AGP Executive Report

EU-Taliban Migration Talks: Belgium issued one-day visas to a five-person Taliban delegation for closed-door EU talks in Brussels focused on deportations and “dignified returns,” drawing sharp criticism from rights groups and lawmakers who warn the EU is trading principles for deportation deals. EU Asylum Pressure: The meetings come as EU governments push to speed up returns of Afghans whose asylum claims fail, despite no EU member recognizing the Taliban and ongoing rights concerns. Kabul Market Fire Losses: A fire at Kabul’s Mandawi (Zardad) market caused losses of at least 8 million afghanis, with officials citing an electrical short circuit; firefighters saved hundreds of nearby shops and warehouses. Herat Urban Planning: Herat’s city master plan was approved by the Islamic Emirate, outlining zoning, new development areas, industrial zones, logistics centers, and infrastructure upgrades aimed at boosting investment. Labor Market Strain: A WFP report says unskilled Afghan laborers find work on average just 1.9 days per week, underscoring weak livelihoods despite steadier food markets. Water & Agriculture Cooperation: Kazakhstan and Afghanistan agreed to set up a Kabul-based education and research center on water management, irrigation, and sustainable agriculture, targeting training and joint research for food security.

Afghanistan–Qatar Diplomacy: Afghanistan’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar met Qatar’s ambassador in Kabul to discuss bilateral ties. Industrial Growth in Bamyan: Bamyan’s industry officials say 32 production facilities have started operating since 2021, spanning carpet weaving, handicrafts, detergents and dairy, with investments reported in the afghani range and new licenses issued to hundreds of companies. Regional Trade Push (Kazakhstan): Kazakhstan opened a trade house in Kabul to showcase and sell goods, including food, everyday items, auto showrooms and a pharmaceutical warehouse; the move is framed as a boost for exporter access. Water & Agriculture Research: Kazakhstan and Afghan universities signed an agreement to set up a Kabul-based water resources and irrigation research center focused on sustainable agriculture and climate adaptation. Transport & Logistics Outlook: Kazakhstan-Afghanistan cooperation also includes plans around transport and trade links, with officials discussing broader regional connectivity. Household Cost Pressure: Kabul residents and drivers say fuel and gas prices remain high despite global oil declines, squeezing household budgets and business operations. Health Supply Strain: Hemophilia patients in Afghanistan report shortages of clotting factors, forcing frequent visits for plasma transfusions and raising serious treatment and cost stress.

Afghanistan Economy & Trade: Kazakhstan says it wants to process Afghan technical aquamarine and zinc ore at its own facilities, after talks in Kabul with Afghanistan’s acting leadership and sampling work at the Pami-Kakrak deposit. Mining & Industry: Afghanistan and investors signed a major mining lease for the Aybak Cement project in Samangan, granting exploration and mining rights for cement minerals and targeting an initial 1Mta integrated plant to cut reliance on imports. Labor & Livelihoods: A World Food Programme report finds Afghan unskilled workers are getting work for just 1.9 days per week on average, even as food markets look relatively stable and the afghani holds steady. Public Finance & Markets: SCRMET auctions in Turkmenistan recorded foreign-currency transactions worth over $62.52m, including purchases by Afghanistan-linked buyers for fuel and other goods. Governance & Business Climate: Taliban sources say Kabul’s mayor was detained in Kandahar for nearly 20 days amid an alleged corruption probe touching major municipal projects, raising uncertainty for contractors and developers. Regional Cooperation: Kazakhstan’s delegation to Kabul combined humanitarian aid and trade talks, reinforcing a push for deeper economic ties and transport, mining, and investment links. Energy/Geopolitics Watch: A new US-Iran memorandum on the Strait of Hormuz is being questioned by security officials, with implications for shipping and energy costs that can ripple into regional trade. Humanitarian & Health: Rotary’s president-elect says polio-fighting funding pressures won’t stop efforts, pointing to needle-free jet injectors used in Afghanistan to reach hard-to-access communities.

Ghazni Investment & Jobs: Construction has started on Ghazni City’s first underground market, a 309 million afghani project with 700 shops across two floors, expected to finish in two years and create jobs for nearly 3,000 people during construction. Cross-Border Trade Disruption: Hundreds of Pakistani truck drivers and conductors stranded in Afghanistan for about nine months have started returning home as repatriations accelerate, with the Torkham crossing seeing renewed activity and fresh debate over trade and humanitarian responsibilities. Governance & Corruption: KabulNow reports the Taliban mayor of Kabul, Mawlawi Abdul Rashid, has been arrested on corruption charges, alongside 20 district officials, as Afghanistan’s corruption concerns continue to surface. Afghan Health & Funding Pressure: Rotary President-elect Olayinka Babalola says polio eradication will not be derailed by funding pressures, pointing to needle-free jet injectors used in Afghanistan to reach hard-to-immunize communities. Afghan Business Environment: Kazakhstan’s deputy PM says Astana is ready to mediate Afghanistan-Pakistan disputes and highlights new economic steps, including transport subsidies for Kazakh flour to Herat and a plan for a Kabul chamber of commerce. Market Signals: Weekly cotton prices in Pakistan fell sharply, reflecting policy and tax concerns that can ripple into regional trade affecting Afghanistan-linked supply chains. Cost of Connectivity: Afghanistan users report a surge in internet package prices, raising fears for education access—especially for girls—amid ongoing technology restrictions. Returnee Pressure: The Taliban’s returnee commission says 517 families (2,719 people) were registered after entering on June 20, with thousands more relocated and supported, underscoring strain on services. Agriculture Risk: Experts warn soil erosion is accelerating in Afghanistan, driven by climate change, deforestation, and extreme rainfall, threatening long-term agricultural output.

Afghanistan–Kazakhstan Trade Push: Taliban officials say Afghan and Kazakh private firms signed 25 MoUs in Kabul covering medicines, wheat/flour, cooking oil, potatoes and banking cooperation, as both sides target $3 billion in trade. Urban Business Expansion: Ghazni City has started work on a 400 million afghani underground commercial market with about 700 shops, plus banks, hotels and security rooms—aimed at boosting investment and jobs. Internet Affordability Shock: Users report a sharp rise in Afghanistan internet package prices while speeds stay low, hitting online learning—especially for girls—at a time of wider tech restrictions. Refugee & Media Pressure: RSF reports a mass exodus of Afghan journalists since Kabul’s fall, with 677 media workers supported to leave and now spread across 28 countries. Healthcare Strain in Kabul: Caregivers complain about long waits and unprofessional treatment at Kabul hospitals, citing overcrowding, staff shortages and limited resources. Germany Deportation Plan: Germany is reportedly considering up to three charter deportation flights per month for Afghan nationals convicted of serious crimes, drawing renewed rights concerns.

Afghanistan–Kazakhstan Trade Push: Taliban officials and a Kazakh delegation opened a Kabul trade and business forum, with both sides targeting $3 billion in bilateral trade and discussing faster transit, banking cooperation, and expanded agriculture, mining, transport, and local-currency deals. Power and Household Costs: Kabul residents report prolonged electricity outages and Herat residents complain of long daily cuts plus high, non-transparent bills—urging Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat to finish key transmission work. Hunger and Food Security: The EU warned Afghanistan is facing a severe hunger crisis and called for more funding and action, while UN agencies flagged El Niño risks that could worsen conditions in vulnerable countries including Afghanistan. Refugees and Return Reintegration: UNDP said Afghanistan remains among the world’s largest displacement crises, as returnees face poverty and weak services; World Refugee Day coverage also highlighted risks of forced returns and deportations. Regional Connectivity for Trade: Iran launched an Iraq-to-Afghanistan rail freight shipment via Kermanshah, signaling a new transit route that could reduce bottlenecks for Afghan-bound goods. Security and Social Strain: Reports also pointed to killings in Afghanistan’s provinces and ongoing pressures on women and teachers, including forced contributions in schools.

Afghanistan–Kazakhstan Trade Push: Taliban officials met Kazakhstan’s deputy PM Serik Zhumangarin in Kabul to speed up a cooperation roadmap and target $3 billion in annual trade, with talks covering agriculture, mining, transport, railways, banking, and local-currency deals. Regional Logistics: Iran launched its first Iraq-to-Afghanistan joint rail freight via Kermanshah, signaling a new transit route that could reshape corridor economics. Mining Investment: Afghanistan signed a 30-year iron ore extraction contract in Bamyan’s Yakawlang worth over 438.9 million afghanis, with a 20% royalty and processing inside Afghanistan. Refugees & Returns: On World Refugee Day, Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif said 2.4 million Afghans have returned since Sept 2023, while EU and UNHCR/IOM urged more support for returnees facing shelter, jobs, and services gaps; Amnesty called for an end to deportations. Governance & Security: A report says rising crimes under Taliban rule challenge claims of restored safety, while a former Afghan security officer was reportedly killed in Daikundi. Education Pressure: Female teachers in Kabul allege forced money collections for principals’ expenses and ceremonies, with little action from education districts.

Mining & Industry: Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum signed a 5-year gold extraction deal in Khost (worth over 802 million afghanis) and a 30-year $67 million Aybak cement project in Samangan, targeting about 600 jobs. Trade & Transit: The Nangarhar Chamber of Commerce says transfer of stranded empty containers has resumed through the Torkham crossing after nearly nine months, though full trade normalcy hasn’t returned. Regional Diplomacy: Kazakhstan’s Deputy PM is set to visit Kabul for three days to discuss political, economic, security, trade, transit and investment cooperation, while Kazakhstan also approved a UN regional SDG center for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty. Refugees & Reintegration: Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif urged an economically stable Afghanistan for dignified refugee resettlement on World Refugee Day. Local Business: Takhar artisans report rising demand for traditional chambos footwear, with workshops expanding production and sales. Media Freedom: RSF says Afghanistan is the world’s leading source of exiled journalists, with 677 forced to flee between 2021 and 2025.

World Refugee Day Politics: U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Rep. Ted Lieu introduced a World Refugee Day resolution, urging the Trump administration to reverse course on refugee support and calling resettlement and targeted aid “strategic investments.” Afghan Women, Sports & Rights: King Charles will welcome the Afghan refugee women’s cricket team at Clarence House on June 24, highlighting how Taliban restrictions have pushed many players into resettlement abroad. Regional Trade & Connectivity: The Eurasian Development Bank says Uzbekistan is positioning itself as a Eurasian logistics hub, with corridors including the Trans-Afghan railway and a China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan line that could multiply container traffic. Afghanistan–Pakistan Security Spillover: Kabul’s defense ministry claimed overnight strikes on alleged ISIS-linked targets inside Pakistan’s Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with no immediate Pakistani response. Cross-border Business Signals: Uzbekistan’s foreign-investment firms hit 19,921 operational entities, with China leading (5,821), and Afghanistan listed among investors (673 firms). Humanitarian Accountability: A Geneva conference urged stronger justice mechanisms and women’s rights protections in Afghanistan, stressing women’s meaningful inclusion in negotiations.

Afghanistan–Central Asia Trade: Afghanistan’s private sector trade with Uzbekistan has topped $3.8 billion in just five months, with investors eyeing agriculture, mining, poultry, cotton processing and new transit links. Transit Trade Shock: Pakistan’s closure of transit trade routes is hitting Afghan and Pakistani businesses hard, with Pakistani exporters reporting $225m losses in eight months and about $1bn in wider export damage. Returnee Pressure: IOM says over 6.04 million Afghans have returned from Iran and Pakistan since late Sept 2023, raising urgent needs for shelter, healthcare and jobs. Industrial Push: Afghanistan signed a $67m cement production contract in Samangan, while Helmand officials report Iranian pledges to invest in a cotton-processing and textile factory. Policy & Business Climate: Kabul’s telecom users are complaining about hidden fees tied to credit loan services, and Afghanistan has banned entry of Iranian and Pakistani currencies. Women & Governance: Taliban smartphone restrictions for officials are drawing criticism from journalists and civil society.

Food Security & Climate Risk: UN FAO and WFP have launched a $202 million appeal to protect 8.8 million people in 22 high-risk countries from the looming El Niño, with Afghanistan listed among the most exposed as drought, floods and storms threaten livelihoods and food supplies. Currency & Trade Controls: Da Afghanistan Bank has banned the entry of Iranian toman and Pakistani rupee, urging traders and travelers to stop bringing foreign currencies into Afghanistan to protect the afghani and stabilize trade. Governance & Information Access: The Taliban has ordered a smartphone ban for government employees and Taliban members, with violations risking confiscation and destruction—prompting criticism from journalists’ groups over tighter information flow. Diplomacy & UN Engagement: Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi spoke by phone with UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo on expanding cooperation and UNAMA’s role, including humanitarian facilitation.

Returnee Integration: Kabul hosted a “Integration of Migrants into Afghanistan’s Private Sector” meeting, where officials said returnees need land, tax/customs exemptions, licensing support, and low-interest loans to move from aid to jobs. Reintegration Pressure: IOM reported 6.04M Afghans returned from Iran and Pakistan since Sept 2023, warning reintegration gaps in housing, livelihoods, services, and documents. Border Safety & Labor Risks: A Baghlan teen was reportedly killed by Iranian border guards while trying to cross for work, highlighting the danger behind cross-border labor flows. Water & Basic Services: UNICEF-backed water networks in Kandahar’s Maruf district are now operating, giving 147 families safe drinking water. Media Freedom: The Afghanistan Journalists Center condemned the Taliban’s smartphone ban in government offices as a further squeeze on information access. Governance & Finance: Balochistan unveiled its 2026-27 Annual Development Plan at Rs206bn, with communications and roads among top priorities—an indirect reminder of how connectivity spending shapes regional trade routes. Security & Diplomacy: Pakistan’s defense minister said talks with Afghanistan “yielded no results,” while parliamentarians pushed for trade-route reopening and guarantees.

Regional Trade & Connectivity: Uzbekistan’s Mirziyoyev says the Trans-Afghan Corridor is key to reaching southern waters, while Khalilzad backs the Trans-Afghan Railway as a bridge to the Arabian Sea—though strained Kabul-Pakistan ties remain a major hurdle. Pakistan-Afghanistan Relations: Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told parliament talks with Afghanistan have produced no results, urging dialogue only if Kabul provides written guarantees. Humanitarian & Food Security: UNAMA warns drought and desertification are threatening livelihoods and food security, and FAO-WFP flags worsening hunger in Afghanistan as markets face inflation and disruption pressures. Agriculture & Local Taxation: Herat farmers allege Taliban “dah yak” levies and other crop shares are taken even during drought-hit harvests, squeezing already-poor households. Consumer Health & Markets: Kabul residents complain of low-quality and counterfeit shampoos sold under foreign labels, calling for quality checks and clearer labeling. Public Policy & Rights: Reports say Taliban family law makes divorce harder and child marriage easier, raising concerns for women and girls. Health Aid: India delivers five tons of medical aid to Kabul amid rising medicine prices after Taliban restrictions on imports.

UNAMA Mandate Renewal: The UN Security Council extended UNAMA for another year, tasking it to coordinate humanitarian help, mediate dialogue, and report on human rights, security, and the economic impact of disasters. Regional Trade & Connectivity: Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister pushed deeper Central Asia links, citing projects like CASA-1000, TAPI, the Lapis Lazuli Corridor, and the Afghan-Trans railway, while UN officials in Almaty stressed stability through regional economic integration. Financial Regulation: Afghanistan’s insurance sector got a new chair as Mir Nadia Nivin was appointed head of IDRA for three years, with a focus on governance and institutional reform. Digital Restrictions: The Taliban expanded a smartphone ban to schools in Panjshir and to health facilities and government offices in Ghor, tightening access to tools tied to education and services. Humanitarian & Rights Risks: A UN report warned anti-personnel mines still devastate lives decades after conflicts, with Afghanistan among the highest casualty countries. Refugee Resettlement Pressure: UNHCR said 2.4 million refugees need resettlement in 2027, with Afghans the largest group facing limited safe options.

Humanitarian Funding Crunch: UNICEF says its 2026 Afghanistan appeal is only 43% funded, leaving a $542m gap and warning of worsening food insecurity and acute malnutrition risks for millions of children. UN Oversight & Diplomacy: The UN Security Council renewed UNAMA’s mandate for another year, with Russia and China backing the extension while pushing for economic-development provisions and access to Afghanistan’s central bank assets. Markets & Currency: WFP reports Afghanistan’s markets stayed relatively stable in early June; the afghani weakened slightly to 64.1 per dollar but remains stronger than last year, supported by harvests and trade flows. Regional Trade Pressure: Pakistan’s Asad Qaiser says prolonged border closures with Afghanistan are hurting Peshawar’s industry and urges separating politics from trade. Energy Infrastructure: Taliban officials say construction on the Herat section of the TAPI gas pipeline has reached 52%, with work on roads, buried segments, and supply lines progressing toward an end-2026 target. Insurance Reform: UAE’s Sanadak and the World Bank-backed partnership aims to upgrade banking and insurance dispute resolution through training and best-practice frameworks. Healthcare Access: Doctors from Kabul’s Isteqlal Hospital are providing free cleft lip and palate surgeries for 250 children in Khost, highlighting ongoing affordability barriers. Media Expansion: A new radio station, Sah Radio, has started broadcasting in Khost, adding to a growing local media presence amid calls for better pay and support. Leadership Update: UNAMA named Bruno Lemarquis as its new deputy head and OCHA Afghanistan coordinator, tasked with coordinating UN humanitarian and development work.

UN Mandate Watch: The UN Security Council unanimously renewed UNAMA’s mandate for one year, extending it until June 17, 2027, and urged the Taliban to reverse crackdowns on women while supporting humanitarian aid and economic recovery. Human Rights & Women’s Access: The resolution follows reports of arrests of women in Herat over dress-code violations and a violent dispersal of a rare protest, keeping pressure on rights and inclusion. Energy & Trade Infrastructure: Taliban officials say construction on the Herat section of the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI) gas pipeline is past the halfway mark (52%), with 80 km laid and work aimed to finish the Herat segment by end-2026—key for transit revenue and regional connectivity. Regional Coordination: EU and Central Asian envoys met in Almaty with the UN to align on Afghanistan’s regional stability and long-term socio-economic development, with a focus on transport and transit routes. Humanitarian Strain: A World Food Programme assessment warns the Iran war is worsening food insecurity, including millions affected in Afghanistan, as costs rise and aid funding gaps deepen.