Afghanistan | DD News

November 30, 2025 3:29 PM

US State Department stops processing visas for Afghan allies

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has ordered its diplomats worldwide to stop processing visas for Afghan nationals, according to a State Department cable seen by Reuters, effectively suspending the special immigration program for Afghans who helped the United States during its 20-year-long occupation of their home country. The cable, sent to all U.S. diplomatic posts on Friday, says that effective immediately, consular officers are instructed to reject any immigrant or non-immigra...

November 24, 2025 9:05 PM

India, Afghanistan hold talks to deepen cooperation in textile sector

A high-level Afghan delegation met officials of the Ministry of Textiles in New Delhi on Monday to explore possibilities for expanding bilateral cooperation in the textile sector. The delegation, led by Shafiullah Azam, Director General of Economic Relations, held discussions with A. Bipin Menon, Trade Advisor to the Government of India. The talks focused on strengthening Afghanistan’s textile ecosystem, generating employment, and improving training facilities for farmers entering the cotton ...

November 14, 2025 10:00 AM

UN agency says 13.7 million people face severe hunger due to global aid cuts

Almost 14 million people in Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan risk severe hunger due to cuts in global humanitarian aid, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Wednesday. The WFP's biggest donor, the United States, has slashed its foreign aid under President Donald Trump, and other major nations have also made or announced cuts in development and humanitarian assistance. "WFP's funding has never been more challenged. The agency ex...

November 3, 2025 10:55 AM

Powerful 6.3 quake kills at least 10 in Afghanistan, scores injured

A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck near the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e Sharif early on Monday, killing at least 10 people and injuring about 260, authorities said, with the death toll likely to rise. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake hit at a depth of 28 km (17.4 miles) near Mazar-e Sharif, which has a population of about 523,000. "A total of 150 people injured and seven martyred have been reported and transferred to health centres as of this morning," said Samim Joyanda, the spoke...

October 30, 2025 1:32 PM

Afghanistan and Pakistan agree to restart peace talks in Istanbul

Afghanistan and Pakistan will restart peace talks in Istanbul, Reuters reported on Thursday citing three sources familiar with the matter. Two of the sources said the nations had agreed to recommence talks at the request of host nation Turkey. Negotiation teams from both countries are currently in Istanbul, two of the sources said. The Afghan Taliban and Pakistan's military and foreign office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Dozens were killed this month along the border b...

October 28, 2025 1:18 PM

No resolution as Afghanistan, Pakistan end peace talks in Istanbul

Talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan in Istanbul to broker a long-term truce have ended without a resolution, Reuters reported on Tuesday citing two sources familiar with matter. The talks aimed to reach lasting peace between the South Asian neighbours after dozens were killed along their border in the worst such violence this month since the Taliban took power in Kabul in 2021. Both agreed to a ceasefire brokered in Doha on October 19, but could not find common ground in a second round of t...

October 13, 2025 3:57 PM

Pakistani troops on high alert on Afghan border after fighting, trade halts

Pakistani troops were on high alert on the country's border with Afghanistan on Monday after fierce weekend fighting between the two sides left dozens dead and drew the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump, who said he could help end the conflict. Border trade between the neighbours came to a halt as Pakistan closed crossings along the 2,600-km (1,600-mile) frontier, stranding scores of loaded goods vehicles on either side, a Pakistani industry representative said. Dozens o...

October 8, 2025 5:11 PM

Afghanistan’s neighbors signal opposition to US retaking Bagram base

Afghanistan's regional neighbors, including American allies, appeared to unite against U.S. President Donald Trump's stated aim of taking over the Bagram military base near Kabul, according to a statement released after they met in Moscow. The "Moscow Format" meeting on Afghanistan - the seventh such event hosted by Russia but attended for the first time by the Taliban administration's foreign minister - included U.S. partners India and Pakistan. The 10 nations also included Russia, Chin...

October 6, 2025 7:19 PM

UN to investigate suspected abuses in Afghanistan

The United Nations Human Rights Council is to investigate abuses in Afghanistan, which could eventually enable criminal investigations into suspected violations by both the Taliban and foreign troops, including those from the United States. The United States, which had troops in Afghanistan until 2021 within a NATO coalition, has previously opposed scrutiny of its actions, for example, by the International Criminal Court, but backed research into suspected Taliban violations. President Donald ...

September 30, 2025 5:14 PM

Afghanistan’s cellphone, internet services down, monitoring shows

Internet and mobile telephone services were down across Afghanistan on Tuesday, residents and monitoring services said, but the Taliban administration offered no immediate explanation. In the past, the Taliban have voiced concern about online pornography, and authorities cut fibre-optic links to some provinces in recent weeks, with officials citing morality concerns. Internet connectivity in Afghanistan was flatlining around the 1% mark, said NetBlocks, an international internet access...