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Afghanistan should seek growth of goods export to world
The chief of executive officer, (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah said that after receiving votes of confidence by representatives the cabinet ministers have important responsibilities for a good governance.
While introducing the minister of commerce and industry, CEO noted that most of Afghanistan trade challenges would be solved if further facilities provide for merchants and artisans.
Abdullah Abdullah is said to consider Afghanistan geography essential and vital for trade in the region; adding the country would be self-suffeicent if more business fields generate.
In the meantime, the minister of commerce and industry said he will start basic reforms in his first days of his career in the ministry.
“People especially traders expect the ministry of commerce that their demands to be addressed.” Hamayoun Rasa, minister of commerce and industry said, “One of the main reasons of distance between people and government is the commitments that were not fulfilled. I try my best to provide better opportunities in ministry of commerce and industry.”
Zia Masood, President’s special representative in good governance also introduced Muhammadullah Batash to their employees.
Afghanistan’s economy is recovering from decades of conflict. The economy has improved significantly since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001 largely because of the infusion of international assistance, the recovery of the agricultural sector, and service sector growth.
Meanwhile, the exhibition of Afghan-Turkey trade goods for the fifth time held in Kabul on Tuesday.
Omar Zakhailwal, economic advisor to president Ghani declared that Turkey’s role in Afghanistan economic is effective and Turkish companies have been invested more than $ 2 billion in Afghanistan.
“Relations between Afghan and Turkish investors should more strengthen that Afghan traders can work more effectively,” Zakhailwal said.
Officials in the ministry of commerce and industry also called on Turkish government to provide better conditions in Turkey for Afghan investors.
According to statistics, currently Afghanistan and Turkey relations reaches to $ 300 million each year.
At the other side, President Ashraf Ghani on his two-day visit in Tehran called Iran for mutual cooperation to overcome the challenges of the region.
Chairman of Iran’s Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture has attached great importance to President Ghani’s visit and looks forward to opening of new bilateral ties between Afghanistan and Iran.
He has said that trade relations of Iran with China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan through Afghanistan will strengthen the region’s economy.
Afghanistan’s negative trade balance has been a major concern for the nation. Currently, the imports are thirtyfold more than the export.
Officials in the Afghanistan chamber of commerce also announced about the readiness of Iran’s investments in Afghanistan.
This comes as Iran is one of the important donor countries of Afghanistan which has always cooperated with Afghanistan in road constructions, power transmission, infrastructure projects and issues related to border stations.
Afghanistan’s living standards are among the lowest in the world. The international community remains committed to Afghanistan’s development, pledging over $67 billion at nine donors’ conferences between 2003-10.
In July 2012, the donors at the Tokyo conference pledged an additional $16 billion in civilian aid through 2015. Despite this help, the Government of Afghanistan will need to overcome a number of challenges, including low revenue collection, anemic job creation, high levels of corruption, weak government capacity, and poor public infrastructure. Afghanistan’s growth rate slowed markedly in 2014.
The political crisis and the withdrawal of international security forces undermined confidence and the economy.
The outlook is for modest recovery helped by large inflows of development assistance and security grants. The new government has energetically sought to improve governance, shore up public finances, and enlist regional cooperation to improve security.
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UN warns mass return of Afghans from Pakistan and Iran is pushing Afghanistan to the brink
The mass return of Afghans from neighboring Pakistan and Iran is pushing Afghanistan to the brink, the U.N. refugee agency warned on Friday, citing an unprecedented scale of population movement.
According to UNHCR’s representative in Afghanistan, Arafat Jamal, 5.4 million Afghans have returned since October 2023, the vast majority from Pakistan and Iran. Speaking to reporters in Geneva via video link from Kabul, he said the pace of returns is overwhelming.
“This is massive, and the speed and scale of these returns has pushed Afghanistan nearly to the brink,” Jamal said.
The surge began after Pakistan introduced a sweeping crackdown in October 2023 targeting undocumented migrants, prompting many Afghans to leave voluntarily or face detention and deportation. Iran also tightened measures against migrants at roughly the same time.
Many of those returning had spent decades in exile — some born and raised in Pakistan with established businesses and family networks.
Last year alone, 2.9 million Afghans returned, marking the highest annual return to any single country ever recorded by UNHCR.
Jamal noted that Afghanistan was already grappling with a severe humanitarian crisis, economic fragility, and restrictions affecting women and girls. The sudden arrival of returnees — equal to about 12% of the population — has further strained services and resources. About 150,000 people have returned since the start of 2026.
Afghan authorities distribute basic assistance packages — including food, cash, SIM cards, and transport — but needs far exceed available support, particularly in a country still reeling from drought and two major earthquakes.
A November assessment by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) found that nine in ten families in high-return areas were resorting to negative coping mechanisms such as skipping meals, taking on debt, or selling their belongings.
Jamal also voiced concern about long-term sustainability, noting that while 5% of returnees say they plan to leave Afghanistan again, more than 10% know someone who already has.
“These decisions, I would underscore, to undertake dangerous journeys, are not driven by a lack of a desire to remain in the country, on the contrary, but the reality that many are unable to rebuild their viable and dignified lives,” he said.
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Trump: U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan ‘looked like running’
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday sharply criticized the military withdrawal from Afghanistan carried out under the Joe Biden administration, saying it “looked like running.”
Speaking to active-duty soldiers at Fort Bragg Army Base in North Carolina, Trump said the withdrawal left behind U.S. military equipment and tarnished America’s image.
“We wouldn’t have left anything. We would have left with dignity, strength and respect. We looked like we were running. We don’t run from anybody,” Trump said. “That was a Biden embarrassment. What a terrible president.”
Trump’s remarks reiterate his ongoing criticism of the Biden administration’s handling of Afghanistan, particularly the chaotic final days of the U.S. military presence.
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Trump aide: Efforts continue to free Americans detained in Afghanistan
Sebastian Gorka, Deputy Assistant to U.S. President Donald Trump, reaffirmed on X that the Trump administration is actively pressing the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) to release American detainees.
“President Trump has made it clear that the Taliban (IEA) must cease their hostage-taking, or there will be consequences,” Gorka said. “We will not rest until Dennis Coyle and Mahmood Habibi come home.”
The IEA has denied detaining Habibi, who formerly served as head of Afghanistan’s civil aviation authority.
Over the past year, five American detainees have been released from Afghanistan. According to the New York Times, the IEA has demanded the release of the last Afghan prisoner held at Guantanamo Bay in exchange for freeing two American detainees in Afghanistan.
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