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World Bank notes modest regional recovery, cites opportunities for Afghanistan’s economy
However, limited international recognition, reduced foreign aid, and continued restrictions on women’s participation in public life continue to constrain broader growth.
The World Bank’s latest Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (MENAAP) Economic Update projects modest growth across the region, with Afghanistan expected to benefit from greater regional trade integration and agricultural recovery, though significant challenges remain.
The report forecasts regional growth at 2.8 percent in 2025 and 3.3 percent in 2026, driven largely by easing oil production cuts in Gulf countries and stronger private investment in non-oil sectors. For Afghanistan, the Bank noted tentative signs of economic stabilization under the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), supported by improved revenue collection, a stable exchange rate, and modest export gains.
However, limited international recognition, reduced foreign aid, and continued restrictions on women’s participation in public life continue to constrain broader growth.
The report — Jobs and Women: Untapped Talent, Unrealized Growth — warns that the region’s economies cannot reach their full potential without fully integrating women into the workforce.
The MENAAP region continues to record the world’s lowest female labor participation rate, with only one in five women employed despite substantial progress in education.
“I urge bold action—not partial measures,” said Ousmane Dione, the World Bank’s Vice President for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan region. “To unlock the full potential of women in the region, we must tackle every barrier to their inclusion with comprehensive measures.”
For Afghanistan, the report emphasizes that empowering women and expanding private sector opportunities – especially in agriculture, trade, and small-scale enterprises – could significantly improve household incomes and long-term resilience.
“Removing barriers that prevent women from accessing jobs could boost GDP per capita by as much as 20 to 30 percent in some economies,” added Roberta Gatti, the region’s chief economist.
While regional outlooks have improved, the World Bank cautioned that ongoing conflicts, displacement, and global trade volatility continue to pose serious risks to recovery – particularly for fragile and aid-dependent economies like Afghanistan.
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Islamic Emirate’s army now self-sufficient, says chief of army staff
Mohammad Fasihuddin Fitrat, Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces, says that over the past four years, the army forces of the Islamic Emirate have shown no hesitation in defending and protecting Afghanistan, and that today the country’s army is standing on its own feet.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Defense, Fitrat made these remarks at a meeting with media representatives, political analysts, and a number of government officials aimed at coordination and strengthening cooperation. He added: “Nations that cannot stand on their own feet and rely on others, even if they grow, will not be capable of achieving real progress.”
Fitrat also expressed appreciation for the role of the media in ensuring security and in supporting the country’s defense forces, stating: “We and you, as citizens of this land, must put our hands together and build the country together, take pride in our forces, and strive with all our strength for the country’s development. We have created an army that defends honor, territorial integrity, and the borders of the country, and serves as the guardian of our freedom.”
He emphasized that the Islamic Emirate is working to establish an army equipped with modern weapons so that it can defend the country’s territory under all circumstances.
He stated that the country’s army has proven to the people that anyone who looks at this land with ill intent will face a firm and courageous response, and that it has also been made clear to neighboring countries that any aggression against Afghanistan will be met with a response several times stronger.
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Afghan health minister attends second WHO summit in India
Noor Jalal Jalali, the Minister of Public Health of the Islamic Emirate, participated in the second World Health Organization meeting on traditional medicine during his official visit to India.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Ministry of Public Health said that the meeting was held in India with the participation of representatives from around 100 countries, health ministers from 23 countries, professional experts from various nations, and officials from different departments of the World Health Organization.
During the meeting, discussions were held on the standardization of traditional medicine, training of individuals active in this field, recognition of traditional medicine as an established reality, and the sharing of countries’ experiences in this area.
The ministry stated that the purpose of participating in the conference was to standardize traditional medicine in Afghanistan, adding that for several decades this sector has been practiced in a non-standard manner and without a defined curriculum or clear principles.
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Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan boost trade and digital finance ties
Minister Sydykov, in turn, pledged the continuation of Kyrgyzstan’s humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and highlighted his country’s interest in working together on e-governance initiatives.
Afghanistan’s Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs, Abdul Salam Hanafi, has met with a high-level Kyrgyz delegation led by Minister of Economy and Commerce Bakhyt Sydykov to discuss expanding bilateral trade and strengthening cooperation in digital financial services.
During the meeting, Hanafi reaffirmed Afghanistan’s readiness to deepen ties with Kyrgyzstan, stressing the importance of developing electronic administration systems and modern banking channels to facilitate trade and financial transactions between the two countries.
Minister Sydykov, in turn, pledged the continuation of Kyrgyzstan’s humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and highlighted his country’s interest in working together on e-governance initiatives. He also pointed to potential cooperation in areas such as the printing of securities and the development of electronic payment systems.
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