Afghanistan reports over 400 dead in alleged Pakistani air strike, while Islamabad rejects claims and stresses military targets; UN and regional powers urge calm amid escalating tensions

Washington calls for evaluation of international assistance as millions face hunger and Afghan women remain barred from work, highlighting the humanitarian crisis under Taliban governance

Aid cuts, harsh winter conditions and a growing border conflict with Pakistan are worsening Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis, with millions of children needing treatment for acute malnutrition and more than 100,000 people displaced

UNAMA reports 104 more wounded as fighting displaces thousands and disrupts humanitarian aid, with both sides claiming military gains amid escalating cross-border tensions

Overnight air and ground assaults hit multiple Afghan cities, escalating tensions into what Pakistan’s defence minister calls “open war” along the disputed border

In recent years, the consequences of Taliban decrees have become starkly visible: girls are barred from secondary education, and many women are forced to remain at home, stripped of basic freedoms.

The distinctive customs of the Kalash, an isolated ethnic group in Pakistan’s mountains — the remarkable status of women, their ties with Greece, and the threats to their cultural heritage

Deadly weekend clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces have escalated tensions, with U.S. President Donald Trump expressing interest in mediating a resolution

Peter and Barbara Reynolds, aged 76 and 80, were released in Afghanistan after months in Taliban custody following Qatari mediation. The couple, long-time residents of the country, said they were treated well and are eager to reunite with their family

More than 800 people have died and 2,800 were injured after a powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, flattening entire villages and leaving rescuers racing to find survivors

Russia’s recognition is expected to draw close scrutiny from Western governments, particularly the United States, which has maintained a firm stance against legitimizing the Taliban leadership

Kimia and others fear returning to Afghanistan, where Taliban rule severely restricts women’s freedoms and activists face threats