Afghanistan

In 2025, Afghanistan submitted a Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) Article 4 deadline extension request seeking a two-year extension to release the remaining 8.7km² of CMR contamination, later revised to three years to allow more time for fundraising. Operators cleared 0.3km² in 2025 but lack of international funding resulted in a drop in the number of operational teams from 285 teams at the start of the year, including 123 clearance teams, to 171 at the end, of which 49 were conducting clearance. After the United States ended financial support in January 2025, the United Nations (UN) Mine Action Technical Cell (MATC) cut coordination and support staff from 51 to 14 and closed three of four offices. Support from a new donor in the fourth quarter saw MATC staffing rise to 23.

• The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) government should deliver the funding it has pledged to provide for mine action.

• International donors should increase funding for mine action in Afghanistan and sustain funding for the MATC to underpin critical coordination, planning, information management, and quality management functions.

• International donors should also seek to support survey and clearance of the nine remaining cluster munition-contaminated areas, to enable Afghanistan to fulfil its Article 4 obligations.

Click here to download the full "Clearing Cluster Munition Remnants 2026" report for Afghanistan.