The Bayat Foundation has distributed Ramadan food assistance to dozens of needy families in Herat province, seeking to ease the burden on households struggling with deepening economic hardship.

Foundation officials said the food parcels — containing rice, flour, and cooking oil — have been delivered to impoverished families across the province.

The packages are designed to cover at least one month of essential food needs during the holy month of Ramadan, a time when many low-income families face increased expenses.

Afghanistan continues to confront widespread poverty, high unemployment, and food insecurity, with humanitarian agencies warning that millions remain in urgent need of assistance.

In Herat, local authorities say demand for basic food support remains particularly high, especially among returnees, daily wage laborers, and families without steady income.

Speaking during the distribution process, Sayed Noor Ahmad Shah Sadat, the Bayat Foundation’s representative in Herat, said the initiative is part of the organization’s annual Ramadan campaign.

“Today, on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan, the Bayat Foundation provided assistance to deserving families. These packages include rice, flour, and oil. The goal of this program is to support poor families and help meet their basic needs, especially during Ramadan,” he said.

Recipients described the aid as timely and essential.

Jan Mohammad, a beneficiary, said the food parcels would sustain his family for weeks. “These packages help us a lot. They cover our needs for at least a month. I hope this continues. We are poor people — we have nothing,” he said.

Humaira, another recipient, emphasized the importance of ongoing support. “The poor should always be considered. If this assistance continues, no Muslim will be forced into hardship,” she said.

Faqir Ahmad, also among those assisted, expressed gratitude, noting that the supplies would meet his family’s needs for a month.

Local officials welcomed the initiative and encouraged other organizations to expand similar efforts. Baz Mohammad Sarwari, head of the Telecom Regulatory Authority in Herat, praised the foundation’s work.

“The Bayat Foundation is distributing aid to deserving families, and this is truly commendable. We hope these efforts continue and call on other humanitarian organizations to assist the needy,” he said.

Founded by Afghan businessman and philanthropist Dr Ehsanullah Bayat, the Bayat Foundation has long been involved in humanitarian activities across Afghanistan. In addition to its annual Ramadan food drives, the organization has provided emergency relief to communities affected by natural disasters, supported healthcare initiatives, and assisted returnee migrants and other vulnerable groups.

The foundation says its Ramadan campaign is ongoing not only in Herat but also in several other provinces, aiming to reach thousands of families in need across the country.

Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry says Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi held a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi to discuss escalating regional tensions and recent military developments.

In a statement, the ministry said Muttaqi voiced deep concern over the latest hostilities, including reported strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran. He condemned the attacks and expressed condolences and sympathy to the Iranian government and people over what was described as the targeting of Iran’s leadership.

Araghchi, according to the statement, thanked Afghanistan for its message of solidarity and outlined Tehran’s perspective on the unfolding conflict, as well as Iran’s response to the attacks.

He reportedly briefed his Afghan counterpart on Iran’s assessment of the situation and the measures it considers necessary in what it describes as self-defense.

The call comes at a time of heightened instability across the Middle East, with fears that the confrontation could expand beyond its initial flashpoints and draw in additional regional actors.

For Afghanistan — which shares a long border with Iran and maintains close trade, transit, and refugee ties — any further escalation carries significant economic and humanitarian implications.

Muttaqi reiterated that the Islamic Emirate rejects violations of national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national airspace, calling such actions contrary to established international norms.

He stressed the importance of preventing further escalation and urged all parties to return to diplomatic engagement to resolve disputes peacefully.

Afghanistan has repeatedly called for neutrality and dialogue in regional conflicts, mindful of its own fragile economic recovery and dependence on stable cross-border trade routes.

Observers note that Kabul is seeking to balance political solidarity with Iran while also avoiding entanglement in a widening regional confrontation.

Both sides, according to the Afghan statement, underscored the need for restraint and diplomacy to prevent broader instability that could further disrupt an already volatile region.

Local officials in Afghanistan’s Kunar province have reported that an airstrike conducted by Pakistani forces in Khas Kunar district resulted in the death of three children.

The attack, which struck a return refugee camp in the Hajratabad area, also left another two children injured.

Farid Dehqan, spokesperson for the Khas Kunar police command, confirmed the civilian toll, emphasizing the vulnerability of displaced families in the region.

Zahidullah Fateh, the district governor of Khas Kunar, stated that the airstrike occurred around 8:00 p.m. local time on Sunday.

Afghan authorities have repeatedly raised concerns over attacks by Pakistani forces, warning that civilian areas are increasingly being targeted. Officials note that such operations appear to reflect a shift by Pakistani forces away from direct military engagements toward strikes that disproportionately impact vulnerable populations, including returnees and displaced families.

Human rights observers have condemned the incident, calling for an immediate investigation and urging both sides to respect the protection of civilians under international law.

This latest strike comes amid ongoing tensions along the disputed Durand Line between Afghanistan and Pakistan, where clashes and shelling have become increasingly frequent in recent months.