At least 17 people have been killed and 11 injured after sudden floods struck several regions of Afghanistan following heavy rain and snowfall, according to reports on Thursday. In Herat province’s Kabkan area, five members of a single family died when their house roof collapsed. The governor’s spokesperson, Mohammad Yusuf Saeedi, confirmed that two of the victims were children.

Mohammad Yusuf Hammad, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA), said the casualties occurred in flood-affected districts since Monday. The floods have disrupted daily life across northern, southern, and western parts of the country. Infrastructure damage and livestock deaths have been reported, with around 1,800 families affected. Observation teams have been deployed to the worst-hit areas.

The report noted that decades of conflict, weak infrastructure, deforestation, and the intensifying effects of climate change have worsened the impact of natural disasters, particularly in remote regions. In August, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake killed more than 1,400 people in Afghanistan.

Amnesty International has called on Pakistan, Iran, and several European countries to immediately stop the forced deportation of Afghan refugees, warning that such actions violate international law. The organization stated that many Afghans are being returned unlawfully to a country facing severe economic, climate, and humanitarian crises. According to UN Special Representative Georgette Gagnon, around 2.5 million Afghans have returned so far this year, intensifying the strain on Afghanistan’s fragile infrastructure.

Amnesty emphasized that deported individuals face heightened risks of human rights abuses, particularly under the Taliban’s restrictive governance, which continues to impose harsh limitations on women and minorities. The group urged all governments to respect the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning anyone to a place where they face serious threats to their life or freedom.

Observers warn that continued deportations could worsen Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation, leaving returnees without jobs, shelter, or safety. International agencies are calling for coordinated action to ensure protection and support for displaced Afghans.

Afghanistan has threatened to retaliate against Pakistan following deadly airstrikes in Khost province that killed at least 10 people, including nine children, according to the Taliban government. The strikes came hours after a suicide bombing in Pakistan’s Peshawar killed six people, three of them security personnel. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid stated that defending Afghanistan’s territory and people is its legitimate right and promised an appropriate response at the right time. Pakistan claims that militants from Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) use Afghan territory to launch attacks, a charge the Taliban denies. Relations between the two neighbors have deteriorated since the Taliban took power in 2021, with cross-border violence escalating in recent months despite mediation efforts by Qatar and Turkey.

At least nine Afghan civilians, including eight children and one woman, were killed in Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan’s southeastern Khost province, according to the Taliban government. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid stated that the attacks occurred at midnight and also targeted Kunar and Paktika provinces, killing four more civilians. Mujahid accused Pakistan of bombing civilian homes, causing casualties and property destruction. Pakistan has not officially commented on the civilian deaths. However, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said its forces conducted operations against members of the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), whom it described as ‘Khawarij militants,’ killing 22 of them. The ISPR emphasized that Pakistan’s counterterrorism operations would continue against foreign-backed militants. The incident underscores escalating cross-border tensions between Islamabad and Kabul, with both sides trading accusations over harboring militants.

Pakistan carried out midnight airstrikes in Afghanistan’s southeastern Khost province, killing at least 10 people, including nine children and one woman, according to Taliban authorities. The attack reportedly targeted the home of a local resident named Waliat Khan in the Gurbuz district. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid condemned the strike, calling it an act of aggression by Pakistan’s forces. He also reported additional airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Kunar and Paktika provinces, which left at least four civilians injured. The Taliban government has not yet specified whether it plans to respond militarily or diplomatically. The incident has heightened tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, two neighboring countries that have frequently accused each other of harboring militant groups operating across their shared border. Pakistan has not issued an immediate statement regarding the reported strikes.

Afghanistan’s Taliban government has imposed a strict ban on the import of medicines from Pakistan, citing poor quality and frequent trade disruptions. The decision, announced by state media Alemarah News, directs Afghan traders to terminate existing contracts with Pakistani suppliers within three months and to seek alternative sources from other countries. Officials said the move aims to protect Afghanistan’s economic interests and safeguard the rights of local businesses. Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar urged business leaders in Kabul to reduce dependence on Pakistan and explore new trade routes. The ban comes amid deteriorating relations between the two neighbors. Afghanistan currently imports pharmaceuticals from Pakistan, India, Turkey, and Bangladesh, with an estimated annual import value of around one billion dollars before the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

In an exclusive interview with Jugantor, Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister of Information and Culture, Muhajir Farahi, firmly rejected claims that India is Kabul’s “regional boss,” emphasizing that the Taliban government maintains an independent foreign policy guided by Islamic and national values. Farahi stated that Afghanistan wants friendly relations with all neighboring countries, including Pakistan, Iran, China, and Bangladesh, while refusing to be drawn into regional rivalries.

Addressing the recent Pakistan–Afghanistan border conflict, Farahi accused Pakistan’s military of violating Afghan airspace and attacking civilians but stressed that Kabul seeks peaceful solutions. He dismissed Islamabad’s claims that the Taliban shelters Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), calling it “Pakistan’s internal problem.” Farahi also defended Taliban governance, saying Sharia-based laws are implemented fairly through qualified judges.

On economic issues, he said Afghanistan now runs on domestic revenue without foreign aid and has achieved major success by eliminating opium cultivation. Farahi further expressed optimism about improving ties with Bangladesh, describing it as a “brotherly Muslim nation.” Regarding India, he reiterated that cooperation does not imply subordination. “No one dictates our policies,” he said, adding that Afghanistan wants harmony with all regional powers.

In a significant diplomatic meeting held in Kabul, senior Iranian and Taliban officials discussed enhancing security cooperation and ensuring stability along their shared border. The talks, reported by Mehr News on Friday, included Iran’s Ambassador to Afghanistan Alireza Bikdeli, Director-General for South Asia at Iran’s Foreign Ministry Mohammad Reza Bahrami, and Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani. The meeting focused on countering cross-border drug trafficking, preventing illegal movements, and reinforcing coordination mechanisms between Iran and Afghanistan. Both sides emphasized the importance of maintaining border stability and continuing dialogue to resolve emerging issues through mutual understanding and respect. The Iranian delegation called for sustained cooperation to promote peace and regional stability, while Haqqani reaffirmed the Taliban’s commitment to fostering strong, respectful relations with neighboring countries, particularly Iran. The meeting marks another step in regional efforts to balance security and diplomacy in post-withdrawal Afghanistan.

Following several days of fierce cross-border clashes, Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire beginning Wednesday evening (October 15) at 6 p.m. local time. The decision, confirmed by Islamabad, aims to de-escalate one of the deadliest confrontations between the two neighbors in recent years. Pakistan stated that Afghanistan requested the ceasefire, though Kabul has yet to comment publicly. Earlier, Pakistan claimed it killed dozens of Afghan security personnel and militants during overnight operations, while destroying several Afghan tanks and military posts. In retaliation, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid reported that their forces destroyed a Pakistani border post and captured a tank. Tensions have been high as Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of sheltering militant groups responsible for terrorist attacks within its borders—a claim the Taliban government denies. Both sides have now pledged to pursue dialogue to find a peaceful and lasting resolution to the border crisis.

At least five people were killed and 35 others injured in a powerful explosion in Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital, just before a 48-hour ceasefire between Afghanistan and Pakistan was due to take effect. According to AFP, which cited an Italian NGO operating a hospital in Kabul, emergency services received multiple casualties, including women and children. Dejan Panic, the NGO’s Country Director, reported that many of the wounded were brought in by ambulance and that the blast occurred just a few kilometers from their facility. Witnesses described hearing twin explosions and seeing thick black smoke rising above the city. Streets near the blast site were littered with shattered glass and debris from damaged buildings. The incident comes amid escalating border tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which both sides have vowed to resolve through dialogue during the temporary ceasefire.

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for killing 58 Pakistani soldiers and seizing 25 border posts during clashes on Saturday night along the Afghanistan-Pakistan frontier. Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Taliban government in Kabul, stated that Afghan forces pushed Pakistani troops out of these posts, injuring at least 30 others. He warned Pakistan against future violations of Afghan sovereignty. Earlier, Pakistan had accused Afghan forces of violating its airspace and carrying out a market bombing, labeling its own operation as retaliatory. Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the Afghan attacks as unprovoked, highlighting civilian casualties, and promised strict retaliation. Reports indicate that both sides used small arms and mortars in the Kunar-Kurram region. Several areas including Angoor Adda, Bajaur, Kurram, Dir, Chitral, and Baramcha witnessed heavy gunfire and shelling. The situation has raised concerns over escalating tensions along the volatile border.

The Taliban government in Afghanistan announced a nationwide internet shutdown aimed at stopping what it called “immoral activities.”

By Monday night, several networks had gone offline, affecting telephone services and creating a complete internet blackout. At least eight flights were canceled at Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport, while banking and business operations are expected to be severely disrupted.

Afghans abroad are unable to contact their families, while local media outlets report major disruptions to their operations. International news agencies AP and AFP also said they were unable to reach their Kabul bureaus.

In a shocking incident, a 13-year-old Afghan boy managed to travel from Kabul to Delhi by hiding inside the landing gear compartment of a commercial flight. The incident occurred on Sunday morning when Kam Air’s flight RQ-4401 landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport after a two-hour journey.

Authorities said the boy, from Kunduz city, sneaked into the Kabul airport and concealed himself in the rear central landing gear bay. After landing, he was spotted wandering near the aircraft’s security control room. Airline staff detained him and handed him over to security officials. During questioning, the boy admitted he entered the plane “out of curiosity.” By 12:30 p.m., he was deported back to Afghanistan on the same flight.

A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck southeastern Afghanistan again on Thursday, the third tremor to shake the region since Sunday.

According to local authorities, the epicenter was in Shiba district, near the Pakistan border, at a depth of 10 kilometers. Initial reports indicate damage in Bar Kashkot area.

Earlier quakes in Kunar and Nangarhar provinces left hundreds of villages destroyed, displacing hundreds of thousands, and injuring over 3,600 people. Rescue workers confirmed that Thursday’s quake raised the death toll to 2,205, with at least 3,640 injured.

The UN and aid agencies have warned that emergency supplies of food, medicine, and shelter are rapidly running out, raising fears of a worsening humanitarian crisis.

A powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan on Sunday night, leaving at least 622 people dead and more than 1,500 injured.
According to the US Geological Survey, the 6.0-magnitude quake struck at 11:17 pm local time, with its epicenter 27 kilometers northeast of Jalalabad and a shallow depth of 8 kilometers.
Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said rescue operations are underway, with reinforcements arriving from nearby provinces.