Peshawar, February 20, 2026 (Agencies) — A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck near Bazarak in Panjshir Province, Afghanistan, at approximately 6:09?pm local time, with tremors felt across parts of northern Pakistan and Tajikistan.
Preliminary reports indicate that the epicenter was located about 34?km from Bazarak, in a seismically active region of the Hindu Kush where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates interact. Residents in northern Pakistan, including areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Islamabad, reported feeling shaking, prompting temporary evacuations from buildings in some districts.
Authorities have not yet reported any casualties or significant damage in Pakistan, Afghanistan, or Tajikistan. Emergency services in border regions are monitoring the situation and advising the public to remain cautious of potential aftershocks.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department and regional disaster management agencies are expected to release official bulletins with verified details on magnitude, depth, and impact in the coming hours.
Seismologists note that earthquakes of this magnitude are common in the Hindu Kush region and can be widely felt across neighboring countries due to the depth and geological structure of the area.