Iran’s Trade with Kabul Surpasses European Nations, Says Foreign Minister

November 23, 2025 Current News Articles

Khaama Press

November 23, 2025

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi revealed that trade with Kabul now exceeds Iran’s trade with all European countries combined.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi announced that trade with Taliban-ruled Afghanistan has surpassed Iran’s trade with all European countries combined.

Araghchi noted that Iran’s border provinces with Afghanistan play a key role in expanding trade, acting as crucial entry points for goods. He also stated that border issues with the Taliban can be resolved locally.

The announcement comes as Afghanistan shifts its trade focus to Iran after trade with Pakistan stalled. This move marks a significant change in Afghanistan’s trade patterns.

Nooruddin Azizi, the Taliban’s Minister of Industry and Trade, recently visited Iran to explore using Chabahar Port for Afghanistan’s exports, particularly to India. This visit highlights growing economic cooperation between the two countries.

Trade between Afghanistan and Iran has surged to $1.6 billion in the past six months, surpassing Afghanistan’s trade with Pakistan. This growing partnership signals a shift in regional trade dynamics.

The expanding ties between Iran and the Taliban could reshape regional economic and geopolitical landscapes, offering new opportunities for both countries.

Afghanistan economy under pressure as Pakistan shocks reshape trade flows

November 23, 2025 Current News Articles

Ariana News

November 23, 2025

Afghanistan’s economy continued to face strong headwinds in late 2025 as concurrent shocks — including mass refugee returns, drought, earthquakes, and shifting regional dynamics — strained growth and weakened investment momentum, according to the latest Afghanistan Economic Monitor released by the World Bank.

The report says that while low inflation and stable revenues have supported modest economic expansion, rapid population growth driven by large-scale returns from Iran and Pakistan has outpaced job creation, limiting improvements in average household incomes.

Inflation eased slightly in September 2025, with the Consumer Price Index falling 0.4 percent month-on-month as food prices declined. Fresh and dried fruits dropped by 4.6 percent due to seasonal harvests, while small increases were recorded in vegetables and spices.

Non-food inflation rose marginally, with housing costs climbing 1.7 percent amid rising rents in Kabul and other major cities. Year-on-year inflation slowed to 2.1 percent, down from 3.1 percent in August.

The Afghani strengthened against the U.S. dollar in both monthly and annual terms, but lower domestic inflation offset much of the nominal gain. The Real Effective Exchange Rate fell 1.1 percent, helping maintain Afghanistan’s external competitiveness against its major trading partners.

Trade flows were significantly disrupted by the mid-October closure of the Durand Line crossings with Pakistan, historically Afghanistan’s largest trade corridor. Despite the disruption, exporters quickly rerouted goods through Iran and Central Asia. The trade deficit narrowed slightly to $0.88 billion, supported by a 13 percent rebound in exports to $267 million.

Food exports — now the backbone of Afghanistan’s export economy — surged, reaching $ 238million in October and rising more than 22 percent over the first seven months of FY2025. India emerged as Afghanistan’s top export destination, accounting for 50 percent of October’s shipments, while Pakistan’s share declined sharply due to crossing closures.

Imports rose 2 percent month-on-month to $1.15 billion but fell 4.5 percent year-on-year. A structural shift toward Iran and Central Asia accelerated, with Iran supplying 29 percent of Afghanistan’s total imports so far in FY2025, followed by the United Arab Emirates at 19 percent.

The report warns that Afghanistan’s increasing dependence on food exports and redirected trade routes leaves the economy vulnerable to climate shocks and further regional instability, underscoring the need for strengthened infrastructure, diversified markets, and increased investment.

Pakistan Plotting Kabul Power Shift? New Report Says Islamabad Is Exploring Regime Change Options

November 21, 2025 Current News Articles

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

November 21, 2025

Pakistan is exploring political options for a potential power shift in Kabul, reviving contacts with Afghan opposition groups amid tensions with the current leadership.

Pakistan is reassessing its long-standing approach to Afghanistan amid deepening tensions with the Taliban government, U.S.-based publication New Lines reported, citing sources who say Islamabad is exploring political alternatives in Kabul.

According to the report, Pakistan has revived political contacts with members of the Afghan opposition party after months of deteriorating relations with the Taliban. Sources described Islamabad as “considering scenarios” that could reshape the political balance in Afghanistan.

The publication said Pakistan’s security calculus has shifted sharply in recent months, driven by the Taliban’s warming ties with India, stalled peace initiatives, and the surge in attacks by Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a group Islamabad considers its most urgent security challenge.

New Lines reported that Pakistani intelligence officials believe the Taliban leadership has grown increasingly unresponsive to security concerns, particularly regarding TTP networks operating across the border. Islamabad fears this trend could undermine its domestic stability.

Pakistan’s involvement in Afghan affairs is not new. For decades, Islamabad played a pivotal role in shaping political outcomes in Kabul, supporting mujahideen factions in the 1980s and maintaining close, if complicated, relations with the Taliban during and after their rise in the 1990s.

Analysts say Pakistan’s current concerns echo previous periods of strategic anxiety, especially when Kabul’s alignment drifted toward New Delhi. India’s expanding diplomatic outreach to the Taliban has heightened Islamabad’s unease, reviving old geopolitical rivalries in South Asia.

The report said Pakistan has the military capability and intelligence networks to pressure Taliban leaders, given its decades-long familiarity with the group’s structure. However, any aggressive strategy risks destabilizing Afghanistan further and generating a new wave of refugees.

Sources told the publication that Islamabad has quietly opened communication channels with representatives of the Afghan opposition party, signaling interest in exploring alternative political arrangements should relations with the Taliban continue to deteriorate.

Opposition figures have reportedly treated Pakistan’s outreach with caution. Members of the party told the publication that Islamabad has historically tried to influence Afghan political groups and that any engagement must align with Afghanistan’s national interests.

Some opposition officials said closer coordination with Pakistan carries political risks, given the widespread belief among Afghans that Islamabad seeks to shape Kabul’s politics to its advantage. Others argued that cooperation is worth considering if it leads to regional stability.

New Lines said that if Pakistan were to place its political weight and financial networks behind anti-Taliban factions, it could significantly alter the balance of power. Past examples, such as support provided to mujahideen groups and, later, the Taliban; demonstrate how Pakistan’s backing can reshape conflict dynamics.

Analysts warn that any major shift in Pakistan’s strategy could revive cycles of instability that have defined Afghanistan for decades. Regional powers, including India, Iran and China, are closely watching developments, aware that even small adjustments in Islamabad’s policy can ripple across South Asia.

Spain to Host Third Conference on Afghanistan’s Women’s Rights in December

November 21, 2025 Current News Articles

By Khaama Press

November 21, 2025

Written By: Najeebullah Rahmati, Phd Scholar, EFL University

Spain will host the third “Hear Our Voice” conference on Afghanistan’s women’s rights in Madrid on December, focusing on justice and accountability.

The third conference on Afghan women, titled “Hear Our Voices,” will be held on December 12 in Madrid. Hosted by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the European Union and the Afghanistan Women’s Organization, this significant event aims to address the ongoing crisis facing Afghan women and girls under the Taliban regime. The conference will bring together global leaders, human rights advocates, and experts to discuss ways to create an actionable roadmap for justice and accountability.

This year’s conference will focus on using “all tools for justice and accountability,” particularly through international legal mechanisms, to ensure that Afghanistan women and girls receive long-term protection of their human rights. The goal is to develop a practical framework that emphasizes gender equality and safeguards against the oppressive measures imposed by the Taliban. With the participation of the Spanish Foreign Minister, activists, international leaders, and ambassadors from various countries, the conference aims to create a united front to defend women’s rights in Afghanistan.

The “Hear Our Voices” conference is not the first of its kind. The first session, held in Albania last year, gathered Afghan women, human rights defenders, and international representatives to discuss the dire situation in Afghanistan. Following this, the second conference in Madrid in December last year, focused on condemning the Taliban’s restrictive policies, particularly those that ban girls from attending school and limit women’s participation in public life. During both meetings, attendees called for the immediate repeal of decrees that infringe upon basic rights, with a strong emphasis on accountability for the Taliban’s actions.

Building on the momentum of these previous conferences, this third event aims to produce a comprehensive roadmap for justice. The anticipated outcome is a detailed action plan that outlines concrete steps for the international community to take in response to the Taliban’s violations of women’s rights. This includes utilizing international legal frameworks and humanitarian channels to ensure Afghan women’s voices are not silenced in the face of continued oppression.

The series of conferences on Afghan women’s rights highlights the international community’s commitment to addressing the crisis in Afghanistan. The collaboration between governments, international organizations, and grassroots activists provides a powerful platform to advocate for change. As the world continues to focus on the plight of Afghan women, it is essential to push for the protection of their fundamental rights and ensure the accountability of those responsible for their suffering.

The “Hear Our Voices” conference represents hope and solidarity, offering a chance for Afghan women to have their stories heard on a global stage. By uniting in the fight for justice, we can work toward a future where Afghanistan women and girls are free from oppression and can fully participate in society.

In Afghanistan, women are denied access to education beyond sixth grade, with Taliban policies banning girls from secondary schools and universities, further restricting their opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Former Afghanistan President Ghani Calls for National Dialogue to Break Political Deadlock

November 21, 2025 Current News Articles

ByFidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

November 21, 2025

Former Afghanistan president Ashraf Ghani has called for national dialogue to confront the country’s crisis, saying unity depends on protecting national interests.

Ashraf Ghani has called for a national dialogue to address what he described as Afghanistan’s “deep crisis,” saying only shared national interests and values can unite the country. He said a broad internal and external conversation is needed to build a national consensus.

Ghani wrote that Afghanistan is passing through a “highly sensitive” historical moment marked by “great dangers” and new opportunities. In a note published on X, he said Afghans are demanding an “immediate and fundamental dialogue” that clarifies the boundaries of national interest and paves the way toward consensus.

He stressed that the country must urgently define the core of its national discourse, including how Afghanistan’s relationship with the world should be reset. He described the current situation, forced deportations of Afghan migrants, natural disasters and Pakistani military strikes, as “chaotic.”

Ghani said that if Afghans choose a path toward the future, political space must be opened to allow broad participation. “Our survival lies in acceptance of one another, in securing lasting peace, and balancing transformation with continuity,” he wrote.

He added that sustainable peace is the foundation of national sovereignty and future legitimacy, arguing that peace and legitimate governance are prerequisites for stability, security, economic growth and international acceptance. Afghans, he said, have been deprived of these conditions for nearly five decades.

Ghani reiterated his earlier call for a national people’s assembly to discuss political change and said he sought “nothing for myself.” However, he added that if the public demanded it, he was prepared to contribute to resolving the crisis and offering constructive pathways forward.

Former president Hamid Karzai and international partners have also repeatedly urged immediate national dialogue, but the Taliban have dismissed such appeals. Taliban officials insist the country has emerged from crisis under their rule and that Afghans should unite under their administration.

Ghani’s appeal comes amid the mass expulsion of Afghan refugees from Iran and Pakistan, repeated border closures imposed by Islamabad, a worsening humanitarian emergency, and ongoing restrictions on girls’ education and women’s rights under the current rule.

Azizi Urges Expanded Trade with India, Slams U.S. Sanctions

November 21, 2025 Current News Articles

Liluma Qadiry

Tolo News

21 Nov 2025

He also criticized Pakistan’s policy toward Afghanistan’s trade.

Nooruddin Azizi, Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, during a meeting in New Delhi, emphasized expanding trade between Afghanistan and India and criticized what he called the “restrictive approach of the United States toward Afghanistan’s economy.”

Azizi stated that the United States has frozen around 9 billion dollars of Afghanistan’s assets and has also sanctioned the Chabahar port; an issue which, according to him, negatively impacts the trade and investment environment in the region.

He also criticized Pakistan’s policy toward Afghanistan’s trade.

Azizi added: “We also want to negotiate with the United States. I spoke with India’s Foreign Minister to raise this issue as well, because a five-month exemption for Chabahar port is not sufficient.”

He further said that there are broad capacities between Kabul and New Delhi for expanding economic cooperation, and that the goal of the Islamic Emirate is to increase the volume of trade with India.

The Minister of Industry and Commerce, while emphasizing the creation of investment opportunities in the country, also called on Indian investors to invest in various sectors across Afghanistan.

He added: “Maybe India offers the best opportunity, we cannot say anything for certain, but the competition among these countries is not comparable at all. In Afghanistan, for anything we decide to support, if 20% of production has started, we support it to that extent through tariffs; and if 50% self-sufficiency is reached, we support it by 50%.”

At the same event, Anand Prakash, head of the Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran Division at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, announced that direct flights between Delhi–Kabul and Amritsar–Kabul will resume soon.

He stated that India and Afghanistan are working on activating new trade mechanisms to facilitate and expand bilateral trade.

Prakash also said: “Last month we had the historic visit of Amir Khan Muttaqi, Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister, to India. The visit was highly productive, resulting in the announcement of several new initiatives including a special air corridor, humanitarian cooperation, and capacity building.”

In conclusion, the Afghan Minister of Industry and Commerce emphasized that Sikh and Hindu communities of Afghanistan should return and contribute to the country’s reconstruction.

Pakistani forces step up raids near the Afghan border, killing 23 militants

November 21, 2025 Current News Articles

Associated Press

November 20, 2025

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani security forces raided two Pakistani Taliban hideouts in the country’s northwest near the Afghan border, triggering intense shootouts that left 23 militants dead, the military said Thursday.

There were no details on any casualties among the military. The raids took place on Wednesday in Kurram, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to a military statement. The operation followed raids earlier this week across northwestern Pakistan that the army said killed 38 militants.

The military identified the killed militants as “Khawarij,” a term authorities use for militants they allege are backed by Afghanistan and India, including those linked to the banned Pakistani Taliban, a charge Kabul and New Delhi deny.

Also Thursday, a roadside bomb targeting a police vehicle killed two police officers and wounded four in the northwestern Dera Ismail Khan district, local police officer Sajjad Khan said. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, and Khan said an investigation is underway.

The Pakistani Taliban — known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP — are a separate but allied group to Afghanistan’s Taliban. The group has become emboldened since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021.

Many TTP leaders and fighters are believed to operate from sanctuaries across the Afghan border, straining relations between Islamabad and Kabul. Pakistan has long urged Kabul to rein in the TTP.

A ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan has largely held since Oct. 19, when Qatar brokered a truce after both sides traded fire on border posts. The clashes erupted after Kabul accused Islamabad of conducting Oct. 9 drone strikes in the Afghan capital that killed several people.

Border crossings between the two neighbors have remained shut since last month.

UK Hosts Summit on Afghanistan Food Security Amid Rising Child Malnutrition

November 20, 2025 Current News Articles

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

November 20, 2025

The United Kingdom hosted a two-day summit in London to address Afghanistan’s food security crisis, highlighting urgent support needs for vulnerable populations and malnourished children.

The United Kingdom held a two-day summit in London last week to explore ways to improve access to food and basic nutrition for vulnerable Afghans, the British Embassy in Afghanistan said Thursday, November 20.

On the first day of the summit, the UK Foreign Office, experts, and partner organizations discussed the challenges and opportunities in ensuring food security across Afghanistan.

The embassy noted that participants also shared best practices for addressing food insecurity and strengthening humanitarian support for the most at-risk populations.

Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (WFP) emphasized its ongoing support for Afghan children, warning that 3.5 million children are currently facing severe acute malnutrition.

The summit builds on previous UK-led efforts in coordination with UNICEF, which focused specifically on addressing the needs of children in Afghanistan, highlighting the country’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.

Officials stressed that tackling food insecurity in Afghanistan requires a coordinated international response, combining immediate humanitarian aid with long-term strategies to ensure sustainable nutrition access.

The London summit signals the UK’s continued commitment to supporting Afghanistan’s most vulnerable, urging donors and international agencies to step up resources and interventions.

Afghan Children Face Dire Challenges on World Children’s Day

November 20, 2025 Current News Articles

Bibi Amina Hakimi

TOLOnews’ Reporter

20 Nov 2025

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs stated that it has tried to support over 10,000 children.

November 20 marks World Children’s Day, a global occasion dedicated to safeguarding children’s rights and securing a better future. However, in Afghanistan, many children still face harsh living conditions and are forced into hard labor.

Barakatullah, a child laborer, said: “I am the head of my household. I work and bring home bread. I wanted to become an engineer, but after my father passed away, I left school and now I’m forced to work for my family.”

Mohammad, another child laborer, shared: “I’m 12 years old and live in a family of ten. My father has a cart, and I shine shoes myself.”

On the occasion of World Children’s Day, UNICEF has warned that children in Afghanistan are facing a range of crises.

Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan, said: “Today is the World Children’s Day, and I want to use this opportunity to acknowledge the resilience of the children in Afghanistan, who this year have had to live through a devastating earthquake, a massive returning crisis, but also struggling with the daily reality of drought, malnutrition, access to education, water, hygiene, and sanitation. For us as UNICEF, no child should live through this.”

Diedrah, Head of UNICEF’s Central Zone in Afghanistan, also emphasized: “Today, World Children’s Day, is a day for us to remember that we want children at the center of all of our plans and policies from the beginning to the end, so the children have a chance to thrive and be the best that they can be for the future of Afghanistan. Happy World Children’s Day.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs stated that it has tried to support over 10,000 children.

Samiullah Ebrahimi, spokesperson for the ministry, said: “The Ministry has activated orphanages across all provinces to care for orphans. Currently, around 10,000 children are housed in these facilities.”

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, in a message on World Children’s Day, once again stressed the importance of access to education for girls.

In a post on X, Karzai wrote that it is time for the gates of schools and universities to be opened to all girls in the country. According to him, education is the key to Afghanistan’s progress.

He stated: “Our children can only have a bright future, contribute to national development, and compete on the global stage if they are given the opportunity today to acquire knowledge, skills, and expertise.”

Abdul Nasir Rashtia, an economic analyst, said: “Children are the wealth and capital of a nation. In the future, they can be instrumental in rebuilding and advancing the country.”

On this World Children’s Day, families and social activists are once again calling on the international community to pay special attention to the condition of Afghan children — children who will shape the nation’s future, yet today, are among the most in need of support.

Pakistani forces kill 23 fighters in wave of Afghan border raids

November 20, 2025 Current News Articles

By Al Jazeera Staff and News Agencies

Pakistani security forces have killed 23 fighters in two separate raids near the Afghan border as tensions simmer between Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan and India.

Forces launched a “targeted operation” on Wednesday in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram District, the military said in a statement on social media, referring to the fighters as “khawarij”, the term it uses for banned groups, including the Pakistan Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The raid led to an “intense” exchange of fire, killing 12 people. No Pakistani military casualties were reported.

Forces then raided another location in the same “general area” and killed 11 more people, the military said.

The killings add to more than 30 that the military has reported throughout the week as it carried out raids largely in the same province, following an Islamabad suicide bombing on November 11 that killed at least 12 people and wounded 30 more.

Without providing evidence, Minister Shehbaz Sharif blamed India for the attack, while Pakistani Minister of Defence Khawaja Asif also implicated Afghanistan. Last week, Pakistan arrested four members of an Afghan cell it accused of taking part.

Pakistan has long alleged that fighter groups are backed by India and Afghanistan, a charge that New Delhi and Kabul deny. Afghanistan has blamed Islamabad for violating its sovereignty through military strikes.

Peace talks in Turkiye’s Istanbul between Afghanistan and Pakistan recently ended without resolution, but both sides maintain that a ceasefire, however fragile, still holds after an eruption of violence between the two.

The Pakistan Taliban has been emboldened since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 after the United States’s withdrawal.

In recent months, the Pakistan Taliban – which wants to overthrow the Pakistani government – has escalated its attacks, which surpassed a decade-old high in August, according to Islamabad-based think tank Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies.

In 2024, the number of incidents recorded surged to 856, up from 645 in 2023.

ByFidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

November 21, 2025

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