Afghanistan Times Latest News and Analysis from Afghanistan and the Region
Related Articles
KABUL – A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan before dawn Monday, killing at least 20 people, injuring over 500, and destroying hundreds of homes, prompting swift humanitarian assistance from neighboring India.
The earthquake, with its epicenter 22 kilometers west-southwest of Khulm in Balkh province, struck at a depth of 28 kilometers. Provinces including Balkh, Samangan, Baghlan, and Badakhshan reported significant structural damage, with one village in Shahr-e-Bozorg district seeing 800 homes partially or completely destroyed. Rescue teams and emergency workers were immediately dispatched to affected areas, although remote locations remain difficult to access due to damaged infrastructure and lack of internet connectivity.
In response, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar called Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to convey condolences. India also sent an initial consignment of 15 tonnes of relief supplies, including wheat flour, rice, cooking oil, sugar, lentils, beans, peas, tea, soap, and medical kits. Further shipments of medicines are expected in the coming days.
The Indian government emphasized its commitment to supporting Afghan civilians, with supplies also aimed at bolstering the country’s capacity to tackle vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, and leishmaniasis. “This aid reinforces India’s role as a reliable humanitarian partner, strengthening health and disaster response in Afghanistan,” said a spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
Afghan officials, including the Ministry of Public Health and Ministry of Defense, confirmed ongoing rescue operations. Sharafat Zaman, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Health, said the injured are being treated in hospitals in Balkh and Samangan provinces, with numbers expected to rise as assessments continue. Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid acknowledged casualties and property losses, assuring that government agencies are coordinating relief efforts.
The quake highlights Afghanistan’s vulnerability to natural disasters, compounded by fragile infrastructure and limited emergency resources. The disaster also underscores the critical role of regional support, as cross-border humanitarian aid becomes essential for stabilizing affected communities.
India’s prompt assistance follows the recent visit of Taliban officials to New Delhi in early October and marks an effort to strengthen bilateral ties and humanitarian cooperation, despite the lack of full diplomatic recognition. Analysts say such aid not only helps disaster response but also reinforces India’s strategic influence in northern Afghanistan.
With winter approaching, officials warn of urgent needs for shelter, food, water, and medical supplies, as displaced families and communities struggle to recover from the earthquake’s impact. International organizations, including the United Nations, have pledged support, warning that delays in aid could worsen humanitarian conditions in the affected provinces.
