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German cabinet agrees to extend Afghanistan mission by 10 months
The German government on Wednesday agreed to extend its military mandate in Afghanistan by at least another 10 months.
Germany’s Deutsche Welle reported Thursday that the new draft mandate still needs the approval of the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament.
The current mandate is set to expire at the end of March.
Under the draft agreed by Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Cabinet, German troops would be able to stay in the country until January 31, 2022, Deutsche Welle reported. .
Government spokesperson Steffen Seibert said the new date “takes account appropriately of the complex situation in Afghanistan and also makes possible the flexibility necessary to be able to react if the volatile security and threat situation there changes.”
With over 1,100 troops, Germany has the second-largest contingent after the United States in the NATO’s Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan.
Seibert said that the maximum limit of 1,300 German troops will remain unchanged in the new mandate.
This comes after NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said last week that no final decision had been made on the future of foreign troops in Afghanistan – despite the May 1 troop withdrawal deadline.
Stoltenberg acknowledged that the military alliance is facing “many dilemmas” over its continued engagement in the country.
US President Joe Biden is reviewing Donald Trump’s 2020 deal with the Taliban, which sets May 1 as the deadline for a total US troop withdrawal.
Last week, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the decision to withdraw troops should not be rushed, rather than being “slavishly” bound to the May deadline. Instead, the drawback of troops should be linked to slow-paced peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, he has said.
An eight-member delegation from Afghanistan, led by Haseebullah Ahmadi, chief of staff deputy interior minister for counter-narcotics, has departed for Jakarta, Indonesia.
The delegation includes officials from the Interior Ministry’s counter-narcotics deputyship as well as representatives from the Ministry of Public Health.
The visit comes at the official invitation of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Kabul and is supported financially by Japan.
During their stay, the delegation will participate in a meeting focused on enhancing international cooperation in combating narcotics and improving treatment programs for individuals struggling with addiction.
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UNAMA: 70 civilians killed in Pakistani attacks on Afghanistan in last three months of 2025
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has reported that at least 70 civilians were killed and 478 others injured as a result of attacks carried out by the Pakistani military in Afghanistan.
This is the highest number recorded by UNAMA since it began systematically documenting such incidents in 2011.
UNAMA stated that most of the casualties occurred between 10 and 17 October, during a period of sharply heightened tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
On 11 and 12 October, residential areas in the provinces of Paktya, Kunar, and Helmand came under attack from the Pakistani side.
The deadliest day was 15 October, when clashes and airstrikes in Spin Boldak district of Kandahar, explosions in Kabul, and incidents in Khost and Paktika resulted in 35 deaths and 422 injuries.
Although a ceasefire was announced on the evening of 15 October, UNAMA documented further incidents in the following days, including an attack on 17 October in Paktika’s Urgun district that claimed the lives of 11 civilians.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic announced that on 6 February 2026, the 7th meeting of the Subcommittee on the Development of Cooperation between the Kyrgyz Republic and the European Union was held in Bishkek.
The Kyrgyz delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Meder Abakirov, while the European Union delegation was headed by Charlotte Adrien, Head of the Central Asia and Afghanistan Division at the Directorate-General for International Partnerships of the European Commission.
With participation from representatives of various Kyrgyz ministries and agencies, the meeting focused on infrastructure and investment priorities, as well as progress in implementing key EU–Kyrgyz cooperation instruments.
Deputy Minister Abakirov, alongside government representatives, briefed the EU delegation on achievements in ongoing programs and projects, presented new proposals, and outlined future prospects for regional cooperation with the European Union.
Charlotte Adrien highlighted positive developments under the Global Gateway initiative, particularly the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Kyrgyz Republic and the European Investment Bank in the energy sector.
Both sides exchanged views on key issues of bilateral and regional cooperation and identified priority areas to further strengthen and improve the effectiveness of joint efforts in areas of mutual interest.
Afghan counter-narcotics delegation travels to Indonesia
UNAMA: 70 civilians killed in Pakistani attacks on Afghanistan in last three months of 2025
Kyrgyzstan, European Union discuss infrastructure and investment priorities
Eight killed in explosion in northern China, state media says
Tahawol: Kabul’s response to Pakistan’s new accusation discussed
ICG report says Pakistan most impacted by IEA’s return in Afghanistan
Afghanistan–China joint market opens in Kabul
Pakistan approves re-export of stranded Afghan transit trade cargo
ATN secures broadcast rights to Carabao Cup semis across Afghanistan
Pakistan army orders evacuation of Tirah Valley, fears of mass displacement grow
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