers during childbirth, and emergency patients.

Humanitarian needs have also grown following the deportation of 2.8 million Afghan migrants from Iran and Pakistan, while acute hunger has intensified, affecting more than 17 million people around 40 percent of the population an increase of two million compared to last year. Additionally, seven provinces have reached a critical level of food insecurity, the final stage before famine.

Sayed Masoud, a university lecturer, said: “The largest aid Afghanistan has received in its history was wasted. However, we should not think that nothing was achieved. Some progress was made, but it was not proportional to the level of investment that entered Afghanistan.”

The report also cited projections by the Center for Global Development, which estimate that Afghanistan will lose nearly five percent of its national income in 2026 due to declining donor funding.

However, some economic experts believe that significant foundational work has been carried out in recent years compared to the past, and that continuing this trend could lead to self-reliance and free Afghanistan from dependence on foreign aid.

Mohammad Nabi Afghan, an economic analyst, told TOLOnews: “If we attract neighboring countries and implement regional and multi-country projects here, and provide the necessary facilities, we can change the current negative situation. Our economy will grow, we will become self-sufficient, and we will no longer need foreign aid.”

This comes as the United States continued to send nearly one billion dollars annually to Afghanistan even after 2021, but following Donald Trump’s return to the White House, US assistance was suspended by a single decision. Although Washington later resumed aid to other crisis-hit countries, Afghanistan is currently not among them.

Pakistani forces kill 177 Baloch militants in 48 hours, the highest toll in decades

February 5, 2026 Current News Articles

By ABDUL SATTAR and MUNIR AHMED

Associated Press

February 2, 2026

QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistani security forces killed about two dozen militants overnight in multiple raids in the insurgency-hit southwest bordering Afghanistan, raising the militant death toll to 177 in the past 48 hours, officials said Monday. The announcement follows a wave of coordinated insurgent attacks that killed 50 people, mostly civilians, including women and children.

Police backed by the military have been conducting raids in several areas against members of the outlawed separatist Baloch Liberation Army since early Saturday, after nearly 200 militants in small groups carried out simultaneous suicide bombings and gun attacks on police stations, civilian homes and security facilities across Balochistan province.

Analysts say the scale of militant deaths in the past 48 hours is the highest in decades.

The militant attacks have drawn widespread condemnation from political leaders across Pakistan, including members of the party led by imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

On Monday, Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif said the weekend attacks claimed by BLA killed 33 civilians and 17 security forces. He cited higher civilian casualties from the attacks during a speech to parliament.Asif ruled out any possibility of talks with the BLA, saying no talks would be held with “terrorists” who killed civilians, including women and children, when they attacked residences of Baloch laborers in the port city of Gwadar on Saturday.

On Monday, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in a statement praised the security forces for killing an additional 22 insurgents. He described those killed as “Indian-backed terrorists.” However, he offered no evidence of Indian involvement, and there was no immediate response from New Delhi.

Though it is Pakistan’s largest province, Balochistan is its least populated, made up largely of high mountains. It’s also a hub for the country’s ethnic Baloch minority, whose members say they face discrimination and exploitation by the central government. That has fueled a separatist insurgency demanding independence. Islamic militants also operate in the province.

Authorities said normalcy was largely returned to the province on Monday, but the train service between Balochistan and the rest of the country remained suspended for a third consecutive day. Provincial authorities suspended train service following the attacks, citing security concerns, and the suspension remains in effect.

In March, at least 31 people were killed when BLA militants attacked the Jaffar express train carrying hundreds of people in Balochistan, taking passengers hostage before security forces launched a rescue operation. All 33 assailants were killed, and the passengers were freed.

The BLA, which is banned in Pakistan, has carried out numerous attacks in recent years, frequently targeting security forces, Chinese interests and infrastructure projects. Authorities say the group has operated with support from the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, which is allied with Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers.

Ahmed reported from Islamabad.

By ABDUL SATTAR and MUNIR AHMED

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