Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce Nooruddin Azizi in a meeting with Roza Otunbayeva, the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), has demanded the revocation of the suspension of Afghanistan’s membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The ministry’s spokesman Abdulsalam Javad Akhundzadeh said that both sides also discussed supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, increasing exports and providing facilities for women entrepreneurs.

IEA’s spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, however, said that trade and transit are a humanitarian matter and should not be related to political issues.

Mujahid stated that the IEA has increased its efforts to expand economic and trade relations.

“Yes, we want Afghanistan to regain its membership and it is a need. Trade is a humanitarian issue and it should not be tied to political matters,” he added.

According to economic experts, regaining membership in the WTO would be effective in expanding Afghanistan’s trade with various Asian and European countries and others such as the USA, and it will also increase work opportunities.

Afghanistan officially became the 164th member of the WTO in December 2015, but currently does not have a representative in this organization.

WTO is an international organization that regulates global trade rules and settles disputes between members.

The main objective of this organization is to create facilities for the export and import of goods and services between the member countries by removing the barriers of customs tariffs.

The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation of Afghanistan (MoRR) reported the forced expulsion of nearly a thousand Afghan refugees from Pakistan on Wednesday.

The ministry announced Thursday that 979 Afghan migrants returned after being expelled from Pakistan.

The deportees returned on May 29 through the Spin Boldak border and the Torghundi border.

Based on information from the Torghundi border customs office in Nangarhar province, 115 families, comprising 647 individuals, entered the country through this checkpoint.

Additionally, 62 families, consisting of 332 individuals continue to enter the country through the Spin Boldak crossing.

A group of four young women have opened a coffee shop and library in Kabul where women and girls can get together to read, enjoy a cup of tea, or treat themselves to a sweet treat.

The owners of the coffee shop, called Dari Roya-e-Zan, which in English means a Woman’s Dream, is in Khair Khana in the city. It was officially opened during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday.

For women who attended the event, this was a welcome initiative, especially for those barred from attending school or university.

With over 1,000 books to choose from, women can order tea or coffee, and read at leisure in a safe environment.

The owners, who asked not to be identified, bake their own cakes and other sweet delights, which are also available to customers.

An initiative like this has been widely welcomed by women in Kabul, especially young girls who have been barred from school above Grade 6 and from university.