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India commits to another key development in Afghanistan
Afghanistan and India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the construction of the Shahtoot dam project in Kabul.
President Ashraf Ghani and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a virtual summit over the singing of the MoU on Tuesday afternoon.
Speaking at the occasion, Ghani said once the project is finished, the Shahtoot dam would provide clean water to two million people in Kabul.
“With Shahtoot Dam, Kabul snow and rain will be harnessed to quench the thirst of around two million citizens through the provision of water security,” Ghani stated.
The dam that will be built on the Kabul river, one of Afghanistan’s five rivers, would also be used for irrigation.
Ghani stated: “Shahtoot will inject sufficient water into Kabul River to make it once again a hub of greenery, reforestation, entertainment, and arts and crafts.”
“With Shahtoot reservoir and solar pumps we will be able to implement our vision of restoring Kabul to the natural beauty that captivated the imagination of Babur,” Ghani noted.
Meanwhile, Indian PM Modi stated that India has been one of the main development partners of Afghanistan in the last two decades.
“Our development projects in Afghanistan are spread across various sectors like infrastructure development, capacity building, agriculture, education, and health,” Modi said.
He said that the signing of the MoU on Shahtoot Dam in Kabul is based on the strong friendship between India and Afghanistan.
“I feel special joy, knowing that the Shahtoot Dam project will make drinking water available for citizens living in Kabul,” Modi pointed out.
Modi also assured the people of Afghanistan that “India is standing together with you. India will be with you during every step of your journey that is one of patience, courage, and resolve.”
Modi said that no external power can stop the development of Afghanistan or will be able to hinder the friendship between India and Afghanistan.
Hundreds of former U.S. officials are calling on Washington to cancel a reported plan to relocate Afghan refugees from Qatar to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In an open letter addressed to the U.S. State Department, more than 600 former civilian and military officials, along with around 100 organizations, urged the administration to stop the proposed transfer. The letter was sent to Marco Rubio.
The signatories argue that the Afghan nationals in question were brought to Qatar by the United States to complete legal immigration procedures after undergoing extensive security vetting. The letter states that while the individuals were cleared for resettlement in the United States, they are now being considered for relocation to Congo, a country for which they were never screened.
“Those individuals were vetted and approved for the United States, not for the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” the letter reads.
According to the report, more than 1,100 Afghan allies and their family members are currently being held at Camp As Sayliyah in Qatar under U.S. supervision. Around 800 of them have already completed all security checks and received authorization to travel to the United States. More than half are women and children, and many have remained in transit limbo for over 15 months.
The situation has drawn criticism from former officials and policy observers, who describe the proposed relocation as a betrayal of Afghan allies who supported U.S. missions and risked their lives during the war in Afghanistan. Critics also warn that the move could damage U.S. credibility with future partners.
Several members of the U.S. Congress had previously expressed opposition to the proposal, cautioning that it could significantly undermine trust in the United States among its allies.
Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s former special envoy for Afghanistan, has said that no country should interfere in Afghanistan’s internal affairs, stressing that it is up to Afghans themselves to bring about any change in their country.
In a post on X, Durrani said Afghans should be “left to their own devices” and that they would eventually “find the way out” of their challenges.
However, he warned that instability inside Afghanistan could have negative consequences for neighbouring countries, adding that Afghan leaders and their supporters should take responsibility to address such risks.
Durrani described his remarks as a simple expression of goodwill and best wishes for the Afghan people and their future.
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Uzbekistan and Japan discuss joint projects for Afghanistan’s socio-economic development
The Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Afghanistan, Ismatulla Irgashev, has met with Tetsuya Yamada, Director General of the South Asia Department at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), to discuss cooperation on Afghanistan-related development projects.
According to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both sides focused on the implementation of joint initiatives aimed at supporting the socio-economic development of Afghanistan.
During the meeting, the Japanese side praised Uzbekistan’s “pragmatic approach” toward Afghanistan, as well as the infrastructure developed in the border city of Termez.
Japan also expressed interest in utilizing the Termez facilities for future humanitarian and development projects in Afghanistan, particularly in the fields of education, healthcare, agriculture, private sector development, and counter-narcotics efforts.
Both sides emphasized that such cooperation is aimed at improving the living conditions and overall well-being of the Afghan people.
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