The Ministry of Transport and Aviation says the construction of the country's largest terminal has begun in Herat province. The terminal worth more than $20 million is being built by the private sector and the government.

In the opening ceremony of this terminal, the local officials of Herat called on traders and investors to invest in the country for economic growth and job opportunities.

This terminal will be built in a large set with all the required parts.

It will be built on 1,000 acres of land near Khwaja Abdullah Ansari International Airport, employing 4,000 people.

“This national project will be built on nearly one acre of state land. About 1.8 billion afghanis have been invested in this project,” said Hamidullah Akhundzada, acting minister of Transport and Aviation.

Construction of the terminal costs 20,500,000 US dollars, 70 percent of which is paid by the private sector and 30 percent by the Islamic Emirate.

“This project is one of the most crucial projects for Herat province, especially the western zone,” said Habibullah Samadi, project manager of the terminal.

Noor Ahmad Islam Jar, the governor of Herat, also assured about the availability of investment opportunities in this province and asked investors and businessmen to invest in Afghanistan to improve the economic situation and provide work opportunities.

The passenger terminal of Herat is now located in the north of the city, where the movement of large passenger cars from the central roads of Herat city has always caused disorder and traffic accidents.

The U.S. State Department on Thursday imposed sanctions on a Chinese research institute and several companies it said have been involved in supplying Pakistan's ballistic missile program.

Washington similarly targeted three China-based companies with sanctions in October 2023 for supplying missile-applicable items to Pakistan, Reuters reported.

Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement that the Beijing Research Institute of Automation for Machine Building Industry had worked with Pakistan to procure equipment for testing rocket motors for the Shaheen-3 and Ababeel systems and potentially for larger systems.

The sanctions also targeted China-based firms Hubei Huachangda Intelligent Equipment Co, Universal Enterprise, and Xi'an Longde Technology Development Co, alongside Pakistan-based Innovative Equipment and a Chinese national, for knowingly transferring equipment under missile technology restrictions, Miller said.

"As today’s actions demonstrate, the United States will continue to act against proliferation and associated procurement activities of concern, wherever they occur," Miller said.

Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for China's embassy in Washington, said: "China firmly opposes unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction that have no basis in international law or authorization of the UN Security Council."

China will "firmly protect" Chinese companies' and individuals' rights and interests, Liu said.

Pakistan's embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) confirmed on Friday that 14 civilians were killed in an attack in an area between Daikundi and Ghor provinces.

Mujahid said on X that six others were wounded in the attack.

He called the attack "brutal" and strongly condemned it.

Mujahid said that the Islamic Emirate was seriously trying to find the perpetrators of the incident and bring them to justice.

Daesh claimed responsibility for the attack.