Pakistan Shifts Exports To Iran As Afghan Border Remains Shut

They accused the Taliban of neglecting the situation, saying a “human catastrophe” will occur if food is not delivered by air.

According to them, roads to these districts have been closed for nearly two months, blocking travel and the transport of goods. They say the Taliban have neither reopened the routes nor built alternative roads as promised.

Residents said all available food supplies in local markets have been exhausted, warning of a lack of wheat and a severe shortage of medicine in health centers.

One elder told Afghanistan International: “If this situation continues, a deadly humanitarian disaster is on the way.” He added that some patients have recently died due to the lack of medicine.

Residents also said heavy snow along the routes makes building alternative roads difficult and time-consuming.

They noted that reopening the route from Nari district in Kunar to Kamdesh and Barg-e Matal would require the establishment of three security posts, which the Taliban have not set up.

Local sources said earlier that the route via Bari Kot village in Nari district remains closed due to Pakistani gunfire.

The UN’s humanitarian coordination office (OCHA) has also confirmed that residents lack access to urgent aid, as the route remains inaccessible due to cross-border firing.

Taliban officials in Kunar have not yet commented on the strikes. Previously, the group reported Pakistani attacks in Paktika, while residents in Khost also reported similar incidents.

The attacks come after talks between Pakistani officials and Taliban representatives in Urumqi, China, ended without result on April 1. Earlier rounds of negotiations mediated by Qatar, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia had also failed.

The main sticking point in the talks remains the presence of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Afghanistan. Islamabad says the group launches attacks from Afghan territory, an accusation the Taliban deny.

Pakistan has called on the Taliban to expel Pakistani militants from Afghanistan.

The Taliban’s disaster management authority said on Saturday, April 11, that since the start of the month, at least 238 people have been injured and nine killed due to rain, flooding, earthquakes and landslides.

Figures from the agency show that around 1,400 homes have been fully or partially destroyed, and thousands of acers of farmland have been lost.

Taj Mohammad Hemat, deputy spokesman of the Taliban’s disaster management authority, said more than 8,000 families have been affected by recent disasters, and over 18,000 livestock have died.

Speaking at an online memorial on Saturday, April 11, for members of Afghanistan’s Freedom Front, Massoud said: “The only way to make proper use of opportunities is coordination.”

He rejected claims that the Taliban have no alternative, saying such narratives are part of a strategy to suggest that without them, there would be chaos and war.

He added that political groups share consensus on key principles and pointed to recent meetings among Taliban opponents as proof that unity is possible.

Massoud also referred to developments in Iran, saying one of the key lessons was the importance of unity during times of conflict.

He concluded: “Our greatest strength is not countries, aircraft or weapons, but our people. The public must not lose hope, grow weary or fall into conspiracies.”

One eyewitness told Afghanistan International that families were eating when armed men took their phones. He said he had moved away from the scene and then heard gunfire and women screaming.

He added that ambulances arrived about two hours later and that a nearby Taliban vehicle did not immediately respond. According to him, Taliban forces arrived gradually after the attackers had fled.

“Everyone was killed. It was like Karbala, there were many bodies, and they were taken to a mosque,” he said.

The witness said he initially thought the attackers were Taliban morality police checking women.

Residents of Deh Mehri village said families had gathered for a picnic and pilgrimage.

Images and videos obtained by Afghanistan International show a scene marked by violence, with tents, clothing and shoes left behind.

Residents also shared footage showing a stream stained with blood.

Four gunmen reportedly opened fire on Shia civilians around 3pm on Friday in Deh Mehri.

Locals had gathered near a shrine, spending time together and sharing food when the attack occurred.

The Taliban said at least 11 people were killed and others injured, but eyewitnesses believe the toll is higher.

A Herat resident said in a video circulating online that a nearby stream had turned red with the victims’ blood, pointing to the area where the shooting took place.

No group has claimed responsibility, though ISIS-K has previously carried out attacks on Shia civilians in Herat and other parts of Afghanistan.

In another video, a local resident said the gunmen lined up civilians in the courtyard of a shrine before opening fire.