Latest News
Former Canadian envoy says Ottawa should reopen mission in Afghanistan
Two of Canada’s former ambassadors to Afghanistan are debating whether it’s time to establish a diplomatic presence in Kabul, and how best to keep tabs on the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA).
“There are ways for us to be on the ground and to see for ourselves, and to act for ourselves and act directly to help Afghans – without lending direct support to the Taliban (IEA),” former envoy Arif Lalani said in an interview this week.
“We should be able to decide for ourselves and inform others about what is really going on in Afghanistan. And the degree to which we can’t do that ourselves, I don’t think it does a service to anyone.”
Chris Alexander, a former Conservative foreign-affairs minister who also served as Canada’s ambassador in Kabul, meanwhile says that recognizing the IEA would compromise fundamental Canadian values, the Canadian Press reported.
“The cost would be too high, in terms of legitimizing an absolutely depraved regime,” he said Wednesday.
Lalani told the Senate’s foreign-affairs committee last month that the IEA “seems to have taken hostage an entire society, and our (Canada’s) response has been to neither use force nor to use diplomacy.”
“We are at a standstill, and Afghans are suffering. We actually need to take a decision.”
Lalani said Canada should be “looking at creative ways to find assistance to help Afghans” while understanding how countries like China, Russia and Iran are engaging with the IEA.
Lalani said Ottawa could better help individual Afghans sustain themselves economically, otherwise “what little economic development is taking place will slide backwards” as governments grapple to respond to multiple humanitarian crises worldwide.
“We have a government in Afghanistan that no one likes, that is doing incredible damage to its own population. But we need to now think about the Afghan people, as opposed to our own sense of outrage,” he said.
He also said if Canadians were to establish a presence in Afghanistan, it could in the form of “specific development programming” that has measured outcomes.
“The alternative is us sort of standing still from the sidelines and pretending that we’re going to do more,” he said.
“If we take that position, let’s please stop the selfies and hashtags and suggest we’re going to do more and we stand with Afghans, because we’re not.”
Sources told Ariana News that talks between the Islamic Emirate delegation and European Union representatives in Brussels concluded on Tuesday.
According to the sources, both sides discussed the resumption of consular services for Afghans across Europe, the need for confidence-building measures, the expansion of consular presence, and ensuring a dignified process for the return of Afghan citizens.
The delegation, led by Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, traveled to Brussels with representatives from the Ministry of Interior also included in the delegation.
This marks the first time that a delegation from the Islamic Emirate has been officially invited by the European Union to Brussels and engaged in direct talks with European representatives.
Participants described the discussions as constructive and expressed hope that the process will pave the way for positive developments and help safeguard the consular rights of Afghans living in Europe.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Works has signed a contract worth more than AFN 1.25 billion for the reconstruction of a 15-kilometer section of the strategically important Salang Highway in Southern Salang, as part of ongoing efforts to rehabilitate one of the country’s most vital transport corridors.
The ministry said the project, valued at AFN 1.252 billion, will cover a section of the highway stretching from Olang to Jabal al-Siraj. Construction work is expected to begin in the near future.
Speaking at the contract signing ceremony, Minister of Public Works Mohammad Isa Sani described the Salang Highway as one of Afghanistan’s most important economic arteries, emphasizing the need for the project to be implemented on time and in accordance with technical standards and quality requirements.
According to the ministry, the 15-kilometer road section, which has a width of 12 meters, will undergo full rehabilitation and asphalt paving. The project also includes the construction of five new culverts, the widening of 33 existing culverts, and the construction of 600 meters of roadside drainage channels.
The ministry noted that reconstruction work on the Southern Salang section from the Salang Tunnel to Olang is being carried out using concrete pavement. A significant portion of that work has already been completed, while the remaining construction is still underway.
Officials added that the broader Salang Highway rehabilitation program is progressing across three sections: Southern Salang, Northern Salang, and the Khinjan–Doshi route. Major infrastructure, including the tunnel, galleries, and vulnerable sections of the highway, has already undergone extensive reconstruction using three layers of concrete.
The Salang Highway is one of Afghanistan’s most critical transportation and transit routes, linking the country’s northern provinces with Kabul. It plays a key role in facilitating the movement of people, commercial goods, and agricultural products across the country.
International Sports
Messi breaks World Cup scoring record as Argentina reach knockout stage
The record-breaking performance continued a remarkable run for the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, who has now scored in six consecutive World Cup matches and leads the Golden Boot race with five goals.
Lionel Messi added another remarkable chapter to his legendary career on Monday, becoming the all-time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history as Argentina secured a 2-0 victory over Austria and booked their place in the knockout rounds of the 2026 tournament.
The Argentine captain scored both goals in a hard-fought Group J encounter, taking his World Cup tally to 18 goals and surpassing Germany’s Miroslav Klose, who previously held the record with 16.
Just days before his 39th birthday, Messi delivered when it mattered most, despite seeing an early penalty saved. His brace ensured defending champions Argentina maintained their perfect start to the tournament and qualified for the Round of 32 with a game to spare.
The record-breaking performance continued a remarkable run for the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, who has now scored in six consecutive World Cup matches and leads the Golden Boot race with five goals.
Nearly 20 years after making his World Cup debut, Messi is once again at the centre of football history, proving that age has done little to diminish his extraordinary influence on the game’s biggest stage.
As the race for the trophy heats up, fans across Afghanistan can tune in live to Ariana Radio and Television Network (ATN) to watch the thrilling event. For updated schedules, highlights and information, fans can follow Ariana Television and Ariana News’ social media platforms.
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