Islamabad – Russia’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, has extended condolences to the Afghan people following a powerful earthquake that struck the country’s east, killing more than 600 people.

In remarks given to HTN World, Kabulov said:

“We officially express our condolences to the Afghan nation and, as we did in previous times, I am sure the Russian government will take steps to support Afghans who suffered from this earthquake with relief.”

Rising Death Toll

Afghanistan’s Taliban-run interior ministry confirmed on Monday that the magnitude 6.0 quake has left over 600 people dead and hundreds more injured. The tremor, which struck at a shallow depth of around 8 km (5 miles), was felt across eastern Afghanistan and as far away as Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad.

Officials and residents say entire villages in Kunar province and surrounding districts have been leveled. Remote and mountainous terrain has complicated rescue operations, with helicopters attempting to reach communities cut off by landslides. Locals fear many more remain trapped beneath rubble.

The quake is one of the deadliest to hit Afghanistan in recent years. Witnesses described buildings shaking violently in Kabul, while tremors rippled across Pakistan’s border regions. Emergency teams warn the full scale of the disaster may take days to emerge due to poor communications and blocked roads.

Russia’s Position

Moscow has formally recognized Afghanistan’s Taliban government, one of the few countries to extend such diplomatic legitimacy. Kabulov’s remarks underline both Russia’s humanitarian stance and its political engagement with Kabul at a time when Afghanistan remains isolated internationally.

The envoy’s comments come as emergency teams warn that the full scale of the disaster may take days to emerge due to poor communications and blocked roads.