A mother from Fayzabad district in Jawzjan province gave birth to quintuplets on Sunday at a private hospital in Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital of Balkh province. Out of the five newborns, four are reported to be in good health, while one infant was tragically lost before delivery.

The father, Saleh Mohammad, said his wife had been under medical care in Mazar-e-Sharif for the past week. He described her condition as stable and satisfactory. Grateful for the support she has received, he appealed for government assistance in the days ahead to help care for the newborns.

This extraordinary birth has drawn widespread attention, not only in Jawzjan but across northern Afghanistan, highlighting both the fragility and miracle of multiple births in the region.

Previous rare multiple-births in northern Afghanistan

This is not the first time such exceptional multiple births have made headlines in the area. A woman in Jawzjan province gave birth to six babies — four girls and two boys — at a private hospital in October last year.

Sadly, all six newborns died within hours due to premature birth and complications.

In August 2015, a 35-year-old woman named Rezagul delivered five baby boys in Samangan province. Though they were underweight, doctors reported that both mother and infants were stable following the birth.

These past events underscore how rare and risky such pregnancies remain in Afghanistan, particularly given the limited healthcare infrastructure and high maternal and infant mortality rates in some regions.

A delegation from Tajikistan, led by Mirzazada Abdul Wahid, First Deputy of Tajikistan’s Border Forces Committee, met in Kabul with Noorullah Noori, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed border security, strengthening bilateral relations, addressing existing border challenges, and the process of demarcating the shared boundary, according to a statement released by the ministry.

Noori said he was pleased that Afghanistan and Tajikistan are taking positive steps to expand their cooperation. He added that the Islamic Emirate seeks to build friendly economic and political relations with all countries.

He noted that the Islamic Emirate is seriously combating drug trafficking and human smuggling, and that the leadership has issued specific decrees aimed at preventing these crimes.

Noori emphasized that completing the border demarcation process would play an important role in ensuring stability and security for both Afghanistan and Tajikistan.

For his part, Mirzazada Abdul Wahid highlighted the linguistic and religious ties between the two nations, stating that the people of both countries desire peace and security. He said Tajikistan is committed to expanding economic cooperation with Afghanistan and expressed hope that border issues will be resolved through mutual understanding and continued collaboration.

Pakistan has voiced strong support for Iran’s efforts to mediate between Islamabad and Kabul, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs saying it welcomes any constructive role Tehran can play in easing tensions between the two neighbors.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said Pakistan considers Iran a “brotherly and friendly country” and believes dialogue and diplomacy remain the best path to resolving current challenges. He added that Pakistan feels “confident” in its position regarding terrorism, which it claims originates from Afghan territory.

“Countries that are on weaker legal or political footing usually avoid mediation,” Andrabi said. “Pakistan has a very strong case, so we have no concerns about Iran’s involvement.”

Islamabad has long urged the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) in Kabul to rein in attacks allegedly carried out by militants based inside Afghanistan. The IEA has repeatedly rejected the accusations, insisting that no armed group is allowed to use Afghan soil against any country.

Three rounds of talks between Afghan and Pakistani delegations — held in Turkey and Qatar after October clashes along the disputed Durand Line — ended without agreement. Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence recently said negotiations have now entered an “indefinite phase,” with no progress made due to fundamental differences on security issues.

Amid the stalemate, multiple regional actors, including Iran, Russia, Turkey, and Qatar, are attempting to revive dialogue. Iran has expressed readiness to facilitate de-escalation, while Turkey is expected to send a high-level delegation to Islamabad for further consultations in the coming days.

Following the collapse of talks, the Islamic Emirate suspended trade ties with Pakistan, further straining economic interactions at key crossings. Meanwhile, Pakistan continues to experience rising security incidents and military casualties that it attributes to groups based in Afghanistan.

Despite the heightened tensions, regional diplomatic efforts remain ongoing, with hopes that renewed engagement can prevent further escalation and ultimately restore stability between the two countries.