Ukraine accuses Russia of war crime after video shows drone attacking vegetable seller in Kherson

KABUL: The Taliban on Saturday marked five years since returning to power in Afghanistan, staging a military parade in Kabul and presenting their rule as a period of stability despite mounting humanitarian and human rights concerns. Armoured Taliban vehicles moved past the former US embassy in Kabul as officials raised flags and banners for what the government called “victory day” over Western domination. Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani said in a video message that the Taliban’s return resulted from “morale, courage” and “divine assistance.” He also acknowledged that the country still faces unresolved issues and problems. The United Nations and international aid organisations have warned that Afghanistan continues to struggle with severe humanitarian and natural crises. They have also criticised the Taliban’s restrictions on women and girls. According to UNESCO, the Taliban have kept around 2.5 million girls and women out of secondary schools and universities since 2021 and imposed restrictions on their movement. UN Women reported this week that half of Afghan women now leave their homes only once or twice a month. The Taliban maintain that they uphold women’s rights under Islamic Sharia law. The group has also faced security challenges, including a series of attacks on officials in northeastern Afghanistan. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the killing of the Taliban’s information director in Badakhshan in late July. The mayor of the provincial capital was also killed in an attack on Thursday, according to local media. The Taliban seized power in August 2021 as US and allied forces withdrew from Afghanistan. The group initially promised a more moderate form of government than during its previous rule in the late 1990s and early 2000s. However, rights groups say its policies have instead imposed sweeping restrictions on women and girls. Five years after returning to power, the Taliban government still lacks broad international recognition. Russia remains the only country to have formally recognised it. Meanwhile, relations with Pakistan have deteriorated. Islamabad accuses Kabul of allowing Pakistani militants to operate from Afghan territory, adding further pressure to an already strained relationship.

The bodies of 14 Afghan migrants have been recovered from the desert in southwestern Afghanistan after they reportedly died while attempting to cross into neighboring Iran, according to local authorities. Officials said the victims had been missing for several weeks after setting out on an overland journey toward the Iranian border. The group was traveling by vehicle through the remote desert region when their transportation reportedly broke down, forcing them to continue the journey on foot under extremely harsh conditions. According to media reports, the search for the missing migrants began in Afghanistan’s Nimroz province after the driver of the vehicle managed to reach a nearby village in a state of severe exhaustion and dehydration. The driver reportedly sought emergency assistance and informed local residents and authorities that several passengers had been left stranded in the desert. Rescue teams were subsequently dispatched to search the area. During the initial operation, authorities recovered the bodies of five people. Search efforts then continued for the remaining members of the group who had attempted to continue their journey on foot after the vehicle became inoperable. On Saturday, local officials confirmed that the bodies of an additional 14 migrants had been discovered buried beneath the sand in the remote desert, bringing a tragic end to the search operation. Hospital sources in the region said the victims had likely succumbed to the extreme heat, dehydration, and exhaustion after becoming stranded without adequate food, water, or shelter. The exact cause of death is expected to be confirmed following official examinations. Nimroz province, which borders Iran, is one of Afghanistan’s hottest and driest regions. During the summer months, temperatures frequently reach around 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit), creating life-threatening conditions for anyone traveling across its vast desert landscape without sufficient supplies. The province has long served as one of the main transit routes for Afghans attempting to migrate to Iran in search of employment, economic opportunities, or a better future. Many migrants rely on human smuggling networks to organize dangerous journeys across isolated desert areas, exposing them to significant risks, including extreme weather, dehydration, and abandonment. Fatal incidents involving migrants are not uncommon along these routes, particularly during periods of intense summer heat. Humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned about the dangers associated with irregular migration through remote border regions, where access to rescue services is limited and survival can quickly become impossible if travelers become stranded. Following the latest tragedy, Afghan authorities reaffirmed their commitment to combating human smuggling networks operating inside the country. In a statement carried by Afghanistan’s national broadcaster, Interior Ministry spokesperson Abdul Mateen Qani said security agencies would continue their operations against individuals and criminal groups involved in facilitating illegal migration. “Our authorities remain fully committed to continuing operations against human trafficking and smuggling networks,” Qani said, emphasizing that efforts to dismantle these criminal organizations would continue. The discovery of the victims has once again highlighted the desperate circumstances that drive many Afghans to undertake perilous journeys across some of the world’s most unforgiving terrain. It also underscores the continuing humanitarian challenges facing the country, where economic hardship and limited opportunities continue to push many people toward dangerous migration routes despite the potentially fatal consequences.