A high-level Afghan business delegation, led by the Chairman of the Balkh Chamber of Commerce and Investment, Mohammad Ibrahim Ghazanfar, participated in the Afghanistan–Türkiye Joint Business Council meeting in Istanbul, calling for expanded joint investment and stronger economic cooperation between the two countries.

According to a statement from the Balkh Chamber of Commerce and Investment, Ghazanfar invited Turkish investors and industrialists to explore investment opportunities across various sectors in Afghanistan, emphasizing the country’s potential for mutually beneficial partnerships.

The meeting brought together business leaders, investors, and private sector representatives from both Afghanistan and Türkiye to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral trade and economic ties.

During the event, several cooperation agreements were signed between Afghan and Turkish economic institutions. The agreements are aimed at expanding commercial relations, promoting joint investment projects, and enhancing economic cooperation between the two countries.

The meeting was chaired by Süleyman Güllü, Chairman of the Türkiye–Afghanistan Joint Business Council, and was attended by Mohammad Akbar Azimi, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s Consul General in Istanbul, along with a number of businessmen and investors from both countries.

Participants stressed the importance of increasing private sector cooperation and creating new opportunities to boost trade and investment between Afghanistan and Türkiye.

The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) says the security situation along the Tajik-Afghan border remains “complicated,” citing ongoing concerns over militant activity in northern Afghanistan.

Viktor Vasilyev, chairman of the CSTO Permanent Council, said this week that instability in Central Asia continues to stem from threats posed by militants operating near Afghanistan’s northern border region.

Speaking at a forum in St. Petersburg, Russia, Vasilyev said member states plan to intensify joint efforts to counter militant groups that, according to Tajik and Chinese authorities, have carried out attacks on Chinese-backed business interests and other sporadic cross-border incidents affecting Tajikistan. Afghanistan’s ruling authorities have expressed regret over such incidents, but he said the security situation remains fragile in remote border areas.

“Despite Russia’s and several Central Asian countries’ efforts to establish contacts with the current authorities in Kabul, the security situation remains complicated,” Vasilyev said, calling it the CSTO’s main concern in the region, according to the Russian state news agency TASS.

He added that the bloc plans to expand coordinated operations, including efforts to “neutralize militant and extremist groups” that he said continue to accumulate along Afghanistan’s northern borders. He also described reported shelling of Tajik territory from Afghanistan as a “particular concern.”

The CSTO, which includes Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Armenia, has previously supported Tajikistan through military equipment and joint exercises aimed at strengthening border security along its 1,200-kilometer frontier with Afghanistan.

However, Armenia has suspended its participation in the alliance, citing dissatisfaction over CSTO inaction during past conflicts with Azerbaijan, and has instead pursued closer ties with Europe and the United States. The issue of Armenia’s status is expected to be discussed at the ongoing forum in St. Petersburg.

Vasilyev, a veteran Russian Foreign Ministry official, assumed the rotating CSTO chairmanship in January and is set to remain in the position until the end of 2026.

Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has repeatedly stated that Afghan territory will not be used against any country and has assured that it will not allow any armed group to operate from Afghan soil against neighboring states.

Iran face an anxious wait to see if they will progress to the World Cupknockout stage after they came from behind to hold Egypt to a 1-1 draw, which ended in ​dramatic fashion with an apparent last-ditch winner ruled out for offside, Reuters reported.

Egypt, whose qualification for the ‌last-32 was already guaranteed, took the lead inside five minutes through Mahmoud Saber, before Ramin Rezaeian equalised from a tight angle in the 14th minute of a frantic start.

The early action fizzled out as the game became scrappy until ​a remarkable finale in which Iran hit the woodwork before snatching what seemed a famous ​win, only to have VAR intervene.

Iran’s Mehdi Taremi – who had a penalty saved ⁠in the first half – hit the crossbar with a late header before Shoja Khalilzadeh fired home ​in the 93rd minute, sparking wild celebrations as the Iran bench streamed onto the pitch.

But Khalilzadeh had strayed just offside and ​Egypt clung on for a draw, which means they finish second with five points, behind Belgium on goal difference, and will play Australia in Dallas on July 3 in the knockout phase.

Iran are third on three points and must wait for confirmation that they will ​go through as one of the eight best third-placed teams.

The game ​was played with a large and loud Egyptian contingent in the stands, though there were also significant numbers of ‌Iranians, ⁠some of whom waved pre-revolutionary flags and also booed Iran’s national anthem.

Friday’s game was also designated the “Pride Match” by local organisers and some rainbow flags could be seen inside the stadium, though the game passed without incident off the pitch.

Egypt broke the deadlock after a slick move with Mohamed Salah ​at its centre as ​his trademark left-footed attempt ⁠eventually fell to Saber, whose tame effort slipped through Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand.

Iran were unfazed, though, and Taremi almost immediately won a penalty which was ​well saved by Mostafa Shobeir. The Egypt goalkeeper then produced another diving ​stop, only ⁠to see Rezaeian equalise on the rebound, read the report.

There were few clear opportunities after the first-half hydration break and, with Egypt’s progress to the knockout stage for the first time already confirmed, the Pharaohs were timid as ⁠Iran ​grew in confidence.

Pinball in the box in added time ended ​with Khalilzadeh firing home to seemingly send Iran through to the Round of 32, but the goal was ruled out and ​Team Melli’s fate was no longer in their own hands.