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Uzbekistan to continue supplying electricity to Afghanistan in 2026

Discussions focused on the development of high-voltage transmission lines and substations in Afghanistan, with emphasis on accelerating their completion.

Published

4 weeks ago

November 18, 2025

Ariana News

Uzbekistan has confirmed it will continue supplying electricity to Afghanistan in 2026, according to the Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan.

According to local media, the agreement was signed between Uzbekistan’s Minister of Energy, Jurabek Mirzamahmudov, and a delegation from Afghanistan led by Abdul Bari Umar, CEO of the country’s national energy supplier, Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS). Senior officials from Uzbekistan’s energy sector also participated in the talks.

Both sides noted that several major joint energy projects are already underway. Discussions focused on the development of high-voltage transmission lines and substations in Afghanistan, with emphasis on accelerating their completion.

In August, Uzbekistan and DABS signed a financing agreement to support these projects. Once completed, expected within 18 months, Afghanistan will be able to import between 800 and 1,000 megawatts of electricity from Uzbekistan.

The cooperation covers four key projects:

Construction of the 500 kV Surkhan–Dasht-e-Alwan transmission line, with a capacity of 1,000 MW.

Expansion of the Argandi substation to 800 MVA.

Construction of the 220 kV Kabul–Sheik Mesri transmission line, with a capacity of 800 MW.

Establishment of the Sheik Mesri substation in Nangarhar, with a capacity of 126 MVA.

These initiatives are expected to strengthen Afghanistan’s energy infrastructure and further deepen bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Afghanistan’s energy sector faces persistent challenges due to decades of conflict, underinvestment, and outdated infrastructure. Domestic electricity generation is limited, with hydropower, thermal plants, and a small amount of renewable energy providing only a fraction of the country’s needs. Many areas, particularly rural provinces, continue to experience frequent power outages, leaving households and businesses dependent on unreliable or expensive sources of energy.

To meet growing demand and support economic development, Afghanistan relies heavily on importing electricity from neighboring countries, including Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran.

Importing power helps stabilize the national grid, ensures supply during peak periods, and supports essential services such as hospitals, schools, and industry. However, dependence on imports also highlights the country’s vulnerability to regional geopolitical dynamics and underscores the need for investment in domestic energy capacity.

Recent initiatives, including high-voltage transmission projects and substation expansions in partnership with countries like Uzbekistan, aim to improve electricity access and reduce supply bottlenecks. Strengthening cross-border cooperation and modernizing infrastructure are seen as critical steps toward creating a more reliable, resilient, and sustainable energy sector in Afghanistan.

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Baradar urges scholars to promote protection of Islamic system and national interests

Published

4 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Ariana News

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, has called on religious scholars to play a stronger role in promoting the protection of the Islamic system and Afghanistan’s national interests among the public.

Speaking at a turban-tying ceremony at Jamia Fath al-Uloom in Kabul on Wednesday, Baradar urged scholars to adopt a softer tone in their sermons and public addresses.

He said that alongside teaching religious obligations, scholars should help foster a sense of responsibility toward safeguarding the Islamic system and national unity.

Baradar described madrasas as the sacred foundations of religious learning, moral education, spiritual and intellectual development, and Islamic movements within Muslim societies.

He noted that in Afghanistan, religious teachings and the concept of sacred jihad originated in madrasas, spread from villages to cities, and eventually translated into action and resistance.

He also emphasized the role of madrasas in the intellectual reform of society, the removal of what he described as un-Islamic cultural influences, and the preservation of Islamic traditions.

Baradar stressed that religious schools must remain committed to their original mission and values under all circumstances.

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Iran’s Bahrami invites Afghan FM Muttaqi to Tehran during Kabul meeting

Published

5 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Ariana News

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Wednesday that Mohammad Reza Bahrami, Director General for South Asia at Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has invited the Islamic Emirate’s Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, to visit Tehran.

According to the ministry, the invitation was extended during Bahrami’s official visit to Kabul, where he met with Muttaqi.

During the meeting, Bahrami briefed the Afghan foreign minister on the outcomes of a recent meeting of special representatives held in Tehran and underscored Iran’s strong interest in strengthening relations with Afghanistan.

Bahrami also expressed hope that the Islamic Emirate would play an active role in promoting regional cooperation.

In response, Muttaqi described Afghanistan–Iran relations as positive and outlined the Islamic Emirate’s position on the Tehran meeting. He said Afghanistan has emerged from a difficult period and is moving toward stability and progress, adding that the country should no longer be viewed solely as a regional challenge.

Muttaqi further emphasized that Afghanistan’s foreign policy is based on its fundamental principles and supports constructive and cooperative engagement with neighboring and regional countries.

Both sides noted that bilateral relations are developing positively and stressed the importance of maintaining regular contacts, exchanging delegations, and strengthening cooperation at various levels.

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Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan discuss expanding trade and economic cooperation

Azizi welcomed the Kyrgyz delegation and thanked them for visiting Kabul, underscoring the importance of closer economic engagement between the two countries.

Published

7 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Ariana News

Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan held high-level talks in Kabul aimed at strengthening bilateral economic and trade relations, officials said.

The meeting brought together Nooruddin Azizi, Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, and Bakyt Sadykov, Minister of Economy and Trade of the Kyrgyz Republic, who is leading a visiting delegation to the Afghan capital.

Azizi welcomed the Kyrgyz delegation and thanked them for visiting Kabul, underscoring the importance of closer economic engagement between the two countries.

During the talks, both sides discussed ways to boost bilateral trade by making better use of existing capacities and identifying priority export commodities.

The discussions also focused on developing transit routes, signing transit agreements, attracting joint domestic and foreign investment, and expanding cooperation through trade exhibitions, business conferences and regular meetings.

The two ministers stressed the need to implement earlier agreements, particularly the economic and trade cooperation roadmap signed during a previous visit by an Afghan delegation to Kyrgyzstan.

They said effective follow-up on these commitments would be key to translating discussions into tangible results.

Officials from both countries said the meeting was intended to deepen economic, trade and investment ties, while opening new avenues for partnership between Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan in the coming period.