In the news
On 11 October, the German Research Centre for Geoscience (GFZ) reported a 6.3 magnitude earthquake in northwest Afghanistan near Herat. According to the research institute, the tremors were felt at a depth of ten kilometres (6.21 miles) from Herat. 

On 7 October, the Taliban authority stated: “We ask our wealthy compatriots to give any possible cooperation and help to our afflicted brothers.” According to Afghanistan's de facto Taliban authority, more than 2,400 people had died and several others had been injured.

The same day, UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed solidarity with the Afghan people and shared condolences to the families of the deceased. He added: “The United Nations and our partners in Afghanistan are coordinating with the de facto authorities to swiftly assess needs and provide emergency assistance. As winter approaches, the Secretary-General calls on the international community to come together and support people impacted by the earthquake, many of whom were already in need before this crisis.”

On 8 October, Amnesty International stated: “Our deepest condolences to the families who have lost loved ones in the devastating earthquake.” The organisation called on the de facto Taliban authorities for an effective response to the basic needs of the affected people and fair and adequate rescue and relief operations according to international human rights norms. 

Issues at large
First, Afghanistan’s earthquake zone. Afghanistan is positioned on the Eurasian plate that is bordered by the Arabian plate, the Indian plate and the Iranian plate. The country is prone to earthquakes as the plates are subsequently moving. According to Al Jazeera, in June 2022, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake in southeast Afghanistan killed at least 1000. In 2015, more than 200 in Afghanistan and Pakistan were killed in another earthquake. The earthquake in June 2022 was the deadliest since 2002 killing nearly 1,200 people. 

Second, the incompetence of the Taliban administration. Earthquakes are common in Afghanistan, particularly in the Hindu-Kush mountain region. However, the Taliban, who took over power in August 2021, have no expertise in managing natural disasters. Providing temporary housing and aid to earthquake survivors is a difficult task for the Taliban. Amidst the ongoing internal crisis, natural disasters are a burden to the volatile system. Ever since the takeover, the Taliban has pledged effective governance and a better economy; however, the broken promises elucidate the inefficiency of the government in doing so. Besides, the 2023 annual budget by the UN agencies in Afghanistan was reduced from USD 4.6 billion to USD 3.2 billion after the Taliban banned female workers in these organisations.

Third, limited global response. The international response to the earthquake has been delayed partially because several international actors are wary of engaging directly with the Taliban-led administration. Despite calls for international aid, only China and Pakistan have openly pledged financial and humanitarian support respectively. The international response to the earthquake in June 2022 was prompt and prudent. According to the UN, in 2022, the US provided Afghanistan with humanitarian aid of USD 1.2 billion. 

In perspective
The rescue efforts following the earthquake in June 2022 were successful due to foreign aid. However, the efforts are limited for the current one owing to the increasingly coercive Taliban administration. For the Taliban, the earthquake in Herat is likely to be taken as an opportunity to gain international support and facilitate bilateral relations.