Latest News
Situation Rapidly Deteriorating in Kunduz as Civilians Forced to Abandon Kunduz
Fighting in the northern city of Kunduz has led to a “rapidly deteriorating” humanitarian situation, officials said on Thursday, leaving thousands of people with limited access to food, water, or medical care.
Street-to-street gun battles have continued for four days after Taliban militants slipped past the city’s defenses.
Government troops, backed by U.S. special forces and air strikes, have repeatedly declared that they are in control of the city, but residents report that heavy fighting has forced many people to flee.
The fighting has forced as many as 10,000 people from their homes in Kunduz, the United Nations reported, with those who remain facing serious water, food and electricity shortages, as well as threats from the fighting.
“Many families were unable to bring their possessions with them and are in a precarious position,” Dominic Parker, head of the U.N.’s humanitarian coordination office, said in a statement. “We have had reports that some families have been forced to sleep out in the open and many have few food supplies.”
Among those fleeing Kunduz are about two-thirds of the staff at the city’s main public hospital, which was struck by several rockets and small arms fire, said Marzia Yaftali Salaam, a doctor.
The 200-bed public hospital is the main provider of medical care in Kunduz after a more advanced trauma center run by Medecins Sans Frontieres was destroyed by an American air strike last year.
In the past three days, the hospital has been inundated by at least 210 patients, many of them civilians, including women and children, wounded in the fighting, Salaam said.
“Many of the wounded had to be carried to clinics in surrounding districts and private clinics in the city,” she said. “If the situation remains the same, we may be forced to halt our services.”
During a lull in the fighting on Wednesday, nearly 50 casualties were rushed to the hospital in the span of a few hours, said Hameed Alam, head of the public health department in Kunduz.
The U.S. military command in Kabul said Afghan forces are “defeating Taliban attempts to take Kunduz,” with reinforcements on the way and commandos continuing to clear “isolated pockets” of Taliban fighters.
The Taliban, who ruled Afghanistan with an iron fist from 1996 to 2001, are seeking to topple the Western-backed government in Kabul and reimpose Islamic rule.
“There is fighting in every street and the situation is critical,” said Ismail Kawasi, a spokesman for the Public Health Ministry in Kabul.
Additional medical supplies and personnel were positioned in neighboring provinces, but they must wait for the fighting to subside before they can be flown to Kunduz, he said.
Russia’s special envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov held talks with India’s external affairs minister JP Singh to discuss the situation in the country.
Kabulov met with Singh during a visit to India.
In a post on X, India’s external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “India and Russia held bilateral consultations on Afghanistan today in New Delhi.
“Amb. Zamir Kabulov, Special Presidential Envoy for Afghanistan, and JP Singh, Joint Secretary (PAI) discussed the current situation in Afghanistan and emphasized on the need to provide development assistance for the welfare of the Afghan people,” he said.
An official at the Russian embassy said Kabulov held talks with Singh under the framework of India-Russia foreign ministerial consultations on Afghanistan.
New Delhi has been pitching for providing unimpeded humanitarian aid to Afghanistan to address the humanitarian crisis in the country.
In June 2022, India re-established its diplomatic presence in Kabul by deploying a technical team in its embassy in the Afghan capital.
The Islamic Emirate says that due to the diplomatic efforts of the IEA, a good spirit of cooperation has been formed in the region towards Afghanistan, and the countries have understood that stable security and stability in Afghanistan is in the interest of all countries.
Zhao Xing, the Chinese Ambassador to Kabul, has invited political deputy prime minister Mawlavi Abdul Kabir to participate in the upcoming Trans-Himalayan Forum meeting.
The Chinese envoy said at a meeting Wednesday with Kabir that Beijing supports the Islamic Emirate in terms of attending international meetings, especially UN Security Council meetings.
Zhao also said China was committed to cooperating with the Islamic Emirate.
Kabir in turn expressed his gratitude for China’s support and cooperation across numerous sectors and said that as a responsible government, the Islamic Emirate is bound by commitments made and tries to play an active role in regional issues and the stability and development of the region.
Kabir also acknowledged China’s support of the Islamic Emirate and said Beijing’s cooperation can bring about positive changes and economic growth in the country.
Torkham commissioner Mullah Abdul Jabbar Hikmat said Thursday the crossing will be closed for the next three days in order for Pakistan border authorities to move into new premises.
He said the crossing has been closed to travelers and to people seeking medical help in Pakistan.
Hikmat appealed to the public not to make their way to the crossing over the next three days.
However, trucks carrying goods will still be able to cross as per usual, in both directions.
Pakistani media has also reported that the crossing will be closed from May 17 to May 19 in order to enable border officials to move into new premises.
Russia’s special envoy for Afghanistan visits India
Azizi meets with head of Tatarstan on sidelines of Kazan Forum
China invites IEA deputy PM to Trans-Himalayan Forum
Torkham crossing closes temporarily to travelers
Sorkh Poshan Khafi and Sarsabz Yashlar win in ACL matches
Commerce ministry inks 10 MoUs to boost development of small and medium-sized businesses
Rashid Khan threatens BBL pullout after Australia postpones Afghanistan T20I series
Afghanistan announce T20 World Cup 2024 squad
Rashid Khan named AWCC’s brand ambassador
Balkh health officials report sharp increase in number of cancer patients
Tahawol: China’s ambassador meeting with deputy PM discussed
Saar: USIP’s report on Daesh threats discussed
Tahawol: Afghanistan losing UN voting rights discussed
Tahawol: Uzbek delegation’s visit to Kabul discussed
Saar: UNAMA head’s meeting with Iranian officials discussed
-
Business4 days agoAfghanistan, Pakistan agree on new travel mechanism for truckers
-
Sport4 days agoKolkata down Mumbai to confirm IPL play-off berth
-
Business3 days agoAfghanistan can become important industrial center in region: Hanafi
-
Latest News4 days agoEx-MP Allah Gul Mujahid arrested in connection with a murder
-
Latest News4 days agoBaghlan floods leave 315 dead and over 15,00 injured so far
-
Latest News4 days agoSeveral countries express solidarity with Afghanistan after flash floods kill hundreds
-
Latest News4 days agoInvesting in Afghanistan mines can be profitable for Iranian industry: Qiafeh
-
World4 days agoCanadian police arrest fourth man for murder of Sikh leader Nijjar