Latest News
UN Appoints Sima Samar to Advisory Board on Mediation
UN secretary general Antonio Guterres has appointed Sima Samar – Chairperson of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission – to his High-Level Advisory Board on Mediation.
Samar has been appointed along with Juan Gabriel Valdés to the secretary general’s High-Level Advisory Board on Mediation.
“Ms. Samar and Mr. Valdés succeed Ms. Michelle Bachelet and Mr. José Manuel Ramos-Horta, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for their valued expertise during their membership of the Board,” UN said in a statement.
The High-Level Advisory Board was established on 13 September 2017 to provide the Secretary-General with advice on mediation initiatives and back specific mediation efforts around the world.
The Board is composed of 18 current and former global leaders, senior officials and renowned experts who bring together an unparalleled range of experience, skills, knowledge, and contacts.
The Board is expected to allow the United Nations to work more effectively with the Member States, regional organizations, non-governmental groups and others involved in the area of mediation around the world.
Samar was, from 2005 to 2009, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Sudan. She has overseen the expansion of human rights education, the implementation of a women’s rights program, and the monitoring and investigation of human rights abuses across Afghanistan.
Valdés is a former Foreign Minister of Chile, the former Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, and most recently, Ambassador to the United States.
He was the first Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and head of MINUSTAH in Haiti and recently led a strategic assessment of MINUSCA, the UN peacekeeping operation in the Central African Republic.
Latest News
Afghan citizens reported among casualties in US, Israeli attacks, Iran says
As of now, authorities of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan have not issued an official response to the claims.
Iran’s Embassy in Kabul, citing Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, has stated that a number of Afghan citizens were killed or injured during what Tehran described as a 35-day military campaign carried out by the United States and Israel.
According to the statement, the Afghan nationals were living in Iran at the time of the attacks. Baghaei referred to them as “honored guests” of the country, adding that some lost their lives while others sustained injuries during the reported strikes.
He did not provide specific figures regarding the number of Afghan casualties or further details about the incidents.
As of now, authorities of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan have not issued an official response to the claims.
Latest News
Save the Children: Nearly one Afghan child killed or injured daily by explosive remnants
Despite the efforts of aid organizations and demining groups, the scale of the contamination remains overwhelming.
Save the Children has issued a stark warning, revealing that nearly one Afghan child is killed or injured every day by explosive remnants of war (ERW). In its latest report, the global humanitarian organization emphasized the ongoing and deadly impact of landmines and unexploded ordnance scattered across the country, a legacy of decades of conflict.
From January 2025 to January 2026, 338 Afghan children were killed, injured, or permanently disabled by explosive remnants. Shockingly, children represented nearly 70 percent of all casualties from such explosions during this period. Save the Children’s report underscores that Afghanistan continues to have the highest number of child casualties due to explosive remnants worldwide.
The report highlights that vast swathes of Afghanistan remain contaminated with hazardous materials, with more than 2.7 million people – including many children – living within one kilometer of these dangerous zones. These hazardous areas, often located in fields, pastures, and farmlands, remain uncleared despite ongoing demining efforts. Afghanistan is now considered one of the most contaminated countries globally, with nearly 5,000 hazardous sites still awaiting clearance.
The danger is particularly acute for rural and nomadic communities, including the Kuchi, who traverse long distances in search of water and grazing lands. These communities face severe challenges in accessing healthcare, education, and protection services, further compounding the risks posed by unexploded devices.
To address the growing threat, Save the Children has launched mobile awareness programs aimed at teaching children, particularly in remote and underserved regions, how to identify and avoid explosive hazards. These programs are crucial in helping to reduce the number of child casualties, as children are often unaware of the dangers in their environment.
Despite the efforts of aid organizations and demining groups, the scale of the contamination remains overwhelming. Funding shortages continue to hamper the progress of clearance operations, leaving families and children exposed to the deadly remnants of past conflicts.
“Explosive remnants of war are not just a legacy of Afghanistan’s past; they are an ongoing humanitarian emergency that continues to claim innocent lives,” said Save the Children. “The international community must step up its support to ensure the safety of Afghan children and accelerate efforts to clear these life-threatening hazards.”
As the country struggles to recover from years of conflict, the need for comprehensive and sustained demining operations, alongside better access to education and healthcare for at-risk communities, has never been more urgent.
Latest News
Eight dead after 5.8-magnitude earthquake hits Afghanistan
The family members who perished included a father, mother, four daughters, and two sons. In addition to the deaths, a child was reported injured in the incident.
A powerful 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan on Friday, killing at least eight people and injuring a child when a house collapsed in Kabul. According to local officials, the victims were all members of the same family.
Hafiz Basharat, spokesperson for the Kabul Governor, confirmed that the fatalities occurred in the Bagrami district of Kabul. The family members who perished included a father, mother, four daughters, and two sons. In addition to the deaths, a child was reported injured in the incident.
The earthquake, which originated in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan, struck at a depth of approximately 177 kilometers, according to the German Research Centre for Geosciences. Tremors were felt across a wide area, including Kabul, Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, and India’s capital New Delhi.
Local authorities have yet to release additional details regarding the extent of the damage or any further casualties caused by the earthquake.
As rescue operations continue, Afghan authorities are assessing the full impact of the earthquake, which has left many concerned about the potential for more aftershocks in the region.
-
Latest News5 days agoTAPI gas pipeline advances 25 km in Afghanistan
-
Business5 days agoAfghanistan opens doors to agribusiness investments amid rising opportunities
-
Latest News3 days agoBaradar approves 17 projects worth over one billion AFN
-
Business4 days agoRussia backs Uzbekistan–Afghanistan trade hub, praises regional economic cooperation
-
Sport4 days agoATN secures broadcast rights for inaugural Afghanistan Wrestling Premier League
-
Sport3 days agoATN to broadcast second season of Ariana Snooker Championship
-
Sport4 days agoRajasthan Royals outclass Chennai Super Kings as IPL action continues
-
Regional4 days agoGas pipeline blown up in southern Pakistan, says official

