KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – A new report by Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, warns that Afghanistan continues to face rising insecurity, cross-border conflict, and widespread human rights violations under Taliban rule.
The report states that 2,660 security-related incidents were recorded across Afghanistan between 1 November 2025 and 31 January 2026, marking a 27.8 percent increase compared with the same period the previous year.
Armed opposition groups, including the Afghanistan Freedom Front and the National Resistance Front, claimed responsibility for 36 attacks against Taliban forces, of which 14 were confirmed by the United Nations. These attacks occurred in several provinces including Badakhshan, Balkh, Faryab, Herat, Kunar, Kunduz, Kabul, Kandahar, Logar and Panjshir. The incidents involved scattered rocket attacks, grenade explosions, and shootings targeting Taliban checkpoints and convoys.
The report also refers to a deadly attack on a Chinese restaurant in Kabul claimed by ISIS, in which seven people were killed and 13 others injured. The attack highlights the continued presence of extremist threats in the country despite Taliban claims of nationwide security.
At the same time, the UN report raises serious concerns over the treatment of former Afghan government officials and security forces. Between 6 November 2025 and 25 January 2026, the United Nations documented at least 12 extrajudicial killings of former officials and security personnel carried out by the Taliban or unidentified individuals. During the same period, 29 cases of arbitrary detention and six cases of torture or ill-treatment were also recorded. Some of those targeted had recently returned to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan.
The report also highlights the humanitarian impact of ongoing border clashes between Taliban forces and Pakistan. At least 24 civilians were killed and 26 others wounded during fighting between the two sides. Most of these casualties were caused by cross-border shelling and air strikes in the provinces of Khost, Kandahar, Paktika, Nangarhar and Kunar.
Security tensions were not limited to Pakistan. The report notes clashes between Taliban forces and Iranian border guards along the Nimroz border, which temporarily forced the closure of the crossing. In addition, Tajik border forces confronted individuals attempting to cross from Badakhshan into Tajikistan, incidents that resulted in civilian casualties.
Air operations and drone activity were also reported during the period. Local communities observed drone surveillance flights over districts in Ghazni, Kandahar, Khost, Maidan Wardak, Panjshir and Paktika. On 4 November, a drone strike targeting a mosque in Nangarhar province reportedly killed a senior commander of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Additional air strikes were reported on 25 November in Khost, Kunar and Paktika, and later on 3 and 14 December in Ghazni. A drone strike in Goshta district of Nangarhar on 13 January injured several civilians.
Explosive remnants of war remain another major threat to civilians. According to the report, 26 civilians were killed and 69 others injured by unexploded ordnance during the reporting period. The victims included six men, one woman, three girls and sixteen boys among those killed, while the injured included 17 men, six women, 12 girls and 34 boys.
The report also documented a violent incident during public protests in Chah-Ab district of Takhar province, where four civilians and a private security guard working for a mining company were killed, and eight others were wounded.
Human rights concerns remain widespread. The report says the Taliban carried out 316 corporal punishments during the reporting period, publicly flogging 30 women, 281 men, one girl and four boys. It also confirmed another public execution, the twelfth since the Taliban returned to power, which took place on 2 December 2025 at a sports stadium in Khost province.
Children have also been significantly affected by the conflict. A monitoring report cited by the United Nations verified around 300 grave violations affecting at least 200 children, including 49 girls. The most common violations included the killing and maiming of children, attacks on schools and hospitals, and obstruction of humanitarian assistance, which together accounted for about 75 percent of all confirmed violations.
Beyond security and violence, the report highlights worsening restrictions on civil liberties and women’s rights. Authorities have expanded a ban on broadcasting images of living beings to 25 provinces, detained individuals accused of posting “inappropriate content” on social media, and restricted women without full covering from accessing public and private services. Women and girls continue to face severe limitations on education, employment and participation in public life, and the report notes that access to justice for women has further deteriorated.
According to the United Nations, millions of Afghans continue to face acute food insecurity, with an estimated 17.4 million people experiencing severe hunger, while funding shortages have forced humanitarian agencies to scale back assistance. At the same time, women and girls remain among the most affected groups. The continued ban on secondary education has deprived around 2.2 million grils of schooling, while restrictions on women’s employment and participation in public life have limited their access to livelihoods and essential services. The report also warns that limitations on women working for humanitarian organizations are undermining aid delivery and weakening health and social services across the country.
The report also highlights a worsening humanitarian situation across Afghanistan. According to the United Nations, nearly 21.9 million people – about 45 percent of the population – will require humanitarian assistance in 2026. Natural disasters have further intensified the crisis. Earthquakes in August and November killed more than 2,100 people and injured about 3,600, destroying homes and infrastructure in several regions, while flash floods in early January caused additional damage. The report warns that Afghanistan is increasingly vulnerable to climate-related disasters, which are compounding existing humanitarian needs.
Large-scale returns of Afghan migrants have also placed additional pressure on already fragile communities. The report states that around 2.78 million Afghans returned to the country in 2025, including about 1.9 million from Iran, nearly 900,000 from Pakistan and around 17,000 from Türkiye. Many returnees lack civil documentation, housing and job opportunities, forcing them to settle in areas already affected by poverty and limited access to services. The United Nations also recorded protection concerns involving some returnees, including reports of retaliatory actions against certain individuals such as former government officials and members of the former Afghan security forces.
The economic situation remains fragile despite modest growth. A report by the World Bank indicates that per capita income in Afghanistan is expected to decline by about four percent in 2025, as rapid population growth and mass returns outpace economic expansion. Trade disruptions and the prolonged closure of border crossings with Pakistan have widened Afghanistan’s trade deficit and delayed humanitarian supplies. Rising costs of food, housing and transportation have also contributed to inflation, further reducing household purchasing power and increasing economic pressure on Afghan families.
The Taliban have not yet responded to the latest report by the United Nations. Since taking power in 2021, the group has repeatedly claimed it has restored security across the country. However, the UN report suggests that armed resistance attacks, ISIS operations, cross-border hostilities, drone strikes and widespread human rights violations continue to threaten civilians and stability in Afghanistan.
