Lavrov Calls Kabul-Islamabad Rift ‘Unpleasant’ as Moscow Talks End Without Joint Statement

October 7, 2026
Khaama Press

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov described the failure of Afghanistan and Pakistan to agree on a joint statement at the eighth Moscow Format consultations as an “unpleasant” but predictable development, as tensions between the two neighbors overshadowed regional talks on Afghanistan.

Speaking at a news conference in Moscow on Tuesday, Lavrov said the disagreement should not be treated as a tragedy, arguing that the differences between Kabul and Islamabad had been foreseeable. The dispute prevented participants from adopting a final joint statement after the talks on October 5.

Lavrov attributed the strained relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan in part to the presence and activities of Islamic State and affiliated groups, which he said carry out attacks in both countries. He argued that the broader lesson was the need to end what Moscow describes as interference by countries outside the region.

The Russian foreign minister also linked the emergence of Islamic State to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and said additional militant groups emerged following NATO’s intervention in Libya. These comments reflected Moscow’s longstanding criticism of Western military interventions and were presented by Lavrov as part of his explanation of the region’s security problems.

The failure to issue a joint statement was earlier explained by Russia’s special presidential envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov. He said Afghan and Pakistani representatives disagreed over the wording of the draft, with the Taliban objecting to what it considered excessive references to Afghanistan in the context of terrorism. Kabulov said similar language had appeared in the previous year’s statement but that relations between Kabul and Islamabad had since changed.

The disagreement reflected a broader deterioration in Afghanistan-Pakistan relations. Pakistan has accused the Taliban authorities of allowing militants, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), to operate from Afghanistan territory and stage attacks inside Pakistan. The Taliban rejects the allegation and has accused Pakistan of military aggression and interference in Afghanistan. Reuters reported that Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said at the Moscow talks that the two countries’ problems could be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.

The absence of a joint statement underscored the widening gap between Kabul and Islamabad and highlighted the difficulty regional powers face in building consensus on Afghanistan’s security and political future. Russia has offered to help mediate between the two sides if both parties request assistance.

Lavrov Calls Kabul-Islamabad Rift ‘Unpleasant’ as Moscow Talks End Without Joint Statement
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Afghanistan–Pakistan Tensions Rise Amid Recent Clashes and Attacks

October 7, 2026
Lailuma Qadiri
Tolo News
7 October 2026

Meanwhile, according to him, civilians, including women and children, have also been harmed in attacks carried out against Afghanistan.

The Director General of the Administrative Office says Afghans have made their position clear toward countries and groups that, according to him, do not want Afghanistan to progress.

Sheikh Noor-ul-Haq Anwar says the people have demonstrated in unity that they will no longer fall victim to conspiracies and that they have identified their friends and adversaries.

He stresses: “The people of Afghanistan strongly expressed their resentment and condemned these actions. They demonstrated in unity that we will no longer fall victim to conspiracies. We have correctly identified our friends and adversaries. The Islamic Emirate has repeatedly stressed that our interests are important to us so that we can rebuild war-torn Afghanistan.”

Mr. Anwar adds that the Islamic Emirate harbors no ill intentions toward any country and does not want to take any action that could cause insecurity for others.

He adds that military centers were targeted in attacks carried out by the Islamic Emirate.

Meanwhile, according to him, civilians, including women and children, have also been harmed in attacks carried out against Afghanistan.

He also stresses resolving differences and tensions through dialogue.

Sheikh Noor-ul-Haq Anwar added: “The Islamic Emirate remains committed to its principles and fulfills its commitments. No action has been taken to cause anyone unjustified harm, and it seeks to resolve any tensions that have arisen through peaceful means.”

Abdul Jamil Shirani, a political analyst, says regarding tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan: “Pakistan is bombing innocent people in Afghanistan and is using bombs that Israel and the United States used in the war with Iran. Their objective is to take advantage of the situation on that side and draw the attention of the world and their own people toward themselves.”

These remarks come as relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have faced heightened tensions following recent clashes and attacks.

Afghanistan–Pakistan Tensions Rise Amid Recent Clashes and Attacks
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Noorullah Noori: Pakistan Should Not Test Afghans’ Patience

October 7, 2026
Farid Ahmad Atiqi

Tolo News

6 October 2026

Noori said that Pakistan is violating Islamic and international principles of good neighborliness.

Noorullah Noori, the Minister of Borders, Tribes and Tribal Affairs, reacting to Pakistan’s attacks on Afghanistan, said that Pakistan’s military and intelligence agencies should learn from their past experiences in Afghanistan and should not test the patience and tolerance of Afghans.

Noori said that Pakistan is violating Islamic and international principles of good neighborliness, adding that Afghans have the full capability to defend their territory.

Speaking at a gathering in Ghazni, he said: “Do not take advantage of the patience and tolerance of Afghans. Pakistan’s military and intelligence agencies should learn lessons from the experiences of past revolutions.”

The Minister of Borders, Tribes and Tribal Affairs also said that there is no place in the country for armed and political groups opposed to the Islamic Emirate, adding that these groups have lost the trust of the people over the past twenty years.

Noori called on opponents of the Islamic Emirate not to facilitate foreign conspiracies in Afghanistan, saying that if they wish to live peacefully, they can return to the country without facing any obstruction.

Noorullah Noori said: “Under what name and title do you govern? What is the name of your government? There is no place inside Afghanistan for these groups to create problems for the Islamic Emirate. However, if they wish to live peacefully in the country, there is a place for them.”

Meanwhile, a number of participants at the gathering criticized the policies of some neighboring countries, particularly Pakistan, toward Afghanistan and called on them to respect Afghanistan’s national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

Sayed Hassan Fazelzada, a resident of Jaghori district in Ghazni and a participant in the gathering, said: “Afghanistan today is not the Afghanistan of past decades; do not make a mistake. Enter a new phase of building good relations based on respect for Afghanistan’s national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. Refrain from interfering in Afghanistan’s internal affairs and stop hostile actions.”

Sayed Jawad Balkhabi, another resident of Jaghori district in Ghazni and a participant in the gathering, said: “Pakistan should learn a lesson from the Soviet Union, the United States and NATO and should no longer violate Afghanistan’s territory. It should apologize to the Islamic Emirate.”

The gathering was organized by the Ministry of Borders, Tribes and Tribal Affairs with the aim of strengthening unity among ethnic groups and promoting the implementation of Islamic Sharia.

Around 2,000 Shia religious scholars and members of the public from Ghazni, Kabul, Maidan Wardak, Uruzgan, Sar-e-Pul and several other provinces attended the gathering.

Participants also emphasized the need to eliminate divisions among ethnic groups and expressed support for the Islamic Emirate.

Noorullah Noori: Pakistan Should Not Test Afghans’ Patience
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25 Years Since the Start of the U.S. War in Afghanistan

October 7, 2026
Muhammad Nazif Safi
Tolo News
7 October 2026

However, the attack took on a different dimension on the ground in Afghanistan and turned into a prolonged war.

Twenty-five years ago, on 7th October, 2001, then-U.S. President George W. Bush ordered the launch of an attack on Afghanistan under the pretext of fighting terrorism.

At the time, Bush said the operation was being carried out in response to the September 11 attacks, with the aim of combating the al-Qaeda network and eliminating terrorist threats.

“On my orders, the United States military has begun strikes against al-Qaeda terrorist training camps and the military infrastructure of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. These carefully targeted actions are designed to prevent Afghanistan from being used as a terrorist base of operations and to strike at the military capability of the Taliban regime.”, Said Bush on the day.

However, the attack took on a different dimension on the ground in Afghanistan and turned into a prolonged war.

As a result of the attack, the then-Taliban movement’s government in Afghanistan was overthrown, thousands of Afghan civilians were killed and wounded, and many families were displaced from their homes.

In addition, millions of Afghans faced the security, economic and social consequences of the war.

The Islamic Emirate, which is once again in power in Afghanistan 25 years after that day, has described October 7 as one of the bitter days in the country’s history and said it resulted in thousands of Afghans being killed and wounded.

After 20 years of war, the last U.S. troops and their allies left Afghanistan on August 30, 2021. With the end of the U.S. military presence, a new chapter began in Afghanistan’s political history.

The 20-year U.S. presence in Afghanistan began with the overthrow of the then-government of the Afghan Taliban movement and ended with the Islamic Emirate’s return to power.

25 Years Since the Start of the U.S. War in Afghanistan
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Muttaqi: Afghanistan Should Be a Hub for Regional Cooperation

October 5, 2026
TOLOnews
TV Network
5 October 2026

Muttaqi also said the Islamic Emirate is ready for sustained cooperation with regional countries on border security.

Amir Khan Muttaqi, Foreign Minister of the Islamic Emirate, told the eighth meeting of the Moscow Format on Afghanistan that the country seeks to become a key hub for economic cooperation and connectivity between Central and South Asia and other regions, rather than an arena for regional rivalries.

Muttaqi said Afghanistan’s foreign policy is based on “open doors, balanced engagement, mutual respect and shared interests,” adding that Kabul does not define its relations with one country as being against another.

He called on regional countries to increase investment in Afghanistan’s energy, mining, agriculture, industry, transit, logistics and infrastructure sectors. According to him, Afghanistan views regional projects such as TAPI, TAP, CASA-1000 and the Trans-Afghan Railway as important for economic growth and regional connectivity.

The foreign minister also addressed relations with Pakistan, saying security, political and economic issues between the two countries should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. He said Pakistan is using military pressure against Afghanistan and violating the country’s sovereignty.

Muttaqi also said the Islamic Emirate is ready for sustained cooperation with regional countries on border security and efforts to combat drug trafficking and organized crime.

On Afghanistan’s economy, he said the country’s real gross domestic product grew by 1.5% during the 1404 fiscal year, while private-sector investment reached 200.9 billion afghanis.

The foreign minister described Russia’s recognition of the Islamic Emirate as an important development and expressed hope that other countries would follow a similar approach.

Muttaqi stressed that direct engagement with Afghanistan is a practical way to address issues and urged countries outside the region to base their policies toward Afghanistan on “ground realities, direct relations and mutual interests” rather than pressure and isolation.

Muttaqi: Afghanistan Should Be a Hub for Regional Cooperation
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HRW Urges US, Allies to Investigate Alleged War Crimes in Afghanistan and Compensate Victims

October 5, 2026
Khaama Press
U.S. Army soldiers with the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 5th Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division and Afghan National Army soldiers conduct a combined patrol in the village of Shabila Kalan, Zabul, Afghanistan, on Nov. 30, 2009. DoD photo by Tech. Sgt. Efren Lopez, U.S. Air Force. (Released)

Human Rights Watch has called on the United States and other countries involved in the Afghanistan war to investigate alleged war crimes and serious abuses by their forces and provide compensation to victims and their families, saying Afghans still have no clear path to justice 25 years after the conflict began.

In a statement marking 25 years since the U.S.-led war began on October 7, 2001, HRW said successive governments have failed to provide adequate accountability or redress for Afghans subjected to abuses by foreign forces. The organization said many people detained by U.S. forces were held for months or years without being charged with crimes and that victims have largely been left without an effective mechanism to seek compensation.

Patricia Gossman, senior associate Asia director at HRW, said Afghans tortured in U.S. custody and families of people who were wrongfully killed still lack a clear avenue to file claims or obtain redress from the U.S. government. HRW documented abuses including beatings, humiliation, waterboarding, prolonged sleep deprivation and mock executions.

HRW also highlighted alleged abuses by other coalition forces. It said investigations into alleged summary killings and mistreatment by Australian and British forces have made limited progress. In Australia, the Brereton inquiry into alleged war crimes by special forces resulted in only two arrests, while trials had not begun and victims or their families were not known to have received compensation, according to HRW.

The organization cited several cases involving U.S. forces, including the 2012 conviction of Robert Bales for killing 16 Afghan civilians in Kandahar. HRW also pointed to the “Kill Team” case, in which several U.S. soldiers were convicted over the killing of Afghan civilians, while saying other serious allegations, including the deaths of civilians in Wardak province, did not result in prosecutions.

HRW said accountability should extend to all parties to the conflict, including Taliban forces, Afghan government forces and other armed groups. It accused Taliban fighters of attacks on civilians, aid workers, government officials and election-related targets, while also pointing to alleged torture, sexual violence and enforced disappearances involving powerful figures linked to the former Afghan government.

The organization said the International Criminal Court initially investigated alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by various parties in Afghanistan, including the Taliban, Islamic State, Afghan government forces, U.S. forces and the CIA. However, HRW said the ICC’s Afghanistan investigation has not publicly advanced against several of those actors.

A potential avenue for broader accountability emerged in October 2025, when the UN Human Rights Council established an independent investigative mechanism for Afghanistan. The body is mandated to collect, preserve and analyze evidence of international crimes and serious violations of international law by all sides and prepare files to facilitate future criminal proceedings.

HRW said governments should ensure that the new UN mechanism receives sufficient resources and begins its work without delay. It argued that the passage of time and government inaction should not prevent Afghan victims and survivors from obtaining justice, recognition and reparations.

HRW Urges US, Allies to Investigate Alleged War Crimes in Afghanistan and Compensate Victims
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UN: 64 Civilians Killed or Injured by Explosive Remnants in Eastern Afghanistan This Year

October 3, 2026
Khaama Press

The United Nations says 64 incidents involving explosive remnants of war and unexploded ordnance have been recorded in eastern Afghanistan since the beginning of 2026, resulting in 64 civilian casualties.

Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres, said the figures were recorded by the UN Department of Safety and Security. He warned that Afghanistan remains among the countries with the highest civilian casualty rates from unexploded ordnance worldwide.

Dujarric said explosive remnants of war continue to pose a serious threat to civilians, particularly children. The danger persists from abandoned and unexploded weapons left behind by years of conflict and continues to affect communities even after fighting in many parts of the country has declined.

The warning came after an abandoned mortar round reportedly exploded in Nangarhar while four children were handling it. The incident killed three children and injured another, according to UN humanitarian officials cited in the briefing.

The UN and its partners are continuing mine-risk education, clearance operations and assistance for communities and survivors affected by explosive hazards. However, Dujarric said severe funding shortages are limiting mine-action activities.

The wider humanitarian response in Afghanistan is also facing a major funding gap. The UN said its $1.7 billion Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for 2026 was only 30 percent funded at the time of the briefing, with $537 million received. The shortfall has already forced some aid partners to suspend assistance in certain areas.

The continued presence of explosive remnants highlights the long-term humanitarian consequences of Afghanistan’s decades of conflict. UN and international mine-action programmes have for years focused on clearing contaminated land, educating communities about explosive hazards and supporting survivors.

UN: 64 Civilians Killed or Injured by Explosive Remnants in Eastern Afghanistan This Year
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Russia Voices Concern Over Afghanistan-Pakistan Fighting as UN Confirms Civilian Deaths

October 3, 2026
Khaama Press

Russia has expressed deep concern over renewed military clashes between the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan and Pakistan, warning that the fighting is affecting civilians, particularly children.

The Russian Embassy in Kabul said Saturday that it was concerned about the continuation of the military confrontation between the two neighboring countries. The statement came after Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan’s Kunar and Helmand provinces earlier this week.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirmed that at least 10 civilians were killed in the strikes, most of them children, while nine others were injured. UNAMA called for de-escalation and dialogue and urged the parties to respect international law and prevent further civilian harm.

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Taliban authorities, said the Pakistani strikes hit residential areas and killed nine civilians, including women and children, while injuring 11 others. Reuters reported that the strikes hit three houses in Kunar and Helmand.

Pakistan, however, gave a different account of the operation. Its Ministry of Information said the strikes were based on “credible intelligence” and targeted militant hideouts, claiming that 22 militants were killed and large quantities of weapons and ammunition were destroyed. The claims by the two sides have not been independently reconciled.

The Russian statement did not condemn Pakistan’s airstrikes outright but called for an end to the military confrontation. Russia has maintained diplomatic relations with the Taliban authorities, which Moscow formally recognized in July 2025.

The European Union has also expressed concern over the civilian casualties from the strikes and called on Afghanistan and Pakistan to exercise restraint and resolve their differences through dialogue.

The latest strikes mark another escalation in already strained relations between Kabul and Islamabad. Pakistan accuses the Taliban authorities of allowing armed groups, particularly the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), to operate from Afghanistan territory and launch attacks into Pakistan. Kabul denies the allegation and says it does not allow Afghanistan territory to be used against other countries.

UNAMA said last week that it had documented more than 1,100 civilian deaths and injuries in Afghanistan from cross-border armed violence since the beginning of 2026, underscoring the growing humanitarian cost of the confrontation.

Russia Voices Concern Over Afghanistan-Pakistan Fighting as UN Confirms Civilian Deaths
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Kabul Responds to Ishaq Dar: Afghanistan Won’t Allow Its Soil to Be Used

October 3, 2026
TOLOnews
3 September 2026

The ministry’s head of public relations told TOLOnews that Pakistan is seeking, through such claims, to shape international perceptions of Afghanistan.

Following Pakistan’s airstrikes on Kunar and Helmand, which according to the United Nations killed 10 civilians, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister said at a meeting in Islamabad that his country wants Afghanistan’s progress, prosperity and economic growth and considers itself a “well-wisher” of Afghanistan.

Reiterating Pakistan’s previous claims, he called on Afghanistan not to allow its territory to be used to carry out attacks against other countries, particularly Pakistan.

Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, said: “In return, what does Pakistan expect? What have we told them? That they should not allow their territory to be used for terrorism against any country. Particularly when it comes to Pakistan, we will not tolerate this.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate rejected the Pakistani foreign minister’s claims, saying Afghanistan will never allow its territory to be used against others.

The ministry’s head of public relations told TOLOnews that Pakistan is seeking, through such claims, to shape international perceptions of Afghanistan.

Zia Ahmad Takal, head of public relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said: “The policy of the Islamic Emirate is that no one can use Afghan territory against any country in the world, including Pakistan. Therefore, we reject these claims. This is an attempt to evade responsibility and to create a different perception in the minds of the international community.”

Meanwhile, the Coordination Council of Diplomatic and Consular Missions of Afghanistan’s former government condemned Pakistan’s recent airstrikes in Afghanistan in a statement, describing them as a violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty and a clear breach of international humanitarian law.

The council called on the United Nations and the international community to take necessary measures to protect civilians, particularly women and children, and prevent further harm.

This comes as the United Nations and the European Union yesterday called for de-escalation and urged the two countries to resolve their differences through dialogue.

Kabul Responds to Ishaq Dar: Afghanistan Won’t Allow Its Soil to Be Used
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UN Rights Rapporteur Calls for Accountability Over Airstrikes in Kunar, Helmand

October 2, 2026
Khaama Press

Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, has called for accountability after airstrikes in Kunar and Helmand provinces killed civilians, most of them children.

Bennett said in a post on X on Thursday, October 1, that Pakistani military forces had carried out the airstrikes the previous night, causing civilian casualties. He questioned whether the incident resulted from “incompetence, negligence, or something worse.”

“Whatever the case, there is no justification for causing such irreparable harm to civilians,” Bennett said, adding that the attacks appeared to violate international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirmed that at least 10 civilians were killed and nine others injured in the airstrikes in Kunar and Helmand, with most of those killed being children. The UN mission called for de-escalation, dialogue, respect for international law and measures to prevent further civilian harm.

The Taliban government had earlier reported that nine people, including women and children, were killed and 11 others injured. Its spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, said three houses were destroyed in the strikes.

Pakistan said its forces had targeted militant hideouts at two locations based on what it described as “credible intelligence,” claiming that 22 militants were killed and weapons and ammunition were destroyed. The conflicting casualty figures could not be independently verified.

UN Rights Rapporteur Calls for Accountability Over Airstrikes in Kunar, Helmand
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