A devastating earthquake hit eastern Afghanistan late Sunday night, leaving more than 250 people dead and at least 500 others injured, officials confirmed.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the quake struck at 11:17 PM local time, with its epicenter located 27 kilometers northeast of Jalalabad. The tremor, registering 6.0 on the Richter scale, had a shallow depth of just 8 kilometers, intensifying its destructive impact.

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Information reported severe casualties across several districts of Kunar province, including Nurgal, Sawkai, Watapur, Manogi, and Chapa Dara. Authorities fear the death toll could rise further as many remote areas remain cut off, and rescue teams are still struggling to reach those locations.

Locals described it as one of the strongest quakes to hit the region in recent years. Meanwhile, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said local officials and residents have begun rescue operations, while additional relief teams from neighboring provinces are on their way to assist.

A strong 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistan border late Sunday night, killing more than 20 people and injuring over 115 others. Officials fear the death toll may rise.

According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the quake struck at 11:47 pm local time at a depth of just 8 kilometers. At least three aftershocks, ranging between 4.5 and 5.2 in magnitude, followed the initial tremor.

The worst-hit provinces are Nangarhar and Kunar, where hospitals are overwhelmed with the injured. Tremors were felt in Kabul for several seconds and even as far away as Islamabad.

Afghanistan has a tragic history of devastating earthquakes. In October 2023, a 6.3-magnitude quake killed at least 4,000 people in the country.

Kabul has summoned the Pakistani ambassador after alleged attacks by Pakistani forces in Nangarhar and Khost provinces. The Taliban government reported at least three civilian deaths and seven injuries. Afghan authorities accused Pakistan of violating airspace and carrying out provocative bombings near the Durand Line. While Pakistan has yet to officially respond, tensions persist over cross-border terrorism, trade restrictions, and stalled diplomatic talks. Recent drone strikes in Shinwar district highlight fragile bilateral relations and regional instability.

At least 71 people have been killed in a tragic bus accident in Afghanistan’s Herat province. Police reported on Tuesday that the crash was caused by “overspeeding and negligence.”

The victims were Afghan returnees deported from Iran. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the deaths but said details on the identities were still pending.

The accident comes just a day after Iran’s Interior Minister, Eskandar Momeni, announced that 800,000 Afghans must leave Iran by March. Poor road conditions and frequent accidents plague Afghanistan—last December, two bus crashes claimed at least 52 lives.

According to UNHCR, nearly 450,000 Afghans have returned from Iran since June alone. Iran had set a July 6 deadline for undocumented migrants to leave. In total, more than 1.4 million Afghans have been repatriated or forcibly deported this year.

Afghanistan is experiencing the largest refugee return in its history, with the International Organization for Migration warning of a severe crisis. Nearly 1.5 million Afghans have been forced back in 2025 alone, part of a projected 4 million returning from Pakistan and Iran between 2023–2025. Half are women and girls, facing risks such as poverty, child marriage, and abuse. The UN urges global support, while the Taliban government denies a crisis, claiming to protect women’s rights and prevent forced marriages.

The spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Islamic Emirate, Zabihullah Mujahid, criticizes the International Criminal Court (ICC) for ignoring Israel’s alleged crimes in Gaza while issuing arrest warrants against Afghan leaders implementing Islamic law. He denounces the court’s double standards and rejects its authority. Analysts suggest that internal Afghan issues should be resolved through dialogue rather than external sanctions. The UN respects the ICC’s independence but faces calls to recognize Afghanistan diplomatically and address the situation through negotiations.

Following the U.S. withdrawal in 2021, the Taliban took control of Afghanistan but remain largely unrecognized internationally. Russia recently became the first country to formally recognize the Taliban government, while China has extended economic support and diplomatic engagement. India and Iran have also shifted their approaches, balancing security and strategic interests. Despite strained relations with Pakistan, several nations continue cautious diplomacy with the Taliban, driven by practical and security considerations. Experts anticipate more countries may follow Russia’s lead in formal recognition.

Afghanistan’s capital Kabul is at risk of becoming the world’s first modern city to run completely out of water by 2030. Excessive groundwater extraction, climate change, and population growth have drastically lowered water levels, threatening nearly 3 million residents with scarcity and displacement. UNICEF reports half the deep wells are already dry, and 80% of underground water is contaminated. Experts warn urgent infrastructure improvements and international cooperation are needed, but sanctions and instability hinder effective solutions.

Russia has officially recognized the Taliban government in Afghanistan, becoming the first country in the world to do so. The Russian Foreign Ministry accepted the credentials of a new ambassador from the Taliban-led administration. Russian officials expressed hope that this step will strengthen bilateral cooperation. In a meeting with Afghan Foreign Minister Dmitry Zhirnov, the move was described as a model for others to follow, with Russia taking the lead in formal recognition.

Fearing for their safety amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, thousands of Afghan refugees are returning home after decades in exile. The UN estimates that over 4 million Afghans live in Iran, many of whom fled war and persecution. One returnee, Nasima Ghaffari, said, “The war has changed everything. We came back with nothing—no money, no home, just fear and uncertainty.” Reports suggest that some Pakistani refugees are also returning home due to rising security concerns.

A strong earthquake struck Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region early Wednesday morning. Initial estimates placed the magnitude at 6.4, later revised to 5.9 by India’s National Center for Seismology. The quake, with its epicenter 75 km below the surface, was felt in Delhi and surrounding NCR areas. No casualties have been reported. Meanwhile, Tajikistan experienced a separate 5.8 magnitude quake earlier in the day—its third significant quake in the past 48 hours.

The Taliban government has severely restricted Afghan women’s freedom of speech and education. However, ‘Radio Begum,’ a women-run radio station that was previously shut down, is set to resume broadcasting. According to the Ministry of Information and Culture, the station has been allowed to reopen after committing to follow certain conditions. Arab News reports that the station must operate under the guidelines of journalism and the Islamic Emirate’s regulations and must not violate them in the future. The channel is entirely run by women.

After seizing power in 2021, the Taliban has maintained diplomatic communication with neighboring and regional powers. A delegation from the Taliban government has now visited Japan, as reported by Al Jazeera. The discussions will focus on humanitarian aid and potential diplomatic relations with Japanese officials. On Sunday, a delegation comprising officials from the ministries of foreign affairs, education, economy, and health arrived in Japan. They will stay for a week. Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister of Finance, Latif Nazari, referred to this as part of their efforts to improve international relations.

The Taliban government has expressed a willingness to rebuild relations with the Trump administration but firmly ruled out returning military equipment left in Afghanistan in 2021. Taliban Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abdul Bahar Balkhi claimed that the US and NATO military equipment left behind is now Afghanistan’s property. According to Pentagon data, the US had transferred over $7.2 billion worth of military equipment to Afghan security forces before the Taliban takeover. Over the past four years, much of this equipment has been damaged or utilized by Taliban fighters. Prior to the elections, Donald Trump had vowed to retrieve the abandoned US military assets in Afghanistan.