Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB) says it has collected over 7 billion Afghanis worth of worn-out banknotes over the past year from markets across the country.

DAB officials have urged citizens to exercise greater care in handling the Afghan currency during daily transactions. They emphasized that the protection of banknotes is essential for preserving the value and usability of the national currency.

The bank has committed to further enhancing this process by continuing to collect old banknotes and injecting new, high-quality Afghanis into circulation.

“Da Afghanistan Bank is dedicated to ensuring the convenience of citizens in all financial and banking matters. The collection of worn-out banknotes from the markets is an ongoing process, and over the past year, we have successfully gathered more than 7 billion Afghanis in worn-out currency,” said Hasibullah Noori, DAB spokesperson.

In some provinces, residents have reported facing difficulties in their daily transactions due to the prevalence of worn-out money, which has led to concerns over the circulation of damaged or unusable currency.

The Sarai Shahzada Money Exchange Dealers Association acknowledged the efforts of the central bank in collecting the majority of worn-out banknotes from the money market and replacing them with newly issued currency.

DAB officials reiterated that the process of collecting and replacing worn-out currency will continue, and urged the public to take greater care in protecting the physical integrity of Afghan banknotes

It is worth mentioning that the initiative is part of the bank’s ongoing efforts to maintain the integrity and stability of the Afghan currency.

Iran's envoy to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, said on Thursday that Tehran spends more than $10 billion annually to meet the needs of Afghan refugees, while it does not receive sufficient assistance from the international community.

"As a neighbor, Iran has borne a disproportionate share of the burden of the Afghan crisis, especially after the reckless withdrawal of the United States in 2020. More than six million Afghans have taken refuge in Iran, which has put a lot of pressure on our limited resources. Iran spends more than 10 billion dollars annually to meet their needs, but this time it has not received enough support from the international community," Iravani said at the UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan.

He said that refugee hosting countries like Iran and Pakistan need sustained aid, while efforts must focus on enabling refugees' return by strengthening Afghanistan's capacity to provide housing, jobs, and essential services.

“Enhancing these capacities is crucial for regional stability and the dignity of returning refugees. The international community must act to support these efforts,” Iravani said.

The diplomat said that a representative and inclusive government is essential for long-term peace and stability in Afghanistan.

“An inclusive government can address key challenges, prevent conflict resurgence, and curb refugee flows to neighboring countries. It also lays the foundation for stability, security, and the protection of human rights, including those of women and girls,” he said.

US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Thursday that the threat of Daesh still exists in Afghanistan and that the group is targeting the Islamic Emirate.

Kirby said this in a press conference in reply to a question about Wednesday's attack on Acting Minister of Refugees and Repatriation Khalil-ur-Rahman Haqqani in Kabul, which was claimed by Daesh.

"I think that — look, we’re just getting information about this.  I think it’s a little too soon for me to — to make a comment.  The only thing I would say is that we recognize — and we said so at the time — that there was still an ISIS threat inside Afghanistan.  And clearly, they have set their sights on the Taliban (IEA)," Kirby said.

He said that the US maintains and has improved, since withdrawal from Afghanistan, the ability to conduct over-the-horizon counterterrorism operations anywhere in the world "and we’ve proven our ability to do that, including in places like Afghanistan since we left."

According to him, the US State Department has so far issued 76,000 Special Immigrant Visas for Afghan partners and their families.