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‘Canadian Dave’ released from prison in Afghanistan
Finally, the source said, Lavery underwent a medical assessment upon his arrival in Doha and is now with his family.
Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said David Lavery, who is known in Kabul as Canadian Dave, has arrived in Qatar after being freed from a prison in Afghanistan.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in November that Lavery had been arrested by the Islamic Emirate shortly after landing in Kabul a few days earlier.
Lavery, who was a former member of Canada’s elite special forces, made it to Qatar from Afghanistan with the help of the Qatari government.
In a social media post on Sunday, Joly said she “just spoke with David Lavery upon his safe arrival in Qatar from Afghanistan. He is in good spirits.”
Joly also thanked Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Qatar’s foreign affairs minister, for “helping facilitate the release of our Canadian citizen.”
Canadian media reports cited an unnamed source as saying the Canadian government had contacted the government of Qatar for assistance securing Lavery’s release.
Qatari mediators co-ordinated with senior Canadian officials and used contacts in Afghanistan to dispatch a medical team to assess Lavery’s condition and provide care while also facilitating contact between Lavery and his family, the source said.
Finally, the source said, Lavery underwent a medical assessment upon his arrival in Doha and is now with his family.
The Islamic Emirate has not yet commented on his release .
The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum of Afghanistan has signed a 30-year agreement with a private company to extract marble in Daikundi province.
Under the contract, the company will invest AFN 283 million in exploring and mining marble at the “Mesh-Uliya” site, spanning 16.74 square kilometers in central Daikundi.
Hedayatullah Badri, Minister of Mines and Petroleum, stated that the marble will be processed domestically before being exported abroad. He added that the Mesh-Uliya project is expected to create around 200 jobs, and the company is committed to supporting local communities through social initiatives.
Economic experts highlight that such investments, especially those focusing on domestic processing, are crucial for job creation, boosting exports, and strengthening the national economy. Analysts further note that the project will improve local infrastructure, expand social services, and enhance the economic and social well-being of Daikundi residents.
Since the return of the Islamic Emirate to power, efforts to develop Afghanistan’s mining sector have intensified, with multiple contracts signed in areas including cement, copper, iron, and lapis lazuli, involving both domestic and international companies.
A passenger bus veered off the Salang Highway before dawn on Sunday, leaving five people dead and 44 others injured, the Ministry of Public Works said.
According to the ministry, the incident occurred at around 2:00 a.m. in the Shawol area of North Salang when a passenger bus deviated from the main road due to the driver’s negligence.
Mohammad Ashraf Haqshenas, spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Works, said five passengers were killed and 44 others sustained injuries. He added that personnel from the Salang Maintenance and Protection Directorate promptly arrived at the scene and transferred the injured to the Khunjān clinic for medical treatment.
The Ministry of Public Works has urged drivers and passengers traveling on the Salang Highway to strictly follow the instructions of on-duty teams, observe traffic regulations, and carry warm clothing, food supplies, and snow chains to prevent similar incidents.
The ministry also noted that heavy snowfall and stormy weather have led to the temporary closure of the highway, while road maintenance teams are continuing snow-clearing operations.
Latest News
Major fire in Mandawi Kabul market contained, extensive losses prevented
Local shopkeepers said the fire broke out around 4 a.m.
The Ministry of Interior reported that personnel from the General Directorate of Firefighting and Emergency Response successfully prevented the further spread of a fire at Mandawi market on Kabul early Sunday morning.
Abdul Mateen Qani, spokesperson for the ministry, said that the fire destroyed 10 storage facilities and 8 shops. He added that initial losses are estimated at around $700,000, but timely action by firefighting personnel saved property worth approximately $2.2 million.
Qani explained that the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit. He praised the rapid and effective containment operations, which prevented more extensive damage.
Local shopkeepers said the fire broke out around 4 a.m.
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