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.
Egypt’s first integrated solar and battery storage plant will deliver dispatchable clean energy, enhance grid stability and manage peak demand. The project is expected to generate approximately 3,000 GWh of clean energy and avoid up to 1.4 million metric tonnes of emissions per year.
Israel’s sweeping surprise attack on Iran last week marked a major escalation in tensions, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring it had “struck at the head of Iran’s nuclear weaponization program.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that Ukraine “will have to understand and accept” the post-war realities, as Moscow signals openness to a third round of peace negotiations with Kyiv.
Israel has confirmed it carried out airstrikes on Iran’s only operational nuclear power plant in Bushehr, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict.
European foreign ministers are set to meet Iran’s top diplomat in Geneva for urgent nuclear talks amid growing fears that the Israel-Iran conflict could spiral into a broader regional war.
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.
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.
Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) has cancelled certain flights scheduled for 13th and 14th June amid recent escalation of situation in the Middle East and the closure of airspace in several countries for security reasons.
The 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit was held June 15–17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, under Canada’s presidency. Prime Minister Mark Carney framed the meeting around priorities of protecting communities, energy and climate security, the digital transition, and future partnerships.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 17th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Israel’s sweeping surprise attack on Iran last week marked a major escalation in tensions, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring it had “struck at the head of Iran’s nuclear weaponization program.”
Israel is reportedly pressuring the United States to use its most powerful non-nuclear weapon—the GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP)—in a strike against Iran’s heavily fortified Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, as tensions mount in the Middle East.
Uzbekistan’s economic performance has remained strong, with robust growth, narrowing consolidated fiscal and current account deficits, and ample international reserves, stated the International Monetary Fund following to the 2025 Article IV Consultation with the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Israel’s main hospital in the south sustained a direct missile strike on Thursday amid escalating hostilities with Iran, causing extensive damage and prompting urgent warnings from health officials.
The critical importance of the strong cooperation between Türkiye and Azerbaijan at both regional and global levels has been highlighted and appreciated in Ankara.
Egypt’s first integrated solar and battery storage plant will deliver dispatchable clean energy, enhance grid stability and manage peak demand. The project is expected to generate approximately 3,000 GWh of clean energy and avoid up to 1.4 million metric tonnes of emissions per year.
Israel’s sweeping surprise attack on Iran last week marked a major escalation in tensions, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring it had “struck at the head of Iran’s nuclear weaponization program.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that Ukraine “will have to understand and accept” the post-war realities, as Moscow signals openness to a third round of peace negotiations with Kyiv.
Israel has confirmed it carried out airstrikes on Iran’s only operational nuclear power plant in Bushehr, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict.
European foreign ministers are set to meet Iran’s top diplomat in Geneva for urgent nuclear talks amid growing fears that the Israel-Iran conflict could spiral into a broader regional war.
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