Afghanistan: General News and Discussion

[ghazi52]

Afghanistan calls on Afghans who helped US in war and are now stuck in Qatar to return home​

by The Frontier Post

KABUL (AP) : Afghanistan’s foreign ministry says Afghans who helped America’s war effort and have been stuck in Qatar in the hope of reaching the United States, can safely return to Afghanistan.

The statement Saturday by foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi comes after reports emerged that the Trump administration is in discussions to potentially send 1,100 Afghans who assisted the US during its war in Afghanistan and relatives of US service members to Congo.

An organization called #AfghanEvac that supports Afghan resettlement efforts said Wednesday that US officials had informed the group of discussions between the United States and Congo about taking the Afghan refugees who have been in limbo at Camp As-Sayliyah, a US base in Doha, for the past year.

The State Department said it is working to identify options to “voluntarily” resettle the refugees in a third country, but did not confirm which nations were being discussed.

An alternative provided to the refugees was to return to Afghanistan, #AfghanEvac said, where they fear reprisals or even death at the hands of the Taliban, who have been running the country since they seized power in the wake of the chaotic withdrawal of US-led forces in 2021, for working alongside the US during the two-decade war.

 

[Lulldapull]

Kaalon k saath raho ab in war torn Congo bhai…….

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[ghazi52]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[ghazi52]

UN warns funding cuts are slowing mine clearance efforts in Afghanistan​

by The Frontier Post

KABUL (Ariana News): The United Nations has warned that declining humanitarian funding, driven in part by rising global conflicts and increased defense spending, is significantly slowing mine clearance operations in Afghanistan.

UN officials said the shortage of funds has directly affected efforts to remove landmines and unexploded ordnance, with devastating consequences for civilians. On average, one child is killed every day in Afghanistan due to explosive remnants of war.

Kazumi Ogawa, head of the UN mine action programme, said shifting national budgets toward military spending has reduced support for humanitarian initiatives.

“We are seeing the impact on the ground. In Afghanistan, one child is killed every day,” Ogawa said.

Afghanistan remains one of the most heavily contaminated countries in the world with landmines and unexploded remnants of war.

Experts warn that the continued presence of these hazards not only endangers lives but also hinders reconstruction, agriculture, and broader development efforts.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Yousuf Hamad, spokesperson for the National Disaster Management Authority, said 474 people were killed or injured in landmine explosions over the past year. He added that more than 1,000 square kilometres of land remain contaminated, placing at least seven million people at risk.

Currently, 155 demining teams are operating under 10 programmes across 23 provinces and 82 districts. However, officials say reduced international support is limiting their ability to expand operations.

Earlier, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan reported that around 50 people are killed or injured each month by unexploded ordnance, with nearly 80 percent of victims being children.

 

[ghazi52]

Kabul residents call for expansion of public transport​

by The Frontier Post

KABUL (TOLONews): They say that while they welcome the activation of Millie Bus routes in some parts of Kabul, they want the number of buses and routes to increase.

Rafiullah, a Kabul resident, said: “Sometimes when you stand by the roadside, you can’t even find a taxi. And if you do, instead of the usual 20 Afghanis, they ask for 30 to 40. These Millie Buses are a very good step. We ask the government to increase their number at stations.”

Mahmood, another resident, said: “The current fare is 10 Afghanis; it should be reduced to 5. Since Millie Bus is a government service, fares should be lower to make it easier for people.”

Meanwhile, Millie Bus drivers in Kabul have raised concerns about existing challenges, especially their low salaries, and are calling on the state-owned company to increase their pay.

Zamanuddin, a Millie Bus driver, told TOLOnews: “Our request to the authorities is to make our salaries regular and sufficient. Right now, it’s not enough, and we fall behind financially.”

Officials from the state-owned Millie Bus company say that a new route from Deh Afghanan to Khair Khana in Kabul has recently been launched.

They also assured that efforts are underway to expand Millie Bus services across the city.

Mohammad Nabi Bahar, spokesperson for Emirate-run companies, said: “Eleven vehicles are operating on this route according to a schedule. Before any bus begins service, technical inspections are carried out at stations to ensure passenger safety, and fire safety systems are also in place.”

 

[ghazi52]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Fatman17]

Russia establishing 'full partnership' with Afghan Taliban

Last year, Russia became the first country to formally recognise the Taliban government.

share.google

 

[Fatman17]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[ghazi52]

IEA leader urges ulema to help preserve jihad-era records, artefacts​

by The Frontier Post

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), Sheikh Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada, has urged religious scholars to cooperate in preserving jihad-era artefacts and documenting the history of martyred fighters.

Mullah Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the IEA, wrote on X that the supreme leader met officials of the ulema councils from central Kapisa and Parwan provinces on Saturday in the presence of Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

During the meeting, the IEA leader called on religious scholars to intensify efforts to raise public awareness and improve people’s understanding of religious matters.

He also urged ulema to assist in resolving Sharia-related issues faced by residents in their respective provinces.

Akhundzada stressed the importance of unity among religious scholars, saying their cohesion would help strengthen solidarity within the Muslim community.

He called for the organisation of fiqh gatherings, saying such forums enabled scholars to discuss religious issues, conduct research and enhance mutual understanding and unity among ulema.

According to him, religious scholars throughout history had made sacrifices in defending Islam and Sharia through both “argument and the sword” and had contributed to the spread of religious knowledge by authoring books, treatises and commentaries.

 

[ghazi52]

MoJ bans sale, purchase of distributed state-owned land​

by The Frontier Post

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has banned the buying and selling of state-owned land distributed to individuals by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) and warned property dealing offices against facilitating such transactions.

In a statement, the ministry said that under the law governing the distribution and sale of state-owned plots and the issuance of construction permits, state land and plots are allocated or sold to individuals solely for residential purposes, and commercial use — including buying and selling — is prohibited.

The ministry warned all property dealing offices nationwide to refrain from facilitating transactions involving state-owned land distributed or sold by the IEA to individuals.

According to the statement, any office found involved in such transactions will be closed, while the office’s officials and both parties involved in the deal will face legal prosecution.

 

[Fatman17]

Afghanistan humanitarian crisis: Ghor's starving families

In Afghanistan today, a staggering three in four people cannot meet their basic needs.

share.google

 

[ghazi52]

Floods kill 24 across Afghanistan in recent days​

by The Frontier Post

KABUL (AFP) : Heavy rain and floods have killed at least 24 people in the past 48 hours across Afghanistan, local and disaster officials said on Friday.

In the last 24 hours, 15 people were killed in the northern province of Baghlan, two in northeastern Badakhshan and one in central Wardak due to flash floods.

“Fifteen people have lost their lives, and dozens more have been injured due to the floods,” said Farooq Akhplawak, spokesman for the Baghlan governor.

A local official in Badakhshan said: “Two people have died, two others are missing, more than 100 residential houses have been destroyed.”

Heavy rain has battered much of Afghanistan since Wednesday, causing floods in multiple provinces.

Another six people were killed on Thursday in several provinces of the country.

“In the past 24 hours… six people were martyred, and eleven people were injured,” Afghanistan’s disaster management authority (ANDMA) spokesman Mohammad Yousuf Hammad said on Thursday.

Stormy weather has brought rain across Afghanistan since late March, causing floods and landslides and damaging homes and crops.

The latest casualties followed the deaths of at least 148 people, as well as 137 wounded, across the country owing to flooding and rain in April.

Afghanistan frequently experiences deadly floods, landslides and storms, particularly in remote areas with fragile infrastructure.

 

[ghazi52]

Hajj minister travels to Saudi Arabia to oversee services for Afghan pilgrims​

by The Frontier Post

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Minister of Hajj and Religious Affairs has traveled to Saudi Arabia to oversee arrangements for Afghan pilgrims and monitor the services being provided to them during the Hajj season.

According to a statement issued by the ministry, Dr. Mawlawi Noor Mohammad Saqib will closely supervise accommodation, transportation, food distribution, healthcare services, and religious guidance for Afghan pilgrims in Mecca, Medina, and other holy sites.

He is also expected to review the implementation of measures taken to ensure the organized transfer of pilgrims to the sacred sites.

The statement added that the minister will provide necessary guidance and recommendations to committee officials to improve coordination and ensure effective management of Hajj-related affairs.

 

[Dalit]

UN: 3.2 Million Migrants Will Be Returned to Afghanistan This Year

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The United Nations, in a newly published report, says that more than 500,000 migrants have been returned to Afghanistan from neighboring countries during the first three months of 2026, and it is projected that another 2.7 million people will be deported by the end of the current year.

The United Nations said today (Sunday, May 24) in a published report that between April and the end of December, 1.6 million migrants will be deported from Iran and another 1.1 million from Pakistan to Afghanistan.

The agencies responsible for addressing the urgent needs and integration of these returnees have requested $529.2 million in funding.

The United Nations has warned that such a large-scale return poses a major humanitarian and developmental challenge for Afghanistan.

The report states that from September 2023 to April 2026, a total of 5.8 million migrants have been deported from Iran and Pakistan to Afghanistan.

The United Nations says that with the return of this number of migrants, Afghanistan’s population has increased by approximately 10 to 12 percent.

Last year alone, 2.9 million migrants returned or were deported to the country due to intensified migration policies by Iran and Pakistan.

According to United Nations estimates, the number of returnees to Afghanistan this year will exceed last year’s figure and is expected to reach 3.2 million.

The report, prepared with the assistance of United Nations agencies and their partner organizations, states that women and children make up 50 percent of the returning migrant population.

Deportations from Pakistan have surged in recent weeks, with security forces conducting widespread raids, detentions, and expulsions targeting undocumented Afghans. The move comes amid ongoing tensions with the Taliban over alleged cross-border militancy.

According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), nearly 270,000 Afghans returned from Pakistan and Iran between January and March this year, adding further pressure on Afghanistan’s already overstretched humanitarian and economic resources.

The surge in returns coincides with the ongoing conflict between Pakistan and the Taliban. Islamabad closed major border crossings in late February after hostilities escalated, severely disrupting trade and travel. The crossings were reopened in recent days primarily to facilitate the movement of deportees, while other forms of cross-border movement remain heavily restricted.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan is grappling with a worsening humanitarian crisis. The United Nations estimates that nearly 22 million people — almost half the population — require humanitarian assistance this year, while around 4 million children are suffering from acute malnutrition.

Many returnees are families who lived in Pakistan and Iran for years or decades. They now face limited infrastructure, weak economic opportunities, and widespread poverty in Afghanistan.

Humanitarian agencies have warned that continued large-scale returns without sustained international support could deepen poverty and trigger further displacement. Women and girls are considered particularly vulnerable due to restrictions on education, employment and public life under Taliban rule.

Human rights groups and international aid agencies have repeatedly urged Pakistan and Iran to halt forced returns, citing a worsening humanitarian crisis and security risks, including possible retaliation faced by returnees — particularly women, journalists, activists and former government officials — under Taliban rule.

UN: 3.2 Million Migrants Will Be Returned to Afghanistan This Year – KabulNow

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - The United Nations, in a newly published report, says that more than 500,000 migrants have been returned to Afghanistan from neighboring countries during the first three months of 2026, and it is projected that another 2.7 million people will be deported by the end of the...

kabulnow.com

 

[Dalit]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

That is a colossal number. I wonder how the UN came to these numbers. The UN already knows the score. There will be a lot of crying and sobbing during the remainder of the year.