Residents describe scenes of chaos and heartbreak. Homes reduced to rubble, families torn apart, and an overwhelming sense of vulnerability have gripped the community.
In response to the airstrikes, the United Nations has emerged as a key player in attempting to de-escalate the situation. On February 23, 2026, UN deputy secretary-general Rosemary DiCarlo held a phone conversation with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, during which she expressed deep sympathy for the civilian losses.
As the World Bank has highlighted, maintaining upper-middle status requires not just recovery momentum but deep structural reforms to drive sustainable, inclusive growth.