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Pakistani FM meets with deputy prime minister, reiterates need to avoid ‘mistakes of the past’
Visiting Pakistani Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar said in a meeting with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s (IEA) deputy prime minister Abdul Salam Hanafi on Thursday that opportunities should be used and that the two countries should “not be involved in the mistakes of the past”.
According to a statement issued by Hanafi’s office on Tuesday night, Khar met with the deputy prime minister and with Shahabuddin Delawar, the minister of mines and petroleum, as well as a number of other IEA officials.
Hanafi pointed out at the meeting that “Afghanistan and Pakistan have long-standing historical, religious and cultural relations and we want to further expand relations between the two countries.”
He said Afghanistan is the bridge between Central and South Asia and “we are ready to cooperate for the implementation of big projects such as TAPI, TAP, CASA-1000 and the Peshawar-Kabul-Tirmaz railway line”.
He also said: “We are trying to mechanize the coal trade, and for this purpose, a competent inter-ministerial joint committee has been established. Also, the National Committee of Ports has been assigned to provide facilities in the field of trade and transit.”
Hanafi encouraged Pakistani investors to invest in Afghanistan in mining, energy and agriculture sectors and added that the Islamic Emirate wants Pakistan’s cooperation in the fields of visa facilitation for Afghans and the release of Afghan prisoners.
Meanwhile, Khar said: “We don’t know of countries that have a lot in common like Afghanistan and Pakistan,” adding that after 40 years, many opportunities have been provided in Afghanistan – opportunities beneficial to both countries.
Emphasizing that Pakistan respects the territorial integrity of Afghanistan, Khar stated “we should not be involved in the mistakes of the past. We must create a good environment for expanding business relations and people-to-people contact and turn challenges into opportunities.”
Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan, also said: “We respect the territorial integrity of Afghanistan and since security has been ensured in Afghanistan, we should work and invest more for the welfare and comfort of the citizens of the two countries and focus on solving the problems.”
Afghanistan’s Finance Minister Mohammad Nasir Akhund has met with Iran’s Agriculture Minister Gholamreza Nouri Ghezeljeh to discuss expanding bilateral economic and trade cooperation.
The meeting took place during Akhund’s official visit to Iran.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Finance, the discussions focused on preparations for the next meeting of the joint economic commission, exports of Afghan agricultural products to Iran, and ensuring 24-hour operations at customs facilities.
The two sides also discussed addressing challenges faced by Afghan traders, preventing the smuggling of illegal goods, and other trade and economic issues.
Iran’s agriculture minister expressed readiness to cooperate with Afghanistan in the fields of agriculture, livestock and irrigation. He also assured the Afghan delegation that Iran would make the necessary preparations for the upcoming meeting of the joint economic commission and continue efforts to strengthen cooperation in these areas.
Bayat Power’s 40-megawatt gas-fired electricity turbine has resumed operations in Jawzjan province following an inauguration ceremony attended by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, on Saturday.
The resumption marks an important step in Afghanistan’s efforts to strengthen domestic electricity production, reduce reliance on imported power and improve energy security.
During the ceremony, Mullah Baradar praised Bayat Power’s investment in gas-fired electricity generation and encouraged other investors to support the country’s energy sector and wider economy.
He said the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan had taken significant steps towards economic growth and industrialization, creating favorable opportunities for investment. He also urged investors and industrialists to contribute to reconstruction, economic development and job creation.
Bayat Power’s return to operation comes amid a series of long-term agreements aimed at securing the future of domestic electricity generation. In May, the company extended its power production agreement with the Ministry of Energy and Water for another 10 years, guaranteeing the continued generation of 40 megawatts from domestic natural gas resources in Jawzjan.
The agreement was signed by Bayat Power CEO Ali Kasemi and Minister of Energy and Water Mawlavi Mohammad Younus Akhundzada. It followed a separate 10-year extension of the company’s natural gas supply agreement with Afghan Gas in April and an earlier power production and distribution agreement with Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS).
Bayat Power operates Bayat Power-1, Afghanistan’s first modern gas-to-electricity plant, which uses Siemens Energy’s SGT-A45 mobile gas turbine technology. The facility has the capacity to generate more than 300 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, supplying hundreds of thousands of consumers.
The company is Afghanistan’s largest private electricity producer, and its operations form part of broader efforts to expand domestic energy infrastructure and reduce dependence on electricity imports.
The resumption of the turbine is expected to reinforce the country’s local power supply while highlighting the role of private investment in Afghanistan’s energy development.
Afghanistan’s Minister of Finance, Mohammad Nasir Akhund, has travelled to Iran at the head of a delegation following an official invitation from Iran’s Minister of Agriculture, the Ministry of Finance said.
During the visit, Akhund is expected to meet with various Iranian officials to discuss bilateral economic, trade, customs and other related issues.
The visit will also include discussions on key topics for an upcoming meeting of the joint economic commission between Afghanistan and Iran.
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