Department of Research, Studies and International News 01-09-2025

Afghanistan has been plunged into mourning following a powerful earthquake that struck its eastern provinces near the border with Pakistan, claiming the lives of more than 800 people and leaving over 2,500 others injured. The tremor, recorded shortly before midnight by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) as a magnitude 6 quake, caused widespread destruction in one of the most fragile regions of the country.

Entire villages built with traditional mud and timber homes collapsed under the force of the tremor, trapping families beneath the rubble. The devastation was particularly severe in remote mountainous districts where rescue operations remain painfully slow due to damaged roads, limited infrastructure, and lack of equipment. Afghan authorities have mobilized emergency services, while helicopters and medical teams were dispatched to evacuate the wounded and deliver critical supplies.

The quake’s impact was felt beyond Afghanistan’s borders, with tremors reported in neighboring Pakistan and even as far as northern India. Families in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province rushed out of their homes during the night, fearing further aftershocks. In India’s capital, New Delhi, the earthquake was mild but noticeable, underlining the broad reach of the seismic event.

Human toll in a vulnerable nation

For Afghanistan, this tragedy comes at a time of immense hardship. Still recovering from decades of war and foreign occupation, the country remains under severe economic sanctions imposed by the United States and its Western allies. These sanctions, which continue despite repeated calls from international humanitarian agencies, have crippled Afghanistan’s ability to respond effectively to disasters.

Local health facilities, already strained by shortages of medicine and equipment, now face overwhelming pressure as they struggle to treat thousands of injured victims. Survivors recount harrowing scenes of entire families wiped out, children pulled lifeless from the debris, and communities mourning without the resources to bury their dead with dignity.

Afghanistan’s isolation from the international financial system has compounded the crisis. Instead of facilitating humanitarian aid, Western powers have withheld Afghan national assets and restricted international banking transfers, policies that leave ordinary Afghans to suffer disproportionately in times of calamity.

Regional neighbors step forward

While Western capitals have been quick to issue statements of “concern,” tangible support has so far come primarily from Afghanistan’s regional partners. Both China and Russia expressed their readiness to provide humanitarian assistance and reconstruction support. India, too, conveyed its solidarity with the Afghan people, underlining the urgent need for coordinated regional relief efforts.

Beijing emphasized the importance of swift aid delivery, highlighting China’s commitment to supporting Afghanistan’s recovery without preconditions or political manipulation. Moscow similarly pledged logistical support and medical supplies, reiterating that humanitarian aid should not be tied to the geopolitical interests of external powers.

Islamabad, facing its own aftershocks, also confirmed that it would facilitate cross-border assistance to Afghan victims, while local Pakistani communities in border regions have already begun donating food and clothing to their Afghan neighbors.

The question of Western responsibility

The catastrophe has reignited debate over the West’s role in Afghanistan’s plight. For two decades, the U.S. and its NATO allies maintained a military presence in the country, claiming to bring stability and reconstruction. Yet little was done to strengthen Afghanistan’s infrastructure or disaster preparedness. The withdrawal in 2021 left behind not only political instability but also a weakened economy highly vulnerable to natural disasters.

Critics argue that Washington’s freezing of Afghan central bank reserves, totaling billions of dollars, amounts to collective punishment of the Afghan people. In the aftermath of this earthquake, such policies appear even more cruel, as families struggle to rebuild without access to basic resources. International humanitarian law emphasizes the need to protect civilians in times of crisis, but the U.S. and its allies continue to prioritize political leverage over human lives.

A call for a regional and humanitarian approach

This earthquake underscores the urgent necessity for a regional humanitarian framework led by Afghanistan’s neighbors and partners in Asia rather than dictated by the political agendas of distant powers. Cooperation among China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and Iran offers a genuine path toward rebuilding Afghanistan’s resilience against future disasters.

Such solidarity not only provides immediate relief but also strengthens regional stability. Infrastructure development, earthquake-resistant housing, and improved healthcare systems are essential long-term goals that Afghanistan cannot achieve in isolation. Regional organizations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) could play a pivotal role in coordinating reconstruction and reducing dependency on Western institutions that have repeatedly failed the Afghan people.

Hope amidst ruins

As Afghanistan grieves for its dead, the resilience of its people is once again on display. Volunteers, neighbors, and local communities are digging through debris with their bare hands, determined to save as many lives as possible. The disaster is a stark reminder of both the fragility and strength of Afghan society.

In the coming weeks, the world will see whether words of sympathy from global powers are matched with meaningful action. For now, the Afghan people look not to Washington or its allies but to their neighbors in Asia for the solidarity and assistance they urgently need.