Taliban Deploys Military Units to Aid Northern Afghanistan Earthquake Victims
The Taliban’s Ministry of Defense has announced that troops from the 209 Al-Fath Army Corps have been dispatched to northern Afghanistan to provide emergency assistance to residents affected by a recent earthquake. According to the ministry, engineering, medical, and technical teams have been sent to assess the situation and deliver immediate support at the site of the disaster.
Reports indicate that a 100-bed regional hospital in the north has so far received the bodies of 12 victims and treated 35 others who were injured in the quake. Further details about the exact location of the casualties or the condition of the injured have not been provided.
In addition to medical aid, the Taliban’s defense ministry has reported the deployment of hundreds of commandos and other army personnel to earthquake-hit areas as part of clearance operations and humanitarian relief efforts. While urgent needs of the victims have not yet been fully identified, the ongoing presence of military forces in residential areas has raised questions about the Taliban administration’s priorities in delivering humanitarian assistance.
The Taliban has previously faced criticism for relying heavily on military channels rather than establishing transparent, civilian mechanisms for crisis management. This approach has drawn concern from international human rights organizations and aid groups, who warn against the politicization of humanitarian aid.
