- Jun 29
Pakistan launches border strikes in Afghanistan after Karachi attack, 29 militants killed; Taliban says 36 civilians dead
Pakistan’s military carried out ground operations and air strikes along the Afghan border, targeting a militant faction after an attack on a paramilitary base in Karachi, as Kabul says dozens of civilians were killed.
- Jun 28
6.1-magnitude earthquake shakes eastern Afghanistan, tremors felt in Pakistan
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan on Saturday, shaking the provinces of Khost and Nangarhar and sending tremors as far as the Pakistani capital Islamabad.
- Jun 25
EU holds first talks with Taliban in Brussels to accelerate deportations, triggering political backlash
The European Commission and 15 member states held a closed-door meeting with Taliban representatives in Brussels on Tuesday to discuss deporting Afghan nationals convicted of crimes, drawing sharp criticism from MEPs and rights groups.
- Jun 24
EU hosts first Taliban delegation in Brussels for migrant return talks, drawing fierce rights backlash
In a first, the European Union met a Taliban delegation in Brussels on Tuesday, discussing the return of Afghan asylum seekers, as Belgium pushes to deport convicted criminals.
- Jun 23
EU hosts Taliban delegation in Brussels for first talks on deportations since 2021 takeover
The European Commission met a Taliban delegation in Brussels on Tuesday for technical-level talks aimed at facilitating the return of Afghan nationals convicted of crimes or deemed security risks, marking the first such encounter on European soil since the group retook power in 2021.
- Jun 21
Germany agrees to host six more Taliban diplomats in deal for monthly deportation flights to Afghanistan
Berlin has reached a deal with the Taliban to run up to three charter deportation flights per month, plus unlimited individual removals on scheduled airlines, after conceding to demands for more Taliban consular staff in Germany.
- Jun 18
US and Iran sign 14-point memorandum, reopen Strait of Hormuz and start 60-day negotiation clock
A digital signing ceremony launched a 14-point memorandum between Washington and Tehran, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and beginning a 60-day countdown to a final agreement that will address Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions relief and the war in Lebanon.
- Jun 18
Taliban ban smartphones for government workers, raising fears of wider internet crackdown
The Taliban have banned all government employees from using smartphones, with violations punishable by phone destruction, dismissal, and up to six months in prison, as the regime escalates efforts to sever Afghanistan from the global internet.
- Jun 16
Germany deports 32 convicted Afghan criminals to Kabul, fuelling debate over direct Taliban cooperation
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt defended the overnight charter flight, which carried men convicted of rape, murder and child abuse back to Afghanistan under a direct agreement with the Taliban.
- Jun 15
UN Security Council extends Afghan mission for one year, orders strategic review
The Security Council voted unanimously to renew the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) through 17 June 2027, ordering a strategic review amid tensions over Taliban restrictions on women and aid worker access.
- Jun 11
UNHCR: global forced displacement falls 4% in 2025, first decline in a decade, but involuntary returns raise alarm
The number of forcibly displaced people fell by 4% to 117.8 million in 2025, UNHCR reported, marking the first decline in ten years. The drop was driven by large-scale returns to Afghanistan, Syria, Sudan and DR Congo, but the agency warned many were forced back under unsafe conditions.
