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Afghanistan and Mordovia explore economic cooperation at Kazan Forum

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Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of the Islamic Emirate Afghanistan (IEA), met with Artyom Alekseyevich Zdunov, Head of the Republic of Mordovia, on the sidelines of the 16th Kazan International Economic Forum to discuss expanding bilateral economic and trade relations.

During the meeting, Deputy PM Mullah Baradar described the Kazan Forum as a valuable platform for fostering cooperation between Afghanistan and Mordovia in key sectors such as agriculture, trade, and energy. He highlighted Afghanistan’s vast investment opportunities and welcomed foreign investors to explore sectors ranging from mining and agriculture to manufacturing.

He emphasized that Afghanistan produces a variety of high-quality goods, including fresh and dried fruits, traditional Afghan rugs, precious stones, marble, and other minerals, and expressed readiness to export these products to Mordovia. He also voiced Afghanistan’s interest in importing goods from Mordovia, including electrical equipment, industrial machinery, petroleum products, natural gas, and transport-related tools, based on domestic needs.

Mullah Baradar extended a formal invitation to Mordovian investors to invest in Afghanistan’s key economic sectors, promising full cooperation and support from the Islamic Emirate.

In response, Mordovian Head Artyom Zdunov welcomed the initiative and expressed strong interest in engaging with Afghanistan’s market. He pointed out that Mordovia has made substantial progress in medicine, agriculture, energy, and pharmaceutical production, and is ready to collaborate with Afghanistan in these areas.

Zdunov also noted Mordovia’s plans to begin exporting agricultural products to Afghanistan through the corridor connecting Mordovia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan. He affirmed the interest of Mordovian investors in working with their Afghan counterparts.

IEA’s Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce, Nooruddin Azizi, who was also present at the meeting, reiterated Afghanistan’s readiness to start large-scale trade in food, agricultural products, and industrial goods. He announced that leading Afghan companies would soon be introduced to Mordovian partners to facilitate joint ventures and cooperation.

The meeting marked a significant step toward establishing structured economic ties between Afghanistan and the Republic of Mordovia, opening new channels for trade and investment between the two regions.

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Afghan official slams Shehbaz Sharif’s ‘shameful’ claims on Islamic unity

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Khubaib Ghufran, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Ministry of Information and Culture, sharply criticized Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif over his recent claims about Islamic unity in relation to the war in Iran, calling them “shameful.”

On his X account, Ghaffran wrote: “You praised Trump as a hero of the Gaza peace plan, yet today you claim Islamic unity regarding Iran in a war that the same criminal (Trump) and his allies initiated?”

He added that while Afghanistan is governed under an Islamic system, Shehbaz Sharif has shown no compassion even toward the most vulnerable groups—from children to women and drug addicts—and that this cruelty persisted even during the holy month of Ramadan.

Ghaffran described Sharif’s stance as a “grave shame” and a stark example of “historical hypocrisy.”

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Airstrike on Kabul drug rehabilitation centre sparks legal concerns

Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for Research, Isabelle Lassee, said the scale of casualties suggests the presence of a significant civilian population at the site.

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An airstrike on a drug rehabilitation facility in Kabul has drawn sharp criticism from Amnesty International, raising serious questions about compliance with international humanitarian law.

The strike, carried out on 16 March, targeted a site at Camp Phoenix, a former military base that has functioned largely as a rehabilitation centre since 2016. Pakistani officials have claimed the attack was aimed at an ammunition depot allegedly located within the compound.

Responding to those claims, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for Research, Isabelle Lassee, said the scale of casualties suggests the presence of a significant civilian population at the site.

“While the total number of casualties has yet to be independently verified, it is clear that the attack caused extensive civilian harm, with reports indicating hundreds killed or injured,” she said.

Lassee emphasized that the facility was widely known to house civilians undergoing treatment, and warned that any military action should have taken this into account. “Pakistan’s military should have taken all feasible precautions to avoid harming civilians and civilian infrastructure,” she added.

She further noted that even if a military target had been present within the compound, international law requires that any strike be proportionate, ensuring that civilian harm is not excessive in relation to the anticipated military advantage.

“The scale of destruction raises serious concerns about whether an adequate proportionality assessment was conducted and whether sufficient steps were taken to verify the target and minimize civilian casualties,” Lassee said.

Amnesty International has called on Pakistani authorities to disclose the intelligence behind the strike and to launch an independent, impartial, and transparent investigation into the incident. The organization stressed that findings should be made public to ensure accountability.

The group also urged all parties involved in the conflict to adhere strictly to international humanitarian law and to protect civilian infrastructure, including medical and rehabilitation facilities.

The airstrike formed part of Pakistan’s “Operation Ghazab Lil Haq,” which included strikes in both Kabul and Nangarhar Province. The targeted rehabilitation centre, known as Omid, reportedly had the capacity to accommodate around 2,000 individuals.

Casualty figures remain contested. Islamic Emirate officials claim more than 400 civilians were killed and over 200 injured, though these numbers have not been independently verified. The United Nations has so far confirmed 143 deaths.

The strike comes amid escalating tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan. According to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, at least 76 civilian casualties had already been recorded since the conflict intensified in February.

Pakistani officials, meanwhile, reported civilian casualties on their side of the border, including four deaths in Bajaur district on 15 March and the killing of a child in North Waziristan earlier in the month, allegedly due to cross-border fire from Afghanistan.

The latest developments underscore growing concerns about civilian safety as hostilities between the two countries continue to intensify.

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Afghanistan expresses condolences after deadly helicopter crash in Qatar

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan has expressed condolences to the governments and people of Qatar and Turkey following a deadly helicopter crash in Qatar.

In a statement, the ministry described the incident as tragic and extended its deep sympathy to the families of those who lost their lives.

According to reports, the helicopter crashed into Qatari territorial waters, killing seven people. Authorities have said the incident was caused by a technical malfunction.

Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry also prayed for the victims and wished patience and strength for their families.

 
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