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WHO warns of rising tobacco use in Afghanistan, calls for collective action

WHO noted that Afghanistan continues to face challenges due to limited public awareness and the absence of effective national tobacco control policies.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for stronger efforts to protect Afghans from the harmful effects of tobacco, warning that tobacco use remains a major public health challenge across the country.

Marking World No Tobacco Day on May 31, WHO Representative in Afghanistan Dr. Edwin Ceniza Salvador said protecting people from tobacco-related harm is a shared responsibility and essential for building a healthier future.

In a message released on the occasion, WHO said the tobacco industry continues to conceal the dangers of its products through misleading tactics, including the use of sweet flavors that are particularly attractive to young people.

According to WHO Afghanistan, one in four adults in the country uses tobacco, with Naswar remaining the most common form of consumption. The organization also expressed concern over growing tobacco use among Afghan youth, especially adolescent boys.

Health experts warn that both smoking and smokeless tobacco products can lead to serious illnesses, including cancer, cardiovascular disease and respiratory disorders. Early tobacco use among young people significantly increases the risk of long-term addiction and chronic health complications.

WHO noted that Afghanistan continues to face challenges due to limited public awareness and the absence of effective national tobacco control policies.

Data from the Tobacco Atlas indicates that more than 9,000 people die each year in Afghanistan from tobacco-related diseases. The economic impact is also substantial, with the annual cost of tobacco use estimated at more than 9.2 billion Afghanis, or approximately $130 million.

Public health authorities continue to emphasize awareness campaigns, stronger regulations and smoke-free environments as key measures to reduce tobacco consumption and protect future generations.

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Muttaqi and Iranian representative discuss expansion of bilateral relations

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Amir Khan Muttaqi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, met on Wednesday with Mohammad Reza Bahrami, a representative of Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the sidelines of the eighth meeting of the Moscow Format and discussed ways to expand bilateral relations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the two sides exchanged views on Afghanistan-Iran relations, regional developments, and ways to strengthen mutual cooperation between the two countries.

Muttaqi expressed appreciation for Iran’s engagement with Afghanistan and its constructive participation in regional meetings, emphasizing the need to further expand relations between Kabul and Tehran.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Reza Bahrami stressed the importance of relations between the two countries and shared Iran’s views on regional cooperation, stability, and expanding economic engagement between Afghanistan and Iran.

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British special forces could face prosecution over alleged Afghanistan crimes

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The UK Ministry of Defence identified material suggesting that British service personnel may have committed “serious offences” in Afghanistan, including possible murder, manslaughter and grievous bodily harm, a High Court hearing in London was told.

The information was referred by UK Special Forces (UKSF) to the Defence Serious Crime Command earlier this year, The Independent reported.

According to the court, any criminal investigation into the allegations has been paused pending the outcome of the Afghanistan Inquiry.

The inquiry, chaired by Lord Justice Haddon-Cave, is examining allegations that UK special forces unlawfully killed people during operations in Afghanistan between 2010 and 2013, as well as claims of a subsequent cover-up.

It is also investigating allegations of inadequate investigations by the Royal Military Police.

The latest court proceedings relate to a senior British soldier, identified only as Witness IIA126, who is challenging the inquiry’s decision to restrict his and his lawyers’ access to certain evidence.

His lawyer, Kate Grange KC, argued that the restrictions had prevented the soldier from reviewing evidence concerning an allegation that a person was shot in the head while possibly asleep during a “deliberate detention operation.”

The inquiry is opposing the legal challenge, arguing that the restrictions were necessary to protect the identities of witnesses whose evidence was considered highly sensitive.

Jonathan Glasson KC, representing the inquiry, told the court that the discovery of material potentially indicating serious offences did not mean that any particular individual would necessarily face criminal charges.

The inquiry is expected to continue its examination of the allegations, with a written judgment on the latest legal challenge due at a later date.

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Afghan agriculture minister in Tashkent for international forum

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Afghanistan’s Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Attaullah Omari, has arrived in Uzbekistan’s capital, Tashkent, to attend an international forum on food security and sustainable development.

Omari is visiting Tashkent at the invitation of Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Agriculture and is scheduled to participate in the Global Technical Forum for Landlocked Countries on Food Security and Sustainable Development Goals, being held from October 7 to 8.

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Agriculture said the visit will provide an opportunity to discuss expanding bilateral and regional cooperation with Uzbekistan in agriculture, irrigation, livestock, trade and investment.

The Afghan delegation is also expected to meet officials and representatives from participating countries to discuss agricultural exports, trade, investment opportunities, and the exchange of technical knowledge and expertise.

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