Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs Abdul Salam Hanafi has encouraged Afghan traders and investors based in Uzbekistan to take advantage of the investment opportunities in Afghanistan in order to support the nation’s growth and development, Arg said in a statement.

According to the statement, Hanafi, who is currently visiting the neighboring country, said this was especially applicable to mining, energy, agriculture, and manufacturing.

In a meeting that was held late Monday at the Afghan Embassy in Tashkent, Hanafi said Afghanistan is a shared home for all Afghans, where everyone has the right to live in peace and security.

Hanafi said that following the general amnesty decree, there are no security or political issues in Afghanistan, and the security situation is stable.

He also highlighted the available opportunities and facilities for trade and investment in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Afghan traders living in Tashkent said that officials of the Islamic Emirate always listen to their ideas, suggestions and problems and help solve them.

They did however ask for efforts to be made to ease certain processes relating to the trade of goods between the two countries.

Mullah Hidayatullah Badri, the acting minister of mines and petroleum, has called on local officials to help stop illegal mining and the smuggling of the country’s minerals.

During a trip to Badakhshan with Fasihuddin Fitrat, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces he met with the province’s deputy governor and called on him to help stop the scourge.

He said the ministry has drawn up comprehensive guidelines on “gold washing” and mining, adding that prospectors and miners can apply for licenses through the Badakhshan Mines and Petroleum Directorate and operate according to the law.

He also said illegal mining will not be tolerated and legal action will be taken against anyone who violates the law.

Iran’s border security operations along its shared border with Afghanistan and Pakistan have been ramped up with 65 kms of the border wall already having been completed. 

According to Iran media, Tehran’s plan to block the eastern border will eventually consist of a 300 km-long wall along with the use of advanced technology and precise military drills.

On November 2, Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni said Iran would complete construction of a border wall along its eastern frontiers by the end of September next year.

The first phase of the border-sealing initiative spans approximately 90 kilometers and commenced at the end of June.

The border blockade includes physical barriers, such as barbed wire and cement walls as well as smart technology that include radar systems.

Last month, Tehran Times reported that during a visit to the city of Mirjaveh, the primary crossing point between Iran and Pakistan,Momeni said the first phase of the border-sealing initiative spans approximately 90 kms and work commenced at the end of June. 

He stated, "Based on our projections, this border-blocking project is expected to be completed in the first half of the next Iranian year." 

Momeni stressed that an unsealed border allows deported illegal immigrants to easily return. He said: “The plan to secure the border will tackle this issue and improve regional security.” 

Amir Na’mati, Deputy Commander of Iran’s Army Ground Forces, meanwhile gave more information this week and said significant progress will be made on the project by the end of the solar year (April).

Systems such as surveillance sensors, reconnaissance drones, and thermal cameras are set to be deployed, he said. Additionally, mobile assault battalions are tasked with maintaining constant border control.

Wanaen meanwhile reported that Iranian Army rapid reaction forces are currently conducting complex security drills which include tasks to identify terrorist gathering spots using advanced Mohajer-6 drones, destroying their command vehicles with highly explosive precision bombs (Qaem), and shelling enemy positions with artillery.

Amir Cheshk, Deputy Operations Commander of the Iranian Army Ground Forces, said: “Based on international agreements, any threatening gatherings that endanger the security of the Islamic Republic (Iran) will be met with a decisive response from the Army Ground Forces and Iran’s armed forces.”

In addition, special forces supported by Army Aviation helicopters, are dispatched to terrorist gathering locations and carry out high-precision clearance operations.