The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) has announced that trade agreements worth AFN 446 million were signed between Afghan traders and investors and business delegations from Russia’s Republic of Dagestan, Tyumen Region, and Kazakhstan during a joint business-to-business (B2B) meeting.

According to a statement issued by the ACCI, the agreements cover the sectors of construction materials, pharmaceuticals, food and essential commodities (including cooking oil, tea, and grains), and agricultural services.

The meeting began with discussions between Afghan, Russian, and Kazakh traders and investors, during which the participants exchanged views on trade opportunities, market needs, and areas of potential cooperation.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of the Tyumen Chamber of Commerce thanked the leadership and staff of ACCI for their warm hospitality and described the visit as highly successful. He invited Afghan businesspeople to visit Russia and pledged to facilitate meetings between them and Russian traders.

He said the meetings would help expand not only Russian exports to Afghanistan but also Afghan exports to Russia. He added that the gathering could be remembered in the future as the beginning of a major historic trade partnership.

A joint trade delegation from Russia’s Republic of Dagestan, the Tyumen Region, and Kazakhstan arrived in Kabul on Saturday for talks aimed at expanding economic and commercial cooperation.

Thousands of Afghan families are returning to Afghanistan as Pakistan steps up its latest deportation campaign against undocumented foreign nationals.

Pakistan’s government set July 10 as the deadline for Afghans without valid visas to leave the country, ending recognition of documents that had previously allowed many Afghans to remain legally.

According to reports, between 400 and 600 families are crossing through Torkham into Afghanistan each day. Since October 2023, more than 2.5 million Afghans have returned from Pakistan under Islamabad’s deportation policy.

Many of those leaving say they have spent their entire lives in Pakistan and are returning to a country they barely know. Some families told reporters they were forced to sell homes and businesses at heavily reduced prices before departing, while others described increasing police raids and fears of arrest.

The large-scale returns are placing additional pressure on Afghanistan’s already limited resources, with transit centres and aid agencies struggling to support the growing number of returnees.

Pakistan says the deportation campaign is aimed at undocumented migrants and that only Afghans holding valid visas, such as student, business or visit visas, are permitted to remain in the country.

The deportations come amid strained relations between Pakistan and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, with Islamabad accusing Kabul of failing to prevent cross-frontier militant activity. Afghan authorities have repeatedly rejected those allegations.

Humanitarian organisations have warned that the continuing return of large numbers of Afghans risks worsening the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, where many returnees face an uncertain future.

The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Fasihuddin Fitrat, has described Pakistan’s recent cross-Durand Line attacks as “unacceptable,” saying that none of Islamabad’s military actions against Afghanistan have gone unanswered.

Speaking on the issue, Fitrat accused Pakistan of repeatedly targeting civilian areas during its operations, while claiming that the Islamic Emirate’s retaliatory actions have not resulted in civilian casualties.

Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have remained high in recent years, with both sides exchanging accusations over cross-Durand Line security incidents and the presence of militant groups operating along their shared frontier. Pakistan has repeatedly alleged that members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are using Afghan territory to launch attacks inside Pakistan, an accusation the Islamic Emirate has consistently denied.

Reiterating that position, Fitrat dismissed Pakistan’s allegations as baseless and insisted that no TTP fighters are present in Afghanistan.

He also stressed that the Islamic Emirate remains committed to preventing Afghan territory from being used to threaten the security of any other country.

“The Islamic Emirate will not allow any country or group to use Afghanistan’s soil against another nation,” Fitrat said, adding that safeguarding the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and national security remains a top priority.

The latest remarks come amid continued strains in relations between Kabul and Islamabad, despite repeated calls from both sides for dialogue and improved border security cooperation.