What are the latest news in Afghanistan?
Humanitarian & Economic Crisis
- Severe Aid Shortages and Malnutrition: The United Nations and humanitarian agencies report critical funding shortfalls, with the 2026 humanitarian appeal only roughly a quarter funded. UNICEF warned that over one million children face severe acute malnutrition, with hospitals in southern and eastern regions experiencing severe overcrowding and clinic closures due to donor cuts. Katie Couric Media———
- Prolonged Drought and Food Insecurity: Entering its sixth consecutive year of drought, an estimated 21.9 million people require humanitarian assistance, with widespread water scarcity impacting agricultural output and urban areas. -Katie Couric Media——–
- Restrictions on Women and Girls: Strict bans remain on girls’ education beyond the primary level, leaving more than 2.4 million Afghan girls shut out of secondary school and universities.- Heavy restrictions also persist regarding women’s employment in government offices, NGOs, and public life. -AP News+ 1——–
- Five Years of Taliban Rule: Public reflections around the five-year mark since the Taliban’s August 2021 return to power highlight mounting domestic pressure for economic stabilization, job creation, and the reopening of schools.
- Opposition Activity: Armed anti-Taliban frontsincluding the National Resistance Front (NRF) and the Afghanistan Freedom Fronthave claimed dozens of targeted attacks against Taliban security forces across various provinces.- Afghanistan International———
- Regional Border Tensions: Security discussions have increased regarding border regions, particularly the Afghanistan–Tajikistan and Afghanistan–Pakistan frontiers, with regional security organizations expressing concern over cross-border militancy. -Afghanistan International——–
- Refugee Returns and Deportations: Hundreds of Afghan families continue to be deported or return daily under tightening migration policies in neighboring Iran and Pakistan, as well as ongoing discussions in European nations regarding asylum-seeker returns.
- Regional Engagement: While the Taliban administration has not received formal international recognition, neighboring Central Asian nations (such as Uzbekistan) and regional powers continue pragmatic trade and diplomatic dialogue to manage cross-border transport and energy links.- Al Jazeera———