The Taliban government says Pakistani airstrikes hit civilian homes, two days after insurgents killed seven Pakistani soldiers in a suicide bombing. A Taliban government spokesperson said on Monday that Pakistani airstrikes killed at least eight people, including three children, in border regions of Afghanistan. Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesperson, said Pakistani aircraft struck civilian homes in Khost and Paktika provinces near the border with Pakistan at around 3:00 a.m. local time (2230 GMT).  According to Mujahid, all eight people killed were women and children. Exchange of fire The airstrikes targeted multiple suspected hideouts of Pakistani Taliban inside Afghanistan, two Pakistan security officials told AP. The Pakistani Taliban is a separate militant group but allied with the Afghan Taliban. Mujahid condemned the airstrikes and warned that such a "violation of Afghanistan's sovereignty" would bring "bad consequences" beyond its neighbor's control. In a separate statement, the Taliban's Defense Ministry said its security forces had targeted Pakistani troops on the border with heavy weapons later Monday in response to the airstrikes. The Associated Press (AP) news agency reported, citing Pakistani officials, that  Afghan Taliban's shots wounded four people and that some villagers in the northwestern Kurram district were moving to safer areas.  The officials added that Pakistan fired back, according to the AP report.  This is the latest escalation as tensions between Islamabad and Kabul simmer. Pakistan president promised retaliation Monday's escalation came two days after a suicide bombing targeted a Pakistan army post near the Afghan border. On Saturday, a suicide bomber had rammed a truck filled with explosives into a military checkpoint in northwest Pakistan, killing seven soldiers. During the funeral of the soldiers, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari promised a strong response. "The blood of our martyred soldiers will not go in vain," Zardari said. Saturday's suicide attack was claimed by the Jaish-e-Fursan-e-Muhammad group, though security officials in Pakistan believe that the organization largely consists of members from the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP. 'Pakistan shouldn't blame Afghanistan' Both neighbors have been sparring over recent militant activity in Pakistan. Islamabad claims these attacks originated in Afghan territory, a claim that Afghanistan's ruling Taliban has denied. "Pakistan shouldn't blame Afghanistan for the lack of control, incompetence and problems in its own territory," Mujahid said in the Taliban statement. A Pakistani official in the border regions said in light of recent developments, "announcements have been made in mosques to empty some areas in Kurram and North Waziristan as clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan continue on and off at the border."

Opium production in Afghanistan has plummeted since the Taliban banned cultivation of the poppy plant, according to a UN report published on Sunday. Afghanistan's Taliban rulers pledged to wipe out the country's drug industry, banning poppy cultivation in April 2022. Poppy plants are the source of opium and heroin. Afghanistan was the world's biggest opium producer and a major source for heroin in Europe and Asia before the Taliban takeover. What did the report on Afghan opium production say? The report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) found that poppy cultivation had dropped by an estimated 95% over the past year, from 233,000 hectares (575,755 acres) at the end of 2022 to 10,800 hectares in 2023. Opium production also dropped from 6,200 tons to 333 tons in 2023. According to the report, this year's harvest amounts to 24-38 tons of exportable heroin, much less than the 350-580 tons estimated for 2022. Farmer's incomes have fallen by 92% this year, from an estimated $1.36 billion to $110 million. In 2022, poppy crops made up almost a third by value of total agricultural production in Afghanistan. The UNODC warned of the risk of people previously involved in the opium industry moving toward other illegal activities, like the trafficking of arms, people or synthetic drugs. A September report from the same agency said that Afghanistan was the world's fastest-growing producer of methamphetamine. Poppy ban could worsen humanitarian crisis The UNODC said the Taliban crackdown on the poppy industry could have a negative impact on many Afghans' livelihoods and warned of "humanitarian consequences for many vulnerable rural communities." "Today, Afghanistan's people need urgent humanitarian assistance... to absorb the shock of lost income and save lives," UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly said. Waly said other crops, such as cotton and wheat, were far more water-intensive than poppy plants. She added that Afghanistan had undergone "three years of consecutive drought." "Afghanistan is in dire need of strong investment in sustainable livelihoods to provide Afghans with opportunities away from opium," she said. Afghanistan has already been grappling with a severe humanitarian crisis sparked by decades of war, as well as natural disasters such as earthquakes and droughts. Afghanistan has also been faced with an influx of returning refugees after neighboring Pakistan ordered over a million people to leave the country. The crisis has also been aggravated by the steep drop in international aid deliveries after the Taliban, whose rule is not formally recognized by any country, overthrew the country's former government. The drop in international aid came as the Taliban severely limited the rights of women and girls as well as numerous other basic human rights in the country. The Taliban took Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, in August 2021 amid the hasty withdrawal of US-led international troops.

The interim Afghan government has refused to accept aid from Pakistan for the earthquake victims as tensions between the two neighbours continue to strain relations between them. Afghanistan was struck by a 6.3 magnitude earthquake last Saturday, leaving at least 1,000 people dead and affecting many villages. There was further damage when another quake hit the region on Wednesday. Pakistan was quick to offer support as Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar announced sending rescue and relief teams along with essential aid. However, the consignment and rescuers were not dispatched to Afghanistan after Kabul refused to give clearance. Although there was no official word from either side, the current tension between the two countries seemed to be the main reason for the Afghan rejection. The Express Tribune was given to understand that since the earthquake hit Herat province, which was close to Iran, it was not possible for Pakistan to send its teams and goods due to logistic reasons. Another factor was seen as the lack of capacity by the Afghan authorities to distribute the aid already reached Afghanistan by the international community. However, it has been learnt that the main reason Pakistan did not send rescue and relief teams and the aid because of Afghan Taliban’s reluctance to accept them. The development was seen in the context of ongoing tension between the two countries over the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Also, further complicating the relationship was Pakistan’s recent series of moves that include deportation of all illegal Afghan immigrants, visa policy for Afghans and restrictions imposed on the Afghan imports. At a weekly news briefing on Thursday, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Pakistan expressed deep sympathy with its Afghan “brothers and sisters, as they face a very difficult situation following the earthquake that took place a few days ago”. “Pakistan also stands in solidarity with its Afghan brothers and sisters and remain in contact with the Interim Afghan Government to meet any needs that they may have during the relief and recovery efforts,” she added without further sharing details as to why Pakistan did not dispatch aid to the neighbouring country yet. Meanwhile, the spokesperson strongly condemned the “indiscriminate and disproportionate” use of force by Israeli authorities against civilian population in Gaza and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. “We are deeply concerned about the fast-deteriorating and dire humanitarian situation in Gaza due to the inhumane blockade and collective punishment by Israeli forces. The decision to cut off electricity, fuel and water supplies is unjust and should be reversed, as it would severely impact the lives of the Palestinians residing in the enclave,” she stressed. The FO spokesperson further said Israel should immediately cease “indiscriminate bombing” of Gaza people. “It should fulfill its obligations as an occupying power under international law, lift the blockade and allow unhindered access to humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people.” She noted that the current “cycle of aggression and violence” was a “sad reminder” and a direct consequence of over seven decades of “illegal foreign occupation, aggression, and disrespect for international law”, including UNSC resolutions that recognize the inalienable right to self-determination of the Palestinian people. Pakistan had been constantly warning against serious consequences of Israel’s escalatory and provocative actions in recent months. “The unprecedented gravity of the situation demands urgent intervention by the international community. We urge the United Nations to play a proactive role in facilitating a ceasefire to alleviate the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza. The international community must work in concert for a just, comprehensive and lasting two-state solution with a viable, sovereign and contiguous State of Palestine on the basis of pre-1967 borders, with Al Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. Peace in the Middle East will remain elusive in the absence of such a solution.”

More than 2,000 people were killed by several strong earthquakes that struck western Afghanistan, the Taliban administration said Sunday.  The tremors hit Saturday morning and were mostly focused in the country's western region, with many felt in neighboring Iran. The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the quakes — one of which measured 6.3 magnitude — hit some 35 kilometers (20 miles) northwest of the city of Herat, causing panic in the city. What do we know about the quakes? The earthquake and its subsequent, strong aftershocks left 2,053 people dead and 9,240 more injured, a spokesperson for the National Disaster Management Authority said. Several villages in Herat province were completely destroyed, including at least 600 houses, according to the World Health Organization. Hundreds of civilians have been buried under the debris, with the Taliban government calling for urgent help. "We ask our wealthy compatriots to give any possible cooperation and help to our afflicted brothers," the Taliban said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. Authorities expected the number of casualties to rise, as the search operation for those under the rubble continues. The earthquake is among the worst to have hit Afghanistan in decades. However, the country, which lies in a region where the Arabian, Indian and Eurasian plates meet, is no stranger to quakes. In 2022, over 1,000 people were killed in a devastating tremor. Decades of conflict have also left the country with poorly built structures, making it all the more vulnerable to disasters.

An Afghanistan-based nonprofit said Saturday it was working with the United Nations and others for the release of 18 staffers, including a foreigner, detained by the Taliban. The International Assistance Mission said two Afghan nationals and one international team member were taken from its office in central Ghor on September 3. The nonprofit said 15 other Afghan national staff members were taken from the same office on September 13. The group said that all of them had been taken to Kabul. The group said in a statement they had worked in the country alongside Afghans for 57 years. They stand "by the principle that aid will not be used to further a particular political or religious standpoint," the statement read. Local media reported that a US national is among those detained and that staff members were detained for carrying out Christian missionary work. NGOs under attack Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have come under greater scrutiny since the Taliban swept to power two years ago. Following the takeover, the Taliban forced nearly all women to quit their jobs.  In December last year, the regime banned Afghan women from working at non-governmental agencies, forcing several NGOs to suspend work since they had women working for them.  The Taliban has also banned girls from attending secondary schools and closed the women's university. The International Assistance Mission said on its website that the group has been working in Afghanistan to improve lives and build local health, community development and education in partnership with the international Christian volunteers.

Taliban's religious police reportedly burned a number of musical instruments in the western province of Herat, according to a Sunday report by the state-run news agency Bakhtar. Sheikh Aziz al-Rahman al-Muhajir, the provincial head of the Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, said music led to "misguidance of the youth and the destruction of society," according to the report. People could be corrupted, according to the official. The Taliban banned nonreligious music the last time it ruled the country in the 1990s. Pictures show officials gathered around a fire with musical instruments, including guitars, harmoniums and speakers.   Afghanistan has a strong musical tradition, influenced by Iranian and Indian classical music. It also has a thriving pop music scene, adding electronic instruments and dance beats to more traditional rhythms. Both flourished in the past 20 years before the Taliban stormed to power in 2021. But the Taliban has imposed harsh measures since seizing control of Afghanistan in August 2021 as US and NATO forces withdrew. Students and teachers of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music, which was once famous for its inclusiveness, have not returned to classes since the Taliban takeover. Many musicians have also fled the country. Taliban's crackdown on women's rights The Taliban promised a more moderate rule than that of their previous time in power in the 1990s. They had promised to allow for women's and minority rights. But instead, they reintroduced harsh measures in line with their strict interpretation of Islamic law, or Sharia. They have carried out public executions, banned education for girls beyond the sixth grade and also banned women from most forms of employment. Earlier this week, the Taliban announced that all beauty salons ought to be closed because they offered services forbidden by Islam and caused economic hardship for the families of grooms during wedding festivities.

Taliban which itself destroyed the historically and culturally significant ‘Buddhas of Bamiyan’, now want to make money from the empty niches as it is desperately in need of cash. Massimo Introvigne, an Italian sociologist of religions and author, wrote in his piece in Bitter Winter, how despite being an avid traveller he ended up rejecting the proposal to visit Afghanistan because he doesn’t want the Taliban to benefit from the sites destroyed by them. “The Afghan regime desperately needs cash. It cannot show the Bamiyan Buddhas for the good reason it blew them up. But it would take tourists to the site for a fee,” he stated. According to the author, the Taliban smashed the sixth-century CE giant statues in 2001 with artillery fire and by detonating anti-tank mines. Now, the public can only see the empty niches where these masterpieces of Buddhist sculpture once stood, and meditate there. But this not for free, but by paying money to the regime, Bitter Winter reported. The author went on to say that he can even pay a fee to see the Nuremberg propaganda headquarters of the Nazi Party and the location of the Khmer Rouge mass graves in Cambodia, because, here the money is not going to Adolf Hitler or Pol Pot, but the subsequent current governments. However, in the case of Afghanistan, it is the Taliban itself that perpetrated the crimes and are willing to reap money while being in the government. “I understand the empty niches of the destroyed statues do have their own melancholic beauty. But I do not want to support the Taliban with my ticket. I would rather not go,” Massimo Introvigne further stated in his piece. According to the author, the Taliban smashed the sixth-century CE giant statues in 2001 with artillery fire and by detonating anti-tank mines.

A UN report says Afghans are struggling to access medical and psychosocial help due to a sharp drop in donor funding since the Taliban took power in Kabul. More than 1,000 Afghan civilians have been killed in bombings and other violence since the Taliban took over in 2021, according to the UN. In a report released on Tuesday, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said there were 3,774 civilian casualties, which includes figures for those who died as well as those who were injured. According to the UN, there were 1,095 civilian deaths in the country, between mid-August 2021 and May 2023. Among the deceased were 92 women and 287 children. The number of deaths has falledn sharply compared to the period before the Taliban seized power — more than 3,035 civilians were killed in 2020 alone, according to UN estimates. UN voices concerns over 'lethality' of attacks The new UN report noted that a majority of the deaths were caused by improvised explosive devices in "populated areas, including places of worship, schools and markets." Even though the number of suicide attacks have gone down since the Taliban came to power, the UN report expressed concern over the "lethality" of the attacks. Security challenges remain particularly high also because of consistent threats from the so-called "Islamic State" militant group. The UNAMA said the group was responsible for the majority of attacks in Afghanistan. The report added that the violence had taken place while Afghanistan was gripped by a nationwide economic and financial crisis. The report also said a sharp drop in donor funding since the Taliban takeover made it difficult for victims to access "medical, financial and psychological support."  Taliban claims to prioritize safety In response to the UN report, the Taliban-led Foreign Ministry said that "security has been ensured across the country" and that they consider the security of places of worship a priority. The group added that they have carried out multiple raids against Islamic State cells and are focused on ensuring "timely action on uprooting the safe havens of the terrorists." The UN agency holds the Taliban government responsible for the safety of the people. The Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021 while NATO troops were in their final weeks of withdrawing from the country after two decades of war. The Taliban leadership maintains that they took over while Afghanistan was on the "verge of collapse" and that they "managed to rescue the country and government from a crisis." Despite initial promises of a moderate administration, the Taliban enforced harsh rules after assuming control. Girls are no longer permitted to study after the sixth grade, and Afghan women are barred from public life and most work.

After having sent 40,000 MT of wheat to the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan through the land border with Pakistan, the government will provide another 20,000 MT of the grain via Iran’s Chabahar port to the landlocked country grappling with food insecurity. The first tranche of 2,500 MT of wheat sent through the Chabahar port is expected to arrive in Herat this week, according to Taliban authorities. This is the first consignment of food aid sent to Afghanistan by India this year. In a landmark decision, and a peace outreach to the Taliban that seems to have served India well, the government had approached Islamabad in 2021 to allow India to send 50,000 MT of wheat to Afghanistan via the land border with Pakistan. Islamabad agreed after the Taliban, setting aside their past antipathy for India, urged Islamabad under then PM Imran Khan, to allow the Indian government to use the land route for wheat supplies. Last month, the Taliban also appointed an envoy to India seeking better ties.  Pakistan doesn’t otherwise allow outbound trade from India to Afghanistan and central Asian countries through its territory. India, however, could only send 40,000 MT of wheat to Afghanistan in the time period specified by Pakistan for the delivery. The remaining 10,000, and an additional 10,000 MT of the grain, is now being dispatched to Chabahar for delivery to Afghanistan. Like all major powers, including Russia and China, India hasn’t recognised the Taliban government in Kabul but it hasn’t let that come in the way of efforts to help Afghanistan deal with humanitarian challenges. Participating in a security conference on Afghanistan earlier this year in Moscow, NSA Ajit Doval had said India will never “abandon” the Afghan people in their time of need. India also reopened its embassy in June last year following repeated assurances by the Taliban of safety and security of Indian officials. The government though wants the Taliban to ensure no part of Afghan territory is used by Pakistan-backed terror groups for anti-India activities and that there’s a more inclusive and representative government in Kabul. Significantly, the Taliban last month named their first envoy to India in a move they see as a rational decision that will pave the way for better relations with India. The charge d’affaires-designate, Qadir Shah, is yet to assume charge though with Afghan diplomats from the previous administration, who remain in control of the embassy, apparently expelling him. Shah last week accused Afghan diplomats of stealing his car too in a complaint to the Indian government. India has so far kept away from the infighting saying it’s for the Afghan authorities to resolve the issue. In the case of an extended standoff though, the government might have to decide who it wants to work with as it looks to coordinate further delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people. Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

A governor and two other people were killed in a blast in Afghanistan. No group has yet claimed the attack, but the country has been hit by multiple attacks by "Islamic State" militants since the Taliban takeover. An explosion ripped through the office of the Balkh province governor northwest of the Afghan capital of Kabul on Thursday, killing the provincial governor and two others. Slain Governor Daud Muzmal had led a fight against "Islamic State" militants in the eastern province of Nangarhar, before becoming the governor of Balkh last year. IS militants stepped up their attacks in Afghanistan since the Taliban took over in August 2021. Attacks have targeted both civilians, including the Shiite minority, and Taliban security forces. Muzmal's death makes him among the highest-ranking Taliban officials to have been slain since the Taliban returned to power. What do we know about the attack? Government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a tweet that the governor was "martyred by the enemies of Islam." No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Asif Waziri, a local police spokesman, told the French AFP news agency that the explosion happened on the second floor of the governor's office in the provincial capital Mazar-e-Sharif. "It was a suicide attack. We don't have information as to how the suicide bomber reached the office of the governor," Waziri said, adding that two people were also wounded. Extra security was deployed to the governorate building. Journalists were prevented from taking photos, AFP said.