Panjshir’s media office says that Mirdif Al-Qashouti, Qatar’s ambassador to Afghanistan, has visited Panjshir for the first time, following efforts by the provincial administration to attract investment and development projects.

Mohammad Agha Hakim, the governor of Panjshir, described relations between Afghanistan and Qatar as important during his meeting with the Qatari ambassador and called for increased investment by Islamic countries and Arab businessmen in the province.

Highlighting Panjshir’s potential in horticulture, agriculture and mining, he said apples, cherries, grapes and walnuts are among the province’s key products and that investment opportunities are available in these sectors. According to him, mining operations are currently underway at around 600 mines, while around 2,000 additional mines have been identified.

The Qatari ambassador described Afghanistan as a brotherly country and a longstanding friend of Qatar and reaffirmed his country’s support for Afghanistan. He said Qatar is committed to implementing various projects in Panjshir and plans to invest in establishing companies to process the province’s fresh and dried fruits.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment and the Chamber of Industries and Mines to establish a joint-stock company aimed at financing major economic and infrastructure projects and promoting investment in Afghanistan.

The agreement was signed on Tuesday at the Government Media and Information Center in the presence of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs.

Speaking at the ceremony, Baradar said the new company would provide a structured mechanism for mobilizing private capital to finance large-scale economic and infrastructure projects.

He said the private sector has a key role to play in Afghanistan’s economic growth, particularly in boosting domestic production, creating jobs, expanding exports and financing major development projects.

Baradar said the company would pool the capital of traders, industrialists and investors under an organized, transparent and legal framework, allowing their combined resources to be used for major projects.

He also said the Islamic Emirate had created a secure environment for investors and industrialists and was working to streamline administrative procedures, provide legal and economic facilities, and remove barriers to investment.

Baradar called on traders, industrialists and investors to pool their resources and jointly invest in Afghanistan’s economic development. He also urged government institutions to provide comprehensive support to the private sector.

Under the agreement, the joint-stock company will focus on implementing infrastructure projects across various sectors and is expected to create new opportunities for investment in the country.

Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Secretary-General Taalatbek Masadykov has warned that instability in parts of Afghanistan, particularly areas bordering the organization’s zone of responsibility, poses risks to regional security.

In an interview with RIA Novosti, Masadykov said the CSTO was closely monitoring the situation in Afghanistan and considered developments in the country important for the security of Central Asia.

“Instability persists in several regions of the country, including those bordering the CSTO zone of responsibility, posing obvious risks to the Central Asian collective security region,” he said.

Masadykov said the CSTO considers Afghanistan an important neighbour and is interested in its development as a peaceful and prosperous state.

He noted that political and economic relations between Kabul and nearly all CSTO member states are developing actively. However, he said the current situation made stronger border controls with Afghanistan necessary.

“Given the current situation, we recognize the need to strengthen border control with this country,” Masadykov said.

He added that the CSTO was implementing an interstate programme aimed at strengthening Tajikistan’s border with Afghanistan.

Masadykov also said that during a recent working visit, he inspected border outposts and discussed the situation along the Tajik-Afghan border with the commander of Tajikistan’s border troops.

The remarks come as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has repeatedly said that it will not allow Afghanistan’s soil to be used against any other country.