Afghanistan and Uzbekistan have signed 20 commercial agreements worth more than $400 million, marking a significant step toward expanding economic cooperation between the two neighboring countries.

The deals were finalized during a high-level business meeting in Uzbekistan’s Fergana Province, where Afghan and Uzbek private sector representatives gathered as part of an official Afghan trade delegation visit.

The agreements span multiple sectors, including textiles, raw materials, pharmaceuticals and other key industries.

The Afghan delegation was led by Zalgai Azimi, deputy for investment at the Afghan Chamber of Commerce, and included senior business figures such as Abdullah Rahimi, Syed Ahmad Noorzad, Ubaidullah Hotak, and Deputy Chief Executive Mirzaman Popal. Participants from both sides highlighted the importance of strengthening cross-border trade and building long-term commercial partnerships.

As part of the visit, Afghan delegates toured major industrial facilities in Fergana Valley to assess Uzbekistan’s manufacturing capacity and explore opportunities for future collaboration.

The agreements come as Afghanistan seeks to boost regional connectivity and revive its economy following years of conflict, isolation and economic disruption.

Trade with Central Asian neighbors—particularly Uzbekistan—has become increasingly important, with both sides investing in transport links, energy cooperation and cross-border markets.

Uzbekistan has positioned itself as a key economic partner for Afghanistan in recent years, supporting infrastructure projects and promoting trade corridors that connect South and Central Asia.

Analysts say deals of this scale could help generate jobs, increase exports and gradually integrate Afghanistan more deeply into regional supply chains.

The latest agreements signal growing momentum in bilateral relations, as both countries look to translate geographic proximity into stronger economic interdependence.

Monday’s eagerly awaited IPL fixture between the Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings at Eden Gardens in Kolkata was abandoned due to persistent rain after only 3.4 overs, leaving fans disappointed.

With both sides unable to take the field, match officials eventually declared the game a no‑result, awarding each team one point in the league standings. The outcome gave KKR their first point of the season, while PBKS retained a strong position in the early table.

The washout continues to highlight the unpredictable nature of early‑season conditions, where weather can play an outsized role in shaping campaigns.

With every point crucial in the tightly contested 19th edition of the IPL, teams are now refocusing on the forthcoming fixtures to maintain or improve their rankings.

IPL 2026 Standings after Monday’s washout

Here’s how the points table looks after Monday’s abandoned match (matches played, wins, losses, no results, points, net run rate):

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) – 2 M, 2 W, 0 L, 0 N/R, 4 pts, NRR +2.501
Rajasthan Royals (RR) – 2 M, 2 W, 0 L, 0 N/R, 4 pts, NRR +2.233
Delhi Capitals (DC) – 2 M, 2 W, 0 L, 0 N/R, 4 pts, NRR +1.17
Punjab Kings (PBKS) – 2 M, 2 W, 0 L, 0 N/R, 4 pts, NRR +0.637
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) – 3 M, 1 W, 2 L, 0 N/R, 2 pts, NRR +0.275
Mumbai Indians (MI) – 2 M, 1 W, 1 L, 0 N/R, 2 pts, NRR ‑0.206
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) – 2 M, 1 W, 1 L, 0 N/R, 2 pts, NRR ‑0.542
Gujarat Titans (GT) – 2 M, 0 W, 2 L, 0 N/R, 0 pts, NRR ‑0.424
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) – 2 M, 0 W, 2 L, 0 N/R, 0 pts, NNR ‑1.964
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) – 3 M, 0 W, 3 L, 0 N/R, 0 pts, NRR ‑2.517

Teams receive 2 points for a win and 1 point for an abandoned/no‑result game. The top four at the end of the league stage will qualify for the playoffs later this season.

Match Preview: Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans

Tonight’s IPL action, Tuesday April 7, resumes with Match 14 as the Delhi Capitals host the Gujarat Titans at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

DC have had an outstanding start to their campaign, winning both of their matches so far with powerful contributions from captain Rishabh Pant and young batting star Sameer Rizvi, who smashed a stunning 90 off 51 balls in Delhi’s recent win over the Mumbai Indians.

Gujarat Titans, however, are still searching for their first victory of the season. With key players such as Shubman Gill and seasoned pacer Mohammed Shami, GT will be looking for breakthroughs both with the bat and the ball to turn the tide in this fixture. With both teams desperate for crucial early‑season points, tonight’s showdown promises an exciting battle under lights.

Watch Live in Afghanistan

Cricket fans in Afghanistan can catch all IPL 2026 matches live and exclusively on Ariana Television. The broadcaster is offering full live coverage of the tournament, with expert commentary and match highlights throughout the season.

As the league stage builds momentum and teams jockey for positioning, every match — and every point — will be crucial on the road to the playoffs and ultimately the IPL 2026 final.

Senior former US diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad, says the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran has entered a new phase marked by both continued tensions and indirect diplomacy, with cautious signs of progress emerging.

In a social media post late Monday, Khalilzad, who served as the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, said the confrontation has shifted toward a combination of fighting and negotiations facilitated by regional powers.

He noted that developments over recent weeks include a five-week ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to all international shipping, and renewed talks between Washington and Tehran on issues of mutual concern.

Khalilzad described these steps as positive, adding that the US president had reportedly agreed to delay a previously threatened escalation.

“These are positive. The President (Donald Trump) apparently has agreed to delay the escalation initially threatened for tomorrow,” he stated.

However, significant obstacles remain. According to Khalilzad, Iran is insisting on guarantees that any agreement must prevent a return to war, while the United States wants to preserve the option of resuming hostilities if negotiations fail.

“Frankly it is hard to argue with that,” Khalilzad wrote, saying it is common for conflict to resume if talks collapse without a mutually acceptable outcome.

He proposed a potential compromise in which both sides would commit not to return to war for the duration of the negotiations—a measure that could help build trust and prevent further escalation.

Tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel remain volatile, with the current phase of the conflict underscoring how quickly flare-ups can spread across the Middle East.

The Strait of Hormuz—a critical artery for global oil shipments—has emerged as a focal point, and its reopening is being closely watched as a stabilising signal for international energy markets.

Khalilzad also noted that Iran has previously accused the United States of launching attacks while negotiations were still underway.