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WJ Speaker pledges NUG leaders to put differences aside, work together
![live date 13 april 0016.avi_snapshot_02.02_[2015.04.13_15.55.32]](https://ariananews.af/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/live-date-13-april-0016.avi_snapshot_02.02_2015.04.13_15.55.32.jpg)
Five nominees introduced their future work plans to Wolesi Jirga (The Lower House of Parliament) members on Monday.
At the beginning of the session the House Speaker Abdul Rauf Ebrahimi said that people are worried about disagreements between the President and CEO over the candidate for defense minister and other key positions.
“People are really worried about the Presidential Palace and Chief Executive Office disputes over the Ministry of Defense and other key positions.”
Ebrahimi pledges the National Unity Government leaders to end the conflict and work for the improvement of the country.
Afterwards; Abdul Satar Murad nominee for ministry of economics, Hamayoun Rasa nominee for ministry of commerce and industries, Abdul Razaq Wahidi nominee for ministry of communications & Information Technology, Asadullah Zameer nominee for ministry of agriculture & livestock and Ali Ahmad Osmani nominee for ministry of water and energy in turn presented their programs to convince MPs to cast a vote of confidence for their candidacy and eligibility.
Murad comprehensively described his plans for ministry of economics and called corruption as the biggest social cancer in Afghan society which needs to be eliminated from governmental organization and further vowed to support and encourage private sector to enhance Afghanistan’s economy.
“I will struggle to grab the political support of the governmental institutions to strengthen this ministry, because there was no attention to the National Development Strategy in the past,” Murad said.
Rassa the nominee for ministry of commerce and industries vowed to support investment opportunities for domestic and international businessmen.
He said,” We will review and revise the policies, strengthen the structures, increase facilities for industrial products and will bring reforms in the systems”.
Wahidi the nominee for ministry of communications and IT said his plan is to deliver good services for the public and the governmental administration by providing internet services.
“Technical, scientific and economic solutions are included in our program, circulating fiber optic cables to enhance telecommunication systems is on our priority,” Wahidi promised.
The nominees for ministry of agriculture & livestock and ministry of water & energy promised to priorities providing the electricity and safe foods for the people on their plans.
Zameer said,” ensuring food safety is our top priority, we have less access to cereals and we will need about 6.5 million tons of cereals for the next five years”.
He further added my commitment is to bring reforms, meritocracy and provide employment opportunities for youth and women.
Osmani the nominee for ministry of water and energy said,” we will establish programs for the development of agriculture and energy production and also I have scientific plans to control our water and produce enough power for the goodness of the people”.
The NUG leaders introduced 16 ministers after six months of tensions and so far eleven ministers have described their plans to Wolesi Jirga (the Lower House of Parliament) members.
Lawmakers will put ballot boxes to cast their vote for the ministers approval or disapproval probably on the upcoming Saturday.
Reported by: Abdul Aziz Karimi
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Afghanistan, Russia sign military cooperation agreement
The deal is expected to strengthen defense and security cooperation between the two countries.
Afghanistan and Russia signed a military-technical cooperation agreement during the International Security Forum held this week in the Moscow region, marking another step in the expanding relationship between Kabul and Moscow.
The agreement was signed on May 27 on the sidelines of the forum, according to Russian media reports. While officials have not publicly disclosed the details of the document, the deal is expected to strengthen defense and security cooperation between the two countries.
The signing comes amid growing diplomatic engagement between the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) and Russia. Afghan Defense Minister Mohammad Yaqoob recently told Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu that bilateral cooperation between Kabul and Moscow had significantly expanded in recent months.
Earlier this month in Bishkek, Shoigu said Russia had established direct dialogue with the Islamic Emirate and was working toward what he described as a “full-fledged partnership” with Afghanistan’s current authorities. He also urged regional countries to broaden engagement with Kabul.
Relations between Afghanistan and Russia have steadily improved since the IEA returned to power in 2021. In April 2025, Russia’s Supreme Court suspended the longstanding ban on the Islamic Emirate’s activities in Russia, paving the way for deeper political, economic and security cooperation.
Moscow has increasingly positioned Afghanistan as an important regional partner as Russia seeks to strengthen its influence in Central and South Asia following major geopolitical shifts in the region.
The agreement was signed as Russia continues to expand its broader military posture. Russian lawmakers recently granted President Vladimir Putin greater authority to deploy troops abroad in cases involving the detention of Russian citizens overseas.
The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War has also reported that Russia is expanding its nuclear capabilities at what it described as the fastest pace since the Cold War.
Mohammad Hassan Akhund, in his Eid message, has emphasized stronger support and assistance for returnees and victims of recent floods and earthquakes, saying the Islamic Emirate has worked to help affected families within its available capacity.
He said many of the challenges facing the Muslim world stem from division and self-interest, stressing that unity, cooperation, and solidarity must be strengthened at both individual and societal levels.
The prime minister noted that in recent months millions of migrants have returned to Afghanistan from neighboring countries, while others have been displaced due to natural disasters. He said the authorities have tried to provide assistance to these families to the extent possible.
Mohammad Hassan Akhund also instructed officials to visit families of martyrs, orphans, and people with disabilities during Eid and to listen to public concerns. He further directed security and defense forces to ensure heightened vigilance during the holiday period in order to maintain safety and allow citizens to celebrate Eid in peace.
Eid prayers were also held at the Sapidar Palace in Kabul with the participation of diplomatic representatives and senior officials, while across the country citizens gathered in mosques and open spaces to mark the occasion peacefully.
Residents in various provinces described Eid as a time of reconciliation and unity. A resident of Herat, Hamed, said Eid should be an opportunity to set aside grievances and strengthen bonds of friendship. Another resident, Sultan Ahmad Saber, said Eid is meant to remove divisions, embrace one another, and preserve purity of heart by forgetting past disputes.
In a separate message, former president Hamid Karzai called for the reopening of schools and universities for girls and the creation of job opportunities for women, stressing that Afghanistan’s progress depends on unity, education, and a shared sense of responsibility toward the country.
Turkmenistan and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) have discussed regional cooperation and major infrastructure projects aimed at supporting Afghanistan’s economic recovery, according to the Turkmen government.
The discussions took place during a meeting between Pavel Yershov, the newly appointed head of UNAMA’s office in Herat, and Batyr Yyolov, Turkmenistan’s consul general in Herat, Trend news agency reported.
Both sides emphasized Turkmenistan’s role in promoting stability and economic growth in Afghanistan through regional energy and transport projects, including the TAPI gas pipeline and electricity transmission initiatives.
The meeting also focused on ongoing railway development and modernization projects aimed at improving connectivity and trade links between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan.
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