This edition of the Afghanistan Khabar Pana provides a comprehensive overview of Afghanistan’s domestic and external developments amid a deepening humanitarian, economic, and political crisis. Domestically, the period was marked by a nationwide internet shutdown, steep fuel price hikes, and severe water shortages in Kabul, compounding public frustration under Taliban rule. Academic repression intensified, with Afghanistan ranking among the world’s lowest in academic freedom, as gender-based restrictions and ideological purges continued to cripple higher education. Natural disasters, including flash floods across multiple provinces, worsened the humanitarian burden, while teachers, students, and low-income families struggled with inflation and institutional neglect.
Externally, Afghanistan’s diplomatic engagement reflected cautious reintegration into regional and international affairs. Kabul deepened economic cooperation with Iran, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan, explored climate partnerships with Qatar, and sought expanded trade with China and India. India’s decision to upgrade its Kabul mission to a full-fledged embassy marked a significant shift, reviving development aid, connectivity, and education ties. Conversely, Afghanistan–Pakistan relations deteriorated sharply following cross-border clashes, refugee deportations, and visa denials, though limited dialogue and a temporary ceasefire prevented further escalation.
At the global level, renewed attention to human rights accountability emerged through the UN’s establishment of an Afghanistan accountability mechanism and Spain’s People’s Tribunal on Afghan Women—both seen as landmark efforts to confront gender apartheid and impunity under the Taliban. Meanwhile, international airlines’ return and restoration of heritage sites in Herat offered rare signs of resilience amid growing isolation. Overall, the reporting period underscores a nation oscillating between regional engagement and domestic repression, as governance fragility, socio-economic distress, and human rights violations continue to define Afghanistan’s post-2021 trajectory.
