Syed Maisam Ali

ISLAMABAD: A United Nations expert has warned that women and girls in Afghanistan are facing &ldquo;the most serious assault on gender equality of our time&rdquo; under Taliban rule. Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, told the UN General Assembly in his report that the Taliban has built an &ldquo;institutionalized system of gender persecution.&rdquo; He said urgent and united international action is needed to stop human rights violations instead of accepting the Taliban&rsquo;s rule as normal. Bennett said the Taliban&rsquo;s restrictions on women&rsquo;s education and jobs, including bans on women working for the UN and aid agencies, have made the humanitarian crisis even worse. He said cuts in international funding are leaving Afghans &ldquo;without the last lines of protection and support.&rdquo; <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1983987783485321623&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=e544ae16073ddbab59881416cdf458eff4bb230e&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 713px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>The UN expert also raised concern over an increase in public punishments, disappearances, and the shrinking space for media and civil society. He said the Taliban&rsquo;s mistreatment of ethnic and religious minorities is fueling tensions across the country. Bennett warned that the Taliban&rsquo;s harsh policies could radicalize a new generation living under oppression and poverty. &ldquo;What is happening in Afghanistan will not be contained within its borders,&rdquo; he cautioned. The expert also condemned the forced return of Afghan refugees from neighboring and European countries, urging respect for international law. Despite the grim situation, Bennett said Afghanistan is &ldquo;not a lost cause&rdquo; and called for continued accountability and support for Afghan-led human rights efforts.

Asia

Americas

UN expert Richard Bennett warned the Taliban’s rule poses “the most serious assault on gender equality,” citing rising abuses, restrictions on women, shrinking freedoms, and refugee deportations, urging urgent global action and sustained support for Afghan-led initiatives

UN expert warns of worsening human rights crisis in Afghanistan

Muhammad Usman Amin

PESHAWAR: Security concerns have once again overshadowed trade at the Pakistan&ndash;Afghanistan border, where hundreds of trucks carrying Afghan produce remain stranded at the Torkham crossing amid escalating tensions between the two neighbors.&nbsp;The closure followed a series of cross-border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan after, according to Pakistani military officials, Taliban fighters and affiliated militants attempted to infiltrate across the frontier. Relations between the two neighbors have since remained strained, with trade through key crossings suspended. A ceasefire between the two sides was finalized in Doha on October 19, with the next round of talks scheduled to take place in Istanbul.&nbsp;Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Afghan interim government to take &ldquo;credible and effective action&rdquo; against the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and similar groups launching attacks from across the border. But officials say those requests have gone unanswered, forcing Islamabad to prioritize national security over trade.&nbsp;Officials have stated that Pakistan&rsquo;s security concerns take precedence over trade, emphasizing that cross-border commerce can only resume once the frontier is secure and free from militant activity.&nbsp;Afghan exports rot as border stays shutFor weeks, hundreds of trucks laden with fresh Afghan produce, tomatoes, onions, grapes, and pomegranates, have been stranded at Torkham. With no access to Pakistani markets, the goods are spoiling in the heat, costing Afghan traders millions of dollars in losses.&nbsp;&ldquo;This has been happening for years, but this time it&rsquo;s worse,&rdquo; said Soleiman Safi, an Afghan fruit wholesaler based in Peshawar.&nbsp;&ldquo;Our fresh produce is rotting before it reaches the market. I&rsquo;m now thinking of switching to importing coal. It doesn&rsquo;t spoil.&rdquo;&nbsp;While Pakistan also faces trade losses, its diversified economy can absorb the shock. Afghanistan, however, remains critically dependent on cross-border commerce.&nbsp;Economic fallout hits Afghanistan hardAccording to the Afghan Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Afghanistan consumes about 6.8 million metric tons of wheat annually but produces only 4.8 million, importing the rest, mostly from Pakistan.&nbsp;Similarly, the country&rsquo;s sole sugar mill in Baghlan province, which restarted operations in early 2025 after decades of closure, can meet only a fraction of domestic demand. The majority of sugar imports also come from Pakistan.&nbsp;Without this trade, Afghan consumers face rising food prices and shortages of essentials such as wheat flour, rice, cooking oil, and processed foods.&nbsp;Business leaders call for swift resolutionJunaid Altaf, president of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the closure is causing severe financial losses.&nbsp;&ldquo;We estimate losses of nearly one billion rupees a day from the Torkham crossing alone,&rdquo; he told Pakistan TV Digital. &ldquo;We have urged our counterparts in Afghanistan to press their government to normalize the situation so trade can resume.&rdquo;&nbsp;Limited alternatives, lingering challengesKabul has explored alternate trade routes through Iran&rsquo;s Chabahar Port and via Central Asia, but traders say these are costly and impractical substitutes for the shorter, better-developed Pakistani corridor.&nbsp;&ldquo;For time-sensitive exports like fruits and vegetables, there is no alternative to Pakistan&rsquo;s route,&rdquo; an Afghan logistics operator said.&nbsp;Officials in Pakistan Customs confirmed that &ldquo;all preparations for reopening have been completed,&rdquo; and staff are &ldquo;on standby,&rdquo; but added that the final decision depends on security clearance from higher authorities.&nbsp;As Afghanistan&rsquo;s economy continues to reel, Islamabad maintains that the solution lies not in seeking alternative trade routes but in tackling the security threats that have strained cross-border ties.&nbsp;&ldquo;A stable, terrorism-free border is the only prerequisite for trade to resume in full,&rdquo; a senior Pakistani official reiterated.

Economy

Trade between Islamabad and Kabul remains suspended as security concerns persist following cross-border clashes. Islamabad prioritizes border safety over commerce, saying trade will resume only once militant threats are contained, leaving Afghan traders facing mounting economic losses.

Trade stalls as security concerns keep Pakistan–Afghanistan border shut

Maryam Shah

ISLAMABAD: Afghan officials recently&nbsp;raised objections to the&nbsp;use of the word &#39;border&#39; in&nbsp;a statement Qatar issued in the wake of a ceasefire agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Doha.&nbsp; The border has long been internationally recognized as Pakistan&rsquo;s western frontier, a position Islamabad has maintained and articulated consistently. The Durand AgreementThe Durand Agreement was&nbsp;signed on Nov. 12, 1893, between the British Indian government and Afghan ruler Amir Abdur Rahman Khan. Negotiated by a British diplomat, Sir Mortimer Durand, the treaty demarcated zones of influence between the British Empire and Afghanistan. Later, the agreement was reaffirmed three times between the British Indian government and Afghan leaders &mdash; in March 1905, August 1919, and November 1921 &mdash; leading to the recognition of the Durand Line as the international border. Following Pakistan&rsquo;s creation in 1947, it inherited the line&nbsp;&mdash;&nbsp;which runs from the Chinese border in the north to the Iranian border&nbsp;in the south-west &mdash;&nbsp;as its international frontier with Afghanistan, a status it has upheld ever since. The 1988 Geneva Accords included an agreement between Afghanistan and Pakistan that underscored mutual recognition of the Durand Line as the international border. Afghanistan, however, has periodically disputed what it recognized earlier. During an online press briefing on Oct. 19, 2025, soon after the Doha agreement, Afghanistan&rsquo;s interim Defense Minister Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid said:&nbsp;&ldquo;We do not agree to the term &lsquo;border&rsquo;... the Durand Line is imaginary. Its future will be determined by the Afghan nation.&rdquo; Pakistan&rsquo;s position: &lsquo;A closed and settled issue&rsquo;In contrast, Pakistan &mdash; like countries around the world &mdash; has consistently maintained that the Durand Line is its western international border. In 2012, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) stated:&nbsp;&quot;The Durand Line between Pakistan and Afghanistan is the internationally recognized border. It is a closed and settled issue.&rdquo; In a more recent statement on Jan. 2, 2025, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s position: &ldquo;The Pakistan-Afghanistan border is an internationally recognized border. Anybody&rsquo;s statement cannot change the legality of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. It is not up for any discussion.&rdquo; MoFA has repeatedly emphasized that Pakistan retains the sovereign right to regulate and defend its border, condemning what it describes as &ldquo;unprovoked aggression&rdquo; from Afghan territory. Chronology of Pakistan&rsquo;s stanceThe Foreign Office has reiterated this stance on multiple occasions over the years: <blockquote>2012: It described the Durand Line as &ldquo;a closed and settled issue.&rdquo; 2019: It rejected Afghan claims of non-recognition, calling them &ldquo;irresponsible and unwarranted.&rdquo; It reaffirmed that the border was defined under &ldquo;all relevant international laws and conventions.&rdquo; 2020: In response to Afghan objections to border fencing by Pakistan, MoFA said the activity was in line with international norms and aimed at addressing Pakistan&rsquo;s security concerns without encroaching on Afghan territory. 2023: It asserted that any unauthorized construction by Afghanistan inside Pakistani territory was a violation of sovereignty. 2025: It reiterated that the border is &ldquo;not up for any discussion&rdquo; and rejected any challenges to its legitimacy.</blockquote> International recognitionWhile Afghanistan is the only country in the world that refuses to acknowledge the Durand Line, the international community recognizes it as Pakistan&rsquo;s legitimate western border. In October 2012, the US State Department formally endorsed the line. Spokesperson Victoria Nuland said: <blockquote>&ldquo;We see this [Durand Line] as the internationally recognized boundary.&rdquo;</blockquote> More recently, in February 2024, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said: <blockquote>&ldquo;We support the territorial integrity of both Afghanistan and Pakistan within their internationally recognized borders.&rdquo;</blockquote> Today, the United Nations and all countries of the world, except Afghanistan, recognize the Durand Line as the internationally recognized border of Afghanistan and Pakistan in official maps and bilateral dealings.

Foreign Affairs

The 1988 Geneva Accords included an agreement between Afghanistan and Pakistan that underscored mutual recognition of the Durand Line as the international border

The border between Pakistan and Afghanistan 

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani military forces have taken control of 19 Afghan border posts following a series of cross-border attacks, according to security sources, who described the operation as a response to what they called &ldquo;unprovoked aggression&rdquo; from Afghanistan. The offensive began late Saturday night and continued into the early hours of Sunday, with Pakistani forces deploying heavy artillery to strike Taliban positions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier. Security sources said Afghan forces manning the posts were either killed or fled, leaving behind weapons, uniforms, and abandoned installations. Video footage obtained by Pakistan TV Digital shows extensive destruction at multiple locations, including fires at captured posts and the interiors of seized installations strewn with military gear. In one clip, an Afghan Taliban fighter appears to surrender to Pakistani troops. Among the key positions targeted were posts in Qila Abdullah&rsquo;s Liaoband sector, Barabcha, Kharchar Fort in Chitral, and the Taliban&rsquo;s Manojba Camps 2 &amp; 3. Pakistani sources alleged that Kharchar Fort had served as a command hub for militant operations, while the Barabcha battalion was facilitating cross-border terrorist infiltration into Pakistan. A tank position located on a peak across from Pakistan&rsquo;s Kurram district was also hit, destroying several Taliban tanks, according to the sources. Officials described the operation as a &ldquo;targeted response&rdquo; against terrorist hideouts and training centers, stressing that Pakistan had no intention of harming Afghan civilians or public infrastructure. They accused the Afghan interim government and &ldquo;Indian-sponsored terrorist networks&rdquo; of orchestrating the aggression. &ldquo;This is not a war between the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan,&rdquo; the security sources said. &ldquo;It is a fight against terrorist elements operating in Afghanistan under Indian patronage. Pakistan reserves the right to respond more forcefully to any future aggression or terrorism.&rdquo; The Taliban government&rsquo;s chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, presented counter-claims&nbsp;in a press conference in Kabul, saying that &ldquo;the situation on all official borders and de facto lines of Afghanistan is under complete control, and illegal activities have been largely prevented.&rdquo; Saudi Arabia, Iran, Qatar urge restraintSaudi Arabia, Iran, and Qatar on Sunday expressed concern over the escalating border clashes, calling on both nations to exercise restraint and resolve their differences through dialogue. &ldquo;The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia follows with concern the tensions and clashes witnessed in the border areas between the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the State of Afghanistan,&rdquo; the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on X, formerly Twitter. Qatar&rsquo;s Foreign Ministry also warned of the potential repercussions for regional stability, urging both sides to prioritize &ldquo;dialogue, diplomacy, and restraint.&rdquo; Iran&rsquo;s Foreign Ministry issued a similar statement, calling on Islamabad and Kabul to avoid escalation. &ldquo;Iran is closely monitoring developments and calls on both sides to engage diplomatically to prevent further escalation,&rdquo; a spokesperson in Tehran said. &ldquo;Peace and cooperation must prevail over confrontation.&rdquo; Border crossings closedKey crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan were closed Sunday after intense overnight clashes, following Taliban accusations that Islamabad had conducted airstrikes earlier in the week, officials said. Officials on both sides confirmed that the Torkham crossing, connecting Pakistan&rsquo;s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province with Afghanistan&rsquo;s Nangarhar, and the Chaman crossing, more than 800 kilometers (500 miles) southwest, were shut down. &lsquo;Provocations by Afghanistan&rsquo;Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned what he described as &ldquo;provocations by Afghanistan&rdquo; along the border overnight. &ldquo;There will be no compromise on Pakistan&rsquo;s defense,&rdquo; Sharif said in a statement. &ldquo;Every provocation will be met with a strong and effective response.&rdquo; Sharif also slammed the Taliban government for allowing Afghan soil to be used by &ldquo;terrorist elements&rdquo; targeting Pakistan.

Security

Security sources report that Afghan forces manning the posts were either killed or fled their positions; video footage shows widespread destruction at multiple locations.

Articles tagged with "afghanistan"

UN expert warns of worsening human rights crisis in Afghanistan

Trade stalls as security concerns keep Pakistan–Afghanistan border shut

The border between Pakistan and Afghanistan

Captured 19 Afghan posts in response to unprovoked cross-border aggression: Pak security sources