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Stoltenberg says 20-year mission in Afghanistan ‘was not in vain’
In a question-and-answer session hosted by Brookings Institute, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said the Afghanistan effort was worthwhile but that the alliance still needed to evacuate some Afghan allies.
“The mission was not in vain,” he said, highlighting that no terrorist attack has been staged from Afghanistan in the past 20 years.
“Those who have paid the ultimate price, those who have lost loved ones, family members, they should know that actually, they made an important contribution. They made the difference in the fight against terrorism.”
Stoltenberg also said it was not surprising that the Islamic Emirate (IEA) took control of Afghanistan but that the surprise was how quickly the group was able to seize power.
He said NATO must stay vigilant in tracking the developments in the country.
“The main task now is to do whatever we can to preserve as much as possible of the achievements we made on terrorism,” he said.
“That means to hold the Taliban (IEA) government accountable for their promises on terrorism, … but also to be ready to strike over the horizon, long distance, and to stay vigilant as NATO allies, to follow and monitor closely any attempt to reconstitute international terrorist groups in Afghanistan aiming at us.”
Moldova’s government has included Afghan airlines in its updated list of carriers banned or restricted from operating in the country, effective 19 February 2026, in line with EU aviation safety rules.
The order, signed by Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Bolea, covers more than 200 airlines from around 20 countries, including Afghanistan, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Most face a complete operating ban in Moldovan airspace and airports, while some have limited operational permissions, state news agency Moldpres reported.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Moldova will monitor compliance. The ban remains in place until Moldova joins the European Union.
Iranian border authorities say they have saved the lives of 700 Afghan nationals who were attempting to enter the country irregularly and had become severely affected by cold weather.
According to Iranian media reports, Majid Shoja, commander of the border forces in Razavi Khorasan province, said that heavy rainfall and harsh weather conditions along the Taybad frontier had exposed the group to hypothermia and a serious risk of death. He added that Iranian border units deployed medical teams and used all available resources to treat the affected individuals.
Shoja urged Afghan citizens to use official and legal border crossings if they need to travel to Iran, warning that unauthorized entry will be met with legal consequences.
Richard Bennett, the UN special rapporteur for human rights in Afghanistan, says he will present a report on the right to health for Afghan women and girls at the upcoming 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Bennett announced on X that his presentation is scheduled for 26 February, and he will also deliver an oral statement covering concerning recent human rights developments.
Bennett has repeatedly warned that ongoing limitations on women’s rights—including education, employment, movement, and access to essential services—pose serious risks to Afghanistan’s social and humanitarian stability.
The 61st session of the Human Rights Council comes at a time when international agencies continue to urge the Islamic Emirate authorities to reverse policies that disproportionately affect women and girls and to restore their access to basic rights and services.
The Islamic Emirate has emphasized that its policies on women and girls are in accordance with the Sharia law.
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