Islamic Emirate Relations with Central Asian Countries Continue to Expand

August 4, 2026
 Bibi Amina Hakimi
TOLOnews’ Reporter
4 August 2026

Some analysts argue that Central Asian countries should take practical steps toward formally recognizing the Islamic Emirate.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s relations with the countries of Central Asia, particularly in the political, economic, trade, and transit sectors, have expanded in recent years.

The spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate says these ties are based on neighborly relations, shared interests, and the development of trade, and are currently at a satisfactory level.

Commenting on the recognition of the Islamic Emirate by Central Asian countries, Zabihullah Mujahid said the issue of formal recognition depends on the policy of each individual country. However, he noted that these countries continue to engage with Afghanistan at an official level, and Kabul has no concerns in this regard.

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, said: “Afghanistan has good and friendly relations with the countries of Central Asia. These relations are built on good neighborliness, shared interests, expanded trade, and strong diplomatic ties. We do not see any gap in these relations, and we continue to work to make them broader and stronger. High-level Afghan delegations have visited these countries.”

Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of Economy said Afghanistan’s economic, political, and diplomatic relations with Central Asian countries complement one another, adding that expanding economic cooperation can further strengthen political and diplomatic ties.

Abdul Latif Nazari, Deputy Minister for Professional Affairs at the Ministry of Economy, said: “Strengthening political and diplomatic cooperation between Afghanistan and Central Asia will also expand economic, trade, and transit relations. Our policy is to enhance economic and trade cooperation with the countries of Central Asia, and we want these relations to reach a higher level.”

Some analysts argue that Central Asian countries should take practical steps toward formally recognizing the Islamic Emirate.

Political analyst Abdul Sadiq Hamidzoy said: “If the issue of recognition is resolved, the investment climate will become much stronger. Afghanistan needs to convince the countries of the region, or at least its neighboring countries, to recognize the Islamic Emirate.”

Former diplomat Aziz Maarij also said: “Afghanistan’s relations with Central Asian countries, particularly in economic and trade matters, have expanded and continue to grow, benefiting both Afghanistan and its regional partners. However, regarding formal recognition, the international community—including both friendly and rival countries—continues to share the same position.”

These remarks come as several senior officials, including the deputy prime ministers of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, have visited Afghanistan over the past month and a half, with expanding political and economic cooperation identified as a key focus of their visits.

Islamic Emirate Relations with Central Asian Countries Continue to Expand
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Afghan Child Malnutrition Surges as Aid Cuts Force Clinics to Turn Families Away, WFP Says

August 4, 2026

Reuters

August 4, 2026

Afghan Child Malnutrition Surges as Aid Cuts Force Clinics to Turn Families Away, WFP Says

GENEVA, Aug 4 (Reuters) – Child malnutrition in Afghanistan has reached ⁠critical ⁠levels and aid shortages are ⁠forcing health workers to turn away millions of children and mothers — ​six in seven of those in need — the U.N. World Food Programme said on Tuesday.

Child wasting, the deadliest form ‌of malnutrition, has reached critical levels ‌in a third of Afghanistan’s provinces, while the number of children being admitted to health centres ⁠is rising ⁠sharply, WFP’s country director in Afghanistan, John Aylieff, told reporters in Geneva.

Child wasting ​occurs when a child is too thin for their height because they have lost weight rapidly or failed to gain weight due to insufficient food and, or illness.

  About 80% ⁠of ⁠the most severe cases involve ⁠children under ​the age of two, Aylieff said, with many arriving at clinics too late to be saved.

The ​surge comes as Afghanistan grapples ⁠with conflict-related trade disruptions, mass returns of Afghans from neighbouring countries and deep cuts in international aid.

Nearly 6 million Afghans have been forcibly returned from neighbouring countries over the past three years since expulsion policies began in late 2023, placing additional pressure on jobs and public services, Aylieff ⁠said.

 At the same time, staple food prices have risen by 20% to 30%, while ⁠nearly 14 million Afghans are facing acute hunger, according to WFP. While a better harvest this year has offered some hope, its benefits were being offset by economic pressures, mass returns and aid cuts.

 The agency said funding shortfalls had sharply reduced its operations. The U.S., traditionally the largest donor, as well as a slew of European countries, have cut funding since January 2025. WFP said it was now able to reach only one in seven acutely malnourished women and children, down from one in four ⁠children needing treatment in March this year

“We’re turning them away empty-handed with absolutely nothing,” said Aylieff.

 WFP has also been forced to halt food distributions aimed at preventing famine in the worst-hit areas because of a lack of funding, he added.

WFP said it needs $500 ​million over the next six months to stop the crisis from escalating further.

(Reporting ​by Olivia Le Poidevin; Editing by Kate Mayberry)

 

Afghan Child Malnutrition Surges as Aid Cuts Force Clinics to Turn Families Away, WFP Says
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Nearly 140,000 Afghan Migrants Deported From Pakistan’s Punjab Province

August 3, 2026
Khaama Press

 

Pakistan’s Punjab province has detained and deported nearly 140,000 undocumented Afghan migrants as part of a nationwide campaign targeting foreigners without legal residency documents, provincial authorities said.

Punjab’s Home Department stated that 139,902 Afghan nationals had been detained and sent back to Afghanistan after completing legal procedures.

The department said 248 Afghan migrants remain in 39 detention centres and are expected to be deported through the Torkham border crossing after their cases are completed.

The deportations are part of Pakistan’s wider expulsion campaign against undocumented Afghan migrants, which Islamabad says is necessary to address security concerns and enforce residency laws.

The campaign has intensified in recent weeks, with Afghan migrants reporting challenges renewing visas and maintaining legal status in Pakistan. Some migrants have said they were forced to leave despite having lived in the country for years, with established businesses, employment and family connections.

Pakistan says it has returned around 2.66 million undocumented Afghan migrants to Afghanistan over the past three years.

The deportations are taking place as Pakistan faces increased security challenges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where militant attacks and armed incidents have increased. Pakistani officials have repeatedly accused militants of operating from Afghan territory, while the Taliban authorities have rejected such allegations.

Humanitarian organizations and rights groups have warned that large-scale forced returns could put vulnerable Afghan families at risk, urging Pakistan to ensure that deportation decisions comply with international protection standards.

Many Afghan returnees face severe challenges after arriving in Afghanistan, including limited access to shelter, employment, healthcare and other basic services, according to humanitarian agencies.

The latest deportations highlight the continuing tensions between Pakistan’s security concerns and international calls for greater protection of Afghan migrants facing uncertain conditions.

Nearly 140,000 Afghan Migrants Deported From Pakistan’s Punjab Province
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U.S. Federal Court Rules in Favor of Afghan Refugee Families

August 3, 2026
Ebadullah Ebadi
Journalist (Web Editor)
3 August 2026

The report noted that the families of these Afghan nationals had already been approved to enter the United States.

A U.S. federal court has ruled that travel restrictions imposed by the White House cannot prevent the families of Afghan refugees who supported U.S. forces in Afghanistan from reuniting with them in the United States.

The U.S. newspaper Stars and Stripes reported that a federal district judge has given the U.S. State Department 15 days to respond to a lawsuit filed by seven Afghan nationals.

According to Stars and Stripes: “U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga’s decision Wednesday gave the State Department 15 days to issue travel documents to the families of five of the seven refugee plaintiffs.”

The report noted that the families of these Afghan nationals had already been approved to enter the United States.

Under the court’s ruling, the U.S. State Department has also been ordered to review the cases of other Afghan families seeking reunification.

“The agency must also reconsider travel eligibility for the other relatives waiting to reunite with loved ones, and it was ordered to disregard the ban in its reassessment,” Trenga said.

The court also ordered the U.S. State Department to submit progress reports every two weeks until the families arrive in the United States.

The U.S. State Department has not yet commented on the ruling or indicated whether it plans to appeal.

The lawsuit was filed in the state of Virginia in October last year. The defendants include the U.S. government, the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

U.S. Federal Court Rules in Favor of Afghan Refugee Families
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Islamic Emirate Calls for Expanded UN Engagement, Representation

August 3, 2026
Bibi Amina Hakimi
TOLOnews’ Reporter
3 August 2026

Experts emphasize that resolving the issue of Afghanistan’s representation at the United Nations depends on decisions by UN member states.

Zakir Jalali, the Second Political Director at Islamic Emirate’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, says engagement between Afghanistan and the United Nations is effective, but believes it should be expanded at all levels, including Afghanistan’s representation at the UN.

In an interview with TOLOnews, Jalali said that the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in Kabul enjoys all the privileges required for the diplomatic mission of an international organization. However, he noted that Afghanistan’s current government still has no official representative at the United Nations.

“The person currently occupying Afghanistan’s seat at the United Nations is not even a representative of the previous government,” Jalali said. “Therefore, our position is that UNAMA should consider this issue responsibly and, after nearly five years, expand and deepen its engagement with the Afghan government, just as UNAMA has maintained engagement with the government in Kabul and previously through the Doha process.”

Some analysts believe that continued engagement between Kabul and the United Nations could pave the way for expanding Afghanistan’s diplomatic relations with the international community.

“It is very important for Afghanistan to have its place at the United Nations and a permanent representative,” said political analyst Khalil Ahmad Nadim. “The United Nations should help create conditions for countries around the world to engage with Afghanistan and ultimately recognize it.”

Experts emphasize that resolving the issue of Afghanistan’s representation at the United Nations depends on decisions by UN member states and the organization’s formal procedures.

“Representation at the United Nations is achieved through the lawful accreditation of member states’ seats, based on specific legal and political criteria and after meeting the relevant requirements regarding the legitimate representation of governments,” said Sharif Ghalib, former policy adviser at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Afghanistan’s former representative to the United Nations. “It is the primary gateway through which countries connect with the international system and its institutions.”

Recently, UN Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Rabab Fatima, a Bangladeshi diplomat, as his Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA.

The question now is whether the new head of UNAMA will be able to play an effective role in expanding engagement between Kabul and the United Nations and advancing the issue of Afghanistan’s representation at the organization.

Islamic Emirate Calls for Expanded UN Engagement, Representation
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Delawar: Islamic Emirate Honored Doha Commitments

August 1, 2026
Bibi Amina Hakimi
TOLOnews’ Reporter
1 August 2026
Delawar said that one of the main points of disagreement during the implementation of the Doha Agreement.
Shahabuddin Delawar, head of the Commission for Contact with Afghan Personalities, president of the Afghan Red Crescent Society, and a member of the Islamic Emirate’s negotiating team for the Doha Agreement, told TOLOnews that the Islamic Emirate has fulfilled its commitments under the agreement, particularly regarding maintaining security and preventing Afghan territory from being used against other countries.

Delawar said that one of the main points of disagreement during the implementation of the Doha Agreement was the timeline for the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan.

“We were committed to ensuring nationwide security in Afghanistan, and we were committed to ensuring that no country would be harmed from Afghan territory. Afghanistan has never wanted to interfere in the internal affairs of any other country, and the Islamic Emirate has honored all of its commitments. The US initially said it would withdraw within 14 months, but that period was extended to 18 months,” Delawar said.

Analysts say that while the Islamic Emirate insists it has fully implemented its commitments, the United States continues to assess those commitments in light of developments related to security, human rights, and Afghanistan’s domestic policies.

Former Afghan ambassador to France Omar Samad said: “It is very difficult to determine who is to blame. Under the current circumstances, this issue cannot be resolved without launching a process of dialogue to determine exactly who violated the agreement, in what way, and under what conditions.”

Political analyst Sayed Ebadullah Sadiq said: “The United States and Western countries criticize Afghanistan or the Islamic Emirate on issues such as human rights, saying they have not been ensured, while security has been maintained in the country.”

The Doha Agreement was signed on February 29, 2020 (10 Hoot 1398) in Doha, the capital of Qatar, between the United States and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

The agreement was signed on behalf of the United States by Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, and on behalf of the Islamic Emirate by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs. Representatives of Qatar and several other countries also attended the signing ceremony.

Delawar: Islamic Emirate Honored Doha Commitments
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China, Türkiye Discuss Afghanistan, Stress Regional Cooperation

August 1, 2026
Bibi Amina Hakimi
TOLOnews’ Reporter
1 August 2026

Islamic Emirate spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told TOLOnews that consultations among influential regional countries on Afghanistan are important.

Afghanistan has once again become a key topic in regional diplomatic discussions. China’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Yue Xiaoyong, met with Cihad Erginay, Director General for South Asia at Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, the country’s peaceful reconstruction, and ways to strengthen regional security and stability.

Political analyst Faiaz Safi said the talks could be significant, noting that both China and Türkiye have played active roles in Afghanistan-related initiatives, including the Doha process, regional meetings with neighboring countries, and international conferences. “Both countries are in a position to influence the international community and regional states regarding Afghanistan,” he said.

Meanwhile, Islamic Emirate spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told TOLOnews that consultations among influential regional countries on Afghanistan are important and reiterated Kabul’s desire for positive relations with all countries in the region.

“Regional discussions, particularly among powerful countries with strong economies and greater capabilities, are important for Afghanistan. Afghanistan enjoys security and stability, and maintaining this security and stability requires regional support. The region should politically support and preserve this stability, as it contributes to regional growth and cohesion. Afghanistan seeks good relations with all countries in the region,” Mujahid said.

At the same time, a number of international relations experts believe that increasing consultations among China, Türkiye, and other regional countries on Afghanistan could strengthen the country’s position in regional affairs.

Najib-ur-Rahman Shamal, an expert on international relations, said: “Consultations among officials from China, Türkiye, and other Eurasian countries regarding peace, stability, and security in Afghanistan can further enhance Afghanistan’s geopolitical importance and regional standing.”

Over the past five years, China and Türkiye have been among the countries that have maintained diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan. Beijing has also repeatedly stressed at the United Nations Security Council its support for Afghanistan and the importance of ensuring peace and stability in the country.

China, Türkiye Discuss Afghanistan, Stress Regional Cooperation
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Afghanistan Shifts Trade Routes Toward Iran, Central Asia Amid Pakistan Disruptions: World Bank

August 1, 2026
Khaama Press
World Bank on glass building. Mirrored sky and city modern facade. Global capital, business, finance, economy, banking and money concept 3D rendering illustration.

The World Bank says disruptions affecting Afghanistan’s trade routes through Pakistan have pushed Afghan businesses to rely more heavily on alternative transit corridors through Iran and Central Asia, while warning that economic pressures on households remain severe.

In its latest report, the World Bank said changes in Afghanistan’s trade patterns have increased the importance of northern and western routes, with Iran and Central Asian countries playing a growing role in the movement of imported goods.

The report noted that Pakistan’s role as a traditional trade gateway for Afghanistan has declined as businesses seek alternative routes following repeated border disruptions, trade restrictions and tensions between Kabul and Islamabad.

For decades, Pakistan served as one of Afghanistan’s main commercial links, providing access to ports, regional markets and international trade networks. However, recent challenges affecting Afghanistan-Pakistan trade have encouraged importers and traders to diversify supply routes through neighbouring countries.

The World Bank said the shift highlights Afghanistan’s increasing reliance on multiple trade corridors to maintain access to essential goods. It added that improved regional connectivity and predictable transit arrangements would be important for supporting long-term economic stability.

Despite some signs of economic stabilization, the World Bank warned that Afghanistan’s recovery remains fragile. The institution said economic growth has not kept pace with population growth, particularly after the return of large numbers of Afghan migrants from neighbouring countries.

The report also highlighted declining real per capita income compared with previous years, saying reduced household purchasing power has contributed to continued economic hardship for many Afghans.

The World Bank said limited employment opportunities, rising population needs and weak economic conditions remain major barriers to sustainable recovery. It stressed that stronger trade links, regional cooperation and economic reforms will be necessary to improve Afghanistan’s long-term prospects.

Afghanistan Shifts Trade Routes Toward Iran, Central Asia Amid Pakistan Disruptions: World Bank
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Spate Of Attacks In Northern Afghanistan Pose Test For Taliban

August 1, 2026

By Daud Khattak and Mustafa Sarwar

Raio Fee Europe/Radio Liberty

During the 1990s, Afghanistan’s vast and mountainous province of Badakhshan was a bastion of resistance to the rule of the Taliban.

Now, the resource-rich region is again becoming a thorn on the side of the Islamist militant group, which regained power in the war-torn country almost five years ago.

Bordering Tajikistan, China, and Pakistan, Badakhshan has witnessed a spate of attacks in recent weeks. Experts say anti-Taliban armed groups are feeding off ethnic tensions, disputes over control of resources, and local grievances against the Taliban.

“The attacks could develop into a serious and persistent problem in Badakhshan, but they do not yet threaten Taliban rule nationally or point to the imminent loss of the province,” said Ted Callahan, a former adviser to the US military in Badakhshan.

‘Checkpoints Everywhere’

In the latest attack to hit the province, a local Taliban official was gunned down on July 28. Zabihullah Amiri, head of the provincial information and culture department, was killed by two men on motorbikes on a major road in Badakhshan, the Taliban said.

Zabihullah Amiri
Zabihullah Amiri

The attack was claimed by the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) extremist group, which has posed the biggest threat to Taliban rule since 2021.

On July 17, a new opposition group, Sipahiyan-e Mihan (Soldiers of the Homeland Front) briefly seized control of the Yaftal-e Payeen district in Badakhshan. The group is believed to be led by Qayum Malang, an officer in the former Afghan Army.

Two other opposition groups, the National Resistance Front (NRF) and the Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF), have also claimed attacks in the province’s districts of Yaftal-e Payeen, Zebak, and Darayem in recent months.

In response, the Taliban has imposed new security measures and made arrests, locals said.

“Since the recent events here, severe restrictions have been imposed on the people,” a resident of Yaftal-e Payeen, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, told RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi.

“Here in Yaftal, a large number of Pashto-speaking brothers have also arrived, and they have transferred several longtime local [Taliban] to other areas.”

A mostly Pashtun militant group dominated by clerics, the Taliban seized power in Kabul in August 2021 after previously ruling most of Afghanistan from 1996 until December 2001, when its regime collapsed following the US-led invasion. Since returning to power, it has monopolized authority and sidelined many of the country’s ethnic and religious groups as well as political factions.

Badakhshan is made up predominately of ethnic Tajiks. Many Taliban commanders in Badakhshan are ethnic Tajiks, although that appears to be changing.

“There are checkpoints and searches everywhere,” said the resident of Yaftal-e Payeen district. “The Taliban inspect people’s phones. There are night patrols. They come and search people’s homes without giving a reason.”

Disputes Over Resources

Badakhshan is rich in natural resources, including gold, silver, and semiprecious stones.

The extraction of those minerals has intensified in recent years, and the Taliban’s cash-strapped and unrecognized government has sought to centralize control over mining revenues. The move has fueled local resentment and infighting among Taliban commanders.

The Taliban’s decision in 2022 to ban the production of opium — a lifeline for impoverished farmers in much of the country — has also triggered anger.

Taliban Enforces ‘Proper Hijab’ With Detentions And Beatings Of Women

In 2024, protests broke out in Badakhshan over the Taliban’s forceful enforcement of its ban on illicit drugs. The hard-line group violently clamped down on the rallies, shooting and killing several protesters and rounding up dozens of locals.

Since returning to power, the Taliban has also increasingly marginalized Afghanistan’s Shi’ite religious minority, which makes up around 15 percent of the population. Badakhshan is home to a sizeable Ismaili Shi’a community.

“Poppy eradication campaigns, disputes over control of gold and lapis lazuli mines, restrictions over Ismaili communities and the Taliban’s own differences — Pashtun versus Tajik — have created deep resentment among people and the opposition groups have cashed the opportunity,” said Callahan.

‘Continuing Insurgency’

Several small armed groups have waged a low-level insurgency against the Taliban, carrying out sporadic hit-and-run attacks and the assassination of Taliban officials.

Experts say the groups have not yet shown that they can recruit on a large scale, maintain dependable supply lines, unify their various fronts, or govern territory after capturing it. The Taliban, experts say, has advantages in personnel, transport, intelligence, and heavy weapons.

“The likeliest outcome is therefore a contained but continuing insurgency,” said Callahan.

Sami Yousafzai, a London-based Afghan analyst, said the “anti-Taliban groups don’t have the power to seize and hold areas.” But he said the spike in attacks in Badakhshan have succeeded in denting the Taliban’s “image of invincibility.”

Daud Khattak is a senior international correspondent covering the Near East in RFE/RL’s Central Newsroom. He was previously the managing editor of RFE/RL’s Radio Mashaal.

Mustafa Sarwar is a senior news editor for RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi, one of the most popular and trusted media outlets in Afghanistan. Nearly half of the country’s adult audience accesses Azadi’s reporting on a weekly basis.

Spate Of Attacks In Northern Afghanistan Pose Test For Taliban
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Amnesty Urges EU to Halt Forced Returns and Deportations to Afghanistan

July 31, 2026
Khaama Press

Amnesty International has urged the European Union and its member states to halt efforts to forcibly return Afghan nationals to Afghanistan, warning that the country cannot currently be considered safe for forced returns.

In an open letter to EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner and interior ministers of EU member states, Amnesty said cooperation with Taliban authorities on the readmission of Afghans could conflict with European governments’ obligations under international refugee and human rights law, particularly the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning people to places where they face a real risk of serious harm.

Amnesty said it was particularly concerned about efforts by EU governments to establish technical arrangements with the Taliban for returning Afghans, including people with criminal convictions or those considered security risks.

The organisation said Afghanistan was not considered a safe destination for forced returns even before the Taliban seized power in 2021 and that conditions have since deteriorated. It cited restrictions on fundamental rights, arbitrary detention, torture and mistreatment, limits on freedom of expression and serious restrictions affecting women, girls and ethnic and religious minorities.

The rights group also pointed to Afghanistan’s continuing humanitarian crisis, including poverty, drought, natural disasters and reduced humanitarian assistance. It said Afghans returning from Iran and Pakistan can face severe difficulties finding shelter, employment, healthcare and other basic services, increasing the risks associated with forced returns.

Amnesty’s intervention follows a June 23 visit by a Taliban delegation to Brussels for discussions with European Commission officials on the return and readmission of Afghan nationals. The talks took place amid pressure from some EU governments to increase the number of rejected asylum seekers being returned.

The organisation warned that establishing formal readmission cooperation initially focused on people convicted of crimes or considered security threats could eventually create mechanisms for the return of other Afghans whose protection claims remain unresolved.

Amnesty called on EU governments to stop efforts to restart forced deportations and readmission cooperation with the Taliban and to ensure that every protection decision takes into account Afghanistan’s current human rights, security and humanitarian conditions.

It also urged European governments to ensure that engagement with the Taliban remains focused on protecting human rights and people at risk rather than facilitating deportations.

The debate comes as European governments face domestic pressure to increase the number of rejected asylum seekers returned to their countries of origin. Amnesty said such political pressure must not override states’ legal obligations to prevent the return of people who could face persecution or serious harm in Afghanistan.

Amnesty Urges EU to Halt Forced Returns and Deportations to Afghanistan
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