Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, stated that an Indian representative recently visited Kabul to discuss the use of Chabahar Port to strengthen economic ties and provide humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.

During a press conference in Delhi on Thursday, Jaiswal shared details of the Indian delegation’s visit to Afghanistan.

J.P. Singh, head of the Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran division at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, led the delegation to Kabul, where they held discussions with Taliban officials.

The Taliban’s Ministry of Defense announced on Wednesday that Defense Minister Yaqoob Mujahid met with J.P. Singh to discuss mutual interests and the potential for expanding bilateral relations.

Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s Foreign Minister, also met with J.P. Singh and expressed a desire for further development of relations between the Taliban administration and New Delhi.

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai urged the Indian delegation to increase its support for Afghan education and to promote trade exchanges between India and Afghanistan.

The Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson confirmed that the meetings focused on humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and discussed how the Chabahar Port could be utilized by Afghanistan’s businesses for trade, export, and import activities.

Jaiswal emphasized that providing humanitarian aid to Afghanistan remains a crucial part of India’s assistance program, noting that India has already sent several shipments of wheat to the country.

While India has reestablished a presence in Kabul to support humanitarian efforts, formal diplomatic relations with the current Taliban regime have not been established, and India has not officially recognized the Taliban government.

Due to the lack of official diplomatic ties, Afghan students and patients face difficulties obtaining Indian visas to pursue education or medical treatment, as visa restrictions continue to affect access to essential services.

India’s commitment to humanitarian support underscores its ongoing dedication to the people of Afghanistan. However, the absence of official recognition and limited visa access reflect the complex and cautious nature of India’s engagement with Afghanistan under the current regime.

The Secretary-General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) warned that the risk of terrorism spreading in Central Asia remains persistent.

Imangali Tasmagambetov emphasized that the CSTO continues to monitor the challenges and threats emanating from Afghanistan.

On Thursday, November 7, Russia’s state news agency TASS reported that Tasmagambetov, referring to Afghanistan, stated that the threats of expanding terrorist activities, illegal migration, and the trafficking of weapons and drugs still exist in Central Asia.

Tasmagambetov also announced that the CSTO’s counter-terrorism center and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) would deepen their cooperation to prevent potential dangers by utilizing shared resources and capabilities.

Simultaneously, Sergei Lebedev, Secretary-General of the CIS, expressed support for the CSTO’s proposal to establish a security belt around Afghanistan. Lebedev voiced hope that this initiative would help curb terrorist group activities in the region.

The CSTO had previously declared, about two weeks ago, that it would soon approve a plan to strengthen Tajikistan’s border with Afghanistan.

This plan aims to enhance regional security by fortifying one of the key borders at risk of illegal crossings and potential terrorist infiltration from Afghanistan.

The escalation in preventive measures reflects the growing concern among CSTO and CIS members regarding the stability of Central Asia and the impact of threats from Afghan territories.

These efforts underscore the CSTO’s strategy to create a collaborative defense against terrorism, illegal migration, and trafficking to maintain peace and stability in Central Asia.

The recent surge in ISIS attacks and other terrorist group activities in the region has heightened security concerns, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated regional responses.

As tensions escalate, the presence of these groups is increasingly destabilizing, leading regional powers to intensify their focus on counter-terrorism initiatives and cross-border security.

The continuous threats from ISIS and other militant organizations in Central Asia pose serious risks, demanding enhanced cooperation and vigilance from regional security alliances to safeguard peace and stability in the area.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has identified Afghanistan as one of the most challenging countries for mothers, noting that every two hours, a mother dies due to preventable pregnancy and childbirth complications.

On Monday, November 4, UNFPA released a report expressing deep concern over the rising maternal mortality rate in Afghanistan.

The report states that every two hours, a life is lost due to preventable complications related to reproductive health.

According to the UN, Afghanistan’s weak healthcare infrastructure and limited access to reproductive health services, especially in rural areas, pose serious threats to the lives of mothers and newborns.

The organization attributes the prolonged humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan to factors such as ongoing economic instability, restrictions on women’s employment and education, the return of refugees, and the increase in internally displaced people.

The United Nations has also emphasized the importance of continuing healthcare services for mothers and children in Afghanistan.

Previous UN data indicates that out of every 100,000 births, 638 Afghan mothers lose their lives.

For consecutive years, Afghanistan has had the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in Asia.

The restrictions on women’s rights, including the barring of education and employment, exacerbate the health crisis, as women lack the resources, knowledge, and support to access essential healthcare services, especially during pregnancy and childbirth.

The denial of education and employment opportunities for women and girls in Afghanistan is not only a violation of human rights but also deepens the humanitarian crisis, limiting the country’s potential for future stability and development.

Addressing these issues is crucial to ensuring the safety and well-being of Afghan women and their families.

Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, highlighted the importance of protecting journalists worldwide in a post on his social media platform X on Saturday.

“Today, the United States reaffirms its commitment to ending impunity for crimes against journalists. We call on all governments to protect journalists from violence and hold perpetrators of crimes accountable,” Miller stated.

Simultaneously, on November 5, Karen Decker, the Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Mission to Afghanistan, emphasized access to information as a universal human right. Decker noted that reliable journalism is essential for informed decision-making and accountability, especially in countries facing significant political and social challenges.

“Access to information is a universal human right & crucial for informed decision-making in all walks of life,” Decker stated.

In her statement, she acknowledged the critical role Afghan journalists play in informing Afghan citizens globally and holding leaders accountable. she called for global efforts to ensure that journalists and media workers can operate safely, free from fear, retaliation, or intimidation.

“#Afghan journalists inform #Afghan citizens around the world; Afghan journalism holds leaders accountable. Journalists/media workers must be supported and able to work safely, without fear of retaliation or intimidation,” she stated.

The United States, according to her, remains firmly committed to ending impunity for crimes against journalists. This commitment includes urging all governments to safeguard journalists from violence and to hold those who commit crimes against them accountable.

The statement comes amid a backdrop of increasing restrictions and dangers faced by journalists in Afghanistan, especially female journalists, who face severe restrictions under the current regime.

In Afghanistan, access to information has become increasingly restricted, with strict control over media and limited freedom for journalists to report openly. This is especially alarming as it impacts the transparency and accountability of the government, ultimately depriving Afghan citizens of their right to be informed.

Many female journalists have been forced to leave the profession due to threats, intimidation, and systemic barriers imposed by the current regime, reducing the diversity of voices in the Afghan media landscape.

The restrictions on journalists, particularly on women, severely impact Afghanistan society. With limited access to unbiased information, citizens are left in the dark about issues affecting their daily lives.

Despite a formal ban on poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported a 19% increase in cultivation in 2024 compared to the previous year. The Taliban has reportedly struggled to enforce the ban effectively.

The report reveals that in 2023, poppy cultivation covered approximately 10,800 hectares. This figure rose to 12,800 hectares in 2024, reflecting an expansion despite ongoing restrictions.

Released on Wednesday, the UNODC report noted a particular rise in poppy cultivation in northeastern Afghanistan. Additionally, the price of dry opium has reached around $730 per kilogram, indicating a profitable illegal market.

The UN emphasized the need to support Afghan farmers to help them transition away from illegal markets. Such support is deemed essential for reducing dependency on poppy cultivation.

Ghada Waly, Executive Director of UNODC, expressed that Afghanistan’s relatively low poppy cultivation levels present an opportunity to aid farmers in finding sustainable, legal income sources.

Waly added that both men and women in Afghanistan continue to face severe economic and humanitarian challenges, creating an urgent need for alternative livelihoods to replace poppy farming.

The UN findings highlighted a geographic shift in cultivation patterns. While southwestern provinces were the traditional hub until 2023, northeastern regions now account for 59% of poppy cultivation in 2024.

This shift represents a 381% increase in poppy farming in these northeastern provinces since 2023. Efforts to eradicate poppy crops have been met with resistance; the Taliban faced protests, particularly in Badakhshan, where violent crackdowns led to casualties.

The continued rise in poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, despite prohibitions, reveals the complex dependency of Afghan farmers on this crop for economic survival. Without providing viable, sustainable income alternatives, anti-poppy efforts are likely to face further resistance, challenging both regional security and counter-narcotic goals.

A balanced approach, combining crop eradication with substantial livelihood support, is crucial to reducing reliance on illegal economies and fostering a stable, lawful future for Afghan communities.