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Efforts underway to boost cement production to 15,000 tons daily: Mines ministry
The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum announced on Friday that investment in the country’s cement production sector is expanding.
Ministry officials added that efforts are underway not only to achieve self-sufficiency in this sector but also to pave the way for exports.
According to the ministry, practical work has commenced on five major cement production projects factories located in Kandahar, Herat, Parwan, Jawzjan, and Logar with a total investment of $750 million. Some of these facilities are expected to become operational by the end of this year or early next year.
The ministry added that once these five factories become operational, Afghanistan will have the capacity to produce 15,000 tons of cement per day, increasing the country’s annual production to 5.5 million tons.
Humayoun Afghan, spokesperson for the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, said: “Together, these five factories have the capacity to produce 15,000 tons of cement per day, which adds up to approximately 5.5 million tons annually. This could make Afghanistan self-sufficient in cement and even enable exports.”
Meanwhile, officials from the Chamber of Commerce and Investment emphasized the importance of expanding investment in the country’s mining sector, noting that such investment could help Afghanistan overcome its economic crisis.
Economic experts also stated that targeted measures should be taken to encourage investment in cement production, so that with increased output, Afghanistan can not only meet domestic demand but also export to Central Asian countries.
Private sector representatives have also pointed out that cement prices in Afghanistan are rising steadily, while 90 percent of the cement available in the domestic market is still imported from neighboring countries.
Pakistan says communities living along the Afghanistan-Pakistan Durand Line want peace and stability, despite ongoing security concerns in the region.
Speaking during a weekly media briefing, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said there are no major issues between the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan, adding that residents on both sides of the Durand Line want peaceful relations and greater regional stability.
However, Andrabi claimed that terrorism originating from Afghan territory continues to undermine peace efforts.
He said Islamabad believes militant activity crossing from Afghanistan remains a significant obstacle to improving regional security and bilateral ties.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has repeatedly rejected such allegations, maintaining that no militant group is allowed to use Afghan soil to threaten neighboring countries.
Andrabi also said Pakistan remains diplomatically engaged on regional matters involving Afghanistan, Iran, India, and Somalia, stressing that dialogue and diplomacy remain Islamabad’s preferred means of resolving disputes.
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Afghanistan-Gambia ties discussed during Doha meeting
Both sides also exchanged views on strengthening diplomatic engagement and exploring future economic cooperation.
Suhail Shaheen, head of the Islamic Emirate’s embassy in Doha, has met with Omar Jah, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of The Gambia to Qatar, to discuss bilateral relations and areas of mutual interest.
According to a statement from the Afghan embassy in Doha, Jah also oversees Gambian diplomatic affairs related to Afghanistan.
The meeting focused on Afghanistan-Gambia relations, the current security situation in Afghanistan, and potential investment opportunities in the country.
Both sides also exchanged views on strengthening diplomatic engagement and exploring future economic cooperation.
Mahmood Khan Achakzai, a member of Pakistan’s National Assembly and head of the Pakhtunkhwa Awami National Party, has said that if capable statesmen had been in power, people living on both sides of the Durand Line could have moved freely across the line.
Speaking during a podcast interview, Achakzai said that countries with histories of major conflict, including Russia, Germany and the United Kingdom, now maintain far more open borders despite past wars. He said that in many such regions, only a “paper line” remains, with limited border restrictions.
Drawing comparisons with the disputed Durand Line boundary between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Achakzai argued that a similar arrangement could have been possible in South Asia.
“What is the problem here? A Punjabi could dance in Kandahar and a Pashtun could come here. Even if we are not formally one country, we could have effectively functioned like one,” he said.
The Pakistani politician also referred to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the later U.S.-led intervention, saying Afghanistan has the right to seek war reparations from those countries to support reconstruction efforts.
Achakzai further criticised the treatment of Pashtuns in Pakistan, alleging that individuals in cities including Lahore and Karachi have faced detention and deportation.
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