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Qosh Tepa Canal phase two will finish in five months: Mujahid
The Islamic Emirate’s spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, says the government is continuing its efforts to implement national economic projects, including the Qosh Tepa Canal.
Mujahid stated that the second phase of this agricultural project will be completed in the near future, and the third phase will begin soon afterward.
“The Qosh Tepa Canal is one of Afghanistan’s major agricultural projects. Its first phase was completed last year. The second phase, which is currently underway, will be completed in five months, according to the National Development Corporation, and work is ongoing at its final point,” said Mujahid.
Officials at the National Development Corporation (NDC), which is responsible for implementing this large-scale national economic project, have reported significant progress in constructing the main dam and advancing the second phase. They say efforts are underway to complete the project ahead of schedule.
Meanwhile, a number of local residents and farmers are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to benefit from the Qosh Tepa Canal and are urging the Islamic Emirate to accelerate efforts to complete this major project.
One farmer said, “We urge the government to complete the Qosh Tepa Canal as soon as possible so that the lands can be irrigated and we can begin harvesting our crops.”
The Qosh Tepa Canal is one of the largest water transfer canals in Afghanistan and the region, measuring 285 kilometers in length, 108 meters in width, and 8.5 meters in depth.
Once completed, the canal will irrigate 550,000 hectares of land across the country and is expected to bring significant transformation to Afghanistan’s agricultural economy.
Originating in Kaldar District of Balkh Province and extending to Andkhoy District in Faryab, the canal has a water transfer capacity of 650 cubic meters per second.
It is estimated to transfer approximately 20.5 billion cubic meters of water annually from the Amu River, helping to irrigate vast areas of dry land throughout the country.
Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), on Tuesday denied that IEA authorities detained Mahmood Shah Habibi, an Afghan-American businessman the US claims disappeared in Kabul four years ago.
“We have no information about Mahmood Shah Habibi. He is not with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. If he were, this issue would have been resolved long ago,” Mujahid said.
His remarks came a day after the FBI marked the fourth anniversary of Habibi’s disappearance and renewed its appeal for information about his whereabouts.
According to the FBI, Habibi disappeared near his home in Kabul on August 10, 2022. At the time, he was working as a consultant for Asia Consultancy Group, a Kabul-based telecommunications company. He had previously served as Afghanistan’s director of civil aviation.
The FBI has alleged that Habibi was detained by the IEA’s General Directorate of Intelligence.
The FBI has continued its investigation and in 2025 released a missing-persons poster for Habibi. The U.S. State Department has also offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his location, recovery and return.
Afghanistan’s Justice Minister Abdul Hakim Sharei says the reclamation of state-owned land seized by land grabbers is a legal matter and should not be linked to ethnicity, religion or language.
Sharei, who also heads the Commission for the Prevention of Land Grabbing, made the remarks at a meeting with officials and representatives of charitable organizations in Kabul.
He said the commission is legally and religiously obligated to enforce rulings issued by the special court handling cases involving seized state land. Once the court determines that a disputed plot belongs to the state, the commission must enforce the decision, he said.
Sharei said the special court bases its rulings on documents, evidence and the law, adding that legal principles must be applied equally to all parties.
The justice minister also called on charitable organizations to work toward establishing a nationwide union and to expand their activities into fundamental and infrastructure projects.
He urged charities to avoid photographing or filming people while distributing aid, saying such practices could undermine the dignity of those receiving assistance.
Representatives of charitable organizations raised concerns over taxes, customs procedures and lengthy administrative processes. The Ministry of Justice said it would work to address the issues following the establishment of a nationwide union.
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) said on Monday Afghanistan is facing a deep humanitarian, economic and climate crisis, while NATO countries have forgotten their promises to support the Afghan people.
In a statement marking five years since Western troops and diplomats left Afghanistan, the NRC said millions of Afghan civilians are struggling with worsening humanitarian conditions as international aid continues to decline.
According to the NRC, more than six million Afghans have returned from neighboring countries since late 2023, adding to the pressure on communities already affected by climate shocks, regional tensions and restrictions on women and girls.
“NATO countries have forgotten their solemn promises to Afghan girls and boys and turned their backs on Afghan civilians,” NRC Secretary General Jan Egeland said.
He warned that declining humanitarian funding is forcing aid organizations to reduce food, water, shelter and medical assistance for vulnerable Afghan families.
The NRC said millions of returnees are facing an uncertain future and are having to rebuild their lives from scratch. Up to 73 percent of returnees remain unemployed, with very few opportunities to earn a living.
“Shelter and livelihood support remain among the most critical needs of returnees,” Egeland said, adding that many families are struggling to find adequate housing and provide food for their children.
Afghan authorities have planned to distribute land to returnees as a key part of the response to their needs. However, the NRC said the large number of returnees, complicated land distribution procedures, limited investment and a lack of basic services are making reintegration difficult.
The NRC also warned that funding for Afghanistan’s humanitarian response has fallen sharply. The country’s Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan was nearly 96 percent funded in 2021, but funding dropped to 42 percent in 2025. So far this year, only 26 percent of the required funding has been provided.
The NRC called on the international community to increase development investment in Afghanistan and support long-term solutions and recovery.
It also urged international actors to engage with Afghan authorities to ensure that political issues do not prevent vulnerable communities from receiving humanitarian assistance and basic services.
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