Nooruddin Azizi, Afghanistan’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, announced during his visit to Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province that the Chabahar port transit route is secure, reliable, and open for trade, and that economic cooperation and joint investment with Iran will be expanded.

Speaking at the Iran-Afghanistan Joint Economic Meeting on Saturday, Azizi said that trade capacity between the two countries has increased. He added that establishing competitive routes with regional ports, including Karachi, is a priority to reduce costs and facilitate commerce.

Azizi emphasized that economic development remains the cornerstone of the Afghan government’s agenda. Both domestic and foreign investment are fully supported, he said, noting that initiatives in the Chabahar Free Zone and transit projects are expected to boost employment and trade growth.

The minister also highlighted Afghanistan’s commitment to constructive engagement with all neighboring and Muslim-majority countries, stressing that disputes should be resolved through dialogue and mutual respect to ensure regional stability.

Addressing the country’s ongoing drought, Azizi described the situation as “critical” and stressed that Afghanistan has maintained water flow to Iran in accordance with principles of good neighborliness, continuing close coordination with Iranian authorities to manage shared water resources responsibly.

Pakistan announced on Friday that it is prepared to receive its nationals currently residing in Afghanistan, provided they are formally handed over through the Torkham and Spin Boldak-Chaman crossings.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andarabi said during a press briefing that Pakistan would accept any Pakistani citizen and their families returning from Afghanistan, but stressed that the handover must occur at the Torkham or Chaman points.

He accused the Islamic Emirate of attempting to portray members of militant groups as refugees or civilians seeking shelter. “This is not a humanitarian or a refugees crisis, but a ploy to frame terrorists as refugees,” Andarabi said.

The spokesperson reiterated Pakistan’s concerns about what it describes as a surge in attacks since the Islamic Emirate took power in Kabul in 2021. He said the Islamic Emirate have failed to act against militants using Afghan soil to target Pakistan, despite repeated assurances.

Andarabi added that while Pakistan remains committed to dialogue with Kabul, it will not negotiate with militant groups.

The statement followed the conclusion of the third round of Afghanistan-Pakistan talks held in Istanbul earlier this week, mediated by Turkiye and Qatar.

Pakistani officials have repeatedly claimed that militant groups carrying attacks in Pakistan have sanctuaries in Afghanistan. The Islamic Emirate, however, denies the claim.

Two weeks ago, Islamic Emirate’s spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said that during the Istanbul negotiations, the Pakistani side was informed that the Islamic Emirate was willing to deport people Islamabad considers a security threat. However, Pakistan did not accept the offer.

A high-level delegation from Tajikistan, including officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, security agencies, and other key authorities, arrived in Kabul on Saturday.

Sources told Ariana News that the delegation’s visit aims to strengthen and expand political, economic, and security relations between Tajikistan and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. In addition to meeting with various Afghan government officials, the delegation will also discuss future cooperation.

Over the past four years, Tajikistan has had less direct engagement with the Islamic Emirate compared to other Central Asian countries. The visit signals a renewed effort to reinforce political ties and economic interactions between the two countries.

Sources added that alongside broader discussions on bilateral relations, the two sides are also expected to talk about the opening of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s embassy in Dushanbe and other related matters.

The visit marks a significant step in Tajikistan’s efforts to establish more direct and stable relations with Afghanistan’s leadership, reflecting an interest in fostering closer regional cooperation.