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US may resume Fulbright scholarship program for Afghans
The US State Department says it is considering resuming the Fulbright scholarship program for Afghan students for the 2023-2024 academic year.
A spokesperson for the US State Department told VOA: “We continue to work towards the safe resumption of the Fulbright program for Afghan students.”
He added: “For this course, we are considering semi-final applicants [for the academic year] 2022-2023.”
The semi-final applicants have already passed most of the eligibility stages and exams, including the English language test, which are required to join this study program, VOA reported.
After the collapse of the previous government and the Islamic Emirate’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, the United States canceled the Fulbright program for Afghans.
Every year, about 4,000 foreign students from dozens of countries receive Fulbright scholarships. More than 400,000 students from 160 countries have participated in this program since its inception in 1946.
From 2003 to 2021, more than 950 Afghans have benefited from the opportunity to study at the master’s and doctorate level in Fulbright programs. Fulbright master’s programs are one or two years, but the study period of the doctoral level is five years.
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Putin says CSTO closely monitoring Afghanistan’s security situation
Earlier, the CSTO Secretary-General identified efforts to counter cross-border threats and a programme to strengthen the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border as major priorities for regional security.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) are closely monitoring the security situation in Afghanistan amid broader efforts to strengthen security along the alliance’s external borders.
Putin made the remarks on Wednesday during a meeting of the CSTO Collective Security Council at the Kremlin, which he chaired. According to Russia’s state-run RIA Novosti news agency, he said developments in Afghanistan remain among the key issues receiving attention from member states.
Earlier, the CSTO Secretary-General identified efforts to counter cross-border threats and a programme to strengthen the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border as major priorities for regional security.
Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk is scheduled to arrive in Kabul on Thursday, November 12, leading a high-level economic delegation.
Hafiz Zia Ahmad Takal, head of the Information and Public Relations Department of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the visit aims to strengthen economic and trade relations between Afghanistan and Russia, explore investment opportunities and discuss potential joint economic projects.
The delegation is also expected to include Russian investors and business representatives.
The developments highlight the growing attention being given to both economic cooperation and regional security in Afghanistan’s relations with Russia and other neighbouring states.
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Afghanistan now has unified central government: IEA defense minister
Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, the Minister of Defense of the Islamic Emirate, says that Afghanistan currently has a unified central government, and that no groups engaging in destructive activities are present in the country. He added that they will not allow anyone to undermine the country’s security.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defense, Mujahid made these remarks at a graduation ceremony for commandos of the Special Forces Division. The ceremony was attended by Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Minister of Interior; several cabinet ministers; foreign ambassadors and military attachés; special representatives; and a number of officials and military personnel.
Addressing the commandos, Yaqoob Mujahid said: “In the service you perform, make the pleasure of Almighty Allah your sole intention, because Almighty Allah will reward you for such an intention in this world and the hereafter. There is now a unified central government in the country, and no groups engaging in destructive activities are present. We will also not allow anyone to undermine security.”
He also added: “I assure our people that these forces will defend the lives, property, and territory of their beloved country with full courage and wisdom. I tell all foreign countries that Afghanistan is now secure, and there is no enemy in this country, whether from within or outside, that poses a threat to others.”
At the ceremony, Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani also said: “For half a century, Afghanistan did not have an independent army. However, now, it has an organized army and other security forces. You are not a ceremonial army, nor do you operate to serve the interests of others; rather, you are an organized and independent army. Although we may be materially weak, we are stronger than others in terms of morale and spirituality. We must maintain high morale, avoid acting emotionally in military affairs, and respond to the enemy at the appropriate time. We are not a threat to anyone; rather, we are defenders of our own land.”
It is worth noting that 1,000 young commandos of the Special Forces Division of the Ministry of Defense graduated from the eighth training course after completing six months of professional, ideological, and commando training.
During the ceremony, the graduating commandos, in cooperation with the Air Force, demonstrated coordinated practical and military exercises using various types of unmanned aircraft.
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Baradar approves action plan for establishing special economic zones
The action plan for establishing special economic zones across the country was approved on Wednesday by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs.
According to a decree issued by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Emirate, these special economic zones will be established in the provinces of Kabul, Balkh, Nangarhar, Kandahar, Herat, Paktia, and Kunduz.
Under the plan, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, in cooperation with other relevant ministries and government agencies, will identify the land required for these zones, determine the necessary sectoral activities and services, and create the conditions needed to attract investment.
The establishment of these special economic zones is aimed at attracting new investments, achieving a relative balance between exports and imports, and expanding production activities in a suitable environment, paving the way for a new phase of economic development in the country.
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