Filippo Grandi, the head of the United Nations Refugee Agency has said while the humanitarian response in Afghanistan is extremely urgent, engagement between the UN and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) on the humanitarian aid front “has been relatively positive”.
In an interview with the Washington Post, Grandi said: “The humanitarian response in Afghanistan is extremely urgent because winter has set in. It’s snowing very heavily in vast parts of Afghanistan, and the needs are growing exponentially.”
Grandi pointed out that while 3.5 million people are displaced within Afghanistan, most were displaced prior to the IEA coming into power.
“They actually were already displaced when the Taliban (IEA) took over in August. They were displaced by years of conflict between the previous government and the Taliban. And it’s–the question is that after the 15th of August, the situation has deteriorated further, in so many different ways–more than half of the population on the brink of famine, a very big percentage, I would say 80 percent of the health system paralyzed and unable to work, huge water problem, compounded by an endemic drought that climate change is making even worse. Seventy percent of the teachers are not being paid,” he said.
He said he and his UN colleagues have been visiting Kabul quite regularly since the takeover of the IEA “and I think this engagement is important. At the moment, it is, you know, very much on the humanitarian side. And on that front, I have to say engagement has been relatively positive, constructive.
“In fact, humanitarian organizations, UN, NGOs, Red Cross, and others, have more access to more areas of Afghanistan now than they have had for years, because that conflict that I spoke about that displaced so many people is actually–isn’t happening right now, has ended with the takeover of the Taliban (IEA). That has opened up many areas that were previously very insecure,” he said.
“It’s interesting. There is a figure that is very seldom quoted. We estimate that 170,000 displaced people, especially among the most recently displaced have actually returned to their homes since August. Now this may sound counter intuitive, but it is because many areas are more secure now than they have been in a long time. And this, we need to take advantage of this,” he said.
He also said the IEA is facilitating the humanitarian work being done by the UN and its partners and aid agencies, adding that “the pattern usually has been one of cooperation”.
“But of course, the challenges remain very big.” He said there were issues that the UN did not agree with but noted that “there is a space for dialogue”.
A delegation of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has left for Urumqi, China, to hold talks with Pakistani officials, sources told Ariana News on Wednesday.
Pakistan and Afghanistan’s worst fighting in years erupted last month, claiming heavy human losses on both sides.
Islamabad accuses the Islamic Emirate of harbouring and supporting militants who carry out attacks inside Pakistan. Kabul denies it, saying the militancy is Pakistan’s domestic problem.
The US Department of Homeland Security announced Tuesday it is easing asylum restrictions for vetted migrants from low-risk countries, while maintaining bans on “high-risk” nations, including Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, and Somalia.
The move comes after last November’s attack near Washington’s Farragut Square, in which an Afghan asylee killed one National Guardsman and injured another, prompting stricter asylum screening under President Donald Trump.
A DHS spokesperson said thorough vetting remains unchanged for all applicants, with resources now focusing on higher-risk cases.
Participants at a jirga held on Tuesday in Peshawar urged the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan to halt ongoing Durand Line clashes and resolve their disputes through dialogue.
The “Pakistan-Afghanistan Peace Jirga,” organised by Aspire Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the National Reform Movement, brought together political and religious leaders, business representatives, and members of the media to address rising tensions between the two neighbours, Dawn newspaper reported.
Speakers stressed that both countries should prioritise diplomatic channels, noting their shared religious, cultural, and social bonds. They described bilateral ties as deep-rooted and warned that continued conflict would have serious consequences for people on both sides of the border.
The jirga called for an immediate ceasefire and strict enforcement to ease tensions. In a joint declaration, participants urged both countries to ensure their territories are not used against one another, in line with international principles, and to enforce this commitment with full state authority.
They emphasised that all disputes should be resolved through negotiation and diplomacy, arguing that war is not a solution and that lasting peace depends on mutual respect and understanding.
The gathering also called for sustained engagement through a permanent platform to improve communication, build trust, and better understand each other’s challenges. It warned policymakers against allowing narrow interests to undermine broader national priorities, public safety, and the long-standing historical and cultural ties between the two nations.
“Peace is the greatest need for both Pakistan and Afghanistan,” the declaration stated.
Participants said the jirga platform would be expanded to include wider political, religious, and social leadership at the national level, with efforts focused on promoting peace through active public diplomacy.
Earlier, organisers said the initiative aimed to provide a forum for collective discussion and to develop practical recommendations for reducing tensions and advancing peace between the two countries.
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