Afghanistan has ranked last out of 147 countries in the 2025 edition of the World Happiness Report released Thursday.

Published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford in partnership with Gallup and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, the report evaluates various factors, including health, wealth, freedom, generosity, and freedom from corruption, to measure overall happiness across societies based on self-reported assessments from 147 countries.

Finland has been named the happiest country in the world for the eighth consecutive year.

Denmark, Iceland and Sweden followed Finland in the ranking.

According to the new World Happiness Report, Afghanistan lost approximately 2.7 points from 2013 to 2025.

The lowest frequency of positive emotions is in Afghanistan. It also has the most frequent negative emotions.

The United States came in 24th place, the lowest position for it in such rankings.

Torkham border gate has been reopened for trade vehicles after Afghanistan and Pakistan jirga members reached an agreement following several rounds of talks.

The border, which had been closed for 26 days, will reopen to the public on Friday.

According to officials from the Nangarhar Chamber of Commerce, several rounds of discussions were held between the private sectors of both sides. The extended border closure cost Afghan traders an estimated $1 million a day, chamber officials said.

Sayed Tayyib Hamad, spokesperson for the Nangarhar Police Command, also confirmed Wednesday that the Torkham gate had been reopened for trucks and will reopen for the public on Friday.

Pakistan closed the gate almost a month ago amid growing tension and subsequent clashes between border forces over the reconstruction of a controversial checkpost on the Afghanistan side of the border.

The move resulted in significant financial losses for traders on both sides.

Afghanistan and Pakistan traders have meanwhile appealed for authorities in both countries to separate trade from politics and said disputes can only be solved through dialogue.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif signaled Tuesday that Islamabad could conduct cross-border anti-terrorist operations into Afghanistan, and that Islamabad will pursue its enemy, “regardless of where they are”.

Speaking to Geo News, Asif said Pakistan had repeatedly asked Afghanistan to take action against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Islamabad accuses of orchestrating militant attacks against Pakistan from inside Afghanistan.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) however has repeatedly said TTP is not operating in the country and that they will not allow any individual or group to threaten the security of another country from Afghan soil.

Asif meanwhile also said that in some instances, Afghan authorities were providing shelter to TTP elements.

“If we have to resort to hot pursuit and enter [Afghanistan] to eliminate our enemies, we will do so. This is a matter of Pakistan’s national security, not friendship. A [lenient] approach will be detrimental to our security,” Asif said.

“We will pursue our enemy, regardless of where they are.

In addition to Asif’s interview, a meeting of Pakistan’s Parliamentary Committee on National Security was held this week to discuss ways to tackle terrorist groups in the country.

The committee, consisting of top civil and military officials, resolved to deal with terrorist groups with an “iron hand”.

This came after last week’s brazen attack by Balochistan Liberation Army militants, who blew up train tracks and held over 440 train passengers hostage in a day-long standoff with security services in a remote mountain pass.

Pakistan said at the time that during the siege, militants had been in contact with their handlers in Afghanistan.