Khost [Afghanistan], July 24 (ANI): Flash floods have wreaked havoc across Afghanistan’s eastern provinces of Khost and Paktia, leaving three people dead and causing widespread damage to homes, farmland, and infrastructure, according to Khaama Press.
The floods, which swept through multiple districts, have disrupted daily life and triggered significant economic loss. Local officials reported that the Wazi district in Paktia and the Nadershah Kot, Zazi Maidan, and Sabari districts in Khost were among the hardest hit. Entire homes, cultivated land, and retaining walls were destroyed.
“Three individuals lost their lives in Nadershah Kot district while collecting firewood near the floodwaters,” eyewitnesses told Khaama Press, highlighting the acute danger faced by rural communities during such sudden disasters.
In addition to the human toll, the floods have severely impacted the local economy, which is largely dependent on agriculture and natural resources. This disaster comes only weeks after a similar flooding event in the same region, underscoring a troubling pattern of recurrent natural calamities.
Experts are calling for immediate investment in flood mitigation infrastructure and stronger disaster preparedness strategies. They have also urged national and international organizations to step up relief efforts and support long-term resilience in vulnerable areas.
The growing frequency of natural disasters further highlights Afghanistan’s increasing vulnerabilities, compounded by global isolation. Reflecting this, Afghanistan’s passport has been ranked the least powerful in the world in 2025, according to the Henley Passport Index.
The index, based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), ranks passports by the number of destinations their holders can visit without a visa. In 2025, Afghanistan was ranked 106th out of 106, offering visa-free access to only 26 countries, including Sri Lanka, Somalia, Kenya, Cambodia, and Bangladesh.
This marks a further decline from 2024, when Afghanistan ranked 104th. The continued erosion of travel freedom reflects the country’s deteriorating diplomatic and economic standing.
In stark contrast, Singapore topped the 2025 index with access to 195 countries, followed by Japan (193 countries). Finland, France, Germany, Italy, South Korea, and Spain shared third place, offering visa-free entry to 192 destinations.
Despite the Taliban’s control over the country, Afghan passports continue to be printed with the emblem of the former government, according to Khaama Press. The report noted that political instability, an economic downturn, and growing international isolation have made it increasingly difficult for citizens to obtain passports and travel abroad.
Experts warn that unless Afghanistan undertakes urgent reforms in governance, economic stability, and international diplomacy, its citizens will remain cut off from much of the world. The downward trajectory of Afghanistan’s passport, they say, is a powerful symbol of the nation’s broader crisis.
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