Ayaz Gul VOA News November 15, 2017 ISLAMABAD — Afghanistan has produced a record 9,000 metric tons of opium this year, up 87 percent compared with 2016 levels. The sharp increase is recorded in a new joint survey released Wednesday by the Afghan Ministry of Counter Narcotics and U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The
Ayaz Gul VOA News November 11, 2017 ISLAMABAD — Afghanistan has received an inaugural consignment of wheat from India through an Iranian port, opening a new trade and transit route for the landlocked nation that bypasses neighboring Pakistan. The strategic sea route, officials say, will help improve trade and transit connectivity between Kabul and New Delhi.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty October 29, 2017 India has launched a new trade route to landlocked Afghanistan by sea through Iran’s strategic Chabahar port, a move that bypasses Pakistan and could have significant geopolitical ramifications in the region. India shipped 1.1 million tons of wheat to Afghanistan from the western seaport of Kandla on October
[Xinhua] – KABUL – Afghanistan has obtained the permanent membership of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the country’s finance ministry reported on its website Sunday. Afghan Finance Minister Eklil Hakimi received the Certificate of Permanent Membership of the AIIB on the sidelines of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) meeting earlier this
VOA News / September 27, 2017 Anjana Pasricha NEW DELHI — A four-day Afghanistan trade-and-investment show, sponsored by the United States and aimed at providing new opportunities for businesses in the war-torn country, got underway Wednesday in New Delhi, but the mammoth challenge of that task was underlined even before the conference began. Afghanistan’s Chief Executive
The Seattle Times: Afghanistan’s foreign minister asked India on Monday to expedite development of a strategic port in Iran to bolster a trade route for land-locked Central Asian countries that would bypass Pakistan. The port would allow India to transport goods to Afghanistan by sea. Pakistan currently does not allow India to transport through its territory
Khaama Press: Officials in Islamabad are concerned regarding the possible blocking of the transit route to Central Asia and Europe by the Afghan government, it has been reported. Sources within the Pakistani government have said the step could be taken due to the Convention on the Contract for International Carriage of Goods by Road (CMR) not accepted
Ayaz Gul VOA News August 18, 2017 ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s populist opposition leader, Imran Khan, says the future of long-term relations with landlocked Afghanistan lies in the two countries having “open borders” and “free trade.” Pakistan is unilaterally fencing the nearly 2,600-kilometer, largely porous Afghan border. Authorities defend the recently initiated project, saying it will help
AFP: In 2016 Afghanistan, which produces 80 percent of the world’s opium, made around 4,800 tonnes of the drug bringing in revenues of three billion dollars, according to the United Nations. The Taliban — which banned poppy cultivation when it ruled Afghanistan — now appears to wield significant control over the war-torn country’s heroin production line,
The Financial: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Samuel Tumiwa as new Country Director for Afghanistan. Mr. Tumiwa will lead ADB operations in Afghanistan and oversee the implementation of ADB’s Country Partnership Strategy, which aims to help the country achieve sustained and inclusive growth through infrastructure development, capacity and institutional development, as well as sector reform.