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Rubio says final call on prisoner exchange with Afghanistan lies with Trump

Asked about claims by the Islamic Emirate that an agreement had already been reached, Rubio said he had no confirmation of such reports.

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saturday that any final decision on a potential prisoner exchange with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan would rest with President Donald Trump, following a recent visit by a US delegation to Kabul.

Rubio, speaking to reporters before departing for the Middle East, stopped short of confirming whether a deal was imminent. However, he acknowledged that Adam Boehler, the US Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs, had traveled to Kabul to assess the possibilities.

“Our special envoy has been holding discussions for some time. I believe he went to assess what may be possible. Any final decision on an exchange or agreement will rest with the President. But certainly, we want any American — or any individual — who is unlawfully detained to be freed,” Rubio said.

Asked about claims by the Islamic Emirate that an agreement had already been reached, Rubio said he had no confirmation of such reports.

According to Afghan officials, Boehler and his delegation met Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, and discussed the status of detainees held in both countries.

Hamidullah Fitrat, Deputy Spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, later posted on X that both sides agreed to continue dialogue on bilateral issues, including the fate of detainees.

The Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed the talks, saying they focused on bilateral relations and the importance of sustained engagement.

Former US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad was reported to have accompanied the delegation, though he has not issued any public comment on the visit.

Neither side disclosed details about the number or identities of detainees under discussion.

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Islamic Emirate’s army now self-sufficient, says chief of army staff

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Mohammad Fasihuddin Fitrat, Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces, says that over the past four years, the army forces of the Islamic Emirate have shown no hesitation in defending and protecting Afghanistan, and that today the country’s army is standing on its own feet.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Defense, Fitrat made these remarks at a meeting with media representatives, political analysts, and a number of government officials aimed at coordination and strengthening cooperation. He added: “Nations that cannot stand on their own feet and rely on others, even if they grow, will not be capable of achieving real progress.”

Fitrat also expressed appreciation for the role of the media in ensuring security and in supporting the country’s defense forces, stating: “We and you, as citizens of this land, must put our hands together and build the country together, take pride in our forces, and strive with all our strength for the country’s development. We have created an army that defends honor, territorial integrity, and the borders of the country, and serves as the guardian of our freedom.”

He emphasized that the Islamic Emirate is working to establish an army equipped with modern weapons so that it can defend the country’s territory under all circumstances.

He stated that the country’s army has proven to the people that anyone who looks at this land with ill intent will face a firm and courageous response, and that it has also been made clear to neighboring countries that any aggression against Afghanistan will be met with a response several times stronger.

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Afghan health minister attends second WHO summit in India

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Noor Jalal Jalali, the Minister of Public Health of the Islamic Emirate, participated in the second World Health Organization meeting on traditional medicine during his official visit to India.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Ministry of Public Health said that the meeting was held in India with the participation of representatives from around 100 countries, health ministers from 23 countries, professional experts from various nations, and officials from different departments of the World Health Organization.

During the meeting, discussions were held on the standardization of traditional medicine, training of individuals active in this field, recognition of traditional medicine as an established reality, and the sharing of countries’ experiences in this area.

The ministry stated that the purpose of participating in the conference was to standardize traditional medicine in Afghanistan, adding that for several decades this sector has been practiced in a non-standard manner and without a defined curriculum or clear principles.

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Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan boost trade and digital finance ties

Minister Sydykov, in turn, pledged the continuation of Kyrgyzstan’s humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and highlighted his country’s interest in working together on e-governance initiatives.

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Afghanistan’s Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs, Abdul Salam Hanafi, has met with a high-level Kyrgyz delegation led by Minister of Economy and Commerce Bakhyt Sydykov to discuss expanding bilateral trade and strengthening cooperation in digital financial services.

During the meeting, Hanafi reaffirmed Afghanistan’s readiness to deepen ties with Kyrgyzstan, stressing the importance of developing electronic administration systems and modern banking channels to facilitate trade and financial transactions between the two countries.

Minister Sydykov, in turn, pledged the continuation of Kyrgyzstan’s humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and highlighted his country’s interest in working together on e-governance initiatives. He also pointed to potential cooperation in areas such as the printing of securities and the development of electronic payment systems.

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