Acting Minister of Water and Energy Abdul Latif Mansoor met with David Hill, the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Country Director for Afghanistan, to discuss strengthening cooperation on critical water and energy initiatives in the country.
The meeting, attended by Deputy Minister Mujib ur Rahman Omar Akhundzada, ministry advisor Dr. Farooq Azam, and senior officials, focused on reviving stalled ADB-funded projects and addressing Afghanistan’s pressing water and energy challenges.
Minister Mansoor highlighted the worsening water shortages in Kabul and Kandahar, urging ADB’s assistance for major infrastructure projects, including the Kabul-Panjshir water transfer scheme, the Shah Tut-Lalandar reservoir dam, and the expansion of Kandahar’s Dahla Dam. He also emphasized the need for support in energy sector development to bolster Afghanistan’s economic stability. In response, Hill reaffirmed ADB’s commitment to resuming collaboration with the ministry and backing vital water and energy programs.
Among the key projects discussed, the Kabul-Panjshir water transfer aims to alleviate Kabul’s chronic water scarcity by channeling water from the Panjshir River through tunnels and canals. While critical for drinking water and agriculture, the project faces financial, and technical hurdles. Meanwhile, the Shah Tut Dam, funded by India, is designed to store 146 million cubic meters of water to supply Kabul and enhance irrigation but has faced delays due to political instability. In Kandahar, the aging Dahla Dam, a lifeline for local farming, has undergone multiple upgrades, with further expansions planned to secure water for the drought-prone region.
The discussions underscore Afghanistan’s push to advance infrastructure development amid economic and environmental pressures. With ADB’s renewed engagement, the government hopes to accelerate progress on these projects, which are vital for water security, agriculture, and long-term stability.
Poland’s Special Representative for Afghanistan met with the Taliban’s acting foreign minister in Kabul to discuss political ties, Afghan refugees in Europe, and future economic cooperation, signaling a cautious but growing engagement between the two nations.
Two influential Turkic states — Uzbekistan and Türkiye — are intensifying their diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government, signaling a shift in regional dynamics focused on pragmatic cooperation over political isolation.
At the Astana International Forum, senior officials from Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan held talks to strengthen bilateral cooperation, with a focus on trade, economic collaboration, and regional stability.
Afghanistan is ramping up its regional diplomatic efforts, aiming to bolster both economic and security ties across Asia.
The World Food Programme has issued a stark warning over Afghanistan’s deepening hunger crisis, urgently appealing for $555 million to continue life-saving food assistance for millions at risk.
Another group of the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Russia has been evacuated from Iran to Azerbaijan. During the night, a new group of orchestra members crossed into Azerbaijan through the Astara border checkpoint as part of the ongoing evacuation process.
France has closed four major Israeli company stands at the Paris Airshow for displaying offensive weapons, intensifying diplomatic tensions with Israel amid criticism of its actions in Gaza.
A community event turned deadly in West Valley City, Utah as gunfire erupted during a local carnival, killing three, including an eight-month-old baby and injuring two teens, after a dispute between two groups escalated.
Kazakhstan has emerged as Azerbaijan’s top grain supplier, as trade between the two countries surged 20% in early 2025, reaching historic highs.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 16th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Pakistan will begin its first freight train service to Russia from Lahore on June 22. The route is part of the INSTC and aims to connect Pakistan's rail network with Central Asia, establishing a new trade corridor via Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan.
Israeli strikes have reportedly targeted areas near the residences of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to the New York Times, citing local witnesses.
The Israeli military has issued an evacuation advisory for Iranian civilians living near weapons production sites and associated infrastructure within Iran. The message was shared on the social media platform X in both Arabic and Farsi by an official military spokesperson.
Peace is no longer a dream. It is a discussion. On the streets of Baku and Yerevan, it is also a question, of trust, of foreign interests, and of who truly wants it.
An Air India flight with 242 passengers on board crashed in Meghaninagar, close to Ahmedabad airport in Gujarat, on Thursday afternoon.
China has expanded its nuclear arsenal at the fastest rate of any nation, reaching an estimated 600 warheads by early 2025, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
Israel’s military on Monday reported a missile attack launched from Yemen, intensifying already heightened regional tensions following a dramatic escalation in hostilities between Israel and Iran.
Israel launched a strike on Saturday targeting Iran’s energy sector for the first time in its current military campaign, hitting installations at the South Pars gas field, a major fuel depot in Tehran, and a nearby oil refinery.
Another group of the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Russia has been evacuated from Iran to Azerbaijan. During the night, a new group of orchestra members crossed into Azerbaijan through the Astara border checkpoint as part of the ongoing evacuation process.
The second China-Central Asia Summit commenced today (16 June) in Kazakhstan’s capital, marking a pivotal moment in deepening political and economic ties between China and the five Central Asian states: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
Another group of the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Russia has been evacuated from Iran to Azerbaijan. During the night, a new group of orchestra members crossed into Azerbaijan through the Astara border checkpoint as part of the ongoing evacuation process.
France has closed four major Israeli company stands at the Paris Airshow for displaying offensive weapons, intensifying diplomatic tensions with Israel amid criticism of its actions in Gaza.
A community event turned deadly in West Valley City, Utah as gunfire erupted during a local carnival, killing three, including an eight-month-old baby and injuring two teens, after a dispute between two groups escalated.
Kazakhstan has emerged as Azerbaijan’s top grain supplier, as trade between the two countries surged 20% in early 2025, reaching historic highs.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 16th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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