Earthquake Shocks Delhi-NCR and Jammu-Kashmir, Magnitude 5.9 Recorded; Afghanistan as Epicenter A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9 on the Richter scale was felt across Delhi-NCR and Jammu-Kashmir on Friday evening, April 3, 2026. The tremors, which originated in Afghanistan, struck around 9:42 PM local time, causing widespread alarm among residents. People in the capital and surrounding areas rushed outdoors, fearing structural damage, though no casualties or significant property loss were reported. The tremors were initially felt in Delhi-NCR, where the shaking prompted panic in residential neighborhoods and office buildings. Many individuals fled their homes, while others sought shelter in open spaces. Despite the intensity of the quake, authorities confirmed that there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage to infrastructure. A tweet from ANI, India’s state news agency, highlighted the event, stating, “Earthquake tremors felt in Delhi. Further details awaited.” The earthquake’s epicenter was located in Afghanistan, with the hypocenter approximately 175 kilometers deep. This depth, combined with the distance from populated areas, likely minimized the risk of severe damage. However, the tremors were strong enough to be felt in both Delhi-NCR and Jammu-Kashmir, with residents in the latter region also experiencing the shaking. In Jammu-Kashmir, the quake caused minor disruptions but no reported harm. Officials emphasized that the region’s infrastructure, though older, remained resilient to such events. The Indian Meteorological Department noted that the earthquake coincided with a period of fluctuating weather patterns in Delhi-NCR, where recent days had seen intermittent rainfall and hailstorms.#afghanistan #indian_meteorological_department #ani #delhincr #jammukashmir
5.9 Earthquake Hits Afghanistan; Tremors Felt in Delhi-NCR, North India A powerful 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan on Friday evening, triggering tremors that were felt across Delhi-NCR and several regions of North India. The seismic activity occurred around 9:50 pm local time, causing widespread concern among residents in the affected areas. While the epicenter of the earthquake was located in Afghanistan, the tremors extended their reach to neighboring regions, including parts of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. The India Today report, dated April 3, 2026, noted that the earthquake was felt as far as Delhi-NCR, where residents experienced mild shaking. Although no immediate casualties or significant structural damage were reported, authorities urged people to remain cautious and monitor updates from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The tremors, while not severe, raised alarms about the region’s vulnerability to seismic activity, particularly given the proximity of fault lines in the area. The earthquake’s magnitude of 5.9 on the Richter scale is classified as a moderate event, capable of causing minor damage to poorly constructed buildings. However, the lack of major infrastructure damage in the immediate aftermath suggests that the quake did not reach the critical threshold for widespread destruction. Officials in Delhi and North India swiftly responded by advising citizens to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel during the tremors. The incident has sparked renewed discussions about earthquake preparedness in the region. Experts have highlighted the need for improved building codes and emergency response systems, especially in densely populated urban centers like Delhi-NCR.#india_meteorological_department #afghanistan #punjab #delhi_ncr #national_disaster_response_force
Afghanistan vs Myanmar Live Score Updates: Second Half Starts (1-0) Afghanistan and Myanmar resumed their Asian Cup Qualifiers match in the second half, with Afghanistan leading 1-0 after the first half. The game saw a series of substitutions and tactical adjustments as both teams sought to gain an edge. Afghanistan’s Samandari was replaced by Sahil Sawari early in the second half, and the team continued to dominate possession, creating several attacking opportunities. A notable moment came when Kouhyar received a pass on the left flank, took the ball to the byline, and delivered a cross for Popalzay, whose shot was saved by Myanmar’s goalkeeper Naing. The match remained tightly contested, with Myanmar attempting to equalize through pressing and counterattacks. A key moment arrived in the 45th minute when Wl Aung orchestrated a move, passing the ball to Paing, who capitalized on the opportunity to score and level the score at 1-1. The goal sparked renewed intensity, with Myanmar pressing aggressively to secure a lead. However, Afghanistan maintained control of the midfield, using their possession to dictate the flow of the game. In the 10th minute of the second half, Afghanistan regained the lead after a defensive error by Myanmar’s goalkeeper. A long clearance attempt by Naing was misjudged, allowing Nazari to intercept the ball and pass it to Popalzay, who fired a shot into the net. The goal sent Afghanistan back to the top of the scoreboard, but Myanmar’s efforts to respond continued. The team’s attacking threats were evident, with multiple attempts to break through Afghanistan’s defense, though the Afghan goalkeeper’s saves and defensive organization kept the scoreline at 2-1. The match saw several substitutions as both teams adjusted their strategies.#afghanistan #myanmar #samandari #sahil_sawari #kouhyar
Afghanistan Releases American National Dennis Coyle After More Than a Year Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government released American academic Dennis Coyle on Tuesday, nearly 15 months after his detention, with officials citing the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, the Islamic holiday marking the end of Ramadan, as the reason for his release. The foreign ministry stated that Coyle, who had been held in Kabul, was freed following an appeal from his family and after the Supreme Court deemed his prior imprisonment sufficient. The ministry did not specify the legal basis for his initial detention, which began in January 2025. Coyle, a researcher, was arrested on allegations of violating unspecified laws, though Afghan authorities have not publicly detailed the charges against him. In a separate statement, the Taliban’s foreign ministry acknowledged the involvement of the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in mediating his release. It also noted that Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi had met with former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad in Kabul prior to the release. The U.S. State Department had recently designated Afghanistan as a “sponsor of wrongful detention,” accusing the country of using the detention of foreigners as a tool for “hostage diplomacy.” This designation places Afghanistan alongside Iran as nations singled out by the U.S. for allegedly detaining Americans to extract political concessions. In response, Afghan officials denied the allegations, asserting that arrests are conducted for legal violations rather than as part of diplomatic negotiations. Authorities in Afghanistan are believed to hold at least one other U.S. national, Mahmood Habibi, an Afghan American businessman who disappeared in 2022 while working as a contractor for a Kabul-based telecommunications company.#qatar #united_arab_emirates #afghanistan #talia #dennis_coyle
US Citizen Imprisoned in Afghanistan Freed After More Than a Year A U.S. citizen who had been held captive in Afghanistan for over a year was released, according to two U.S. officials who spoke to CNN on Tuesday. The announcement came weeks after the Trump administration labeled Afghanistan a state sponsor of wrongful detention, a designation intended to pressure governments that hold American citizens hostage. Dennis Coyle, a 64-year-old academic, was detained by the Taliban in Kabul in January 2025. His family and the U.S. government have stated that he was held in near solitary confinement without being charged with any crime. Coyle had spent nearly two decades working in Afghanistan before his arrest. The officials confirmed that no negotiations, trades, or payments were involved in securing Coyle’s release. The New York Times was the first to report his freedom. One official suggested that the U.S. designation of Afghanistan as a sponsor of wrongful detention played a key role in pressuring the Taliban to release him. However, the officials noted that the designation will remain in place, as at least two other U.S. citizens—Mahmood Habibi and Paul Overby—continue to be held in the country. The United Arab Emirates is believed to have facilitated Coyle’s release, according to one official. The situation remains under review, with further updates expected as the circumstances surrounding his detention and release are clarified.#united_arab_emirates #afghanistan #us_citizen #talia #dennis_coyle
Satellite images reveal the devastation caused by Pakistan's airstrike on Kabul's Omid Hospital Satellite imagery shared by Vantor with India Today TV highlights the extensive damage inflicted by Pakistan's cross-border attacks on Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province. The strikes, conducted on February 20 and 21, resulted in at least 400 fatalities and over 250 injuries. Islamabad asserted the strikes were aimed at terrorist camps in response to recent attacks within Pakistan. However, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan reported a significantly lower death toll of 143. The satellite images, captured on March 20, depict the aftermath of the strikes at Kabul’s Omid Hospital, a 2,000-bed facility. What was once a structured complex of buildings, including a large roofed structure and smaller surrounding facilities, now lies in ruins. The layout suggests a civilian rehabilitation center rather than a military installation. The hospital, located at the former Camp Phoenix—a NATO base previously operated by the US Army—was repurposed after the 2021 Taliban takeover as Afghanistan’s largest drug rehabilitation center. Situated less than three miles from Kabul’s international airport, the facility is managed by the Interior Ministry, which also oversees the country’s counternarcotics department, according to Reuters. Pakistan claimed responsibility for the strike, insisting it targeted a “military terrorist ammunition and equipment storage site.” The conflict, which intensified in February after Pakistan launched a dozen airstrikes on militant targets in Afghanistan, represents the most severe confrontation between the two nations in years. The shared 2,600-km border has seen heightened tensions, though the conflict has garnered less international attention amid the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran.#pakistan #india #afghanistan #nangarhar_province #omid_hospital
India must enlist more support against Pakistan’s bombing of Afghanistan India condemned Pakistan’s recent airstrikes on an Afghan rehabilitation center, calling the attack “cowardly” and accusing Islamabad of covering up a “massacre.” The strikes, which killed at least 400 Afghans, targeted the Omid Rehabilitation Facility in Kabul, despite Pakistan’s denial that the facility was destroyed. The attack has intensified tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which have been escalating for over a year. Pakistan’s military launched Operation Ghazab Lil Haq (Righteous Fury) in February, striking Taliban bases in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia. The conflict has been further fueled by attacks by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which killed 11 soldiers and a child in Bajaur and 32 people in an Islamabad mosque following a suicide bombing. Pakistan has also expressed anger over India’s growing ties with Afghanistan, accusing the Taliban of turning the country into an “Indian colony.” This marks a shift from Pakistan’s earlier support for the Taliban’s rise to power in 2021. Meanwhile, the U.S.-Israel war against Iran has diverted global attention, allowing Pakistan to act with perceived impunity. The U.S. has publicly endorsed Pakistan’s “right to defend itself against Taliban attacks,” emboldening Islamabad’s military actions. India, facing similar challenges with cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan, sees potential relief from Pakistan’s dual-front pressures. However, India’s diplomatic role remains limited due to the absence of formal dialogue with Pakistan and the unrecognised Taliban regime. To prevent further escalation, India must rally support from SCO members concerned about the conflict.#pakistan #india #afghanistan #tehreek_e_taliban_pakistan #operation_ghazab_lil_haq
Pakistan Bombing Civilians A Pashtun human rights defender has accused Pakistan of conducting deadly airstrikes on Afghan civilians during the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. Fazal Ur Rehman Afridi alleged that Pakistani forces carried out a hospital bombing that killed nearly 400 patients and injured numerous others. Speaking outside the UN meeting, Afridi described the attacks as a severe breach of international law and demanded that the United Nations initiate an investigation to hold perpetrators accountable. He further criticized Pakistan’s military for alleged human rights violations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, warning that civilians are increasingly becoming victims of escalating military actions and cross-border conflicts with Afghanistan. Afridi emphasized the growing risks faced by local populations caught in the crossfire of ongoing tensions, highlighting the urgent need for international attention to address the humanitarian crisis. His remarks underscored the broader concerns about the impact of military operations on civilian lives and the lack of accountability for such incidents.#afghanistan #fazal_ur_rehman_afridi #united_nations_human_rights_council #khyber_pakhtunkhwa #balochistan
More rains coming: 1,000-km-long rain band covers India, Pakistan, Afghanistan A rare and unusual weather pattern is unfolding across North India as a straight low-pressure trough stretches over 1,000 kilometers in a direct line, spanning Afghanistan, Pakistan, and into India. This straight formation differs from the typical curved troughs seen in such systems, and its unique structure is expected to intensify into thunderstorms with heavy rainfall, lightning, and strong gusty winds. The event has already triggered severe weather in several regions of India, with reports of intense storms and erratic weather conditions. The western disturbance, which arrived in the region, is notable not only for the rain it brings but also for its striking straight alignment. Unlike the usual curved systems, this low-pressure line maintains a direct path across three countries, creating a rare atmospheric phenomenon. Meteorologists highlight that such a straight trough strengthens the overall weather system, allowing it to persist over a vast distance without curving. This unusual shape is linked to the potential for more intense thunderstorms and heavy precipitation. The weather system has provided much-needed relief to areas in North India that had been grappling with unusually high temperatures in early March. Just days before the disturbance arrived, cities like Delhi experienced temperatures nearing 37°C, creating a sense of premature summer. The sudden arrival of the western disturbance brought significant cooling, with temperatures dropping by 3°C to 7°C in many regions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued forecasts predicting moderate to heavy rains, accompanied by lightning and gusty winds, across northwest India until March 20, 2026.#pakistan #india #india_meteorological_department #afghanistan #western_disturbance
The Taliban wages war on women, but their voices roar on the page. Here are 5 essential books by Afghan women writers Silence would mean accepting and surrendering to the Taliban’s power, writes one of these authors. Theirs are the voices of resistance. When the Taliban regained control of Kabul in August 2021, images of women protesting in the streets and girls being barred from classrooms circulated globally. Since then, regressive laws have been introduced to suppress women’s public life in Afghanistan, including banning women from speaking in public. Recently, 140 titles authored by women were blacklisted as “anti-Sharia” by the Taliban’s educational authorities. Amid this institutionalized erasure, writing becomes an act of resistance. Recent Afghan women’s literature challenges this erasure, reclaiming agency. Afghanistan frequently reaches Australian readers through war reporting and policy debates. Literature offers a different vantage point. Here are five essential books by contemporary Afghan women writers. My Dear Kabul: A Year in the Life of an Afghan Women’s Writing Group My Dear Kabul (2024) is not a traditional memoir but a cartography of lived experience. It contains the voices of 21 Afghan women writers who ran a clandestine digital writing group as the Taliban consolidated power. Drawn from WhatsApp exchanges downloaded, translated, and compiled into a collective diary, the book is a visceral account of life as a political system collapses. Contributors vary in locale and literary temperament, oscillating between reportage, testimonies, narrative reflection, and fragmented poetic utterance. The women in My Dear Kabul are mostly in their 20s and 30s, though one is in her 60s. This plurality challenges monolithic representations of Afghan women.#afghanistan #taliahn #afghan_women_writers #my_dear_kabul #we_are_still_here
The Secret Reading Club of Kabul In Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, where women are barred from education, employment, and public expression, a group of young women has formed a secret reading circle. Inspired by Anne Frank’s diary, they document their lives under oppression, sharing their stories through writing. Their experiences are captured in The Secret Reading Club of Kabul, a documentary directed by Shakiba Adil and Elina Hirvonen. The film, which premiered at the 23rd edition of the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival, follows these women as they resist the Taliban’s restrictions while navigating a world where their voices are silenced. The documentary, described as an “intimate testimony to the power of art to keep hope and humanism alive,” highlights the stark reality of life under Taliban rule. Women are denied basic rights, and the regime’s violence has left many grappling with trauma, identity crises, and a loss of hope. The film interweaves the directors’ personal histories with the girls’ struggles. Adil, who grew up under the first Taliban regime, became the first woman on Afghan television after the regime’s fall. She now dedicates her work to the new generation facing similar oppression. The film’s production was fraught with danger. Adil and Hirvonen faced the challenge of protecting the young women involved, many of whom risked their lives to participate. Security measures included working with professionals to shield identities and avoid exposing the girls to Taliban retaliation. Despite precautions, the risks remained high, as the Taliban’s presence in Kabul forced many to flee. Adil’s niece, for instance, recounted being told her classmates would no longer attend school, a chilling reminder of the regime’s brutality.#afghanistan #talebans #shakiba_adil #elina_hirvonen #copenhagen_international_documentary_film_festival
The T20 World Cup Player of the Tournament award is typically given to the most outstanding player of the tournament. For the 2021 T20 World Cup (held in the UAE), the award was won by Rashid Khan (Afghanistan), who was instrumental in his team's victory. However, if you're referring to a different tournament or a specific list of 8 players (which is unusual for this award, as it's usually a single player), please clarify the context. For example, in some tournaments, there might be recognition for top performers in categories like "Best Batsman," "Best Bowler," etc., but the official "Player of the Tournament" is typically one individual. If you have a specific tournament or year in mind, feel free to specify, and I can provide more accurate details! 🏏#t20_world_cup #rashid_khan #afghanistan #uae #player_of_the_tournament
War Machine review – Netflix bravely asks: what if Predator but Transformers? Netflix’s War Machine is a gory, militaristic action thriller that leans into sci-fi elements to differentiate itself from real-world conflicts. The film follows a soldier, known as 81, who is deployed in Afghanistan with his younger brother. Their banter about future military training hints at impending tragedy. Years later, 81, now a pill-popping shell of his former self, attempts to become a ranger through a brutal selection process. When his team is sent into the wilderness, they discover they’re being hunted by something more sinister than the U.S. military—extraterrestrial machines that resemble advanced technology rather than alien lifeforms. The film’s sci-fi angle draws comparisons to franchises like Predator and Transformers, though its alien designs feel more like robotic weapons from another country than beings from another planet. This aesthetic gives the movie a slightly generic feel, akin to a cheaper Transformers spin-off, but it avoids the typical Netflix visual flatness. Shot in Australia by native writer-director Patrick Hughes, the film received a theatrical release there before its streaming debut. Its slick production and effective special effects make it a suitable Friday night watch, though it lacks the depth to challenge viewers. Alan Ritchson, known for his role in Reacher, stars as 81. His physical presence—6ft 3in, with the build of an over-pumped GI Joe—makes him an obvious choice for a Predator-style hero. Ritchson has also become a vocal critic of right-wing politics, adding a progressive edge to his action-hero persona. However, his performance as 81 is more about physicality than emotional depth.#australia #netflix #afghanistan #alan_ritchson #patrick_hughes
