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Afghanistan loses 34% of its forests in the last 15 years
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations says that the wars and crises of the past 40 years have had a very negative impact on forests in Afghanistan.
On the occasion of March 21, the International Forest Protection Day, FAO said on X on Wednesday that, Afghanistan has 1.78 million hectares of forests and woodlands.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, by publishing an informative video, said that in the last 15 years alone, Afghanistan has lost 34% of its forests.
For many years, arbitrary cutting of forests has continued in Afghanistan and the governments have not been able to stop it.
Since 2013, March 21 has become the International Forest Protection Day so that the people of the world are aware of its importance.
This is despite the fact that two years ago, Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, said in a tweet that according to the decision of the Council of Ministers of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, it is strictly forbidden to cut forests, sell the wood and transport it.
Also, two years ago, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan announced the formation of a unit to protect the forests of Afghanistan.
This unit of 450 people is called “Green Unit” and it was formed in order to prevent illegal cutting of forests and the smuggling of wood.
According to the IEA there are 100 members of this unit in Kabul and 50 people in each of the other seven provinces – Kunar, Nuristan, Khost, Laghman, Paktia, Paktika and Nangarhar – that have forests and woodlands.
The Embassy of Japan in Afghanistan has announced scholarship opportunities for Afghan students under the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program for the 2027 academic year.
According to the embassy, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan is offering scholarships for graduate-level study at Japanese universities under the research student category, including both regular and non-regular students.
Interested and eligible applicants can download the application guidelines and forms from the official Study in Japan website and are advised to carefully review all requirements before applying.
Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria and have prepared all required documents must submit their applications by 25 May 2026. The embassy said late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted.
The first screening process will include a written examination in Kabul on 18 June 2026, followed by interviews scheduled for July 2026 (date to be confirmed).
The Embassy of Japan noted that the Aga Khan Foundation Afghanistan will assist in collecting applications and facilitating written examinations, but will not be involved in the selection process.
It further emphasized that the selection will be conducted independently by the embassy and the Japanese government, based on academic merit, quality of application documents, and performance in written and interview examinations, without consideration of religious, linguistic, or ethnic background.
The scholarship program is fully funded and free of charge. The embassy warned applicants to remain cautious against scams, stressing that no financial contributions are required at any stage of the application process.
Abdul Salam Hanafi, Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs, has launched the distribution of more than 1,000 residential land plots for returning migrants in Logar province.
During a visit to Logar, Hanafi inaugurated a new township and said the initiative aims to support Afghan returnees by providing them with housing opportunities and improving settlement conditions.
He called for speeding up the process of distributing residential plots designated for migrants, stressing the importance of timely implementation.
“We inaugurated this township today, which includes more than 1,000 plots. These plots will be distributed to migrants. In addition, other townships will also be constructed soon,” he said.
Hanafi also noted that over the past three years, more than five million Afghan migrants have returned from neighboring countries, adding that efforts are underway to provide them with essential services and support their reintegration.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani, has urged the Afghan authorities to take concrete action against militant threats that Islamabad says originate from Afghan soil.
Speaking at an event at the Pakistan Embassy in Kabul marking the first anniversary of Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos against India, Nizamani reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to maintaining “brotherly ties” with Afghanistan.
The ambassador also highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts in reducing tensions between Iran and the United States, saying Islamabad’s initiatives reflected its commitment to regional and global peace.
During the ceremony, Nizamani reaffirmed Pakistan’s determination to defend itself against any aggression.
“Pakistan’s desire for peace must never be mistaken for weakness,” the ambassador said, calling for heightened vigilance against regional threats.
Pakistani officials have consistently claimed that militants use Afghan soil to attack Pakistan. The Islamic Emirate, however, has denied this claim and said that Afghanistan is not responsible for Pakistan’s security failures.
Japan announces MEXT scholarships for Afghan students for 2027 academic year
New township to provide over 1,000 land plots for returnees in Logar
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Pakistan ambassador urges Afghan authorities to act against militant threats
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