Afghanistan

• Five years after the chaotic US withdrawal, Afghanistan remains gripped by one of the world's most severe humanitarian and human rights emergencies. • The situation has worsened following the US president's decision in early 2025 to terminate nearly all USAID humanitarian and development contracts. • This policy shift resulted in the loss of more than $1.7 billion in planned assistance, further destabilizing the region's impoverished population.

• Human rights campaigners are expressing growing concern that increasing global diplomatic ties with the Taliban are undermining pressure for human rights improvements in Afghanistan. • Fereshta Abbasi of Human Rights Watch highlighted the tension between the necessity of engagement for aid agencies to mitigate the humanitarian crisis and the ambiguity of the long-term goals of these contacts. • The situation matters because normalization of relations may signal acceptance of the Taliban's governance without securing essential protections for the Afghan population.

Campaigners fear deeper diplomatic contacts are undermining demands for improvements in human rights The Taliban in Afghanistan have launched a diplomatic effort to end their isolation as major regional and international powers show a readiness to engage more closely with the repressive regime despite its systematic human rights abuses.Five years after the Taliban took power, an increasing number of countries are renewing ties or scaling up diplomatic contacts with the hardline Islamists, who seized power in Kabul in 2021 after 20 years of brutal insurgent warfare. Continue reading...

• Five years after the Taliban seized power in Kabul, Afghans face a starkly divided reality where some report improvements while many others endure increasing hardship. • Syria continues to struggle with the aftermath of over a decade of conflict, which resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and a massive global displacement crisis. • These reports highlight the ongoing humanitarian challenges and slow recovery processes in regions destabilized by long-term political upheaval and war.

Attorney general grants former army lawyer’s release after 27 months in jail Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDavid McBride, the former army lawyer jailed for his role in stealing secret defence documents about the Afghanistan war and leaking them to the media, has been released from prison in Canberra on Thursday.McBride was sentenced to a maximum five years and eight months in jail in May 2024, but is being released on parole after serving his full non-parole period of 27 months. Continue reading...

National disaster agency confirms ‘severe financial and human losses’ in remote province of NuristanAt least 20 people have been killed and more than 80 injured in flooding that hit Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, the country’s disaster management agency said Monday.In Parun, the provincial capital, a further 105 people including the mayor were missing, said Feraidon Samim, a spokesperson for the Nuristan governor. Continue reading...

• The United Nations warned on Monday that Afghanistan is currently facing one of the world's largest displacement crises due to poverty, climate shocks, and decades of conflict. • A recent UNDP socioeconomic review highlights that the return of approximately 2.7 million Afghans is placing immense pressure on the country's fragile economy and public services. • This crisis is exacerbated by recurring natural disasters and prolonged humanitarian challenges, which threaten the livelihoods of communities already struggling to recover.

• UN agencies warned on Monday that Afghanistan is currently facing one of the world's most severe displacement crises. • The crisis is being driven by a combination of extreme poverty, persistent drought, and devastating earthquakes. • To combat the emergency, critical food aid for Afghan students is being transported 15,000 kilometers from Indonesia to Kabul.

• A rare convergence of voices, including India’s RSS leadership, Kashmiri figures, and over 100 eminent citizens, has created a potential opening to reset India–Pakistan relations. • The article argues that current Track II talks must evolve into a structured dialogue to move beyond temporary diplomatic pauses. • To ensure lasting peace in South Asia, the author asserts that these discussions must expand to include Afghanistan and China.

• A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck near Jurm in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan on July 2, 2026. • The seismic event occurred in a region known for high geological activity, though immediate casualty reports were not provided in the initial update. • This event is significant due to the vulnerability of local infrastructure in the Hindu Kush mountains, which often exacerbates the impact of mid-range tremors.

• Afghanistan has reportedly fired drones into Pakistan, escalating a recurring cycle of cross-border strikes between the two nations. • Research analyst Ricardo Alvarez notes that this pattern of instability and mutual aggression has solidified over several years, leaving diplomatic ties in tatters. • The situation highlights the ongoing security volatility in South and Central Asia, where armed rebellions and border disputes continue to destabilize the region.

• Taliban forces from Afghanistan launched airstrikes on Wednesday targeting ISIS positions along the border in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province. • The attacks resulted in several injuries, marking a significant escalation in cross-border military activity. • These strikes follow a pattern of retaliatory violence, occurring just days after Pakistan conducted its own airstrikes within Afghan territory.

• The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has identified Afghanistan as one of the world's most neglected humanitarian crises of the year. • Funding for aid programs has fallen sharply despite a simultaneous increase in the needs of the Afghan population. • This funding gap threatens the delivery of essential services and life-saving assistance to millions of vulnerable people.

• The Taliban-led government of Afghanistan launched airstrikes against ISIS militant facilities in Pakistan's Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. • These operations targeted sites used for planning assaults and occurred shortly after Pakistan conducted its own cross-border airstrikes. • Pakistan has condemned the actions, claiming to have intercepted drones and accusing the Taliban of misleading Afghan citizens.

• Pakistan launched airstrikes into Afghanistan, resulting in a death toll that varies by source: the Taliban reports 36 civilians killed, while Pakistan claims 32 militants were neutralized. • The incident marks a significant escalation in a monthslong conflict between the two neighboring nations over border security and militant activity. • This clash underscores the volatile relationship between Pakistan and the Taliban-led government, highlighting deep disputes over territorial control and counter-terrorism efforts.

• At least 28 civilians were killed and 49 others injured during airstrikes in Afghanistan's Paktya, Paktika, and Kunar provinces on Sunday evening. • The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) is currently verifying the incidents and urging all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law. • UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an immediate cessation of hostilities on Monday, emphasizing the need to protect civilians.

The attacks on Monday were the latest flare-up of violence between the two countries, which fought a weeks-long war in FebruaryPakistan has said at least 25 people were killed in airstrikes it launched targeting militants in eastern Afghanistan, as the Afghan government reported dozens of civilian casualties.Pakistan’s information minister, Attaullah Tarar, said the operations were aimed at a group that it blames for a deadly weekend attack in Karachi, although Afghan authorities have repeatedly denied their territory harbours militants. Continue reading...

• Afghanistan is facing a severe humanitarian crisis following the Taliban's return to power in 2021 and the subsequent withdrawal of international development assistance. • Essential public services, which had become heavily dependent on external support due to years of conflict and state fragility, have largely collapsed. • Humanitarian organizations are struggling to fill the resulting gap in service delivery while simultaneously facing a decline in their own financial resources.

• The Taliban's autocracy is being sustained through economic and political lifelines provided by international bodies, including the United Nations, which have compromised human rights standards. • Organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have documented a humanitarian catastrophe characterized by gender apartheid and systemic rights violations. • This crisis persists not merely due to a lack of political will, but because of active geopolitical mechanisms and fragmented international interests that normalize the regime's actions.

• Afghanistan is facing a dire economic crisis nearly five years after the Taliban returned to power. • The collapse is driven by a combination of deep-rooted domestic structural failures and persistent regional geopolitical constraints. • This instability highlights the Taliban's inability to establish a functioning financial system or secure broad international legitimacy.

• India successfully chased down Afghanistan's target of 194 in the 1st ODI of the 2026 Afghanistan tour of India. • Shubman Gill led the charge with a dominant 84 off 66 balls, supported by KL Rahul who contributed 39 runs from 19 deliveries. • India reached 195/3 in 22.5 overs, securing a comprehensive victory and a strong start to the series.

Gen Christopher Donahue, commander of forces in Europe and Africa, is leaving after just 18 months in the jobThe army’s commander of its forces in Europe and Africa – who was famously the last American soldier to leave Afghanistan in 2021 – is unexpectedly stepping down from his post after just 18 months in the job, the Army confirmed late Tuesday.Gen Christopher Donahue, commanding general of US Army Europe and Africa and commander of Nato’s Allied Land Command, will relinquish his command on 2 July, according to an army statement provided to the Associated Press. He is the latest in a line of nearly two dozen top military leaders to either retire or depart their jobs early under the leadership of the defense secretary Pete Hegseth, who has undertaken an effort to thin the ranks of the military’s top brass with the mantra “less generals, more GIs”. Continue reading...

• India secured a victory against Afghanistan in the 1st ODI of the 2026 tour, reaching 195/3 in 22.5 overs. • Afghanistan was bowled out for 194, with India's chase led by Shubman Gill, who scored 84 off 66 balls, and KL Rahul, who added 39 off 19. • The result gives India a 1-0 lead in the series, demonstrating a dominant batting performance to chase the target quickly.

• India is currently dominating the 3rd ODI against Afghanistan during the 2026 tour, reaching 224/1 in 28.4 overs. • Yashasvi Jaiswal led the charge with a commanding century, scoring 110 runs off 86 balls, while Shreyas Iyer contributed 20 runs. • The strong performance puts India in a winning position after Afghanistan was bowled out for 218 runs.

• Afghanistan has launched strikes against targets located within Pakistan, significantly escalating cross-border tensions between the two nations. • The attacks represent a direct threat to the fragile ceasefire currently in place, marking a volatile shift in diplomatic relations. • This escalation highlights the ongoing instability and security challenges persisting in the region under the current administration.

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Monday that malnutrition has worsened across much of Afghanistan, with conditions deteriorating in 26 provinces. • The situation has reached critical levels in 12 provinces, highlighting a severe decline in nutritional stability compared to 2025. • This escalation underscores Afghanistan's ongoing status as one of the world's largest humanitarian crises, threatening the health and survival of vulnerable populations.

Taliban forces fire on crowds in Herat, who were protesting at manhandling of women arrested over hijab dress codeA Taliban crackdown on women’s dress code in Afghanistan has escalated into a rare mass street protest in the western province of Herat, with at least two people killed by security forces.Officials made a wave of arrests in recent days targeting women and young girls accused of “improper hijab”. Residents say many families had received no information about the whereabouts or condition of those detained. Continue reading...

• India and Afghanistan are facing off in the 1st ODI of Afghanistan's 2026 tour of India. • The match is being broadcast and tracked via Cricbuzz, providing live scores, ball-by-ball commentary, and video highlights for viewers in the USA and Canada. • This series marks a significant international encounter between the two nations, testing Afghanistan's growth against a powerhouse Indian side.