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Nearly 18,000 Afghan refugees return home in one week
Amid ongoing reports of mass returns, over 17,600 Afghan refugees have returned from Pakistan to Afghanistan through the Torkham and Spin Boldak border crossings in the past week.
International aid organizations report that many of these individuals held residency cards in Pakistan.
According to these agencies, more than 15,000 returnees, 46% of whom are women, received essential humanitarian assistance upon their arrival in Afghanistan.
Organizations stationed at these border points have warned that the number of returnees remains extremely high and stressed the need for international support.
According to a joint report by humanitarian agencies operating at the borders, most of the returning families are heading to the provinces of Kunduz, Nangarhar, Kandahar, Kabul, and Helmand.
Meanwhile, some of the returnees are urging the Islamic Emirate to provide them with shelter and employment.
In response, the Islamic Emirate has assured them that it has plans to manage the returnees and will provide them with housing and job opportunities.
Pakistan began the second phase of its forced deportation of Afghan refugees on April 1, 2025, a move that has drawn strong international criticism and backlash.
Humanitarian organizations also warn that, in contrast to the high number of returnees, their funding is inadequate and continues to decline.
The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum of Afghanistan has signed a 30-year agreement with a private company to extract marble in Daikundi province.
Under the contract, the company will invest AFN 283 million in exploring and mining marble at the “Mesh-Uliya” site, spanning 16.74 square kilometers in central Daikundi.
Hedayatullah Badri, Minister of Mines and Petroleum, stated that the marble will be processed domestically before being exported abroad. He added that the Mesh-Uliya project is expected to create around 200 jobs, and the company is committed to supporting local communities through social initiatives.
Economic experts highlight that such investments, especially those focusing on domestic processing, are crucial for job creation, boosting exports, and strengthening the national economy. Analysts further note that the project will improve local infrastructure, expand social services, and enhance the economic and social well-being of Daikundi residents.
Since the return of the Islamic Emirate to power, efforts to develop Afghanistan’s mining sector have intensified, with multiple contracts signed in areas including cement, copper, iron, and lapis lazuli, involving both domestic and international companies.
A passenger bus veered off the Salang Highway before dawn on Sunday, leaving five people dead and 44 others injured, the Ministry of Public Works said.
According to the ministry, the incident occurred at around 2:00 a.m. in the Shawol area of North Salang when a passenger bus deviated from the main road due to the driver’s negligence.
Mohammad Ashraf Haqshenas, spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Works, said five passengers were killed and 44 others sustained injuries. He added that personnel from the Salang Maintenance and Protection Directorate promptly arrived at the scene and transferred the injured to the Khunjān clinic for medical treatment.
The Ministry of Public Works has urged drivers and passengers traveling on the Salang Highway to strictly follow the instructions of on-duty teams, observe traffic regulations, and carry warm clothing, food supplies, and snow chains to prevent similar incidents.
The ministry also noted that heavy snowfall and stormy weather have led to the temporary closure of the highway, while road maintenance teams are continuing snow-clearing operations.
Latest News
Major fire in Mandawi Kabul market contained, extensive losses prevented
Local shopkeepers said the fire broke out around 4 a.m.
The Ministry of Interior reported that personnel from the General Directorate of Firefighting and Emergency Response successfully prevented the further spread of a fire at Mandawi market on Kabul early Sunday morning.
Abdul Mateen Qani, spokesperson for the ministry, said that the fire destroyed 10 storage facilities and 8 shops. He added that initial losses are estimated at around $700,000, but timely action by firefighting personnel saved property worth approximately $2.2 million.
Qani explained that the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit. He praised the rapid and effective containment operations, which prevented more extensive damage.
Local shopkeepers said the fire broke out around 4 a.m.
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