The decision comes just ahead of the scheduled immunization campaign and leaves global health authorities grappling with how to counter the potential consequences. The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that halting these vital campaigns could undo years of progress and pose severe risks, not just to Afghanistan, but to neighboring countries like Pakistan. Both nations are key battlegrounds in the global polio eradication initiative.
Polio, a virus that can cause lifelong paralysis, is particularly dangerous to children, with its high transmission rate making comprehensive vaccination the only effective measure to halt its spread. The latest suspension coincides with the rise in polio cases in Afghanistan, with 18 confirmed cases this year, up from six in 2023. Most of these cases were detected in the southern provinces, especially Kandahar, an area where Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada exerts significant influence.
While there has been no official explanation for the Taliban's decision, health experts speculate that logistical challenges, coupled with the group’s distrust of international agencies, could be major factors. Earlier this year, efforts to vaccinate children in southern Afghanistan had already faced obstacles due to the switch from house-to-house vaccinations to mosque-based immunization drives, a shift that reduced the overall effectiveness of the campaigns. The WHO had noted the shortfall in the inclusion of women in vaccination efforts, a critical factor in gaining access to children in many areas.
The suspension of these campaigns is also a major concern for Pakistan, which has long struggled with polio and relies on cross-border coordination with Afghanistan to contain the virus. Health officials in Pakistan fear that without regular, synchronized campaigns, the virus will continue to spread across both nations, risking further outbreaks.
Global efforts to eradicate polio have faced significant hurdles in recent years, and Afghanistan’s latest setback complicates an already challenging situation. The polio eradication initiative, which operates with an annual budget exceeding $1 billion, has repeatedly missed its targets, partly due to difficulties in executing comprehensive vaccination programs in conflict zones like Afghanistan and Pakistan.