The acting head of Afghanistan’s Embassy in Kuwait, Mohammad Shafiq Khatib, has met with senior Kuwaiti officials to discuss the situation of Afghan nationals held in Kuwaiti prisons.

According to a statement from the Afghan Embassy in Kuwait, Khatib met with Abu Fahad Mansour Fayez Al-Barrak, Deputy Director of Kuwait’s Prisoners Affairs Department, and Ali Abbas, an official responsible for legal affairs.

During the meeting, both sides held constructive discussions on the condition of Afghan prisoners in Kuwait.

The embassy did not provide further details about the specific issues raised or any agreements reached during the meeting.

The meeting comes as part of diplomatic engagement between Afghanistan and Kuwait on matters concerning Afghan nationals and their welfare abroad.

Archaeologists excavating Kabul’s historic Bala Hissar fortress have uncovered remarkable remains, including a Mughal-era palace, evidence of ancient Buddhist monasteries and a mysterious star-shaped pool, offering fresh insight into more than 2,000 years of Afghanistan’s history.

The discoveries include palace ruins featuring wall paintings, bathing facilities and what is believed to be a royal throne. Researchers also found Buddhist sculptures and monastery-related structures, pointing to Kabul’s importance as a religious and cultural centre before the Islamic period.

Other artefacts include ancient coins, Islamic ceramics, oil lamps and pottery, revealing how communities lived across different periods. Excavations are underway in five areas, with one trench reaching approximately 11 metres below ground.

Bala Hissar served as a royal residence, administrative centre and military stronghold, including during the Mughal era after Emperor Babur captured Kabul in 1504.

The fortress suffered extensive damage during centuries of conflict, particularly the Second Anglo-Afghan War in 1879.

The Aga Khan Trust for Culture has led conservation and archaeological work at the site since 2018, using modern technologies such as ground-penetrating radar and 3D laser scanning.

Large sections remain unexplored, and archaeologists believe further excavations could reveal more about Afghanistan’s rich cultural, religious and military heritage.

An Iraqi intelligence report obtained by Sky News Arabia has revealed alleged large-scale crude oil smuggling operations from northern Iraq into Iran, where the oil is reportedly refined and later sold in regional markets, including Afghanistan and Turkey.

According to the report, shipments of crude oil are transported through land routes and unofficial trade channels into Iranian territory, where they undergo refining and processing before being re-exported to foreign markets.

The intelligence findings suggest that the alleged network is designed to bypass international sanctions and facilitate the movement of petroleum products outside official trade and financial monitoring systems.

The report further indicates that smuggling networks rely on informal transportation routes and cross-border commercial channels to maintain the collection, processing and distribution of oil products while avoiding regulatory oversight.

The revelations have raised concerns over cross-border smuggling, the loss of national resources and the potential impact of illicit oil trade on regional economies.

Security and political observers say the reported activities could put additional pressure on Iraqi authorities to strengthen border controls, monitor oil transportation routes and improve coordination with regional and international partners.

However, the allegations outlined in the intelligence report have not been independently verified, and further details about the networks involved, the quantities of oil transported and the scale of supplies reaching Afghanistan and Turkey remain unclear.

The report highlights broader challenges facing regional authorities in combating illicit oil trade and enforcing international sanctions.