European Media Criticises EU Over Taliban Engagement

Sources in Spin Boldak district and people who have travelled to Pakistan through unofficial routes told Afghanistan International that they were forced to turn to people smuggling networks and pay large sums of money to cross the border.

One person who travelled this route said: “I paid a smuggler 130,000 Pakistani rupees to take me to Chaman. The money does not go to just one person; it is distributed among various individuals along the route, including Taliban members.”

He claimed that smuggling networks could not operate without the cooperation of some local officials and influential figures on both sides of the border.

Neither the Taliban nor Pakistani authorities have commented on allegations of people smuggling along the Afghanistan-Pakistan route.

The Taliban officially opposes people smuggling and occasionally returns people from border areas, but unofficial crossings continue.

Another source said: “Ordinary travellers face strict restrictions, but smugglers have their own channels. By paying money, people can even be moved through regular routes and no one is held accountable.”

The continued closure of border crossings and other restrictions have directly affected the lives of thousands of families. Many residents of Spin Boldak, Chaman and surrounding areas maintain business, medical and family ties across the border.

Local residents say restrictions on legal travel have left thousands of workers unemployed and separated many families.

One tribal elder said: “Ordinary people are suffering the most from this situation. Now both the Taliban and the Pakistani side are benefiting from people smuggling.”

Following border clashes between Taliban and Pakistani forces, Islamabad closed the Torkham and Chaman border crossings on 12 October 2025.

In response to a query from Afghanistan International, the organisation expressed its sorrow but declined to provide further details about the circumstances of her death.

Reports claiming that the UN staff member had been killed had circulated on social media in recent days.

In a statement issued in Kabul, the United Nations said: “UN in Afghanistan mourns the passing of Ms. Freshta Emady, a valued member of the UNFPA family. She will be greatly missed.”

The organisation also extended its heartfelt condolences and called for respect for the privacy of Ms Emady’s family.

The Taliban has not commented on the case, and no additional information has been released regarding the circumstances of her death.

The UN body warned that water scarcity remains one of the country’s most widespread threats.

According to a UNAMA report published on Friday, June 5, the environmental crisis is posing a serious threat to livelihoods, food security and stability across Afghanistan.

The report said that a sharp decline in rainfall and excessive groundwater extraction in southern provinces, including Kandahar, Helmand, Nimroz, Zabul and Uruzgan, have pushed traditional irrigation systems to the brink of collapse and forced many communities to dig deeper wells.

UNAMA said climate change has created different patterns of environmental stress across Afghanistan. In eastern provinces such as Nangarhar, farmers are facing repeated crop losses and growing disputes over water and land resources. Meanwhile, western provinces including Ghor and Farah continue to struggle with prolonged drought, while other areas have experienced heavy rainfall and flash floods that have destroyed homes, infrastructure and agricultural land.

In addition to drought and flooding, severe dust storms in southern Afghanistan have contributed to respiratory illnesses, while deforestation in Kunar, Nuristan and Logar provinces has removed natural barriers against landslides and floods. In major cities such as Kabul, the use of low-quality fuels and poor waste management during winter have turned air pollution into a major public health concern.

The organisation also noted that growing tourism in Panjshir, Kapisa and Maidan Wardak have led to increased waste accumulation in rivers and valleys, highlighting the need for stronger environmental management measures.

According to the sources, the blast took place outside Seyed al-Naseri Boys’ School and close to the home of Mawlawi Qudratullah Amini, the Taliban’s deputy governor for Kabul.

A video obtained by Afghanistan International appears to show Taliban personnel transporting at least one injured person in a ranger vehicle following the incident.

Qudratullah Amini is originally from Panjshir province and previously served as the Taliban’s governor there.

The nature and cause of the explosion remain unclear.

Taliban authorities have not yet commented on the incident, and no individual or group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

In a statement issued on Thursday, June 4, the authority said: “According to weather reports from the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation and credible international agencies, there is a risk of heavy rain, thunderstorms and flash flooding in these provinces.”

The warning covers Panjshir, Khost, Baghlan, Takhar, Badakhshan, Nangarhar, Kunar and Nuristan provinces.

Residents in affected areas have been advised to avoid riverbanks, valleys and flood-prone locations and to remain indoors during periods of heavy rainfall.

In recent years, Afghanistan has experienced a sharp increase in natural disasters, particularly flash floods.

Climate change, the rapid melting of mountain snow, deforestation and the lack of adequate water-management infrastructure have made even moderate rainfall capable of triggering destructive flooding.

The provinces of Badakhshan, Nuristan, Kunar and Panjshir are considered especially vulnerable because of their mountainous terrain and seasonal rivers.

The warning comes as some parts of Afghanistan are still recovering from recent flooding.

Spring floods this year caused significant damage to roads, homes and agricultural land in several northern and eastern provinces and resulted in multiple fatalities.