The Chief Executive Officer of Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat emphasized strengthening cooperation in the electricity sector during a meeting with Tajikistan’s Minister of Energy in Dushanbe.
According to Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat, the meeting between Abdul Haq Hamkar and Daler Juma focused on strengthening cooperation in the electricity sector, as well as reviewing the progress and challenges of the CASA-1000 project.
Mullah Abdul Haq Hamkar emphasized the need to accelerate the implementation of the CASA-1000 project, address potential challenges faced by the implementing companies, and strengthen technical coordination.
He also expressed appreciation for the efforts of Tajikistan’s energy officials in coordinating and expediting the CASA-1000 project, noting that joint efforts and coordination in the electricity sector can contribute to economic growth and regional stability.
Daler Juma, Tajikistan’s Minister of Energy, also highlighted the strategic importance of the CASA-1000 project, stating that it is not only a significant step toward regional connectivity but also a key opportunity for energy exchange and the expansion of economic cooperation.
He further assured continued efforts and support for coordination and the acceleration of the project’s implementation.
It is worth noting that the CASA-1000 project is considered a major initiative for electricity transmission cooperation between Central and South Asia, and its implementation within the country has made notable progress.
A traffic accident near Sarkhakan Chowk in Qarghayi district of Laghman province has left 47 casualties.
Mawlavi Habibullah Mubarez, Traffic Manager of Laghman, told Bakhtar News Agency that the accident occurred today after a truck overturned. According to him, 18 people were killed and 29 others injured in the incident. The fatalities included 10 children and five women. He added that emergency response and medical teams were deployed to the area immediately following the incident, and the injured were transferred to the Nangarhar Regional Hospital for treatment. According to officials, the victims were members of migrant families who had recently returned from Pakistan and were traveling from Kunar to Kabul.
The Deputy Minister of Food and Drug at the Ministry of Public Health held a meeting with the Deputy Ambassador of Uzbekistan in Kabul and a delegation of pharmaceutical manufacturing companies from that country, during which discussions were held on the commencement of the export process of medicines from Uzbekistan to Afghanistan.
According to the Ministry of Public Health, during the meeting between Mawlavi Hamdullah Zahid and Jamshed Badalov, discussions were held on the launch of medicine exports under a memorandum of understanding between the two countries, Afghanistan’s pharmaceutical production capacity, and the need to import certain medical supplies. In addition, the meeting included discussions on facilitating the registration process for foreign companies and investment opportunities in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors. At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides emphasized the importance of strengthening trade cooperation and expanding economic relations between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.
The spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry stated that negotiations with the United States began amid “deep suspicion and mistrust” and that exchanges of messages continue in the same atmosphere
Esmail Baghaei accused the United States of “violating the ceasefire” and said that the incident had further increased mistrust.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that, in response to a U.S. attack on a telecommunications tower on Sirik Island, its forces had targeted Mabda Airbase.
The U.S. military stated that, in response to Iran’s actions, including the downing of an American drone, it had targeted Iranian radar sites and drone command-and-control centers in Gorog and on Qeshm Island.
Afghan and Iranian officials, during a meeting in Tehran, discussed the development of railway cooperation and emphasized the acceleration of the Herat–Mazar-e-Sharif railway project. Both sides underscored their commitment to jointly implementing this important infrastructure initiative.
Mohammad Ashraf Haqshenas, spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Works, announced on his X page that, during meetings between a high-level delegation of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Works and Iranian officials, the two sides discussed technical specifications, construction standards, operational phases, financial structuring, and the mechanisms of participation by companies from both countries in the 657 kilometer Herat–Mazar e Sharif railway project.
The meeting also resulted in an agreement to continue technical coordination and to convene future expert-level meetings to accelerate the implementation of the project.
Officials from both countries described the Herat–Mazar-i-Sharif railway project as one of the most significant economic corridors in the region, capable of linking Afghanistan through Iran to Türkiye and extending to Central Asia and China.
According to officials, the completion of this railway line, in addition to enhancing regional connectivity, will create the potential to generate billions of Afghanis in transit revenue for Afghanistan and will play an important role in the country’s economic growth.
The Ministry of Public Works of Afghanistan emphasized that efforts to attract and secure funding for this project from both domestic and foreign sources are ongoing.
Mawlavi Noor Jalal Jalali, Minister of Public Health of the Islamic Emirate, met in Kabul with a delegation from the World Health Organization (WHO) that has arrived in Afghanistan from Geneva.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Public Health, during the meeting, both sides discussed and exchanged views on the follow-up of previous agreements and discussions with WHO officials, particularly the strengthening of the polio diagnostic laboratory in Kabul. The improvement of laboratory facilities, the development of specialized staff capacity, and the enhancement of the center’s operational efficiency were among the main topics of discussion. The Minister of Public Health described the fight against polio and other infectious diseases as key priorities of the ministry and emphasized efforts to eradicate polio through preventive measures. He added that the existence of a well-equipped laboratory plays an important role in the accurate and timely diagnosis of the disease. The WHO delegation also presented its views on the development of the polio laboratory and emphasized cooperation and the implementation of necessary measures to support related programs.
The Afghanistan Prison Administration has announced that 573 Afghan inmates serving sentences in Iran have been transferred back to Afghanistan via the Islam Qala border crossing, as part of a continued repatriation process.
Mawlavi Mohammad Yousuf Mastari, Director General of the Prison Administration, stated that on the first day, 408 prisoners, including one woman were returned, followed by another 165 on the second day.
According to Mastari, all individuals requested and consented to their own repatriation. Upon arrival, they were handed over to the Prison Administration.
The Director General explained that these individuals will now serve the remainder of their sentences in Afghan prisons under the administration’s authority.
He noted that this marks the 11th such transfer since the Islamic Emirate returned to power. He added that in the coming days, additional groups of Afghan prisoners in Iran, who have also agreed to the move are expected to be repatriated.
This transfer initiative is part of ongoing efforts to address the situation of Afghan citizens imprisoned abroad, offering them the opportunity to complete their sentences within Afghanistan.
Following a directive from Mawlavi Najibullah Hayat Haqqani, Minister of Urban Development and Housing, the process of plotting residential land for returnees has commenced in Laghman province.
According to a statement released today by the ministry’s press office, the distribution of residential plots to returning migrants in the eastern zone has accelerated and continues steadily since the minister’s visit to the region.
As part of these ongoing efforts, the land plotting work—carried out in line with the official plan—has begun in Laghman’s migrant township. Once completed, it will fully enable the allocation of residential plots to eligible families.
Minister Haqqani believes that the implementation of this project will establish a solid foundation for the resettlement of returning migrant families.
The plotting process will define the precise layout of houses and roads, facilitating the future distribution of plots and the provision of essential services such as water, electricity, schools, and healthcare centers.
It is worth noting that the migrant township in Laghman province has been established for families who lived for an extended period in neighboring countries and are now preparing for permanent resettlement in their homeland.
The Book Evaluation Commission, during its regular meeting, approved the printing of several books that align with Islamic principles and Afghan cultural values.
According to Bakhtar News Agency, the session began with the commission’s secretary presenting a report on the previous meeting, describing the body’s achievements and activities in a positive light.
During the session, appropriate decisions were made regarding a number of books. Those found consistent with Islamic and Afghan values were granted publication permission.
Commission members also shared their views and suggestions on matters related to author copyright and book translation licenses.
At the conclusion of the meeting, ten book titles were distributed to commission members for further review, with reports to be presented at the next session.
The Republic of Uzbekistan has donated 40 metric tons of seeds to Afghanistan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock.
According to a statement from the ministry’s press office released today, the shipment reflects ongoing agricultural cooperation between Afghanistan and its neighboring countries.
The consignment, which includes cotton seeds, rice plants, and vegetable seeds, entered Afghanistan via the Hairatan border crossing.
Mawlavi Misbahuddin Mustaeen, head of the Grain and Industrial Plants Development Department at the Ministry of Agriculture, received the shipment. The seeds were subsequently transferred to warehouses operated by the Balkh Directorate of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock.
Officials noted that the seeds will be allocated and distributed to various provinces, enabling farmers to benefit from them.
The initiative is intended to support farmers, enhance crop quality, and boost agricultural output across the country.
The Afghanistan Breshna Breshna (DABS) has announced that the expansion of electricity networks in the country’s remote districts is continuing in a balanced manner.
According to a statement from the company’s press office, this issue was discussed during a meeting in Kabul between Mullah Abdulhaq Hamkar, CEO of DABS, and the governor and head of the Ulema Council of Samangan province.
The talks emphasized strengthening electricity revenue collection, reducing losses, and enhancing public cooperation with the company’s provincial offices.
The governor of Samangan and the head of the province’s Ulema Council pledged their full support for improving electricity services and collaborating closely with DABS.
The CEO further noted that Samangan province has been given a special priority in the company’s development plans.
In recent years, with the rising global demand for strategic raw materials, increasing attention has been directed toward countries that possess extensive mineral resources. Afghanistan, within this context, based on domestic technical assessments and several credible international reports, is believed to hold significant reserves of lithium, copper, iron, and rare earth elements—materials that today play a decisive role in advanced industries, emerging technologies, and the future of global energy.
Commentary:
The commentator of Bakhtar News Agency writes that Afghanistan has, in the past, often been described from the perspective of challenges and crises; however, current realities indicate that, alongside its difficulties, the country also possesses significant economic potential.
Afghanistan’s mineral resources represent one of its most significant assets, which, if managed properly, could serve as a fundamental pillar for national economic growth and the strengthening of economic stability. The importance of these resources is not limited to their financial value; rather, it also lies in their strategic significance for the future of both the region and the wider world.
In some international analyses, Afghanistan has been referred to as the “Lithium Saudi Arabia,” a term that reflects the country’s potential in this sector, although the practical exploitation of these resources remains in the development phase.
This indicates that Afghanistan could play a significant role in the future global energy chain and advanced industries, a prospect that has also attracted the attention of several countries and international investors to this sector.
Since the reestablishment of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, attention to the country’s natural resources has increased considerably compared to the past, and this sector has been prioritized in economic planning. The Islamic Emirate seeks to utilize these resources to strengthen the domestic economy and generate national revenue through orderly management, transparent frameworks, and the targeted extraction of mineral resources. This approach has created opportunities for improved use of domestic resources and the reduction of economic dependency.
Alongside this process, the establishment of nationwide security has been one of the key factors creating favorable conditions for investment and the development of this sector. The current focus is on ensuring that Afghanistan’s mines are managed in a way that both safeguards national interests and provides a foundation for attracting responsible investment and facilitating the transfer of technical expertise.
However, it is clear that the effective utilization of these resources requires the development of infrastructure, the enhancement of technical capacity, and sustainable management practices. In this regard, any economic cooperation must be structured within the framework of national interests and in a manner that preserves the country’s economic independence, ensuring that these resources do not become a source of dependency but instead contribute to the country’s progress and development.
Overall, Afghanistan’s mineral resources represent a historic and strategic opportunity. Under the current conditions, it has become possible for this “silent power” to be transformed into an active force within the national economy, placing Afghanistan on a path toward self-sufficiency, economic stability, and effective regional and global engagement.
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