Business
Russia accuses West of double standards over deportation of Afghans
She said the process of removing Afghan refugees who were once considered partners by Western countries had accelerated.
Russia has criticized Western countries over their policies toward Afghans who left the country following the withdrawal of foreign forces in August 2021, accusing them of tightening asylum rules while increasing deportations.
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, made the remarks in response to questions about the policies of the United States, Britain and Germany toward Afghan nationals.
Zakharova said Western countries had tightened rules on issuing documents and granting asylum after facing difficulties in accommodating Afghans, while simultaneously stepping up deportations.
She said the policy particularly affected former officials and military personnel of the previous Afghan government, who could face forced returns to Afghanistan.
Zakharova also referred to reports that some European Union countries had allowed diplomats of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) to issue documents for Afghan nationals subject to readmission.
She said the process of removing Afghan refugees who were once considered partners by Western countries had accelerated.
Zakharova also raised concerns about the planned closure of Qatar’s Al-Sailiya camp, where more than 1,000 Afghans who worked with US forces are reportedly housed at a former US military base.
She said the United States had been unwilling to accept some of its former Afghan partners and was instead negotiating their resettlement in African countries.
Zakharova accused Western governments of adopting an inconsistent approach by criticizing IEA officials over alleged human rights violations while at the same time deporting Afghan nationals to Afghanistan.
Her comments come amid continuing debate in Western countries over the status of Afghan asylum seekers, former government officials and people who worked with foreign forces following the 2021 withdrawal.
Cooperation between the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment and the Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce has paved the way for exporting potatoes from Bamyan province to the Uzbek market.
In this regard, Sayed Karim Hashemi, President of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, and Doran Vahabov, President of the Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce, have agreed on the export of 100,000 tons of Bamyan potatoes to Uzbekistan. Work is underway to finalize the export agreement.
Meanwhile, the first shipment of potatoes, consisting of eight trucks, has departed for the Uzbek city of Termez through the Hairatan Port.
The chambers of commerce of both countries, in cooperation with local authorities in Bamyan, have facilitated connections between traders and farmers and coordinated the purchasing, marketing, and transportation of the produce. This initiative is expected to expand market opportunities for Bamyan farmers and strengthen trade between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.
Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, Ahmadullah Zahid, has travelled to India to attend the India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2026 in New Delhi.
The ministry said Zahid is scheduled to meet senior Indian government officials, trade representatives and investors during the visit.
Discussions are expected to focus on expanding bilateral trade and economic relations, increasing trade between the two countries, exploring new markets for Afghan products and identifying opportunities for joint investment.
The ministry said the visit aims to strengthen trade cooperation, promote Afghanistan’s production and export potential, and create new opportunities for economic engagement between Kabul and New Delhi.
The 45th India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2026 takes place from November 13 to November 27 in New Delhi.
Business
Afghanistan hosts dialogue on Islamic microfinance to expand access to Sharia-compliant financial services
Participants also explored practical solutions and future steps to strengthen the sector, emphasizing the importance of cooperation, knowledge-sharing and better coordination among relevant institutions.
A dialogue on Islamic microfinance was held in Kabul on Wednesday, bringing together representatives of financial institutions, government authorities, international partners and Afghanistan’s microfinance sector to discuss ways of expanding inclusive financial services in the country.
The event was organized by The Liaison Office in coordination with the Afghanistan Microfinance Association (AMA), Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB) and the Indonesian Embassy in Kabul.
Participants discussed opportunities and challenges facing the development of Islamic microfinance services, with a focus on expanding access to financial products that comply with Islamic Sharia principles.
Representatives of AMA, Da Afghanistan Bank and the Indonesian Ambassador to Afghanistan delivered keynote remarks, highlighting the current situation of the microfinance sector, international experiences and opportunities for developing diverse Islamic financial products.
Two panel discussions focused on major challenges facing microfinance institutions, including structural barriers to growth, limited access to capital, funding and liquidity constraints, difficulties in securing guarantees, and the long-term sustainability of Islamic microfinance services.
Participants also explored practical solutions and future steps to strengthen the sector, emphasizing the importance of cooperation, knowledge-sharing and better coordination among relevant institutions.
The dialogue concluded with calls for stronger collaboration among financial institutions and development partners to improve access to inclusive, sustainable and Sharia-compliant financial services across Afghanistan.
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