As clashes continue between security forces and the Taliban in many parts of the country, the Defense Ministry said it had recently recaptured areas of Kaldar district in Balkh province and Pashtun Kut and Khan Chahar Bagh districts in Faryab province. Operations are underway to retake other districts that are under Taliban control, the MoD said.

It was also reported that the Taliban has captured the center of Kandahar’s Khakriz district and Logar's Baraki Barak district in the last 24 hours.

A painting reflecting Afghanistan’s empathy, love, cultural heritage and transformation and decorated with a poem by Rumi: “let’s not sew anything but love & friendship in this pure land," has been dedicated by the Afghan government to the United Nations during a special ceremony in New York with the participation of Afghanistan’s permanent representative to the UN Adela Raz and UN Secretary Antonio Guterres.

“I want to reassure you of our strong commitment to support Afghanistan. Our strong commitment to the people of Afghanistan. And to make sure that these trying times will lead to a new era, peace, prosperity and human rights for the people of Afghanistan that are so dear to my heart,” said António Guterres.