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Flydubai resumes flights to Afghanistan after two years

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UAE-based carrier Flydubai resumed flights to Afghanistan on Wednesday, two years after the international airline stopped flying to the country.

“The initiation of Flydubai flights to Kabul is indicative of the restoration of Afghanistan’s airspace to a secure and conventional state, accommodating various types of flights,” said a statement from the office of Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs.

“It shows that all airports in Afghanistan are now equipped to deliver requisite facilities and adhere to standard services,” it added.

“This reestablishment of air connectivity with Flydubai signifies a milestone in revitalizing healthy competition among airlines, contributing to the equitable determination of airfare prices,” it said.

Officials of the Ministry of Transport say that other airlines such as Air Arabia, Jazeera Airways and Turkish Airlines are also expected to resume their flights to Afghanistan in the near future.

“Capacity has been created for international flights at all airports in the country, and with the arrival of Flydubai, other foreign companies will also start their flights to the country,” Abdul Sattar Gharwal, General Director of Airports, said.

“Flydubai has made its flight, and other companies will also start their flights to Afghanistan,” said Imamuddin Ahmadi, the spokesman of the Ministry of Transport.

The Association of Afghan Businessmen in the United Arab Emirates says that Flydubai flights will expand the economic relations between Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates. According to members, next month the number of flights of this company will increase to four flights a day.

“Initially, there will be two flights a day, then three flights, and next month, four flights a day, and with that, the country’s fresh fruit will be exported to the United Arab Emirates,” Obaidullah Sadrakhel, head of the Association of Afghan Businessmen in the United Arab Emirates, said.

Passengers say that the price of a one-way ticket between Dubai and Afghanistan has decreased by fifty percent.

“We are very happy that Flydubai returned. Compared to domestic companies, the tickets are 50 percent cheaper,” Azizullah, one passenger said.

According to officials of the Ministry of Transport, Ariana Airlines, Kam Air, PIA, Mahan Airlines, Taban Airlines, Kish Air and Qatar Airways are currently flying to Afghanistan.

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IEA signs $6.2 million marble mining contract for Kandahar

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Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum says it has signed a contract worth $6.2 million with a Turkish company for the extraction of marble from a mine in Kandahar’s Dara-e-Noor area.

At a ceremony on Tuesday in Kabul, acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum Hidayatullah Badri said the extraction of this mine is expected to create new job opportunities for the country’s citizens.

Badri stated that since the Islamic Emirate’s takeover, several contracts have been signed for marble extraction.

“The contracted company is investing $6.2 million in the exploration, extraction, and processing of this mine,” Badri added.

Meanwhile, a senior official from the mining company stated that this contract will benefit both countries.

He said the company hopes to supply the international market with the marble. He said this will not only create jobs but also contribute to the growth of Afghanistan’s export market.

Mr Emioglu, the deputy head of the Turkish contracting company, said: “Our company started working on extracting this mine eight months ago. We aim to introduce Afghan marble internationally after production and processing so that both countries can benefit.”

Economists welcomed the development and stated that with the signing of mining contracts, the country’s economic situation will improve, and investments in this sector will increase.

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Pakistan’s exports to Afghanistan rise by 92% to $504 million

Afghanistan’s exports to Pakistan from July to December 2024 totaled $9.9 million against $4.425 million for the same period in 2023

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Pakistan recorded a substantial increase of 92% in it’s export of goods and services to Afghanistan during the first six months of Islamabad’s current fiscal year as compared to the exports of the corresponding period of last year.

According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the overall exports to Afghanistan were recorded at $504.308 million during July-December (2024-25) against exports of $262.583 million during July-December (2023-24), SBP stated. 

Overall Pakistan’s exports to other countries witnessed an increase of 7 percent in the first six months, from $15.146 billion to $16.229 billion, the SBP stated.

 On the other hand, Afghanistan’s exports to Pakistan in the same period totaled $9.9 million against $4.425 million in 2023.

On a year-on-year basis, imports from Afghanistan witnessed an increase of 18 percent from $1.238 million in December 2023, against the imports of $1.466 million in December 2024. 

On a month-on-month basis, the imports from Afghanistan into the country also witnessed an increase of 8.27 percent during December 2024, as compared to the imports of $1.354 million during November 2024.

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Gold holds near record peak as trade jitters buoy safe-haven demand

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Gold prices eased on Thursday as the dollar regained some ground, although concerns over the U.S.-China trade war kept the safe-haven bullion close to a record high level hit in the previous session.

Spot gold was 0.4% lower at $2,854.39 per ounce by 0802 GMT, after hitting an all-time peak of $2,882.16 in the previous session, Reuters reported.

U.S. gold futures shed 0.6% to $2,875.

The dollar index , which measures the greenback against six major rivals, was up 0.2%.

“Investors are trying not to miss this rally as they place their position because they are happy with the returns. That’s the reason why it’s (gold) hitting successive highs,” said Soni Kumari, a commodity strategist at ANZ.

“Bullion could hit the $3,000 level soon … However, what could make the market consolidate will be some clarity on trade ties or easing trade tensions.”

On Wednesday, China filed a World Trade Organization complaint against U.S. President Donald Trump’s new 10% tariff on Chinese imports.

A trade war between the world’s two largest economies could weigh on global growth and drive up inflation, benefiting the bullion further as it is considered a safe investment during economic and geopolitical turmoil.

“The gold bull market looks set to continue under Trump 2.0 with trade wars and geopolitical tensions reinforcing the reserve diversification/de-dollarization trend and supporting EM official sector gold demand,” Citi said in a note.

“Global growth concerns are also set to raise ETF and over-the-counter investment demand.”

U.S. Federal Reserve officials also pointed to the large policy uncertainty around tariffs and issues arising from the early days of Trump’s administration as among the top challenges in figuring out where to take the monetary policy in the months ahead.

Market focus is now on U.S. weekly jobless claims data, due at 1330 GMT, and the non-farm payrolls report on Friday, which could offer insights into the economy’s overall strength.

Spot silver dropped 1.3% to $31.91 per ounce, and palladium fell 0.4% to $985.48. Platinum gained 0.2% to $981.74.

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