Latest News
U.S. advice to banks: OK to transfer aid money to Afghanistan
International banks can transfer money to Afghanistan for humanitarian purposes, and aid groups are allowed to pay teachers and healthcare workers at state-run institutions without fear of breaching sanctions on the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), the United States said on Wednesday.
The U.S. Treasury Department offered guidance on sanctions exemptions issued in September and December for humanitarian work in Afghanistan, where the United Nations says more than half the country’s 39 million people suffer extreme hunger and the economy, education and social services are facing collapse.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres last week warned Afghanistan was “hanging by a thread.”
The IEA, seized power from Afghanistan’s internationally backed government in August. Billions of dollars in Afghan central bank reserves and international development aid were frozen to prevent it from falling into IEA hands.
International banks have been wary of Afghanistan and the United Nations and aid groups are struggling to get enough money into the country to fund operations.
The U.S. Treasury said banks can process transactions related to humanitarian operations “including clearing, settlement, and transfers through, to, or otherwise involving privately owned and state-owned Afghan depository institutions.”
It also outlined permitted transactions involving the IEA, which includes Haqqani Network. These include signing agreements to provide aid directly to the Afghan people, general aid coordination, including import administration, and sharing of office space.
“Payments of taxes, fees, or import duties to, or the purchase or receipt of permits, licenses, or public utility services from” the IEA, Haqqani Network or any entity in which they own more than 50% is authorized for humanitarian operations, the Treasury said.
It also said aid groups are allowed to ship cash to Afghanistan for humanitarian operations and can make direct payments to healthcare workers and teachers in public hospitals and schools.
Amid rising tensions over Pakistan’s repatriation plans for illegal Afghan nationals, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapour said on Friday that no refugees will be forcibly deported from the province.
“We will not allow any Afghan refugee to be expelled by force from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. We stand firmly against such inhumane deportations,” Gandapur said at a press conference.
The remarks came as the Pakistani government ramps up efforts to repatriate undocumented Afghan refugees and Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders, following the expiration of the voluntary return deadline on March 31, 2025.
“The past situation, where Afghan refugees, including women and children, were stranded at the border, tarnished Pakistan’s image,” Gandapur said, reaffirming the provincial government’s commitment to a dignified repatriation process.
“We are setting up camps for voluntary repatriation, and anyone wishing to return will be helped. However, we will not forcibly expel any Afghan refugee,” he stated.
Afghans holding Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC) — issued by Pakistan authorities and held by 800,000 people, according to the United Nations — face deportation to Afghanistan after the deadline.
More than 1.3 million Afghans who hold Proof of Registration (PoR) cards from the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, are also to be moved outside the capital Islamabad and neighbouring city Rawalpindi.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has 46 township plans for returning refugees, Acting Minister of Refugees and Repatriation Mawlawi Abdul Kabir told a visiting Iranian diplomat in Kabul, calling on Tehran to give refugees time to return.
According to a statement issued by the ministry on Saturday, Abdul Kabir said during the meeting that Afghanistan and Iran are friendly neighbors that have many commonalities.
He stressed the need to further develop and strengthen relations between the two countries and said that the frequent visits of high-ranking Iranian officials show that Tehran wants positive and friendly relations with Afghanistan.
Abdul Kabir thanked Iran for its assistance and hosting of Afghan refugees, saying that Iran and Pakistan have been hosting Afghan refugees for the past few decades. He called for more leniency in the treatment of migrants.
He said that the Islamic Emirate is preparing a mechanism to provide legal documents for those migrants whose legal residence in Iran has expired.
In the meeting, Mohammad Reza Bahrami, Iran’s new Assistant Minister and Director General for South Asian Affairs at the Foreign Ministry, invited Abdul Kabir to visit Tehran, and called for repatriation plan to be shared before the trip.
He stressed on the humane treatment of Afghan refugees and appreciated the Islamic Emirate’s initiative to build 46 townships, calling it an important step forward for the return of refugees.
Bahrami noted that there are currently eight million Afghan reguees living in Iran, of whom four million are undocumented or have their residence expired.
The United States has no plans to allow for the reopening of its embassy in Kabul, American officials have said as reported by Washington Examiner on Friday.
“The United States does not recognize any entity as the government of Afghanistan and therefore has no plans to allow for the reopening of its embassy,” a State Department spokesperson said.
US National Security Council spokesman James Hewitt also said that the United States has “made no commitments regarding the Afghan Embassy in Washington, and there are no discussions underway” concerning the status of the US embassy in Kabul.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) called for the handover of Afghanistan’s embassy in Washington during US officials’ visit to Kabul recently for the release of an American prisoner.
The IEA also asked the United States to reopen its embassy in Kabul.
Gandapur says no Afghan refugee will be ‘forcefully’ expelled from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
IEA has 46 township plans for returnees, minister tells visiting Iranian official
US has no plans for reopening of its embassy in Kabul
Israeli troops expand ‘security zone’ in northern Gaza
Acting foreign minister Muttaqi travels to Saudi Arabia
Afghanistan beat Greenland 5-4 in Brazil futsal tournament
Afghanistan’s futsal team to face Greenland in Brazil tournament
Pakistan asks illegal foreigners, Afghan Citizen Card holders to leave by March 31
Uzbekistan set to open permanent trade center in northern Afghanistan
Zelenskiy in Saudi Arabia as US voices hope for Ukraine peace talks
Saar: Donald Trump’s announcement of tariffs discussed
Tahawol: Escalating tensions in Middle East discussed
Saar: Review of world’s economic status
Saar: China’s military drills around Taiwan discussed
Tahawol: Instability of Middle East countries reviewed
-
Latest News5 days agoSwitzerland re-establishes presence in Kabul with humanitarian office
-
Latest News5 days agoPakistan plans to expel 3 million Afghan refugees this year
-
Regional5 days agoIran’s Khamenei warns of ‘strong’ response if US attacks
-
Latest News4 days agoAfghanistan’s reconstruction is in the interest of EU: Uzbek president
-
Latest News4 days agoUS won’t rest until all Americans detained in Afghanistan brought home: Rubio
-
Latest News4 days agoBulgaria brings five people to trial over deaths of 18 Afghan migrants
-
Latest News3 days agoMinistry of Economy calls on US to release Afghanistan’s frozen funds
-
Latest News3 days agoPakistan ‘extends’ deadline for a week for Afghans to leave the country