Afghanistan U-19 Cricket Team Qualifies for 2026 World Cup
Afghanistan’s Under-19 cricket team has secured qualification for the 2026 ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup after finishing top of their group in the regional qualifiers.
Afghanistan’s Under-19 cricket team has secured qualification for the 2026 ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup after finishing top of their group in the regional qualifiers.
Afghanistan was set to face Nepal in a decisive match on Saturday; however, the fixture was cancelled due to persistent rainfall and unplayable ground conditions. As a result, Afghanistan progressed based on their superior points and net run rate.
The Afghan side had already dominated the group stage, claiming comprehensive victories over the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, and Oman in their previous three matches. They topped the table with six points and an impressive net run rate of +4.817. Nepal also finished with six points but had a lower net run rate of +3.576, placing them second.
The 2026 ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup is scheduled to take place in Namibia and Zimbabwe during the first two months of 2026.
The Taliban’s High Commission for Addressing Migrant Issues announced that 4320 Afghan migrants were deported from Pakistan on Friday, just one day before the arrival of Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Kabul for high-level talks with Taliban officials.
According to the commission, 3100 migrants entered Afghanistan via the Torkham border crossing, while 1220 crossed through Spin Boldak. On the same day, Iran also deported 494 Afghan nationals—comprising 122 families—via the Islam Qala crossing.
The commission stated that a total of 6351000 Afghanis in humanitarian aid was distributed to support the returning migrants. Additionally, 1606 of the deportees were relocated to various provinces, including Ghazni, Baghlan, Kunduz, Balkh, Jowzjan, Logar, Paktia, and Paktika.
The mass deportations come amid escalating tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan, primarily over security concerns and the treatment of Afghan migrants. The migrant issue is expected to be a key item on the agenda during discussions between the Taliban leadership and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
Dar arrived in Kabul early Saturday, leading a senior delegation that includes Mohammad Sadiq Khan, Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, along with other top officials. This marks his first official visit to Afghanistan since assuming the role of Foreign Minister.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Kabul early Saturday, leading a high-ranking delegation on his first official visit to Afghanistan since assuming office.
The visit, conducted at the invitation of the Taliban administration, marks a significant step in efforts to revitalise diplomatic ties between the two neighbouring countries.
Dar is accompanied by Mohammad Sadiq Khan, Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, along with several senior officials. During his one-day visit, Dar is scheduled to hold talks with top Taliban leaders, including Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdul Ghani Baradar, and Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
According to a statement released on Friday by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the discussions will address a broad spectrum of bilateral issues, with a focus on enhancing cooperation in areas such as security, trade, regional connectivity, and people-to-people relations.
This visit is the second by a Pakistani foreign minister since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. The first was by then foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in October 2021, followed by a visit from then-deputy foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar in November 2022.
Relations between Islamabad and the Taliban government have grown increasingly strained amid a surge in militant violence within Pakistan. Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Taliban of providing safe haven to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which it claims launches cross-border attacks from Afghan territory.
In the lead-up to Dar’s visit, Sadiq Khan travelled to Kabul on Wednesday, 16 April, where he met with Amir Khan Muttaqi and participated in the seventh round of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Coordination Committee meeting. The session was held behind closed doors.
Following the meeting, Sadiq Khan stated that both sides had agreed to activate bilateral and multilateral mechanisms to address ongoing challenges. He added that after a prolonged pause, high-level engagement between the two countries had resumed.
Citing diplomatic sources, The Express Tribune reported that the Taliban had taken initial steps to address Pakistan’s security concerns. For the first time, members of the Pakistani delegation felt that the Taliban leadership was treating the issue with greater seriousness.
The press office of the Taliban governor in Nimruz province has confirmed that the Islamic Republic of Iran handed over 199 Afghan prisoners to Taliban officials at the Pul-e-Abrisham border crossing on Thursday evening.
Ahmad Yousuf Mistari, head of the Taliban’s Prison Affairs Administration, stated that Iran is expected to transfer an additional 484 Afghan inmates in the near future. He noted that the repatriation process follows bilateral discussions between Taliban representatives and Iranian authorities. The returned prisoners will serve the remainder of their sentences in their respective home provinces across Afghanistan.
As part of a reciprocal gesture, the Taliban announced the release of two Iranian prisoners to officials of the Islamic Republic, describing the move as an act of “goodwill and constructive engagement.” The Nimruz governor’s office also reported that, under earlier agreements, 211 Afghan inmates had already been repatriated from Iran.
In March, Askar Jalalian, Iran’s Deputy Minister of Justice for Human Rights and International Affairs, confirmed the handover of 149 Afghan prisoners to the Taliban, stating they were returned to continue serving their sentences in Afghanistan.
The Taliban had previously announced in January that Iran intends to repatriate a total of 1,500 Afghan prisoners over the coming months as part of an ongoing transfer agreement.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar will visit Kabul on Saturday at the invitation of the Taliban, leading a senior delegation for a one-day official visit.
During his visit, Dar is scheduled to hold meetings with top Taliban officials, including Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdul Ghani Baradar, and Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Foreign Ministry said the discussions will cover a broad range of topics related to Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, with a particular focus on enhancing cooperation in security, trade, regional connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges.
The ministry described the visit as a reflection of Pakistan’s commitment to maintaining sustained engagement with the Taliban. This will be Ishaq Dar’s first visit to Kabul since assuming office as Foreign Minister, and marks the second such visit by a Pakistani foreign minister since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021. His predecessor, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, visited Kabul in October 2021, followed by then-Deputy Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar in November 2022.
The visit comes amid heightened tensions between the two sides, fuelled by a surge in insecurity within Pakistan. Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Taliban of providing safe haven to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claiming that the group conducts cross-border attacks from Afghan territory.
In addition, Pakistan has recently launched a second phase of mass deportations of Afghan migrants, expelling thousands daily—an issue that has further strained bilateral relations.
Despite these challenges, diplomatic exchanges have continued. Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan recently visited Kabul, and a Taliban delegation also travelled to Islamabad, signalling ongoing efforts to manage the tense relationship.
The Taliban’s High Commission for Addressing Migrant Issues reported that 2,962 Afghan migrants were deported from Pakistan on Thursday, 17 April. Of these, 2,100 were returned via the Torkham border crossing, and 862 through Spin Boldak.
In a statement issued on Friday, 18 April, the commission noted that 299 deported families, totalling 1,606 individuals, have been resettled across provinces including Ghazni, Baghlan, Takhar, Jowzjan, Kunduz, Logar, Khost, Paktia, and Paktika. On the same day, 139 Afghan families, comprising 542 people, were deported from Iran via the Islam Qala border crossing. The commission also distributed financial aid amounting to 6.794 million Afghanis to 838 families.
The commission further disclosed that on Wednesday, 16 April, an additional 5,136 Afghan migrants were expelled from Pakistan—3,500 through Torkham and 1,636 via Spin Boldak.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has expressed concern over the surge in deportations, noting that at least 60,000 Afghan migrants have been expelled from Pakistan in the past two weeks. The agency underscored the urgent need for humanitarian support and urged the international community to act.
Mutya Izora Maskun, IOM’s Deputy Chief of Mission for Operations, highlighted that forced returns have risen sharply since 4 April, with women and children constituting the majority of deportees.