Afghanistan’s Minister of Industry and Commerce Nooruddin Azizi has traveled to Belarus at the head of a delegation, at the invitation of the Belarusian government, to strengthen economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

The ministry said the visit includes participation in the Second Belarus International Industrial Exhibition and meetings with senior Belarusian officials.

During the visit, the minister is expected to tour the exhibition and attend a general meeting of participating countries.

He is also scheduled to meet with Belarusian ministers of foreign affairs, agriculture, and industry to discuss trade and economic relations, industrial and agricultural cooperation, investment, and new areas of bilateral cooperation.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce said it hopes the visit will help expand trade and economic ties, boost industrial cooperation, and create more opportunities for investment between Afghanistan and Belarus.

A delegation from the US Afghanistan War Commission met Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, in Rawalpindi on Monday as the commission reviews the United States’ 20-year engagement in Afghanistan.

The delegation, led by commission co-chairs Shamila N. Chaudhary and Colin F. Jackson, met Munir at General Headquarters, according to Pakistan’s military.

Discussions covered Pakistan’s support during the Afghanistan conflict, the regional security environment and developments in Afghanistan, with a focus on issues relevant to the commission’s review.

Munir presented Pakistan’s perspective on the security dynamics that shaped the conflict and highlighted the challenges faced by the country during the prolonged war in neighbouring Afghanistan.

He also stressed the importance of incorporating the regional perspective and Pakistan’s experience when assessing the strategic, diplomatic and operational dimensions of the conflict, according to the military statement.

The delegation acknowledged Pakistan’s “longstanding role and sacrifices” during the conflict and appreciated what it described as the country’s continued contribution to regional peace and stability.

The Afghanistan War Commission was established by the US Congress in 2021 to conduct an independent review of US decisions and actions during the Afghanistan war from June 2001 to August 2021. The commission is examining the military, diplomatic, intelligence and foreign assistance aspects of the US engagement.

US forces completed their withdrawal from Afghanistan on August 30, 2021, ending nearly two decades of US military involvement in the country.

Pakistan was a key regional actor throughout the conflict, sharing a long border with Afghanistan and providing logistical and other support to US-led operations while also facing significant security challenges linked to the war.

The commission’s meeting with Munir comes as it gathers regional perspectives on the decisions and events that shaped the US engagement in Afghanistan. Its final report is expected to examine the broader strategic, diplomatic and operational lessons of the conflict.

Italian diplomat Nicola Bellomo has taken up his new post as chargé d’affaires of the European Union delegation in Afghanistan, succeeding Veronika Boskovic Pohar, who had held the position since September 2024.

Bellomo announced his appointment on X, saying he was taking on the assignment with “great pride” and would represent the European Union’s interests and values in Afghanistan.

Before his new posting, Bellomo headed the Pan-African Affairs division at the European External Action Service (EEAS). He previously served as the EU ambassador to Rwanda.

His appointment comes as the European Union continues its diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan while not formally recognizing the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA).

The EU remains one of Afghanistan’s major international donors and has recently announced funding for programmes supporting economic resilience, returnees, agriculture and climate adaptation.