According to a UN report, the Security Council may consider issuing a resolution addressing the recent strains between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The ongoing tensions between Kabul and Islamabad have raised concerns among members of the United Nations Security Council.
According to a UN report, the Security Council may consider issuing a resolution addressing the recent strains between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The draft resolution is expected to express concern over the escalating situation and call on both sides to refrain from further military actions and resolve disputes through dialogue.
The report states: “The clashes between Pakistan and the Taliban are an issue for the Council. Council members may wish to consider adopting a resolution that expresses concern regarding the recent escalation, urges both sides to refrain from further military action, and encourages them to return to dialogue with a view to resolving their dispute peacefully.”
Bilal Omar, an international relations expert, said: “Whenever peace and stability are threatened anywhere in the world, the international community, especially the Security Council steps in to normalize the situation and prevent further conflict.”
According to the report, the Security Council also plans to hold an informal consultative meeting to receive an updated briefing from UN officials on the tensions and their regional implications.
Some political analysts see a potential UN resolution on Afghanistan-Pakistan tensions as significant, saying it would draw greater international attention to the conflict.
Wahid Faqiri, another expert on international relations, stated: “The UN’s growing interest in the Afghanistan-Pakistan issue is a positive development. It could apply international pressure on both sides to resolve the current conflict through peaceful negotiations.”
This comes as representatives from Kabul and Islamabad are currently in Riyadh for talks.
UN Security Council Mulls Resolution on Kabul-Islamabad Tensions
A security research consortium claims new footage may show Hamza bin Laden in Afghanistan.
A transatlantic intelligence consortium monitoring al Qaeda activities has released a video it claims shows Hamza bin Laden inside Afghanistan. The group says the footage was recorded several months ago and digital identifiers were removed to prevent tracing.
The Taliban have yet to comment on the claim. They have repeatedly denied hosting al Qaeda figures and insists no foreign militant networks are active in Afghanistan.
In the released footage, Hamza bin Laden appears in an outdoor setting with what looks like an urban environment in the background. The consortium did not specify the location but said the video aligns with intelligence assessments suggesting he may have relocated to Afghanistan after years of secrecy.
The report comes more than two years after al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Kabul’s Sherpur district in August 2022, an incident that raised renewed concerns over the Taliban’s ties with al Qaeda after the U.S. withdrawal.
Previous United Nations Security Council monitoring reports have stated that al Qaeda maintains close relations with other groups and continues to operate multiple training camps in Afghanistan. Confirmed locations were cited in Parwan, Ghazni, Laghman and Uruzgan provinces.
A paper published by the Paris Geopolitics Academy suggests Hamza bin Laden may be present in Panjshir, though the claim has not been independently verified.
The new footage has intensified debate among Western intelligence analysts who warn that Afghanistan could again become a safe haven for transnational militant groups. They say the timing of the release may be intended to signal that al Qaeda leadership remains active and operational despite years of counterterrorism pressure.
Whether the video confirms Hamza bin Laden’s presence in Afghanistan remains unclear. Intelligence officials say verification could take time, but if proven authentic, the footage may intensify international scrutiny over regional security and counter-extremism commitments.
Intelligence Consortium Claims Hamza bin Laden Presence in Afghanistan
Ten Afghan migrants attempting an illegal border crossing were shot dead by Iranian guards near Farah province, the Taliban police spokesman said Tuesday.
At least ten Afghan migrants attempting to cross into Iran were shot dead by Iranian border guards near the Sheikh Abu Nasr Farahi crossing, Taliban officials in western Afghanistan said on Tuesday. Two others who were part of the group remain missing.
Taliban police spokesman Mohammad Naseem Badri said the victims were residents of Farah province and were trying to enter Iran illegally when Iranian forces opened fire. He did not provide details on the exact timing of the incident.
Deadly shootings involving Afghan migrants along Iran’s eastern border have been reported repeatedly in recent years. Human rights monitors say most victims are undocumented workers attempting to reach Iran due to poverty and unemployment under Taliban rule.
One of the deadliest incidents occurred last year in Sistan-Baluchestan when Iranian guards reportedly opened fire on a group of about 300 Afghans. Taliban officials later confirmed at least two deaths and several injuries among those returned to Afghanistan.
In 2020, Iranian border forces were accused of torturing and forcing Afghan migrants into a river in Herat’s Golran district. Officials from Afghanistan’s former government said 18 migrants had died in that incident.
Despite repeated criticism from Afghanistan rights groups and refugee advocates, Tehran has defended its border policy, saying it is confronting mass illegal crossings, drug smuggling networks and security threats.
The Taliban administration has not announced whether it will file an official complaint. Kabul and Tehran have previously held talks on refugee safety, water disputes and border management, but tensions persist.
Humanitarian organisations warn that as economic pressure and deportations from Pakistan increase, more Afghans are attempting dangerous routes into Iran, raising fears of further casualties on the border.
Iran Border Guards Fatally Shoot 10 Afghan Migrants at Frontier
The United States has ordered a comprehensive screening review for Afghans admitted after August 2021, following renewed security concerns and calls for stricter vetting measures.
The White House has announced a sweeping review of Afghanistan’s nationals who entered the United States after the 2021 withdrawal, following a deadly attack in Washington that left one National Guard member dead and another critically injured.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated on Monday, December 1 that entry for migrants from what the administration considers “high-risk countries” has been temporarily halted while screening procedures undergo reassessment. She argued that nearly 100,000 Afghans arrived under the Operation Allies Welcome program “without full vetting,” calling the system inherited by the administration “a historic failure.”
According to Leavitt, tens of thousands of Afghans entered the U.S. after the fall of Kabul with incomplete background checks, a situation she said poses ongoing national security risks. She added that the government will continue mass deportations and remove individuals identified as security threats during the review.
The review was triggered after U.S. authorities identified Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a former Afghan soldier who arrived after the evacuation, as the suspect in the recent attack. The incident has fueled renewed debate over refugee screening, border policy and post-war commitments.
Following the attack, the administration issued an indefinite suspension of Afghan visa processing and refugee admissions, alongside a directive to reassess all cases approved under the previous policy. Officials say the process could take weeks or months depending on case volume.
The decision has drawn polarized reactions. Critics warn the move risks penalizing thousands who worked alongside U.S. forces and fled reprisals, while supporters argue tightened controls are necessary to prevent further security lapses.
Immigration analysts say the review signals a broader reassessment of post-withdrawal refugee policy and could reshape future pathways for Afghan resettlement.
As the process unfolds, lawmakers and advocacy groups are calling for transparency, arguing the outcome will affect U.S. credibility with wartime partners and define long-term obligations to displaced Afghans.
U.S. Orders Screening Review for Afghans Admitted After August 2021
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities carried out a public execution at a stadium in the eastern city of Khost on Tuesday, putting to death a man who the country’s Supreme Court said had killed 13 members of a family, including several children, earlier this year.
Tens of thousands of people, including relatives of the victims, attended the execution in the sports stadium, which the Supreme Court said was the 11th carried out since the Taliban seized power in 2021 in the wake of the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces.
United Nations’ Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan Richard Bennet posted on X earlier Tuesday that reports had suggested the public execution was imminent and called for it to be halted.
“Public executions are inhumane, a cruel and unusual punishment, and contrary to international law,” he posted.
Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers have imposed a strict interpretation of Sharia law, which has included a return of public executions, as well as bans on Afghan women and girls from secondary school and university education and from most forms of employment.
According to a statement by the Supreme Court, the execution was ordered after a death sentence was passed down by a court, an appeals court and the top ccourt itself, and approved by Afghanistan’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada.
The man was shot to death by a relative of those he was convicted of having killed, said Khost police spokesman Mustaghfir Gorbaz. The man had been convicted along with anothers of entering a family home in Khost province and shooting to death an extended family, including nine children and their mother, Gorbaz said.
The victims’ relatives had been offered the option of forgiveness and reconciliation that would have spared the man’s life, but instead requested the death penalty, the court said.
During their previous rule of Afghanistan in the late 1990s, the Taliban regularly carried out public executions, floggings and stonings.
Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers carry out public execution in sports stadium in eastern city
The United States has announced plans to deport six Afghan nationals accused of terrorism-related activity and serious criminal offences, citing public-safety concerns and tightened immigration scrutiny.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published photographs and case details of several Afghan nationals accused of terrorism-related activities or violent crimes after entering the United States under the Biden administration. DHS said the individuals represent “only a fraction” of offenders who “answered American generosity with violence.”
The release comes days after an Afghan national, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, allegedly shot two members of the U.S. National Guard in Washington, D.C., killing a 20-year-old soldier. The incident has intensified political pressure over Biden-era vetting procedures for Afghans admitted since 2021.
DHS cited cases including Jamal Wali’s police shooting, two Oklahoma terror-plot suspects, a former watch-list entrant later detained, and three others accused or convicted of assault and sexual-offence charges after receiving U.S. entry or legal status.
Rahmanullah Lakhanwal’s fatal DC shooting and Zabiullah Momand’s assault charges intensified scrutiny of Afghan entrants, prompting calls for tougher reviews and halted immigration processing.
DHS said Americans “should not have to face violence from people who should never have been here” and pledged that those convicted or posing threats would be deported. Immigration authorities have already paused all Afghan immigration-related applications pending further review.
U.S. President Donald Trump said every Afghan admitted under Biden “must be re-examined,” arguing that national security requires the removal of anyone who “does not belong in the country.” The State Department has also suspended visa issuance for all Afghan passport holders as Washington reassesses its screening procedures.
US to Deport Six Afghan Nationals Accused of Terror and Violent Crimes
Former envoy Asif Durrani warned that India’s deepening engagement with Kabul could undermine Pakistan’s security interests and threaten Afghanistan’s political stability.
Former Pakistani envoy for Afghanistan Asif Durrani has cautioned that India’s growing engagement with the Taliban could open a new front of strategic pressure on Pakistan, warning Kabul that such overtures risk undermining the group’s long-term political survival.
In a post on X on Monday, Durrani said the Taliban were “endangering themselves” by permitting New Delhi to deepen its presence in Kabul. He urged the group to “avoid a path of political suicide”, arguing that India’s outreach was aimed at expanding influence across the region at Pakistan’s expense.
His remarks come at a time of heightened tensions between Islamabad and Kabul, marked by cross-border clashes, trade disruptions and diplomatic strains. Pakistan has repeatedly accused India of leveraging Afghanistan territory to destabilise its western frontier, a charge New Delhi dismisses as unfounded.
Observers say Durrani’s intervention reflects growing unease in Islamabad as the Kabul diversify their external ties, increasingly moving beyond Pakistan’s traditional sphere of influence. Analysts believe the recalibration is partly driven by the Taliban’s economic pressures and their quest for broader international legitimacy.
In recent weeks, diplomatic and commercial engagement between the Taliban administration and India has accelerated. New Delhi has highlighted trade facilitation, humanitarian assistance and regional connectivity as priority areas of cooperation. Within the past month, two senior Taliban officials; Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Commerce Minister Nooruddin Azizi, visited India for high-level talks, signalling a notable shift after years of minimal contact.
Regional experts note that India appears keen to restore some of the strategic influence it lost after the collapse of the former Afghanistan republic in 2021. The Taliban, meanwhile, may be seeking new partners to offset their isolation, though such moves carry risks that could further complicate relations with Pakistan.
Durrani’s comments underscore the intensifying geopolitical contest around Afghanistan, with Islamabad warning that unchecked realignments could heighten insecurity in an already fragile region. Analysts caution that the Taliban will have to navigate these emerging rivalries carefully as major regional actors jostle for strategic space.
Durrani Warns Kabul Against Allowing India to Expand Footprint Through Afghanistan
The UN has warned that Afghanistan’s recurring internet shutdowns are depriving women of vital, life-saving services and worsening an already severe digital gender gap.
The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has warned that Afghanistan’s nationwide internet disruptions are cutting women off from essential and life-saving services, deepening an already severe digital gender gap. In a message on X on Monday, the agency said limited connectivity directly undermines women’s ability to make informed decisions about their health, safety and future.
UN Women, in a separate report, said poor infrastructure and low literacy levels continue to restrict overall access to phones and the internet across Afghanistan. But the organisation stressed that women face far greater barriers due to entrenched social and cultural norms that limit their use of digital platforms.
The UN said any shutdown of mobile and internet services has an immediate impact on women and girls, severing their access to remote education, protection mechanisms and emergency support. Connectivity has become a critical lifeline for many women who are already restricted in their movement and public participation.
Humanitarian groups say the digital blackout highlighted the vulnerability of women, who rely heavily on online channels for health consultations, confidential support services and economic opportunities.
UN officials warn that without sustained and equitable internet access, the gender divide will widen further, undermining humanitarian efforts, isolating women from vital networks and eroding their ability to participate in any aspect of public life.
UN Warns Afghanistan’s Internet Restrictions Cutting Women Off From Life-Saving Services
Islamabad and Kabul resumed Saudi-hosted talks in Riyadh to ease border tensions, but sources say the effort failed again, with both sides yet to comment.
A senior Kabul delegation, comprising Anas Haqqani, Deputy Interior Minister Rahmatullah Najib, and Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi, travelled to Riyadh last week for talks with Pakistani officials, according to local media outlets. Saudi Arabia, which has recently positioned itself as a mediator, facilitated the meeting as part of efforts to ease mounting tensions between Kabul and Islamabad.
People familiar with the discussions said the talks focused on restoring a structured communication channel and addressing persistent cross-border security concerns. The consultations, held behind closed doors, were expected to revive dialogue suspended after months of friction. However, the negotiations in Riyadh ended without progress, marking yet another failed attempt to bridge differences.
Sources reported that the talks “yielded no results,” echoing the collapse of earlier rounds held in Istanbul. The Taliban have not issued any statement on the Riyadh meeting, and Pakistan has also remained publicly silent. Previous efforts by Qatar and Turkey, including an emergency session in Doha that briefly produced a ceasefire, similarly failed to deliver a lasting agreement.
Relations between Kabul and Islamabad have worsened in recent months following a rise in attacks Pakistan attributes to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), disagreements over border management, and clashes around key crossings such as Torkham. Islamabad continues to demand “decisive action” against armed groups allegedly operating from Afghanistan territory, an accusation the Taliban repeatedly dismiss.
With Saudi Arabia’s effort now joining earlier failed mediation attempts, analysts say the path to meaningful dialogue remains uncertain. Without a verifiable security framework or sustained diplomatic engagement, the Afghanistan–Pakistan relationship is expected to remain fragile and prone to renewed escalation.
Islamabad–Kabul Peace Talks Launched Under Saudi Mediation; Reports Say the Effort Failed Again
When Rahmanullah Lakanwal came to the U.S. from Afghanistan, he appeared lively and full of hope, but over the course of years, he slipped into isolation and was prone to taking cross-country drives without telling his family, according to a volunteer who worked closely with his family.
Lakanwal, an Afghan national, is accused of shooting two National Guard soldiers on Nov. 26. One of those soldiers, 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom, died from her wounds. On Monday, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey described the other guard member, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, as in “serious” condition.
“My biggest concern was that [Lakanwal] would harm himself,” the refugee resettlement volunteer told NPR. “I worried he would be suicidal because he was so withdrawn.”
They said when they first met Lakanwal in 2022 at his home in Bellingham, Wash., he appeared hopeful and outgoing. “He was outside with his kids, laughing and playing and having animated conversations with other Afghan men,” they said.
Lakanwal held jobs for brief periods and hosted gatherings at his home, the volunteer said, but by 2023 he began isolating himself and appeared “defeated” by the challenges of finding steady work and adapting to life in the United States.
The volunteer shared with NPR emails sent in January 2024 that raised alarms about Lakanwal’s well-being.
“He spends most of his time in his darkened bedroom, not speaking to anyone, not even his wife and older kids,” one email said. “I personally believe that [Mr. Lakanwal] is suffering from both PTSD and from his work with the US military in Afghanistan,” the volunteer wrote, adding that they are “not a healthcare professional.”
Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said U.S. officials believe Lakanwal was “radicalized” while living in the United States.
“We do believe it was through connections in his home community and state, and we’re going to continue to talk to those who interacted with him,” Noem said.
But the volunteer who worked with Lakanwal and other Afghan refugees in Washington state told NPR they saw no sign of radicalization. Instead they described an individual who seemed to be experiencing a deepening personal crisis, complicated by Lakanwal’s poor English-language skills and deepening cultural isolation. The volunteer said there were no organized resources for refugees beyond their initial welcome.
“Families were just in my mind abandoned into the community,” the volunteer said.
This photo provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Nov. 27 shows Rahmanullah Lakanwal.
Before coming to the U.S. in 2021, Lakanwal served in one of Afghanistan’s elite counterterrorism units, according to AfghanEvac, a nonprofit that supports Afghan refugees and is run by U.S. veterans and others who served in Afghanistan. Lakanwal’s unit was operated by the CIA with direct U.S. intelligence and military support, according to AfghanEvac, and fought the Taliban on behalf of the U.S. government.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe said in a statement last week that the shooter involved in the attack was admitted into the U.S. “due to his prior work with the U.S. Government, including CIA.”
The volunteer told NPR they had no detailed knowledge of Lakanwal’s military duties and never observed him expressing hostility toward the United States. They said his increasingly erratic behavior never suggested any kind of threat or danger.
“I was so shocked that this happened. I asked myself, ‘Were there warning signs?’ No,” the volunteer said.
While the volunteer couldn’t provide insight into Lakanwal’s possible motive for the alleged attack, they were aware of him making long drives like the one that took him to Washington, D.C., last week. Beginning in 2023, Lakanwal would disappear for weeks at a time in the family car, roaming as far as Arizona and Illinois.
Emails shared with NPR also indicate volunteers in Washington state attempted to reach out to professional refugee aid groups, including World Relief and the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI), hoping to find help for Lakanwal’s deteriorating mental state, but they got limited response.
“A group of concerned individuals [volunteering on refugee resettlement] in the Seattle area had a meeting in January 2024 to talk about dwindling resources for these families, and frustration was expressed,” the volunteer told NPR.
NPR reached out to World Relief and USCRI for comment. USCRI didn’t respond. World Relief sent a statement declining to say whether the organization had any involvement in Lakanwal’s resettlement in the United States.
“We cannot confirm whether or not we have served any specific client without permission from our federal government partners who administered the process for bringing Afghans to the United States beginning in 2021,” the World Relief statement said.
The group added that it “provided services to those [refugees] assigned to use by our governmental partners” and said it is supporting law enforcement in the investigation of Lakanwal’s case.
Following last week’s violence, the Trump administration moved to freeze refugee cases involving Afghan nationals and launched a review of refugees and migrants from more than a dozen countries living legally inside the United States. Activists working with asylum-seekers from Afghanistan told NPR they view Lakanwal’s alleged violence as an isolated case.
“You can’t paint with a broad brush this entire community. The vast majority of Afghans who have come here are just good upstanding citizens,” said Shawn VanDiver, a Navy veteran who heads the group AfghanEvac.
Afghan suspect in D.C. National Guard attack appeared to suffer personal crisis
The United Nations says aid workers are still in a “race against time” to remove rubble and rebuild after the devastating earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan last month, killing at least 2,200 people and cutting off remote areas.
The 6.0-magnitude quake on Aug. 31 was shallow, destroying or causing extensive damage to low-rise buildings in the mountainous region. It hit late at night, and homes — mostly made of mud, wood, or rocks — collapsed instantly, becoming death traps.
Satellite data shows that about 40,500 truckloads of debris still needs to be cleared from affected areas in several provinces, the United Nations Development Program said Wednesday. Entire communities have been upended and families are sleeping in the open, it added.
The quake’s epicenter was in remote and rugged Kunar province, challenging rescue and relief efforts by the Taliban government and humanitarian groups. Authorities deployed helicopters or airdropped army commandos to evacuate survivors. Aid workers walked for hours on foot to reach isolated communities.
“This is a race against time,” said Devanand Ramiah, from the UNDP’s Crisis Bureau. “Debris removal and reconstruction operations must start safely and swiftly.”
People’s main demands were the reconstruction of houses and water supplies, according to a spokesman for a Taliban government committee tasked with helping survivors, Zia ur Rahman Speenghar.
People were getting assistance in cash, food, tents, beds, and other necessities, Speenghar said Thursday. Three new roads were under construction in the Dewagal Valley, and roads would be built to areas where there previously were none.
“Various countries and organizations have offered assistance in the construction of houses but that takes time. After the second round of assistance, work will begin on the third round, which is considering what kind of houses can be built here,” the spokesman said.
Afghanistan is facing a “perfect storm” of crises, including natural disasters like the recent earthquake, said Roza Otunbayeva, who leads the U.N. mission to the country.
Afghanistan Peace Campaign
