January 12–20, 2026
Jan 12, 2026
Attack on Police Vehicle in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s provincial police chief, Pervez Shah, stated that a police patrol vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb in the Tank area on Monday, killing six officers. Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attack. Sources: DW Pashto, BBC Pashto
Jan 13, 2026
Pakistani Students Permitted to Return Home
The Taliban-run border police announced on Monday that some Pakistani students, who had been stranded in Afghanistan for three months, have been permitted to return home. However, border crossings between the two countries remain closed. Sources: DW Pashto, BBC Pashto
Jan 15, 2026
Following a year-long investigation, the BBC Afghanistan fact-finding unit has verified that disagreements over girls’ education and several other controversial policies have led to divisions within the Taliban leadership, effectively splitting it into two groups. The inquiry involved more than 100 interviews with serving Taliban officials, former members, regional sources, analysts, and former diplomats, and also obtained an audio recording in which the Taliban leader expresses concern about internal rifts. Despite this, the Taliban government has publicly rejected claims of any divisions within its leadership. Sources: BBC Pashto
Jan 16, 2026
Trade Between Afghanistan and Pakistan
Trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan has remained suspended for several months, during which traders have relied on Iran’s Chabahar port to conduct business. The former spokesperson of the Central Bank of Afghanistan stated on Deutsche Welle’s Reconciliation program that the continuation of recent developments in Iran could also adversely affect the Afghan economy. Source: DW Pashto
Jan 17, 2026
Concerns Raised by the Head of the World Food Programme in Afghanistan
The head of the World Food Programme in Afghanistan expressed serious concern over the worsening conditions faced by Afghan families, noting that many are struggling to survive. He also highlighted that humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan has been steadily decreasing in recent times. These challenges are compounded by Taliban restrictions that bar women from working in many professional fields and allow girls to attend school only up to the age of 12. Sources: DW Pashto,
Criticism of Pakistan Government’s Afghanistan Policy
Mahmood Khan Achakzai, the newly appointed opposition leader in Pakistan’s parliament, criticized the government’s policies toward Afghanistan in his first parliamentary speech. Sources: BBC Pashto
Jan 19, 2026
Protest by Relatives of Missing Persons
Relatives of several missing persons from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa held a protest outside the Journalists’ Center in Peshawar, urging the government to take immediate action and ensure justice. Sources: Mashaal Radio,
Military Operation in Tirah Valley, District Khyber
The Pakistani army directed residents of Tirah and several other Pashtun-populated areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to evacuate following the announcement of military operations against militant groups. Local residents are being compelled to leave their homes and relocate to other parts of the province. Sources: DW Pashto,
Forced Return of Afghan Families from Pakistan
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) warned that nearly 500 Afghan families are being forced to return each day from Pakistan to Afghanistan through the Torkham border crossing, further worsening an already fragile humanitarian situation. Sources: Aryana News, BBC Pashto Arab News
Jan 20, 2026
Debate on Military Operation in Tirah Valley in the Senate of Pakistan
The Senate of Pakistan discussed the proposed military operation in Tirah, Khyber District, on January 19. Senator Aimal Wali Khan, leader of the Awami National Party, criticized both the federal and provincial governments, while Noorul Haq Qadri, a senior senator from Khyber and a member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), criticized the federal government. Sources: Dawn.com, Ariana News, The Nation
Military Operation in Tirah Valley, District Khyber
The evacuation of local residents continues in anticipation of military operations in Tirah. According to the district administration, approximately 60 percent of the population has evacuated the area so far. Sources: Mashaal Radio
Afghanistan–Pakistan Trade Situation and Demands from South Waziristan Chamber of Commerce
Officials from the South Waziristan Chamber of Commerce have demanded the reopening of the Angor Adda border crossing with Afghanistan. On January 19, Ainuddin Wazir, Secretary General of the Waziristan Chamber of Commerce, told Radio Mashal that the prolonged closure of the crossing has caused traders in Waziristan to incur losses amounting to crores of rupees. Sources: Mashaal Radio,
