The head of Afghanistan’s power utility company has requested Uzbekistan’s cooperation in identifying and resolving technical problems in Afghanistan’s electricity network.

Haji Mullah Abdul Haq Hamkar, Chief Executive Officer of Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), held talks with Dr. Akmal Jumanazarov, head of Uzbekistan’s Technical Regulation Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers, during his visit to Uzbekistan.

The two sides discussed technical standards in the electricity sector, improving the capacity of testing laboratories, implementing international standards, and expanding technical cooperation.

Hamkar called on Uzbekistan to support DABS in calibrating testing equipment, standardizing laboratories, and establishing mobile laboratories to help detect and resolve technical problems in the power network more quickly and accurately.

Uzbekistan’s Technical Regulation Agency also expressed readiness to cooperate in enhancing the technical capacity of DABS employees, calibrating equipment, organizing specialized training programs, and providing mobile laboratory facilities.

Both sides emphasized the importance of continued cooperation, exchange of technical expertise, implementation of international standards, and improving the quality and reliability of Afghanistan’s electricity sector.

China’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Yue Xiaoyong, said he held talks with a senior Turkish diplomat in Ankara on Afghanistan’s peaceful reconstruction and regional security.

In a post on X, Yue said he met with Cihad Erginay, Director General for South Asia at Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and described the discussions as productive.

“As always I am delighted meeting with Mr. Cihad Erginay… We had a very good discussion as to peaceful reconstruction of Afghanistan as well as regional security and stability,” Yue wrote.

The meeting comes as China and Türkiye continue diplomatic engagement on Afghanistan following the return of the Islamic Emirate to power in 2021. Both countries have repeatedly emphasized the importance of regional cooperation, economic development and stability in Afghanistan.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday defended the military campaign against Iran, saying the operation had achieved more in five months than initially expected and comparing it to the years-long U.S. wars in Afghanistan, Vietnam and Korea.

Speaking during a Cabinet meeting at Camp David in Thurmont, Maryland, Trump said the United States had made rapid progress in weakening Iran’s military capabilities.

“We’re in there for five months,” Trump said. “We’ve done a much bigger job, much more important job than we originally anticipated.”

The president contrasted the operation with previous U.S. military engagements, noting that American forces remained in Vietnam for two decades and in Afghanistan and Korea for many years.

“If you look at Vietnam, they were in there for twenty years. You look at Afghanistan, they were in there for many years. You look at any one of the wars — Korea, any one of them — they’re in there for many years,” Trump said.

Trump also claimed the U.S. military had severely degraded Iran’s military capabilities.

“We have obliterated their military capacity. Again, they’ve got some left, but soon they won’t have some left,” he said.

The United States launched its war in Afghanistan in October 2001 following the Sept. 11 attacks. The conflict became America’s longest war, lasting nearly 20 years. U.S. and allied forces withdrew in August 2021, after which the Islamic Emirate regained control of the country. More than 2,400 U.S. soldiers were killed in the war in Afghanistan.