Latest News
IOM warns of drought and famine after a relatively dry winter
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has warned that Afghanistan could face drought and famine this year and that 17 million people could be at risk of facing hunger.
Nick Bishop, an emergency response officer in Afghanistan, said this was due to reduced levels of snow and rain this winter across the country.
Bishop suggested that a humanitarian response plan must be put in place.
“Afghanistan’s agriculture is heavily dependent on rain-fed agriculture and snowmelt… so the humanitarian response plan for this year is suggesting that as many as 17 million Afghans – about 42 percent of the total population – will be impacted by drought and famine,” Bishop said.
The IOM stated that in 2020 the organization has recorded its largest-ever return for undocumented Afghan migrants, with almost a million returnees.
“That is almost double the previous year,” the IOM said.
Besides the returnees, thousands of internally displaced people, due to ongoing conflicts in large parts of the country, are struggling with unemployment.
Bishop said the situation of Afghans struggling with unemployment could get even worse given the shortage of rain and snow in Afghanistan in the past few months.
“Peace negotiations between the Taliban and Afghan officials have stalled. Violence across the country is on the rise and experts predict a possible drought on the way,” the IOM said in the statement.
The United States has decided to permanently close its consulate in Peshawar which has long been the closest American diplomatic mission to the Durand Line.
According to a report by the Associated Press, the U.S. State Department informed Congress this week of its intention to shut down the consulate, saying the move would save about $7.5 million annually.
U.S. officials said the closure would not negatively affect Washington’s ability to advance its national interests in Pakistan.
The U.S. consulate in Peshawar was a primary operations and logistics point before, during and after the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan.
The decision is part of a broader effort by the Donald Trump administration to reduce costs and downsize federal agencies, a plan that has been under consideration for more than a year. Officials said the move is not related to the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Last year, the U.S. administration also cut thousands of diplomatic positions at the State Department and dismissed many staff members from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
However, the Peshawar consulate will be the first overseas U.S. diplomatic mission to be completely closed as part of the State Department’s restructuring.
The consulate currently employs 18 American diplomats and government personnel as well as 89 local staff members.
U.S. President Donald Trump once again criticized the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan during a rally-like speech on Wednesday.
He said that everything the Biden administration did regarding Afghanistan was wrong and described the withdrawal as “the most embarrassing day in the history of our country.”
Trump noted that 13 American service members were killed during the evacuation.
He also criticized the decision to withdraw through Kabul airport instead of the Bagram Air Base.
According to Trump, there was no reason for the United States to remain in Afghanistan any longer.
He said his plan had been to withdraw U.S. forces from Afghanistan “with strength and dignity.”
Trump further criticized the Biden administration of leaving large amounts of military equipment behind during the withdrawal.
Nooruddin Azizi, Afghanistan’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, met with Yu Xiaoyong, China’s Special Representative in Kabul, to discuss expanding trade and investment opportunities between the two countries, the ministry said.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce issued on Wednesday, Azizi said Afghanistan offers a secure and favorable environment for investment and invited Chinese investors to explore opportunities across various sectors of the Afghan economy.
He also stressed the need to increase and facilitate Afghan exports to China, particularly products such as cotton, pomegranates, pine nuts, and precious and semi-precious stones. Azizi called for improved customs, transit, and transportation facilities to strengthen trade between the two countries.
Yu, for his part, noted the growing interest of Chinese traders and investors in the Afghan market, describing Afghanistan as a country with significant untapped investment potential within China’s broader economic strategy.
Both sides emphasized the importance of closer cooperation between relevant institutions in the two countries to facilitate trade and promote investment, according to the statement.
U.S. to permanently close consulate in Peshawar
Trump calls Afghanistan withdrawal ‘most embarrassing day’ in U.S. history
US intelligence says Iran government is not at risk of collapse: report
Trump on Iran: We won, but don’t want to leave early
Tahawol: Regional impacts of Middle East crisis reviewed
Pakistani military jet downed in Afghanistan’s Jalalabad, pilot captured alive
Afghan Air Force conducts airstrikes in Islamabad, other cities
IEA releases three Pakistani soldiers to mark Ramadan
Afghanistan’s Chief of Armed Forces underscores readiness and equipment for national defense
Afghanistan welcomes investment and technology partnerships with India
Tahawol: Regional impacts of Middle East crisis reviewed
Saar: Diplomatic efforts to ease Kabul-Islamabad tensions discussed
Tahawol: Demands to end Afghanistan–Pakistan conflict reviewed
Saar: Resolving Afghanistan-Pakistan tensions discussed
Tahawol: International Reactions to Iran’s Newly Appointed Leader
-
Business5 days agoAfghanistan steps in to replace Iran in supplying fruits and vegetables to Russia
-
Latest News4 days agoInternational Women’s Day: Khalilzad urges IEA to allow girls’ education
-
Latest News4 days agoAfghanistan’s Virtue Ministry: Over 3,400 women’s rights complaints addressed in 10 months
-
Regional4 days agoMajority consensus reached on Iran’s next supreme leader
-
Latest News4 days agoTurkey stresses importance of peace and stability in Afghanistan
-
Regional4 days agoSaudi has told Iran not to attack it, warns of possible retaliation – Reuters
-
Latest News3 days agoAmerican billionaire Tom Pritzker describes Afghanistan trip in email to Epstein
-
Latest News4 days agoMastermind of 2025 bank attack in Afghanistan killed in Peshawar