Tag: Afghanistan

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33 scanners to be installed in 12 Customs ports in Afghanistan

Photo taken with mobile phone on Aug. 22, 2021 shows trucks waiting to cross border at a border crossing point between Pakistan and Afghanistan, in southwest Pakistan's Chaman. (Str/Xinhua/IANS)

The scanners worth nearly $113 million will be installed in 12 Customs ports in Afghanistan…reports Asian Lite News

The Afghan caretaker government has signed a contract for installing 33 electronic scanners aiming to boost security, curb smuggling, and endorse comprehensive screening of commercial goods, the Economic Affairs Office said in a statement on Saturday.

The scanners worth nearly $113 million will be installed in 12 Customs ports in Afghanistan, the statement said.

For the installation of these scanners, job opportunities will be provided to approximately 2,000 local residents, Xinhua news agency reported.

The electronic scanners will be installed at Torkham, Hairatan, Spin Boldak, Islam Qala, Torghundi, Nimroz, Abu Nasr Farahi, Khost, Paktia, Aqina, and Sher Khan ports.

The Afghan caretaker government has initiated a number of development and infrastructure projects, including the reconstruction of airports, water canals, highways, roads, and solar power systems, in an attempt to reconstruct the war-torn country.

Modern lounge at Kabul airport

Afghan caretaker government’s Acting Deputy Prime Minister on Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar laid the foundation stone of a new modern lounge at the Kabul International Airport on Thursday, reported the state-run Bakhtar news agency on Friday.

The three-story waiting facility at a cost of 290 million afghani would be completed within 18 months with the support of private sector, the state-run media outlet added.

In the meantime, Afghan Acting Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation Hamidullah Akhundzada emphasized that the lounge would be equipped with global standards to foster economic growth in the war-ravaged Afghanistan.

The ministry has also built airport escalator at Kabul international airport a couple of months ago, Xinhua news agency reported.

In efforts to rebuild the war-torn Afghanistan, the Afghan caretaker government has launched a series of development and infrastructure projects, including renovation of airports, water canals, highways, roads and solar power systems since taking over power nearly three years ago.

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Afghanistan trades goods worth over $5.2b in 2024

Fresh and dry fruits including pistachio, pine nut, fig, pomegranate, grape, raisin, melon and watermelon are the most popular products for export in Afghanistan…reports Asian Lite News

Afghanistan exported and imported commercial goods valued at $5.24 billion from January to June 2024, said the country’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Afghanistan shipped exported products worth nearly 700 million to various countries, with 58 million value of exports going to Central Asian countries within the first six months of 2024, the ministry’s spokesman Akundzada Abdul Salam Jawad told local media outlet TOLOnews, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Afghan products were mostly exported to Pakistan, India and Iran, and the major sources of imports included Iran, Pakistan and China, the country’s National Statistics and Information Authority reported in July.

Fresh and dry fruits including pistachio, pine nut, fig, pomegranate, grape, raisin, melon and watermelon are the most popular products for export in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Afghan authorities have launched the construction of a major highway and a bridge in south Afghanistan’s Helmand province to link the provincial capital Lashkar Gah and the western Herat city, state-run news agency Bakhtar reported on Friday.

The project, having an estimated cost of 177.5 million afghani ($2.51 million) for the highway’s first section with a length of 27.5 kilometres and a 350-metre bridge, is expected to be funded by the Ministry of Public Works, Xinhua news agency reported.

Afghanistan’s infrastructure facilities, including roads and bridges, have been badly damaged or destroyed due to more than four decades of war and civil strife. The Afghan caretaker government has launched a variety of construction projects to boost the economy and rebuild the country.

The latest development projects included a pharmaceutical plant, a new passenger service facility at Kabul International Airport, and street and road construction in the capital, Kabul, and other cities across the country.

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Top Al-Qaeda Leader Arrested in Pakistan’s Punjab

Haq hails from Afghanistan and was living in Pakistan under fake documents…reports Hamza Ameer

In a major operation, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Pakistan’s Punjab province has arrested a top leader of the banned Al-Qaeda outfit from Gujrat city.

The arrest of Amin ul Haq, a senior Al-Qaeda leader who was close to Osama Bin Laden, was made as security forces intensified their ongoing offensive against operatives of proscribed organisations, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the al-Qaeda.

As per available details, the Intelligence-Based Operation (IBO) was conducted under the umbrella of Pakistan’s newly-launched military operation ‘Azm-e-Istehkam’.

Haq hails from Afghanistan and was living in Pakistan under fake documents.

“The arrest of Amin ul Haq, whose name is listed as a global terrorist, is very significant. He was an important part of Al-Qaeda and played an important role in the re-organisation of the banned terror outfit,” said CTD DIG Usman Gondal.

Haq was close to deceased Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden since 1996 and was also responsible for the security of the Al-Qaeda chief who was killed by the US forces in Pakistan’s Abbottabad in 2011.

Considered as one of the top fighters of the extremist group who was involved in several terror activities, Haq was designated as a global terrorist in January 2001.

He also visited Afghanistan after the withdrawal of NATO forces.

Sharing more details, Gondal revealed that Haq was living in Pakistan under a forged identity. The CTD officials said that, at the time of his arrest, a fake National Identity Card (NIC) of Pakistan was found which had a listed address of Lahore in Punjab and Haripur in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

Pakistan has recently launched Operation Azm-e-Istehkam Pakistan against terror groups and designated proscribed individuals to root out terror footprints in the country. The latest arrest marks a significant turn in the ongoing efforts against terrorism and highlights the new strategy of coordinated intelligence-based operations with all relevant law enforcement agencies.

Pakistan has also been raising serious concerns over the support terror groups like the TTP and its affiliated groups, along with their parent organization Al-Qaeda, are getting from the Afghan Taliban.

The recent surge in wave of terror attacks by the TTP and its affiliate groups, including the recent attack on Bannu cantonment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, prompted Islamabad to summon and issue a serious demarche to the Afghan diplomat, demanding immediate action by the Afghan Taliban against all groups enjoying free space on Afghan soil and operating to spread unrest and terror in Pakistan.

Pakistan has rejected Afghan Taliban’s suggestion to negotiate a peace deal with the TTP and has indicated to even launch counter-terrorism operation into Afghanistan if the Afghan Taliban continues to facilitate, support, harbour and fund anti-Pakistan terror groups.

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-Top News Afghanistan UAE News

Afghanistan Rolls Out E-ID Cards in UAE

Afghan traders and residents in the UAE have welcomed the initiative and requested electronic ID distribution centers in other countries….reports Asian Lite News

The Deputy Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the Islamic Emirate’s embassy in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, has launched a system for distributing electronic ID cards to Afghans.

Zia Ahmad Takal, the acting head of the Islamic Emirate’s embassy in Abu Dhabi, stated that Afghans living in the UAE are assured of various forms of assistance, Tolo News reported

“From now on, electronic ID cards will be issued to Afghans in the UAE, offering them significant convenience,” Tolo News Quoted The Deputy Spokesperson as saying.

Some Afghan traders and residents in the UAE have welcomed this initiative and have requested the establishment of electronic ID card distribution centers in other countries as well.

Looking forward, the authority plans to extend electronic ID distribution operations to Iran and other neighboring countries soon. This expansion highlights their dedication to modernizing identity documentation systems beyond national borders.

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Afghan central bank to inject $15m to stabilise currency

Afghanistan’s central bank has injected millions of dollars into the money exchange market over the past two and half years…reports Asian Lite News

Afghanistan’s central bank announced in a statement that it will inject $15 million on Monday into the local market to boost the national currency afghani.

“The bidders including moneychangers and private banks should deposit the necessary money in cash in the form of afghani in the central bank, Da Afghanistan Bank,” the statement added, reports Xinhua news agency.

According to the statement, the bank was requesting all eligible banks, foreign exchanges and monetary service providers to participate in the auction.

The bank also auctioned $15 million last week.

Afghanistan’s central bank has injected millions of dollars into the money exchange market over the past two and half years, aiming at preventing the devaluation of the afghani.

The Afghan caretaker government, since assuming power in August 2021, has taken a series of measures to maintain the stability of the afghani against foreign currencies.

Pak-Afghan talks

Pakistan and Afghan Taliban held important talks during an informal dinner meeting on the sidelines of the Doha process for Afghanistan earlier last week. 

While both sides have officially stated that the talks were “positive in nature”, inside sources revealed that many critical roadblocks still persist.

The meeting between Pakistan’s Special Envoy on Afghanistan, Ambassador Asif Durrani, and Afghan Taliban’s Chief Spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid was held at the residence of Pakistan’s Ambassador to Qatar.

The all-important UN-backed Doha process meeting was attended by several countries, including India.

During the Pak-Afghan meeting, many crucial and sensitive matters were discussed with both sides putting forward their demands and recommendations on the table.

As per reliable sources, Durrani highlighted the issue of the operational presence of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Afghanistan soil and told the Afghan Taliban to take action against the outfit.

Pakistan insisted that TTP militants are being trained, funded, facilitated, and supported on Afghan territory and are attempting to penetrate into Pakistan through many pockets of the porous Pak-Afghan border.

“Pakistan also briefed the Afghan Taliban on the scope of ‘Operation Azm-e-Istehkam’, asserting that there would be no talks with the TTP and the operation to take down TTP militants would not be compromised,” said a source on the condition of anonymity.

On the other hand, the Afghan Taliban raised serious concerns over the decision of the Pakistan government to repatriate 1.7 million illegal Afghans without consulting the Afghan Taliban and called for an immediate halt to the ongoing process.

The Afghan Taliban also reiterated its previous recommendations for peace talks between Pakistan and the TTP and expressed its readiness to facilitate them.

“Afghan Taliban’s demands were clearly negated by the Pakistan side,” the source stated.

Pakistan has already conducted air strikes on Afghan territory in the past and claimed to have destroyed TTP training centres operating freely on the Afghan side.

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also recently said that the option of conducting air strikes and military operations in Afghanistan to take down TTP militants remains an option and would be considered only if Afghan Taliban continues to ignore Islamabad’s demands of taking action against TTP on Afghan soil.

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-Top News Afghanistan Asia News

Iran, Pakistan Deport 12,000 Afghans

The sudden increase in returnees has already overwhelmed communities and humanitarian organisations are struggling to provide support….reports Asian Lite News

Nearly 12,000 Afghan migrants were deported from Iran and Pakistan from July 3-6, Khaama Press reported, citing the Taliban-led Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation.

In a newsletter, the Taliban-led Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation said that 11,997 Afghan migrants were expelled by the governments of Pakistan and Iran and have returned to Afghanistan.

According to the newsletter, the expelled people entered Afghanistan through the borders of Torghundi, Spin Boldak, Islam Qala-Herat, and Abreshim-Nimruz between July 3-6.

The trend of deporting Afghan migrants from Iran and Pakistan continues amid a humanitarian crisis despite international reactions, according to Khaama Press report.

The forced deportation of Afghan refugees from Iran and Pakistan has exacerbated the dire humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Many of these deportees face uncertain futures after returning to Afghanistan as the country faces economic instability and a lack of basic services.

The sudden increase in returnees has already overwhelmed communities and humanitarian organisations are struggling to provide support.

Human rights groups and organisations across the world have condemned the mass deportations and expressed concerns regarding the safety and well-being of Afghan deportees, Khaama Press reported.

International human rights groups said that such actions violate international law, especially concerning the principle of non-refoulement, which bans the forced return of refugees to a country where they could face persecution or serious harm.

Amidst these developments, Afghanistan faces a dire humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the forced return of thousands of migrants, many of whom include vulnerable women and children. The situation highlights ongoing human rights violations and challenges in protecting the rights and safety of Afghan refugees

After seizing power, the Taliban has shut schools for girls from grades 7 to 12 and barred women from pursuing studies in universities. It has also stopped most Afghan female staff from working at aid agencies, closed beauty salons and curtailed travel for women in the absence of a male guardian. (ANI)

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Taliban say it discussed prisoner exchange with US

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid speaks during a press briefing in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Nov. 10, 2021. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua/IANS)

Taliban spokesperson emphasised the importance of American citizens to the US, paralleling the significance of Afghan detainees to Afghanistan…reports Asian Lite News

Two American prisoners are currently held in Afghanistan, confirmed by Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid on Wednesday.

Discussions about exchanging these prisoners for Afghans held in Guantanamo Bay have been underway with the United States, Mujahid stated at a press conference in Kabul.

While Mujahid did not disclose the names of the American prisoners, he referenced ongoing negotiations held during United Nations-led talks in Qatar.

He emphasised the importance of American citizens to the US, paralleling the significance of Afghan detainees to Afghanistan.

The detainment includes an American woman among at least 18 International Assistance Mission (IAM) staff arrested on allegations related to Christian missionary work.

Concerns have been raised about the health of aid worker Ryan Corbett, who has been in Taliban custody since 2022, prompting calls for immediate medical access.

The situation underscores ongoing international concerns about travel to Afghanistan, with numerous countries, including the US, cautioning against it due to risks such as wrongful detention and violence.

Mujahid highlighted that Afghan prisoners, including those held in Guantanamo Bay, are part of the discussions for prisoner exchanges.

The US has faced criticism over the years for its handling of Guantanamo Bay detainees, many of whom were held without charge or legal recourse.

While efforts have been made to reduce the detainee population and eventually close the facility, challenges persist regarding human rights and legal proceedings for those held there.

In June, Taliban rulers said that they are open to cooperating with the German government on the deportation of Afghan criminals back to the country.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that he wanted to see the swift deportation of criminals back to countries deemed unsafe by the government in Berlin, including Afghanistan and Syria.

The initiative comes after outrage was triggered by the recent killing of a police officer by an Afghan national in Germany. The attack took place at a rally held by an anti-Islam group in the western city of Mannheim.

“Such criminals should be deported – even if they come from Syria and Afghanistan,” Scholz told the Bundestag or the lower house of the Parliament.

Kabul responded to the German leader’s remarks. “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan calls upon the German authorities to address through normal consular engagement and an appropriate mechanism based on bilateral agreement,” Taliban Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Kahar Balchi posted on X.

Germany has not sent anyone back to Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover in August 2021. Even before that, the agreement was that only men – especially criminals and those deemed terrorist threats – would be forcibly returned due to the difficult security situation.

Critics warn against talks with the Taliban, who are currently internationally isolated.

According to Thomas Ruttig, the co-founder of the Afghanistan Analysts Network, the Taliban could benefit from deportations by using them as an opportunity to cooperate with a Western state, which could be seen as a boost to their reputation.

The German refugee advocacy group Pro Asyl has condemned Scholz’s initiative.

“International law clearly prohibits any deportations to Afghanistan and Syria,” Pro Asyl’s managing director Karl Kopp told the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper in remarks published on Friday.

Kopp described Scholz’s proposed plans as unlawful because “both countries are known for their use of torture and inhuman punishments.”

A diversion via Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries, such as Pakistan, is also currently being considered by the German government.

However, the Taliban reject this possibility. Extraditions to third countries would be a violation of current conventions, the Foreign Ministry spokesman emphasised in his statement.

So far, no country has officially recognised the Taliban government. Western states demand that human rights, and especially women’s rights, be respected in the country before recognition is granted.

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Afghan central bank auctions $15m to stabilise local currency

Photo taken on Sept. 16, 2021 shows Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB) in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan. (Photo by Mohammad Jan Aria/Xinhua/IANS)

Since assuming power in August 2021, the Afghan caretaker government has taken a series of measures to maintain the stability of the Afghani against foreign currencies….reports Asian Lite News

Afghanistan’s central bank auctioned $15 million on Tuesday to maintain the stability of the national currency, the Afghani.

“The bidders, including moneychangers and private banks, should deposit the necessary money in cash in the form of Afghani in the central bank, Da Afghanistan Bank,” the central bank said in a statement posted on social media.

According to the statement, the bank was requesting all eligible banks, foreign currency exchangers and monetary service providers to participate in the auction, reports Xinhua news agency.

The bank also auctioned $15 million last week.

Since assuming power in August 2021, the Afghan caretaker government has taken a series of measures to maintain the stability of the Afghani against foreign currencies.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan exported commercial goods valued at 304 million U.S. dollars from March 20 to June 20, said the country’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

“Afghanistan’s exports and imports during the first quarter of the Persian calendar year 1403 totalled approximately 2.577 billion U.S. dollars, with 304 million dollars in exports and 2.273 billion dollars in imports,” the ministry’s spokesperson Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad told local media outlet Ariana News on Saturday.

Afghanistan primarily exports goods to Pakistan, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, India, Austria, Uzbekistan, and Russia, according to Jawad, reports Xinhua news agency.

The main exports included fresh and dried fruits such as pistachios, pine nuts, figs, pomegranates, grapes, raisins, melons, and watermelons. Other significant exports were carpets, handicrafts, and medicinal herbs.

Recently, Afghan police seized 1,500 kg of illicit drugs, including opium and heroin, and arrested 120 alleged drug smugglers from Afghanistan’s Nimroz province over the past six months.

The dossiers of the suspects were referred to the judiciary for further investigation and possible legal process, Xinhua news agency reported.

Afghan authorities have intensified crackdown on illicit drugs and those involved in the business.

Poppy cultivation in Afghanistan had dropped by an estimated 95 per cent since the country’s caretaker government imposed a drug ban in April 2022, according to a report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime issued last November.

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Pak-Afghan Doha talks stymied by TTP issues

While both sides have officially stated that the talks were “positive in nature”, inside sources revealed that many critical roadblocks still persist…reports Hamza Ameer

Pakistan and Afghan Taliban held important talks during an informal dinner meeting on the sidelines of the Doha process for Afghanistan earlier this week. 

While both sides have officially stated that the talks were “positive in nature”, inside sources revealed that many critical roadblocks still persist.

The meeting between Pakistan’s Special Envoy on Afghanistan, Ambassador Asif Durrani, and Afghan Taliban’s Chief Spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid was held at the residence of Pakistan’s Ambassador to Qatar.

The all-important UN-backed Doha process meeting was attended by several countries, including India.

During the Pak-Afghan meeting, many crucial and sensitive matters were discussed with both sides putting forward their demands and recommendations on the table.

As per reliable sources, Durrani highlighted the issue of the operational presence of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Afghanistan soil and told the Afghan Taliban to take action against the outfit.

Pakistan insisted that TTP militants are being trained, funded, facilitated, and supported on Afghan territory and are attempting to penetrate into Pakistan through many pockets of the porous Pak-Afghan border.

“Pakistan also briefed the Afghan Taliban on the scope of ‘Operation Azm-e-Istehkam’, asserting that there would be no talks with the TTP and the operation to take down TTP militants would not be compromised,” said a source on the condition of anonymity.

On the other hand, the Afghan Taliban raised serious concerns over the decision of the Pakistan government to repatriate 1.7 million illegal Afghans without consulting the Afghan Taliban and called for an immediate halt to the ongoing process.

The Afghan Taliban also reiterated its previous recommendations for peace talks between Pakistan and the TTP and expressed its readiness to facilitate them.

“Afghan Taliban’s demands were clearly negated by the Pakistan side,” the source stated.

Pakistan has already conducted air strikes on Afghan territory in the past and claimed to have destroyed TTP training centres operating freely on the Afghan side.

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also recently said that the option of conducting air strikes and military operations in Afghanistan to take down TTP militants remains an option and would be considered only if Afghan Taliban continues to ignore Islamabad’s demands of taking action against TTP on Afghan soil.

The Afghan Taliban also responded to the statement, threatening serious consequences to Pakistan if such an attempt was made.

Experts believe that while there was nothing achieved from the meeting in Doha, it can pave the way to more consultations and talks between the two sides which can be considered as a positive development.

“The meeting was part of renewed efforts by Pakistan to convince the Afghan Taliban to get rid of TTP and its affiliates. It would not be wrong to say that Pakistan’s hint of extending its military operation into Afghanistan has forced the Afghan Taliban side to table talks,” said senior political analyst Kamran Yousaf.

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Over 13k Afghan migrants expelled from Pakistan, Iraq

The expulsion of Afghan migrants from Pakistan and Iran has sharply escalated in recent months….reports Asian Lite News

As many as 13,447 Afghan migrants were expelled from Iran and Pakistan last week, The Khaama Press reported.

According to the Taliban-led ministry, of the total refugees, 10,225 were deported from Iran and 3,222 from Pakistan, with women and children among those forcibly returned, The Khaama Press reported.

The ministry detailed that Afghan migrants have returned to Afghanistan via border crossings such as Torghundi, Spin Boldak, Islam Qala, and the Friendship Bridge.

The expulsion of Afghan migrants from Pakistan and Iran has sharply escalated in recent months. Both countries claim to have deported Afghans who lack proper residency documentation back to Afghanistan, The Khaama Press reported

Some deported migrants alleged that despite possessing valid residency documents, they were detained by police and were forcibly returned to Afghanistan. Many Afghan migrants have documented instances of mistreatment by Iranian police in their camps.

Pakistan’s Defense Minister, Khawaja Asif had previously announced intentions to enforce international laws strictly at its borders with Afghanistan. The minister emphasized serious measures to prevent undocumented Afghans from crossing back and forth through the borders.

Amidst these developments, Afghanistan faces a dire humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the forced return of thousands of migrants, many of whom include vulnerable women and children. The situation highlights ongoing human rights violations and challenges in protecting the rights and safety of Afghan refugees.

The Taliban say they respect rights in line with their interpretation of Islamic law.

Since they swept back into power, as NATO Foreign and defence ministers withdrew all Allied troops from Afghanistan, most girls have been barred from high school and women from universities. The Taliban have also stopped most Afghan female staff from working at aid agencies, closed beauty salons, barred women from parks and curtailed travel for women in the absence of a male guardian. (ANI)

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