ISLAMABAD: Islamabad&#39;s foreign ministry said on Saturday that claims by Afghan military and police of downing a Pakistani jet and capturing a pilot were &quot;totally untrue&quot;. &quot;That&#39;s a false claim. Totally untrue,&quot; ministry spokesman Tahir Hussain Andrabi told AFP. Information Ministry rebuts fake newsMeanwhile, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Saturday rebutted false reports claiming a Pakistani fighter jet was shot down in Nangarhar, Afghanistan and its pilot captured.<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-3" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 698px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2027651563183853750&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=c4adfe28f371d8383619bdeef82ca5026e275958&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>The official Twitter handle of Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for exposing fake news released a statement on its X handle on Saturday, addressing false reports about a Pakistani fighter jet allegedly being shot down in Nangarhar, Afghanistan. According to the ministry, Afghan news agencies and certain Indian media outlets, including Khaleej Times, circulated claims that the Ministry of Defense of the so-called Islamic Emirate reported Afghan forces had downed a Pakistani jet and captured its pilot alive. No jet shot down&nbsp;The ministry provided official counter-facts, stating that no Pakistani jet was shot down and no aircraft loss has been reported by the Pakistan Armed Forces. Independent international media outlets and defense monitoring agencies have not verified the claims. It further noted that no visual proof, debris, wreckage, or evidence of a captured pilot has been presented. Coordinated disinformation campaign&nbsp;The viral videos circulated as &ldquo;evidence&rdquo; were either old or unrelated, and an image shared by TOLO News showing a fallen jet was actually from a Russian aircraft incident in Turkey in 2021. The ministry described the reports as part of a coordinated disinformation campaign linked to the India&ndash;Afghan propaganda ecosystem, emphasizing that no credible defense analysis supports the claim that Afghan forces have the operational capability suggested. The statement urged the public not to rely on unverified battlefield claims and to cross-check information with official Pakistani authorities and credible international agencies, while avoiding the sharing of recycled or misleading content.

Afghanistan

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting rebuts false reports claiming a Pakistani fighter jet was shot down in Nangarhar, Afghanistan.

Pakistan says Afghanistan jet crash claim 'totally untrue' 

TEHRAN: Iran has offered to help mediate between Afghanistan and Pakistan after a sharp conflict that saw Islamabad declare what it described as an &ldquo;open war&rdquo; against the Taliban-led government in Kabul and carry out air strikes following deadly border clashes.&nbsp; In a post on X, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said ,&quot;The Islamic Republic of Iran stands ready to provide any assistance necessary to facilitate dialogue and to enhance understanding and cooperation between the two countries&quot;.&nbsp;

Abbas Araghchi (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Middle East

In a post on X, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said ,"The Islamic Republic of Iran stands ready to provide any assistance necessary to facilitate dialogue and to enhance understanding and cooperation between the two countries". 

Iran offers to help facilitate dialogue between Afghanistan, Pakistan

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;The President of the UN General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, on Monday called attention to the ongoing human rights crisis in <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/taliban-allow-husbands-to-beat-wives-without-breaking-bones-report" style="color:#0073e6;">Afghanistan</a>, describing the Taliban&rsquo;s policies toward women and girls as a &ldquo;gender apartheid system.&rdquo;&nbsp;Speaking at the opening of the 61st session of the Human Rights Council, Baerbock warned that decades of progress for Afghan women and girls are at risk, with restrictions barring them from work, education, and participation in public life.&nbsp;&ldquo;Women&rsquo;s rights are the benchmark for the state of a society,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;If women, meaning half of the world population, are not safe, no one will be safe.&rdquo; She criticized any appeasement of such violations and urged member states to uphold humanitarian principles while holding the Afghan authorities accountable. Baerbock said she remains troubled by ongoing debates within the UN and the broader international community over how to deliver humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan while women and girls are effectively excluded from public life. She questioned how aid mechanisms can function when half the population is barred from participating in society. She also criticized attempts to draw distinctions between different factions of the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/annual-report-details-killings-abuse-of-women-under-taliban-rule" style="color:#0073e6;">Taliban</a>. Some policymakers have suggested that leaders based in Kabul may be more moderate than those in Kandahar, but Baerbock warned against such reasoning.&nbsp; In discussions taking place in global capitals and within UN institutions, she said, the core principle of defending <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/un-security-council-extends-afghanistan-sanctions-monitoring-mandate" style="color:#0073e6;">human rights</a>, particularly those of Afghan women, has too often been sidelined. &ldquo;Appeasement in the face of grave human rights violations will not yield results,&rdquo; she cautioned. Elected in June 2025 to preside over the 80th session of the General Assembly, Baerbock stressed that women&rsquo;s rights serve as a benchmark for the condition of societies worldwide. With women comprising half of the global population, she said, global security and stability cannot be achieved if four billion people are denied safety and equality. Beyond Afghanistan, Baerbock warned of a wider rollback of women&rsquo;s rights globally. Norms and protections once considered firmly established, she said, are increasingly being challenged or eroded. Calling for decisive international action, Baerbock urged governments to defend universal human rights standards. She has previously advocated for the European Union to impose sanctions on the Taliban, citing what she describes as systematic gender persecution in Afghanistan.

Speaking during the council’s 61st session, the former German foreign minister characterized the treatment of Afghan women and girls as the most severe form of structural human rights violation.

UNGA president highlights ‘gender apartheid’ in Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan Women&rsquo;s Rights Watch says it documented 411 cases of rights violations against women and girls in Afghanistan in 2025, including nearly 300 incidents described as &ldquo;direct violence against women&rdquo; allegedly attributed to the Taliban, according to the group&rsquo;s annual report released this week. The report, titled From Marginalization to Erasure, was launched on Saturday, Feb. 14, in Kayseri, Turkiye, during an event attended by academics, civil society representatives, and Afghan and Turkish women&rsquo;s rights activists. The launch was organised in cooperation with the Turkiye-based ARSA Association. According to the organization, the findings were compiled from victims&rsquo; testimonies and cross-referenced with multiple credible international documents. Killings and suicidesThe report recorded at least 76 cases described as &ldquo;intentional killings&rdquo; of women and girls in 2025, though it did not specify the alleged perpetrators. The highest number of cases 16 was reported in Nangarhar Province. Researchers also documented more than 30 cases of suicide and self-immolation among women and girls over the past year, raising concerns about worsening mental health conditions and social pressures facing women under current restrictions. Allegations of abuse in detentionThe report further cited at least three cases of sexual violence in Taliban detention centers, including two incidents reported in Balkh Province. The Taliban authorities have not publicly responded to the report&rsquo;s findings. Calls for international actionZakera Hekmat, head of Afghanistan Women&rsquo;s Rights Watch, said during the launch event that addressing systematic violence against Afghan women is not solely a domestic matter but a global responsibility. She criticized what she described as the silence and inaction of the international community in response to continuing violations of women&rsquo;s fundamental rights during nearly four years of Taliban rule. Hekmat warned that continued inaction risks reinforcing policies that exclude women from Afghanistan&rsquo;s social, educational, and political life. Bulut Reyhanoglu, a Turkish filmmaker and global solidarity ambassador advocating for Afghan women, said the systematic exclusion of Afghan women from public life has created what he termed a &ldquo;gender crisis&rdquo; extending beyond Afghanistan&rsquo;s borders. He urged the international community to move beyond diplomatic engagement and take practical steps to protect Afghan women&rsquo;s fundamental rights, warning that continued silence could normalize gender-based oppression and discrimination. Afghanistan&rsquo;s Taliban-led administration has faced sustained international criticism over restrictions on women&rsquo;s education, employment, and participation in public life since returning to power in 2021.

Women and children who have returned to Afghanistan, wait to be seen at a maternity clinic (Photo: UNFPA)

The report records at least 76 cases described as “intentional killings” of women and girls in 2025, though it did not specify the alleged perpetrators. The highest number of cases are 16 reported in Nangarhar Province.

Annual report details killings, abuse of women under Taliban rule

AHMEDABAD: South Africa prevailed in a double super over thriller as Afghanistan came up agonizingly short of a famous victory after their T20 World Cup clash ended in a tie on Wednesday.&nbsp;Afghanistan were 187 all out after South Africa scored 187-6 in the Group D encounter in Ahmedabad.&nbsp;The teams were tied again after a breathless first super over saw them both score 18, before South Africa won off the final ball of a heart-thumping second sudden-death showdown.&nbsp;After South Africa bludgeoned 23 from their second super over and Afghanistan lost a wicket off the second ball of theirs, Rahmanullah Gurbaz was left needing four sixes off four balls for an unlikely victory.&nbsp;Gurbaz sensationally launched Keshav Maharaj into the crowd three times with some huge blows.&nbsp;A wide off the fifth ball meant Afghanistan still needed six to win, but now a four would send it, incredibly, to a third super over.&nbsp;With nerves jangling and pulses racing, the left-arm spinner held his nerve to bowl a wide yorker that Gurbaz smacked into the grateful hands of David Miller at point as he looked to hit a boundary.&nbsp;Afghanistan semi-finalists in 2024 also lost to the group&#39;s other heavyweights, New Zealand, leaving their chances of advancing as one of the top two teams all but over.&nbsp;&quot;The boys did an amazing job, especially with the way they started with the bat,&quot; said Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan.&nbsp;&quot;To restrict them under 190 was amazing. &nbsp;So, so unlucky to be part of a losing team.&quot;&nbsp;It was South Africa&#39;s second win. New Zealand have also won both their matches and are top of the group on net run rate.&nbsp;&quot;There&#39;s areas we can improve,&quot; said South Africa captain Aiden Markram.&nbsp;&quot;Small little phases, and it adds up to a lot in this format. You need to win games like this.&quot;&nbsp;A few minutes earlier, after Gurbaz scored a brilliant 42-ball 84 in the chase, Afghanistan had needed 13 off the last over of the match to win with one wicket in hand.&nbsp;After Kagiso Rabada bowled two no-balls and a wide, and Noor Ahmad hit a six, Afghanistan needed two to win off three balls.&nbsp;But after Noor turned for the second run that would have won the match, Fazalhaq Farooqi was run out at the non-striker&#39;s end, and the scores were tied.&nbsp;South Africa pace bowler Lungi Ngidi was named player of the match after his 3-26 in four overs.&nbsp;&quot;I&#39;ve lost so much weight today,&quot; said a smiling Ngidi.&nbsp;&quot;Never been that stressed in my life in a cricket game. Happy to come out on the winning side.&quot;&nbsp;Quinton de Kock (59) and Ryan Rickelton (61) were the mainstays of South Africa&#39;s innings as they put on 114 for the second wicket.

Cricket

South Africa beat Afghanistan in a dramatic double super over after both scored 187 in Ahmedabad. Afghanistan's right-hand batter Gurbaz’s 84 nearly sealed victory, but Afghanistan fell short. Ngidi starred with 3-26 as South Africa secured their second win

South Africa pip Afghanistan in double super over T20 thriller

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan remains one of the world&rsquo;s most corrupt countries, according to the latest annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) published by Transparency International.&nbsp;The latest 2025 CPI shows that Afghanistan scored just 16 points out of 100, placing it 169th out of 182 countries and territories. The latest figures show a slight drop from last year&rsquo;s score of 17 and ranking of 165th.&nbsp;Transparency International measures perceived levels of public-sector corruption on a scale from zero, indicating very high corruption, to 100, indicating very clean governance.&nbsp;The report also shows that Afghanistan&rsquo;s position has worsened steadily over recent years under the Taliban administration &mdash; falling from 150th place in 2022, with 24 points, to its current standing.&nbsp;Globally, the CPI paints a troubling picture: the average score dropped to a historic low of 42, with 122 out of 182 countries scoring below 50, reflecting widespread corruption in public sectors worldwide. Only five countries scored above 80, compared with 12 just a decade ago.&nbsp;At the top of the index, Denmark, Finland, Singapore, New Zealand and Norway rank as the least corrupt nations. At the bottom are South Sudan, Somalia, Venezuela, Yemen and Libya &mdash; together with Afghanistan among the worst performers.&nbsp;Transparency International highlights the growing global challenge of corruption, noting that weaker democratic checks and restricted civic space often coincide with deteriorating perceptions of transparency and governance. In the 50 countries with the steepest declines in CPI scores, 36 have tightened restrictions on civil liberties, the report finds.&nbsp;Fragile states like Afghanistan are especially vulnerable, Transparency International says, due to limited civic space, opaque political financing systems and a lack of independent judicial institutions &mdash; conditions that undermine accountability and enable corruption to persist.

The 2025 Corruption Perception Indes shows Afghanistan scored just 16 points out of 100, placing it 169th out of 182 countries and territories; the development represents a drop from last year’s score of 17 and ranking of 165th.

Afghanistan ranks among world’s most corrupt countries in 2025: Report

KABUL: Severe storms and a rain-triggered landslide have killed at least 14 people across Afghanistan, officials said, with residents facing further risks on Thursday as heavy snow hit the country.&nbsp;Strong wind and heavy rain in Kandahar killed six children on Wednesday, damaging homes and causing significant financial losses in several districts, the emergency department in the southern province said.&nbsp;An avalanche also killed one person in Parwan province, west of the capital Kabul.&nbsp;In total, &quot;owing to the snow and rain, 11 people&quot; were killed across six provinces in the country&#39;s north, centre, and south, including the Kandahar and Parwan incidents, a spokesperson for the National Disaster Management Authority told AFP.&nbsp;In a separate incident in eastern Nuristan province, a landslide triggered by heavy rain struck a house in Quraish village on Wednesday, killing three members of the same family and injuring two others.&nbsp;&quot;Two 10-year-old girls and a teenage boy were killed,&quot; Nuristan provincial government spokesman Fraidoon Samim told AFP.&nbsp;In central Ghazni province, an AFP correspondent said that around 80 centimetres (31 inches) of snow fell over the past 24 hours, forcing the closure of markets and blocking roads.&nbsp;Heavy snow in many provinces and Kabul has also caused traffic accidents.&nbsp;Afghanistan frequently experiences deadly floods, landslides, and storms, particularly in remote areas with fragile infrastructure, leaving communities vulnerable to extreme weather.

Asia

Severe storms, heavy rain, snow, and a landslide across Afghanistan killed at least 14 people, including children, damaged homes, blocked roads and markets, caused avalanches and accidents, and heightened risks amid fragile infrastructure, nationwide vulnerability.

Storms, heavy rain kill 14 across Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD: The deadly shooting near Sydney&rsquo;s Bondi Beach has sparked concern in Pakistan after sections of Indian media, followed by some Israeli and Afghan social media accounts, rushed to link the attack to Pakistan despite no confirmation from Australian authorities. Soon after the incident, multiple Indian media outlets circulated the name Naveed Akram, portraying him as a &ldquo;Pakistani attacker.&rdquo; The claim quickly unraveled when a Pakistani-Australian man with the same name publicly denied any connection, calling the allegations false and dangerous. Akram said his photographs were taken from his personal social media accounts and falsely linked to the attacker. &ldquo;That is not me and I have nothing to do with that incident or with that person,&rdquo; he said, stressing that the misinformation has placed his safety at risk. &ldquo;This issue is very serious. I am stressed, scared, and cannot even go outside safely,&rdquo; Akram added, describing the &ldquo;dual trauma&rdquo; caused first by the tragedy itself and then by being falsely identified online. Investigators have tentatively identified one of the attackers, according to Sky News citing three senior law enforcement officials in the US and Australia. New South Wales Police have confirmed that 16 people were killed and 40 remain in hospital following Sunday&rsquo;s shooting. The police added that &ldquo;more information will be made available soon&rdquo; and that Bondi Beach and surrounding roads would remain closed as investigators continue processing the crime scene. Nevertheless, unverified narratives continued to circulate online, with some Indian, Israeli, and Afghan-based accounts attempting to associate the attack with Pakistan. International Relations scholar Ahmad Hassan Al-Arbi noted on X that reports suggested &ldquo;at least one Afghan national may have been involved,&rdquo; while emphasizing that official details remain limited and investigations are ongoing. The rapid spread of unverified claims has renewed concerns over misinformation during crises. Observers note that Indian media, frequently criticized for disinformation, once again amplified an unsubstantiated narrative targeting Pakistan, which was then echoed across aligned online platforms. Islamabad has strongly criticized New Delhi for a recurring pattern of baseless accusations against Pakistan in the aftermath of international security incidents. The Foreign Office has repeatedly called for restraint, responsible reporting, and reliance on verified facts, warning that premature allegations undermine credibility and threaten regional stability. The Pakistan Australian Cultural Association Inc (PACA) also issued a statement expressing shock and grief over the attack, condemning the &ldquo;atrocious and inhumane act of violence and terror&rdquo; at Bondi Beach. PACA extended condolences to the victims and their families, expressed solidarity with Australia&rsquo;s Jewish community, and praised the swift response of emergency services and community members. The association urged all communities to stand together, reject violence, and reaffirm a commitment to peace, compassion, and resilience, offering professional support to those traumatized by the tragedy. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with Australia. &ldquo;My deepest condolences to the victims of the tragic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach. Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,&rdquo; he said in a post on X. He also conveyed Pakistan&rsquo;s sympathy to the families of the victims and reaffirmed the country&rsquo;s commitment to opposing terrorism globally. <h1 style="line-height: 2;">Australian PM proposes &#39;tougher gun laws&#39;</h1>Australia&#39;s prime minister proposed &quot;tougher gun laws&quot; on Monday a day after gunmen killed 15 people in a mass shooting targeting a Jewish festival at a Sydney beach. &quot;The government is prepared to take whatever action is necessary. Included in that is the need for tougher gun laws,&quot; Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said after police confirmed one of the assailants was licensed to hold six firearms. Report about IS links&nbsp;Australia&rsquo;s intelligence service investigated one of the alleged gunmen in the Bondi Beach shooting for links to the Islamic State group six years ago, the national broadcaster said Monday, according to AFP. A 50-year-old father and his 24-year-old son are accused of opening fire Sunday on a Hanukkah festival at the famed Sydney beach, killing 15 people and wounding more than 40 others. Australian media named the gunmen as Sajid Akram, who was killed in a shootout with police, and his son Naveed Akram, who was in hospital in a critical condition under police guard. The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) looked into the son in 2019, according to public broadcaster ABC, which cited an unnamed senior official in the joint counter-terrorism operation investigating the Bondi Beach attack. It said Naveed Akram was believed to be closely connected to an Islamic State member who was arrested in July 2019 and convicted of preparing a terrorist act in Australia. Allegiance to Islamic State&nbsp;The broadcaster said counter-terrorism detectives believed the two Bondi Beach gunmen had pledged allegiance to Islamic State. Senior officials reportedly told that the ABC two IS flags were found in the gunmen&#39;s car at the beach. ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess told reporters on Sunday that one of the gunmen was &ldquo;known to us but not in an immediate threat perspective&rdquo;. &ldquo;So, obviously we&nbsp;need to look into what happened&nbsp;here,&rdquo; he added. New South Wales police said they could not confirm the ABC report. ASIO said it &ldquo;does not comment on individuals or ongoing investigations&rdquo;.

Foreign Affairs

Following deadly attack that killed 16 in Sydney, Pakistani-Australian Naveed Akram says he is falsely linked to the shooter online; condemns misinformation and urges people to stop spreading it.

Bondi shooting sparks false blame campaign against Pakistan

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 <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/taliban-government-instituted-systematic-institutionalized-campaign-to-erase-afghan-women-un-experts" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">restrictions</a> 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 <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/taliban-detains-woman-journalist-in-northern-afghanistan" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">media</a> 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.

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.

Articles tagged with "afghanistan"