Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has expressed concern over what she described as the “difficult humanitarian situation” in Afghanistan, citing high infant mortality rates and the spread of polio.

Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, Zakharova said that according to the World Health Organization (WHO), 21 polio cases were recorded between 2025 and 2026 in areas between Afghanistan’s and Pakistan.

She claimed that Afghan children under the age of 10 had limited access to vaccination, saying only 5–7% had been vaccinated. Zakharova also highlighted Afghanistan’s neonatal mortality rate, saying it stood at 33.1 deaths per 1,000 live births, which she described as nearly twice the global average.

She said infant deaths in Afghanistan were mainly linked to premature births and insufficient access to breast milk or nutritional substitutes.

Zakharova blamed what she called the “politicization of international humanitarian assistance” by Western countries for the humanitarian challenges in Afghanistan. She criticized US and allies sanctions against Kabul, saying they affected the most vulnerable segments of Afghan society, particularly children and newborns.

“International funding for humanitarian programs in Afghanistan is declining,” Zakharova said, adding that the freezing of Afghan banking assets had limited the government’s ability to finance crisis response measures.

She called on Western countries to return Afghanistan’s frozen assets and stop what she described as the “artificial politicization” of humanitarian aid to the country.

Zakharova added that Russia would continue providing humanitarian assistance to Afghans, including through relevant international organizations.

Former Zabul Deputy Governor Jumah Khan Fateh has dismissed reports claiming he had disagreements with the leadership of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), saying the allegations are unfounded.

Fateh made the remarks after travelling to Kabul, where he met with the Prime Minister at the Presidential Palace. He was accompanied by the Chief of Army Staff and the Minister of Economy.

In an interview with the BBC, Fateh said he has never opposed the leadership of the Islamic Emirate, describing media reports of alleged differences as “far from the truth.”

He said his departure from his post in Zabul was due to language-related challenges and health concerns, adding that he remains ready to serve the country in any role assigned to him by the leadership.

Recent media reports had suggested that Fateh was reluctant to continue working with the government because of differences with senior officials. He rejected those claims, reiterating his commitment to serving the country.

It remains unclear whether any decisions were made during his meeting with the Prime Minister or whether he will be appointed to a new government position.

Earlier this week, the Chief of Staff of the Ministry of National Defense of the Islamic Emirate, Fasiuddin Fitrat, rejected reports that Fateh had distanced himself from the government, describing claims of disagreements with the leadership as “media propaganda.”

Fetrat said Fateh was unable to assume his appointment as deputy governor of Zabul province due to personal and family-related circumstances.

He said some media outlets had portrayed the situation as evidence of a dispute between Fateh and the Islamic Emirate, but insisted the reports were inaccurate.

Fitrat stressed that the matter was solely related to Fateh’s family circumstances and did not reflect any differences with the leadership.

He also dismissed reports claiming that security forces had been deployed to arrest Fateh, calling the allegations “false and far from reality.”

The comments came amid speculation in some media reports regarding Fateh’s status following his appointment as deputy governor of Zabul.

Pakistan has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining peaceful and stable relations with Afghanistan, stressing that dialogue and regional cooperation are key to promoting long-term stability.

The remarks were made by Murtaza Solangi, spokesperson for the President of Pakistan, during the international conference, Pakistan in a Transforming Geopolitical Environment, hosted by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI).

Solangi said Islamabad remains committed to peaceful ties with Afghanistan and has consistently supported the Afghan people. He added that Pakistan does not want Afghan territory to be used as a safe haven for militant groups and emphasized the need to work together to strengthen regional peace and security.

He also welcomed mediation efforts by China, Türkiye and Qatar aimed at improving relations between Islamabad and Kabul, saying Pakistan supports dialogue as the best way to address bilateral challenges.

Highlighting the importance of regional integration, Solangi described Afghanistan as a vital link in efforts to enhance connectivity and economic cooperation across the region.

The conference featured a session titled Afghanistan, Central Asia and the Future of Regional Stability, where officials, diplomats and regional experts discussed security, trade links and opportunities for greater regional cooperation.

The event was organized by the Centre for Afghanistan, Middle East and Africa (CAMEA) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad, in collaboration with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), and focused on geopolitical developments shaping South and Central Asia.