Grave concern’ after dozens of women arrested in Afghanistan for dress violations

June 12, 2026 Current News Articles

UN News

11 June 2026

Gender equality agency UN Women is “gravely concerned” by the arrest of at least 30 women in Herat city last weekend in Afghanistan for allegedly violating dress requirements imposed by Taliban authorities.

The women allegedly violated decrees which include a requirement to wear a burka or chador with a face mask and a ban on perfume, according to UN independent human rights experts on Thursday.

The arrests come amid a growing human rights struggle for women in the country, with the de facto authorities – who returned to power on August 15, 2021 – placing increasing restrictions on women’s education, employment and other basic rights.

“While many women have since been released, the arrests have heightened fear and apprehension among women and girls across Afghanistan,” the UN agency dedicated to women’s rights and gender equality warned on Thursday.

The impact of arbitrary arrests and detentions on women and their families is profound and can have long-term impacts.

“A woman’s detention in Afghanistan carries enormous stigma, which can put women at risk of further violence and isolation in their families and communities even after they are released,” said the UN Deputy Special Representative currently leading the UN mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA, Georgette Gagnon.

Use of force at protests

Adding to these fears, the UN Human Rights Council-appointed rights experts on Thursday expressed deep concern over reports of “excessive use of force” against demonstrators protesting the restrictive measures and the detention of dozens of women in Herat city on June 9.

According to the independent experts, Taliban security forces allegedly opened fire on protesters – men, women and children – administering beatings to some. At least two people, including a boy, were killed and more than 20 were injured.

The experts noted reports of stone-throwing by some protesters, but stated that such actions would not, in themselves, meet the strict threshold for the use of lethal force.

“As the de facto authority in Afghanistan, the Taliban must comply with the international human rights treaties to which Afghanistan is a party,” the experts said.

Right to freedom

“Equality, peaceful assembly, freedom of expression and movement, and protection from arbitrary detention are fundamental rights essential to restoring public confidence and preventing further deterioration of the situation,” they added.

The experts urged de-escalation and warned that tensions must be reduced immediately to prevent further violence or harm.

The experts, who are not UN staff and receive no salary for their work, called on the Taliban to immediately release detainees, strictly avoid ill-treatment, refrain from any actions or rhetoric that prevent people with injuries from accessing medical care and end house searches.

Deadly Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan end a month of calm

June 12, 2026 Current News Articles

By ABDUL QAHAR AFGHAN and MUNIR AHMED

Associated Press

June 10, 2026

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Pakistan launched deadly new airstrikes on Afghanistan early Wednesday, ending a month of calm following what Islamabad previously described as “open war” between the neighbors that has defied international efforts to bring a lasting peace.

Afghanistan said the strikes hit the eastern provinces of Khost, Kunar and Paktika, and government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said 13 people were killed — 11 children, one woman and an older man — with 14 other civilians wounded.

Pakistan confirmed it carried out strikes, saying it targeted militant hideouts and infrastructure linked to recent attacks inside Pakistan and that 26 militants were killed. The two sides often give widely differing casualty figures.

Hundreds of people have been killed in the fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan since February, when Afghanistan attacked Pakistan in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan. Several rounds of internationally mediated peace talks have failed to produce a lasting truce.

Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harboring militants who carry out deadly attacks inside Pakistan, especially the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP. The group is separate from, but allied with, the Afghan Taliban, which has ruled Afghanistan since it seized power in the country in 2021 amid the chaotic withdrawal of U.S.-led troops. Kabul denies the charge.

Seven children killed in the strikes are buried

In Khost, hundreds of mourners attended the funerals of nine people killed — seven children ranging in age from 3 to 15, a woman and a man. All were from the same family, killed when their house collapsed from the airstrike, relatives said.

Residents knelt to mourn at the open casket of a small child.

One mourner, Talib Gul, said those killed were his uncle and aunt along with their four daughters and three sons.

“In my uncle’s family, only two of his daughters survived. The rest of his entire family was martyred,” Gul said.

He said a second strike hit his brother’s house, causing significant damage and killing many livestock that are central to livelihoods there.

Afghanistan’s foreign ministry summoned Pakistan’s chargé d’affaires in Kabul to protest ”the violation of Afghan airspace and the bombing of the homes of innocent civilians,” deputy spokesperson and public relations director Zia Ahmad Takal said in a statement, adding that Pakistan should “find a fundamental solution to its internal problems.”

Pakistan says it targeted militant hideouts

In a post on X, Pakistan’s information minister, Attaullah Tarar, said strikes were carried out in border areas on “hideouts and safe havens of masterminds and planners” of attacks carried out by the Pakistani Taliban and insurgents in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region.

Tarar said four targets were destroyed: a training center, a hideout, an ammunition cache and a facility belonging to militant commanders.

Pakistan’s counter-terrorism campaign will continue “at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism,” he said.

Pakistan’s information ministry on X dismissed Afghanistan’s reports of civilian casualties, asserting that “Afghan Taliban accounts are peddling propaganda.”

Local authorities in Pakistan said Tuesday that security forces killed eight of the attackers and thwarted an attempt to overrun the checkpoint.

The situation along the border was calm hours after Wednesday’s strikes. Kabul has previously responded to strikes by targeting Pakistani posts along the frontier hours or days later.

Fighting has closed the border since October

Pakistan in February declared it was in open war with Afghanistan, following a surge in militant attacks on its civilians and security forces.

Afghanistan has said a Pakistani airstrike in March hit a drug treatment center in Kabul, killing more than 400 people. Pakistan has disputed the toll and denied targeting civilians, saying it struck an ammunition depot.

Wednesday’s strikes come months after China hosted peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Beijing later said they had agreed not to escalate their conflict and to explore a solution.

Authorities in Pakistan have said China and some other friendly countries were still encouraging both sides to reach an agreement for durable peace.

Masood Khan, an Islamabad-based security analyst, said the solution to the tensions lies in enforcing a decree by Afghanistan’s Taliban leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada ordering the TTP to stop attacks on Pakistan.

“That decree must be implemented sincerely and faithfully,” Khan said.

The border has been closed since October, disrupting trade and transportation and stranding thousands of people.___

Ahmed reported from Islamabad. Elena Becatoros in Athens, Greece, contributed to this report.

Explosion Kills 7, Including 5 Children, in Afghanistan’s Paktika Province

June 9, 2026 Current News Articles

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

June 9, 2026

An explosion in Afghanistan’s Paktika province killed seven people, including five children, and injured four others, officials said.

At least seven people, including five children, were killed and four others injured after an unexploded artillery shell detonated in Afghanistan’s eastern Paktika province, local Taliban authorities said on Tuesday.

The blast occurred on Monday evening in the village of Dangar Lagad in Barmal district, according to a statement from the Taliban police command in Paktika.

Authorities said the explosion happened when a local resident collecting scrap metal attempted to open the shell and reuse it as a metal tool. The device exploded, killing two adult men and five children at the scene.

The injured were transferred to nearby hospitals for treatment, officials said.

The incident highlights the continuing danger posed by unexploded ordnance left behind by decades of conflict in Afghanistan, where civilians, particularly children remain among the most vulnerable victims.

According to Afghanistan’s National Disaster Management Authority, at least 87 people were killed in explosions and other incidents involving landmines and unexploded munitions during the last solar year. The agency recorded 193 such incidents across the country during the same period.

Reports said 333 people were also injured in mine- and ordnance-related incidents, with children accounting for roughly 67% of all casualties. Humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned that unexploded weapons continue to threaten communities, especially in rural areas where residents often collect scrap metal to support their livelihoods.

Mine-clearing agencies have urged greater public awareness and increased funding for demining operations, warning that millions of Afghans still live in areas contaminated by explosive remnants of war. Afghanistan remains one of the countries most heavily affected by landmines and unexploded ordnance, despite years of clearance efforts.

UN Warns of ‘Lost Generation’ as 3.8 Million Girls Remain Out of School in Afghanistan

June 9, 2026 Current News Articles

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

June 9, 2026

The United Nations has warned that Afghanistan risks creating a “lost generation” as nearly 3.8 million girls remain excluded from education under Taliban restrictions, while millions more face worsening humanitarian conditions, food insecurity and poverty.

Addressing the UN Security Council on Monday, Georgette Gagnon, acting head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), said an estimated 3.8 million girls aged between seven and 18 are currently out of school, including more than 2.6 million adolescent girls barred from secondary education.

Gagnon warned that approximately 250,000 additional girls are permanently excluded from secondary education every year, depriving the country of future talent and opportunities. She said the continued restrictions on women and girls will have long-term consequences for Afghanistan’s social and economic development.

The UN official noted that while Afghanistan has shown limited signs of economic stabilization, including modest growth and improved revenue collection, the gains remain fragile. She added that up to 2.8 million Afghans are expected to return from neighbouring countries this year, placing additional pressure on communities already struggling with unemployment, poverty and limited public services.

UNAMA also reported that Afghanistan remains one of the world’s largest humanitarian emergencies. According to the United Nations, about 21.9 million people—nearly 45 percent of the population—will require humanitarian assistance in 2026.

Edem Wosornu, director of crisis response at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), told the Security Council that food insecurity and malnutrition are worsening across the country. She said 4.7 million people are at risk of severe food insecurity, while an estimated 3.7 million children are suffering from acute malnutrition.

Wosornu warned that humanitarian operations are being severely constrained by funding shortages. She said the UN’s $1.71 billion humanitarian appeal for Afghanistan this year has received only about 15 percent of the required funding, raising concerns that life-saving assistance programmes may be reduced.

UNAMA has repeatedly urged the Taliban to lift restrictions on women and girls, particularly bans on secondary and higher education, warning that such measures undermine Afghanistan’s future and deepen existing social and economic challenges.

The UN has also warned that recurring droughts, climate-related disasters, declining international aid and the mass return of Afghan migrants from neighbouring countries are compounding the humanitarian crisis. Aid agencies say millions of families continue to struggle to access food, healthcare, clean water and livelihoods.

Afghanistan remains one of only two countries in the world where girls are barred from secondary education. International organisations have repeatedly stressed that restoring women’s access to education and employment is essential for the country’s long-term stability, economic recovery and development.

Richard Bennett Calls for Accountability After Protest Crackdown in Herat

June 9, 2026 Current News Articles

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

June 9, 2026

Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, has called for accountability following reports that Taliban forces used force against protesters in Herat province.

In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, Bennett said he was concerned by reports of excessive force against demonstrators and stressed the need to respect freedom of expression, particularly for women and girls.

“Those responsible for violence must be held accountable,” Bennett said, urging authorities to de-escalate tensions and protect the rights of citizens to peaceful assembly.

Local sources said Taliban forces opened fire on residents gathered in Herat’s Jebrail area during a protest on Tuesday, leaving several people injured.

The incident comes amid growing tensions in Herat following reports that dozens of women and girls have been detained in recent days over alleged violations of the Taliban’s dress code.

The latest developments echo concerns raised in recent reports by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), which warned that restrictions on women and girls continue to deepen across the country. UNAMA has documented increasing limitations on freedom of movement, education, employment and participation in public life.

In its recent briefing to the UN Security Council, UNAMA also reported that about 3.8 million Afghan girls remain out of school, including more than 2.6 million adolescent girls. UN officials have warned that continued restrictions on women’s rights risk creating a “lost generation” and further isolating Afghanistan from the international community.

EU Commission Reaffirms Plans to Invite Islamic Emirate to Brussels

June 9, 2026 Current News Articles

Mohammad Bashir Soltani, Reporter

Political Writer

Tolo News

07 JUNE 2026

Five Years On, Afghanistan’s UN Seat, Voting Rights Remain Uncertain

June 9, 2026 Current News Articles

Bibi Amina Hakimi

TOLOnews’ Reporter

8 June 2026

Prior to 2021, these dues were paid by the former Afghan government. Afghanistan’s outstanding debt has now exceeded $900,000.

Although nearly five years have passed since the Islamic Emirate returned to power in Afghanistan, the fate of the country’s permanent seat at the United Nations and its voting rights remain shrouded in uncertainty.

Afghanistan has been deprived of its voting rights in the United Nations General Assembly for nearly five years due to its failure to pay annual membership dues amounting to $200,000.

Prior to 2021, these dues were paid by the former Afghan government. Afghanistan’s outstanding debt has now exceeded $900,000.

Abdul Sadiq Hamidzoy, a political analyst, said: “Afghanistan holds an important geopolitical position in the region and should be able to exercise its voting rights. However, due to certain considerations and political rivalries, it has been deprived of this right, which is a great injustice to the Afghan people.”

Afghanistan’s permanent seat at the United Nations has not yet been assigned to the current authorities through the UN’s formal process, which is overseen by the Credentials Committee.

Officials of the Islamic Emirate have previously insisted that transferring Afghanistan’s UN seat to the Islamic Emirate is the legitimate right of the Afghan people.

Commenting on the issue, political analyst Sayed Akbar Agha said: “Whoever represents Afghanistan at the United Nations should be appointed by the Afghan government and maintain ties with it. In my view, anyone who is not connected to the Afghan government cannot represent Afghanistan and is not Afghanistan’s representative.”

Sayed Bilal Fatemi, an international relations analyst, also said: “When you are present there, you can express your views to all UN member states and maintain diplomatic relations. More importantly, when meetings are held on Afghanistan or international issues, you have the opportunity to present your position.”

The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly is scheduled to begin on September 8 this year at UN headquarters in New York. The annual gathering brings together world leaders, senior government officials, and diplomats to discuss major global challenges and developments. However, it remains unclear whether a representative of the Islamic Emirate will be invited to attend the session.

More Than 400,000 Afghan Migrants Return From Pakistan in Four Months

June 9, 2026 Current News Articles

Mitra Majeedy

Journalist

Tolo News

9 June 2026

UN Report Highlights Education Ban, Security and Economic Strains

June 9, 2026 Current News Articles

Hayatullah Rahimi

Journalist & Digital Editor

Tolo News

8 June 2026

The UN recorded 3,687 security incidents in Afghanistan between February and April 2026, up 57.7% from a year earlier.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in his latest quarterly report on Afghanistan, highlighted the ban on girls’ education, civilian casualties caused by Pakistani airstrikes and shelling along the Hypothetical Durand Line, the displacement of residents in affected areas, the country’s humanitarian and economic challenges, and declining international aid. He warned that Afghanistan is facing worsening humanitarian, economic, and security conditions.

The report, submitted to the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly, states that around 2.6 million Afghan girls remain out of school, while Afghan female UN employees are still barred from returning to work.

According to the report, the United Nations recorded 3,687 security-related incidents in Afghanistan between February and April 2026, representing a 57.7% increase compared with the same period last year.

However, Guterres noted that these incidents have not posed a significant threat to the Islamic Emirate’s control of the country.

The report further states that 372 civilians were martyred and 392 others injured between January and March 2026 as a result of Pakistani airstrikes and shelling along the Hypothetical Durand Line.

The attacks also displaced nearly 94,000 people, most of them women and children.

Guterres called on Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their differences through dialogue, reduce tensions, and restore normal trade and transit links between the two countries.

The report says Afghanistan’s economy remained under pressure during the first months of 2026 due to declining foreign aid, trade disruptions, climate-related shocks, rising inflation, and the large number of returnees from neighboring countries.

According to the report, trade through Pakistan has declined by more than 90 percent since crossing points were closed in October 2025, prompting Afghanistan to increasingly rely on routes through Iran and Central Asia.

The report also notes that Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation remains fragile. An estimated 21.9 million people, or about 45 percent of the population, are expected to require humanitarian assistance in 2026.

Guterres said that although opium poppy cultivation has declined following the Islamic Emirate’s ban on narcotics, many farmers continue to face serious economic difficulties because of the lack of viable alternative livelihoods.

The UN Secretary-General added that UNAMA continues to play a vital role in coordinating humanitarian assistance, facilitating political engagement, and monitoring the human rights situation in Afghanistan.

Disagreements Over UNAMA’s Role Surface at UN Security Council

June 9, 2026 Current News Articles

Ebadullah Ebadi

Journalist (Web Editor)

Tolo News

9 June 2026

The U.S. representative also stressed the need for the prompt appointment of a new UNAMA chief.

With just one week remaining before the expiration of UNAMA’s mandate in Afghanistan, Russia’s representative at a UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan said that what she described as the West’s instrumental use of UNAMA has put the mission’s future at risk.

The Russian diplomat also called for the swift appointment of a new head of UNAMA, stressing that the views of Afghanistan’s current authorities should be taken into account in the process.

Anna Evstigneeva, Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations, said: “The time has come for these countries to understand that such actions only aggravate existing challenges and jeopardize the future of UNAMA’s mission—a future that, unfortunately, remains uncertain due to the positions of some Security Council members. It is unlikely that the Afghan authorities would be interested in a UN presence and monitoring mechanism that serves only the interests of the forces that left Afghanistan in August 2021.”

China’s representative also highlighted UNAMA’s role in fostering coordination between Afghanistan and the international community and emphasized Beijing’s support for extending the mission’s mandate.

Fu Cong, China’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said: “As the penholder on Afghanistan at the Security Council, China will make every effort to build consensus among Council members and ensure the successful extension of UNAMA’s mandate, in order to support Afghanistan’s development, stability, and its early integration into the international community.”

In contrast, the United States described UNAMA as the United Nations’ most expensive political mission and called for an assessment and review of its operations and effectiveness.

The U.S. representative also stressed the need for the prompt appointment of a new UNAMA chief.

Jeffrey Bartos, U.S. Representative for UN Management and Reform, said: “The United States appreciates council members using the upcoming mandate renewal to improve UNAMA’s effectiveness, and we look forward to the adoption of a streamlined resolution.On the diplomatic front, the UN-led comprehensive approach provides a potential path forward and the Taliban must engage seriously.”

The Islamic Emirate has not yet issued any new comments regarding the extension of UNAMA’s mandate or the mission’s operations. However, Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, had previously stated that UNAMA has not been able to provide effective political representation in Afghanistan.

Mujahid had also expressed hope that the next head of UNAMA would help facilitate closer relations between Afghanistan and the international community.

These differing views on UNAMA’s performance come as the UN Security Council is expected to decide on the extension of the mission’s mandate in Afghanistan during a special session scheduled for next week.

Use of force at protests

Right to freedom

Pakistan says it targeted militant hideouts

Fighting has closed the border since October

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