ANI/Agencies
Srinagar, Oct 17: A strong earthquake of magnitude 5.6 struck 47 kilometres north-northwest of Khandūd, Afghanistan, at 5:30 AM IST on Friday, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). The quake, occurring at a depth of 51 kilometres, was also felt in parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier on the same day, a 4.3-magnitude tremor shook areas 133 kilometres east of Kabul at a depth of 10 kilometres, as reported by the National Center for Seismology. The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) confirmed a magnitude 5.66 quake near the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border.
On October 5, a 4.1-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan at a depth of 180 km, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS). In a post on X, the NCS reported: “EQ of M: 4.1, On: 06/10/2025 20:12:21 IST, Lat: 36.64 N, Long: 70.88 E, Depth: 180 Km, Location: Afghanistan.”
Earlier, on September 28, the region experienced another earthquake measuring 3.9 in magnitude at a shallow depth of 10 km, which makes it more prone to aftershocks. The NCS reported: “EQ of M: 3.9, On: 28/09/2025 04:16:13 IST, Lat: 34.62 N, Long: 70.84 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Afghanistan.” Shallow earthquakes are generally more dangerous because seismic waves travel a shorter distance to the surface, causing stronger ground shaking, potentially greater structural damage, and higher casualties.
On September 18, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, reaffirmed India’s commitment to promoting peace, stability, and development in Afghanistan. During a UN Security Council quarterly briefing on Afghanistan, he highlighted India’s priorities, including providing humanitarian aid and implementing capacity-building initiatives for Afghan citizens.
Ambassador Parvathaneni emphasised the importance of international and regional cooperation on Afghanistan-related issues and expressed India’s support for the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). He also thanked UNAMA’s Special Representative and Head, Roza Otunbayeva, for her briefing.
Around the same period, northern Pakistan, near the Afghan border, experienced a 5.7-magnitude earthquake. According to India’s NCS, the tremor occurred at 5:45:06 pm IST at a depth of 10 km, with coordinates 36.61° N and 72.87° E. Its shallow depth made the quake felt across parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Islamabad, Swat, and Chitral.
Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northern India lie in a highly seismically active zone, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates converge. The region frequently experiences moderate to strong earthquakes, often felt across borders due to nearby fault lines. Authorities in Afghanistan and Pakistan have not yet reported casualties or infrastructure damage, as assessments are ongoing.
