Blast kills two children in Afghanistan’s Paktia province

Two children were killed after an unexploded mine detonated in Afghanistan’s eastern Paktia province, local authorities said Wednesday. Two children were killed after an unexploded mine detonated in Afghanistan’s eastern Paktia province, highlighting the continuing danger posed by decades of war remnants across the country. Nisar Ahmad Nejat, head of the disaster management department in Paktia, said the blast occurred in Rohani Baba district. The victims, both 14 years old and members of the same family, died at the scene. Nejat urged residents to report mines, unexploded ordnance and suspicious objects to authorities to help prevent further casualties. Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most heavily mine-contaminated countries. According to United Nations estimates, around 3.3 million people live near areas contaminated by landmines and unexploded explosives left behind by more than four decades of conflict. Rights group Rawadari reported that at least 79 people were killed and 85 injured in landmine and unexploded ordnance incidents during 2025. The victims included 43 children, underscoring the disproportionate impact of explosive remnants of war on young people. Yousuf Hammad, spokesperson for the Taliban’s disaster management authority, said 225 incidents involving mines and unexploded ordnance were recorded nationwide between April 2025 and March 2026. According to the authority, those incidents resulted in 96 deaths and 378 injuries, reflecting the scale of the threat that remains across large parts of Afghanistan. Humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned that funding shortages have slowed mine-clearance operations in several provinces, leaving communities exposed to deadly explosives in farmland, residential areas and routes used by returning families. The danger has become more acute as hundreds of thousands of Afghans have returned from neighboring Pakistan and Iran in recent months, with many settling in areas where contamination remains widespread. Aid agencies say increased support for demining programs is critical to reducing civilian casualties and enabling safe resettlement. The post Blast kills two children in Afghanistan’s Paktia province appeared first on Khaama Press.