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Killing of Ariana News anchor sparks widespread outcry
The High Council for National Reconciliation said on Saturday they were saddened to learn that Mina Khairi, a young and talented host on Ariana News, was killed in an explosion on Thursday night in Kabul.
Khairi’s mother was also killed in the explosion.
The HCNR said “a number of our defenseless compatriots were killed and some were injured.
“The criminal terrorists show the height of their terror and crime by targeting defenseless and civilian people.
“At a time when all the people of Afghanistan are hoping for peace and waiting for the peace talks to end and for the war and killing in the country to end, the creation of such a crime and terror is against the national and popular spirit,” the HCNR said.
The HCNR condemned the incident, and expressed its condolences to the families of the victims, especially the family of Mina Khairi, their colleagues at Ariana News and the media, and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Distraught relatives, friends and colleagues of Khairi meanwhile paid their last respects to her on Saturday.
The funeral was held in Kabul for both mother and daughter.
The popular news anchor was killed in Pul-e-Sokhta in Kabul’s western area. She had been with Ariana News since 2017.
Other reactions:
UK and the US embassies also reacted to her death.
“This cowardly attack against Mina Khairi represents an attack on all Afghan society and its vital #mediafreedom, just one month after #WorldPressFreedomDay. We condemn her murder and once again call for the campaign of violence against journalists & media professionals to end,” UK embassy said in a tweet.
Chargé d’Affaires Ross Wilson said: “Another Afghan journalist killed in Kabul, one of four female media workers killed in Afghanistan this year alone. My sincere condolences to Mina Khairi’s family, friends, and colleagues during this troubling time. I urge quick action to #ProtectJournalists nationwide.”
The Afghan Journalists Safety Committee (AJSC ) also decried the attack and called for an investigation.
“AJSC is deeply saddened to hear Mina Khairi, TV presenter at Ariana News and her mother are among the victims of yesterday’s blast in district 6 of Kabul city. We strongly condemn the attack & call on the government to seriously investigate the case,” AJSC said.
Pakistan ambassador Mansoor Ahmad Khan also condemned the attack.
“Deeply saddened on the deaths of Mina Khairi Ariana TV presenter and her mother in the blasts in Kabul and all those who lost lives in these blasts. Condemn terrorism in all forms and manifestations,” Khan tweeted.
Reporters without Borders (RSF) also condemned Khairi’s killing and called on the ICC’s prosecutor to investigate the killings of #journalists in #Afghanistan.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says more than 25,000 anti-drug operations have been conducted in the country in 2026, resulting in the destruction of 26,500 hectares of poppy and cannabis crops and the arrest of 10,065 suspects.
The figures were announced at a meeting in Kabul titled “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s Fight Against Drugs: Facts and Achievements,” hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and attended by Islamic Emirate officials, foreign diplomats and representatives of international organizations.
Abdul Rahman Munir, deputy minister for counter-narcotics at the Ministry of Interior, said the operations also led to the discovery and closure of 301 drug-processing laboratories, two chemical pill factories and 15 alcohol-producing factories.
Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said the enforcement of the decree banning drug cultivation, production, processing, trafficking and use reflected the authorities’ position on combating narcotics.
Muttaqi also raised concerns over widespread drug cultivation in Afghanistan’s neighboring countries and the trafficking of narcotics from those areas. He said international cooperation was necessary for the anti-drug campaign to achieve its objectives.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Naeem, the Foreign Ministry’s deputy minister for finance and administration, stressed the need to provide alternative livelihoods for farmers, support health centers, strengthen technical assistance and improve regional coordination to sustain progress in counter-narcotics efforts.
The meeting concluded with calls for continued efforts to combat drugs, expand alternative livelihood opportunities for farmers and strengthen regional and international cooperation.
Afghanistan’s Minister of Economy, Din Mohammad Hanif, met on Tuesday with Turhan Saleh, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Afghanistan, to discuss expanding development cooperation, supporting the private sector and implementing development projects.
According to the Ministry of Economy, Hanif said sanctions, the freezing of Afghanistan’s foreign exchange reserves, the United Nations’ non-recognition of the Islamic Emirate and the suspension of international development assistance had affected the country’s economic development.
He also highlighted economic growth, increased domestic production, efforts to combat drug cultivation and water resource management. Hanif identified climate change and the large-scale return of migrants as additional factors putting pressure on the country’s economy and society.
The minister said providing shelter and building roads, schools, clinics and water supply networks for returnees were among the government’s priorities. He added that infrastructure and production projects could help create jobs, increase household incomes, reduce poverty and support sustainable economic growth.
Meanwhile, Saleh welcomed Afghanistan’s economic achievements over the past five years and reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment to continuing development cooperation with the country.
He also expressed the organization’s readiness to support efforts to combat drug cultivation, construct check dams, implement development projects, provide training programmes and support small businesses and the private sector.
The meeting concluded with both sides emphasizing the need for stronger coordination and continued cooperation to expand economic opportunities, create jobs and promote sustainable development in Afghanistan.
Latest News
Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islami leader says regional alliance could help resolve Afghanistan issue
Siraj ul Haq, leader of Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islami party, has called for closer cooperation among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Iran, saying an alliance among the four countries could help address the Afghanistan issue and promote peace and stability across the region.
In a post on X, Haq said the proposed alliance could also help address challenges facing the Muslim world, including issues related to Iran, Kashmir and Gaza, and support efforts towards the liberation of Al-Quds (Jerusalem).
He urged Muslim countries to move beyond verbal statements and demonstrate practical unity by taking concrete steps to support Palestinians, protect oppressed Muslims and resolve shared challenges.
Haq’s remarks come after senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Türkiye and Pakistan met in Tehran on Monday.
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