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Ministry of Telecoms reports 98% of SIM cards are now regulated
The acting Minister of Telecommunications and Information Technology said on Wednesday during his accountability report to the nation that the distribution of SIM cards in the country is now almost completely regulated.
Najibullah Haqqani said that after the establishment of the Islamic Emirate, internet services costs have dropped by between 40 and 60 percent and air time costs have dropped by about 30 percent.
He said the ministry has collected millions of dollars in revenue in the past year and currently 23 million SIM cards are active in the country.
In the past year, 39 postal service companies that were operating illegally in Kabul have closed down, unethical websites have terminated and others modified, Haqqani added.
Some officials of this ministry say that in the current year, this ministry has been able to set a ceiling for the tariffs of telecommunication companies, and according to this ceiling, the rate of domestic calls has decreased from 2.58 to 1.58 afghanis, and the rate of foreign calls has been reduced to 2 afghanis per minute.
According to officials, in order to improve the quality of internet services in the country, 641 sites have been changed from 2G to 3G and for the first time, mobile devices have been activated to determine the quality of telecommunications services in the country.
Two people have been killed amid protests against a poppy eradication campaign in northeastern Badakhshan province, local officials said.
Authorities said counter-narcotics forces were deployed on Friday to Atan Jalo area of Argo district to destroy poppy fields. Clashes erupted after a number of farmers and residents reportedly attempted to block the operation.
Officials said a child was killed during Friday’s unrest, while another person died on Saturday as protests and tensions continued in the area.
According to local authorities, demonstrators also temporarily blocked the Kishm–Faizabad highway, disrupting traffic for several hours before it was reopened following coordinated efforts by security officials, religious scholars, and community elders.
Officials blamed “drug traffickers and criminal groups” for inciting the unrest and said security forces have since regained control of the area.
A high-ranking Uzbek delegation comprising government officials and private sector representatives from the Republic of Karakalpakstan arrived in Kabul on Saturday to discuss the expansion of trade and economic cooperation with Afghanistan.
The delegation is headed by Amanbay Orinbayev, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Karakalpakstan.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the delegation is expected to hold talks with Nooruddin Azizi, the Minister of Industry and Commerce, focusing on strengthening bilateral trade and economic relations.
The ministry said the visiting delegation will also participate in trade connectivity meetings and business-to-business sessions aimed at enhancing commercial cooperation between the two sides.
As part of the visit, the Uzbek delegation is also scheduled to travel to Balkh province, where members will attend additional trade meetings and inaugurate an exhibition showcasing Uzbekistan’s domestic products.
Hamid Karzai, former president of Afghanistan, has expressed concern over recent developments along the Durand Line, saying Pakistan has increased military and economic pressure on villages and residents living near the line.
In a statement, Karzai said the apparent purpose of these pressures is to push residents of Durand Line areas to seek help from Pakistani institutions for resolving security and other local issues.
He added that, amid this situation, some tribal elders from both sides of the Durand Line recently signed documents described as “peace agreements,” which were later officially welcomed by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to Karzai, these developments amount to an effort by Pakistan to legitimize the Durand Line and represent an action against Afghanistan’s national sovereignty.
The former Afghan president also urged the relevant Afghan authorities to provide the public with a clear explanation regarding the recent agreements and developments along the Durand Line.
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Two killed in protests against poppy field destruction in Badakhshan
High-ranking Uzbek delegation arrives in Kabul to boost trade ties
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