AGP Executive Report

EU–FAO Agribusiness Support: The EU and FAO launched a €5 million program in Kabul to back Afghan farmers and agribusinesses, with four “one-stop” service hubs, climate early-warning, and matching grants for food-processing and sustainable businesses; it also targets 2,000 hectares of degraded forests/rangelands and 250 women-led nurseries. Renewable Power Push: Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) says more than 20 solar projects totaling 834MW are underway across 11 provinces, aiming for operation in 2–3 years and reduced reliance on imported electricity. Road Works Under Fire: Residents in Ghazni and Paktika complain a 41-kilometer Ghazni–Paktika road remains unfinished a year after starting, citing slow progress, frequent vehicle accidents, and delays hurting farmers’ access to markets. Afghan Procurement Approvals: Afghanistan’s Procurement Commission approved 12 development projects, including hospitals, roads, and electricity distribution facilities. Security and Extremism Watch: A Washington Post report says al-Qaeda has set up at least eight training centers in Afghanistan in recent years, while the Islamic Emirate says it seeks international cooperation that respects sovereignty and livelihoods, including agriculture and anti-narcotics. Agriculture Outlook: A separate report flags Afghanistan’s pine nut harvest forecast at 1,115 tons in Nangarhar, pointing to continued value in rural production.

Afghanistan-India Trade: Kabul and New Delhi met to expand cooperation on medicines and food imports, speed exports of standard drugs, and discuss joint production and investment in Afghanistan’s pharmaceutical sector. Afghanistan Security Cooperation: Afghanistan’s Interior and Defence delegations attended security meetings in China, stressing that Afghan soil won’t be used to threaten others and pushing joint action against narcotics, smuggling, and organized crime. Afghan Mining Output: Northern Afghanistan’s state-owned Northern Coal Company says coal extraction rose 30% year-on-year, reaching about 1,000 tons daily, with improved quality and more market supply. Bamiyan Heritage Work: UNESCO and the Firozkoh Foundation completed 12 restoration projects over five years to protect historic Bamiyan sites, including Zahak and Gholghola, with added guard facilities and visitor infrastructure. Kabul Housing Pressure: Rent in parts of Kabul has reportedly surged severalfold, with landlords demanding large deposits and low-income families pushed to higher-cost areas. Regional Security Hardline (Pakistan): Balochistan CM Mir Sarfraz Bugti said there will be no talks with armed groups and backed creating new provinces on administrative grounds.

Afghanistan–Energy Investment: A Saudi firm has announced a $200 million push into Afghanistan’s gas blocks in the Kushk area, with claims of far larger long-term investment potential—while U.S. officials have signaled caution for companies dealing with Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Security & Trade Cooperation: Afghanistan’s Interior and Defense ministries sent high-level delegations to China for security talks, emphasizing cooperation on narcotics, organized crime, smuggling, and even industrial and economic sectors. Housing & Cost Pressures (Kabul): Rent in parts of Kabul has reportedly jumped severalfold, with low-income families squeezed by higher prices and steep deposits amid weak oversight. Mining & Industry Debate: Commentary warns against “resource curse” narratives that blame geology for Afghanistan’s troubles, while still flagging risks like opaque mining and revenue capture. Regional Security Context: Separately, Balochistan’s CM said the fight against terrorism will continue until the “last terrorist” is eliminated and argued any new provinces should be administrative, not linguistic.

Red Sea Disruption: Yemen’s Houthis seized Perim (Mayun) Island at the Bab al-Mandab Strait, tightening their grip on a key shipping chokepoint and pushing Saudi Arabia to shut down its East-West pipeline “as a precaution” after drone attacks—raising risks for Gulf oil shipments and regional supply chains. Afghanistan-Mining Diplomacy: Kabul is pitching the U.S. to return, invest in Afghan minerals, and reopen an embassy, as Washington weighs rare-earth deals and other powers quietly deepen interest in Afghanistan’s geology. Trade & Transit Pressure: Pakistan-Afghanistan business leaders, via PACCI, welcomed China’s mediation but demanded a binding guarantee that trade, transit, and connectivity won’t be suspended as political pressure. Aviation & Industry Costs: Nigeria’s aviation operators are urging tax/charge reforms to stabilize airline business—an example of how policy shocks can ripple through regional transport industries. Security & Propaganda Watch: Al-Qaeda released a new Hamza bin Laden video ahead of the 9/11 anniversary, renewing concerns about militant messaging and networks linked to Afghanistan. Wildlife Enforcement: South Asian states, including Afghanistan, pledged coordinated action against illegal wildlife trade through intelligence sharing, financial probes, and stronger prosecutions.

Energy & Trade Routes: Asian LNG spot prices jumped to the highest level since Dec-2022 as Middle East tensions disrupted Gulf supply and pushed buyers like Bangladesh and South Korea into costly spot tenders ahead of winter. Afghanistan Business & Industry: Afghanistan’s government says it has simplified 928 administrative procedures across 13 institutions, aiming to cut red tape for investment and service delivery. Agriculture & Exports: Faryab grape growers warn that low prices and export barriers are squeezing farm incomes, highlighting the need for better market access. Education & Skills: Online business training for 300 Afghan women in Herat is underway, targeting practical skills for income generation. Infrastructure & Construction: Afghan authorities launched a road asphalting project in Balkh, part of broader development work expanding connectivity. Regional Security & Trade: Taliban and Turkmen border commanders discussed security cooperation, a move that can affect cross-border logistics and commerce.

Afghanistan–Central Asia Trade: ACCI chief Sayed Karim Hashemi met Turkmenistan’s ambassador in Kabul to push private-sector links, transit corridors and investment, with an invitation to the Turkmenistan Investment Forum in Ashgabat. Energy & Mining Deals: Saudi Delta International Energy signed a $200M contract with the Taliban government to explore and extract hydrocarbons in the Kushk-Tirpul basin across seven blocks in Herat and Badghis, aiming to boost domestic supply and jobs. Agriculture Market Pressure: Faryab grape growers in Qaisar report falling prices, weak demand, export barriers and cold-storage gaps are squeezing earnings for both fresh grapes and raisins. Women’s Entrepreneurship & Skills: An Afghanistan–Iran business push is set to expand women-led trade, backed by training for 300 Afghan women in marketing and product areas like pottery and ceramics, targeting access to international markets. Business & Services Reform: Afghanistan simplified 928 administrative procedures across 13 institutions over five years, aiming to cut red tape for businesses and citizens. Education & Industry Training: Online business training for 300 Afghan women in Herat is underway, building practical skills for income generation.

Administrative Reform: Afghanistan’s Islamic Emirate says it has simplified 928 administrative procedures across 13 institutions over the past five years, cutting steps and processing times—for example, university lecturer transfers reduced from 217 steps to 49, and graduation certificate processing cut from 45 steps to 10. Governance & Services: Officials link the overhaul to less bureaucracy, lower congestion and costs for citizens, and reduced opportunities for administrative corruption, with the biggest simplifications reported at Higher Education, Agriculture, and TVET. Trade & Investment Ties: A Bangladesh delegation met Kabul officials to discuss expanding economic cooperation, with interest flagged in agriculture, mining, textile manufacturing, tile production, and trade—aiming to boost jobs and exports. Industry & Infrastructure Investment: Herat’s provincial office claims nearly $2 billion in investment mobilized over five years, citing cement, solar and wind projects, an urban master plan, and pipeline-linked infrastructure. Digital Security: A cybersecurity roundup warns of malicious browser extensions targeting crypto users by stealing session and wallet data, highlighting the need for safer access and tighter controls.

Afghanistan’s Displacement Pressure: A new REACH report says 3.1 million people were internally displaced in Afghanistan in 2025, down from 5.5 million in late 2021, with poverty, unemployment, food insecurity and drought now driving more of the movement. Urban Water Risk: IRC warns Kabul could run out of water by 2029, urging the international community not to step back as residents report declining access and call for expanded pipelines. Health Sector Build-Out: Islamic Emirate officials say 60 clinic and hospital projects are completed and operating, with 103 more under construction, and highlight 99.7 million outpatient services delivered in one year. Trade & Industry Push: ACCI says the 5th Abu Hanifa International Expo will run in Kabul Oct 7–13, inviting firms from 50 countries and allocating 800 booths to promote domestic products and investment. Mining & Resource Control: Analysis focuses on who controls Afghanistan’s mineral wealth, warning that governance and shifting decision power under Taliban rule can shape extraction, taxation and profit flows. Telecom Expansion: Afghanistan has signed a plan to build 52 telecom towers in border and remote areas, aiming to improve connectivity where services are thin.

Afghanistan–Bangladesh Trade Talks: Afghanistan’s Economy Minister Mullah Qari Din Mohammad Hanif met a Bangladeshi delegation to expand cooperation in agriculture, mining, industry, energy, domestic production, transit and trade, aiming to boost jobs and exports through stronger private-sector links. Afghan Mining Deal: Afghanistan signed a $65 million talc mining contract in Nangarhar, adding momentum to mineral development. Afghan Telecom Expansion: Afghanistan inked plans to build 52 telecom towers in border and remote areas, supporting connectivity for business and services. Regional Security Link: A UN report flags growing militant links between Afghanistan and Pakistan, saying Al Qaeda has supported groups including TTP and BLA, raising risks for cross-border stability that can affect investment and logistics. Humanitarian Context: UN reporting warns millions of Afghan children face severe hunger and acute malnutrition, underlining the pressure on food and health supply chains.

Afghanistan’s Investment & Stability Lens: An INSS guest lecture framed Afghanistan as a “prism of regional stability,” highlighting how de facto governance, border security, and transactional engagement by regional and global powers shape South Asia’s stability and even energy/trade dependencies. Infrastructure & Logistics Cooperation: Afghanistan’s Ministry of Transport met a World Bank delegation in Doha to discuss joint work on infrastructure, public transport, logistics corridors, and public-private partnerships. Energy & Industry Deals: Saudi firms signed major oil and gas agreements with Afghanistan, with one report pointing to a potential $10bn Afghan pipeline pathway—an industrial boost if financing and security hold. Mining Safety Alert: Afghan authorities reported a fatal mining accident with four deaths, underscoring ongoing risks for the country’s extractives sector. Trade & Sanctions Pressure (Regional): Tougher US sanctions on Iran are raising hurdles for exporters across Central Asia and beyond, with knock-on effects for regional shipping, insurance, and payments that can also influence Afghanistan-linked trade routes. Humanitarian/Protection Risk: A global monitor reported cluster munitions caused at least 1,063 casualties in 2025, including in Afghanistan—another reminder of the cost of conflict on civilian livelihoods.

Energy & Industry Dealmaking: Saudi Delta Energy Group signed landmark oil and gas agreements with Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, including exploration in Herat’s Kushk-Tirpul area, a natural gas utilization study, and plans for a proposed 435-mile CentGas pipeline that could require about $10B over the next decade—an industrial boost tied to the “Corridor of Prosperity.” Industrialisation Strategy: A new analysis highlights how the Taliban is pushing industrialisation as economic statecraft, aiming for domestic manufacturing and import substitution via tax incentives and industrial parks, while facing constraints like electricity shortages, weak infrastructure, and limited investment access. Infrastructure & Education: Kabul Polytechnic University announced a new faculty of aerospace engineering, signaling a push toward higher technical capacity. Transport & Logistics Cooperation: Qatar’s Ministry of Transport met the World Bank to discuss infrastructure, public transport, logistics corridors, and PPP financing—key inputs for trade and supply chains. Humanitarian & Safety Risks: A monitor report says cluster munitions caused at least 1,063 casualties in 2025, with Afghanistan among affected countries, and civilians making up 87% of victims—underscoring ongoing contamination risks for communities and workers.

Energy & Investment: Afghanistan signed a major oil-and-gas exploration and extraction contract with Saudi Delta Energy International for the Kushk–Tirpul basin, with an initial $200m investment and plans covering multiple gas blocks, plus related deals for Amu Darya basin services and a flexible production facility. Agribusiness & Exports: Kandahar golden raisin producers say the India route is closed, pushing them to seek air-corridor access to international markets as prices fall. Higher Education & Skills: The Islamic Emirate says new master’s and PhD programmes and faculties are being prepared, including AI-related fields, with priority for Afghan lecturers. Rural Infrastructure: Rural development updates highlight hundreds of water-supply networks and rural roads/bridges/irrigation works completed or underway, aiming to expand clean drinking water and basic services. Humanitarian & Rights: UN and human-rights updates warn of worsening crises and call for timely assistance and renewed negotiations amid rising global conflict pressures. Security & Trade Links: Reports also flag ongoing Pakistan-Afghanistan friction tied to cross-border militancy concerns, with calls for stronger action to protect stability.

Energy & Mining Investment: Saudi Delta Energy International signed a 25-year $200M oil and gas exploration and extraction contract with Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum for the Kushk–Tirpul field in Herat, covering about 22,000 sq km, with the company also weighing a much larger multi-year energy program. Gas-to-Industry Infrastructure: Delta also agreed on a gas utilization study for Herat (including the Herat Industrial Park) and a framework for a proposed 700-km “CentGas” pipeline corridor toward Kandahar, aiming to support industry and power needs. Oilfield Services in the North: Afghanistan signed contracts with Russia’s TNG company for supervision/consultancy in the Amu Darya basin and for a flexible production facility at the Zamrad Sai block, with an eight-month build timeline and processing capacity cited at 2,000 tons of oil per day. Rural Water & Roads Build-Out: The Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development reported commissioning 290 rural water supply networks (over 1.2B Afghanis) benefiting 590,000 residents, plus major rural road, bridge, irrigation and retaining-wall projects, while more infrastructure is underway. Higher Education Expansion: The Islamic Emirate said new master’s and PhD programmes and faculties are being prepared, including fields tied to modern needs like agriculture, health, technology and AI, alongside plans to add professors and issue certificates.

Domestic Production Push: Afghanistan’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce opened a three-day “Band-e-Amir” domestic products exhibition in Bamiyan with 100 booths for farmers, livestock breeders, and local entrepreneurs, aiming to boost homegrown agriculture, crafts, and manufactured goods while attracting investment and strengthening economic self-sufficiency. Rural Infrastructure & Jobs: Kabul says it has launched 3,229 rural development and essential infrastructure projects worth $87 million across 23 of 34 provinces, including roads, irrigation canals, bridges, and welfare works—expected to create local employment and support agriculture. Mining Safety Warning: A coal mine accident in Baghlan killed four men after gas asphyxiation, with officials saying the site “did not meet standards,” highlighting ongoing weak regulation and frequent fatalities in Afghanistan’s mining sector. Trade & Market Disruption: In Herat’s Jebrail, Taliban authorities reportedly closed around 100 shops over a land ownership dispute, with three residents arrested—showing how property conflicts can quickly disrupt local commerce. Food Security Pressure: The UN special rapporteur warns Taliban restrictions and deepening poverty and hunger are harming Afghan children’s development, with risks including child labor and recruitment.

Humanitarian Crisis: UN expert Richard Bennett warns Taliban restrictions and hunger are harming nearly every aspect of Afghan children’s lives, with risks including child labor, forced/child marriage, and education collapse. Mining Safety: Four miners died of gas asphyxiation in a coal mine in Baghlan after officials said the site failed safety standards, highlighting how poorly regulated mining remains deadly. Local Commerce: Taliban authorities reportedly closed around 100 shops in Herat’s Jebrail market over a land ownership dispute, with arrests tied to the competing claims. Rural Infrastructure Push: Afghanistan launched 3,229 development projects worth $87m across 23 provinces, including roads, irrigation, bridges and retaining walls. Agriculture Under Pressure: Zabul fig growers report disease and closed trade routes are cutting harvests and incomes, while Nimroz farmers say drought and falling groundwater are drying orchards and forcing people to abandon farming. Health Services: Bangladesh Islamic Center doctors, with the Afghan Red Crescent, are providing free cleft lip and palate surgeries for 120 children in Kabul. Energy/Trade Shock: UN and analysts link food insecurity to wider supply disruptions, including higher fertilizer and fuel costs tied to regional conflict.

Cultural Heritage Under Strain: Historic sites in Afghanistan’s Ghazni province—like Bala Hissar, the Ghaznain fortress and the old city—are deteriorating due to disasters, conflict damage and poor restoration that allegedly ignored traditional building methods. Agri & Water Security: Nimroz farmers report severe losses as drought and falling groundwater dry orchards and fields, pushing families to abandon farming or seek other work. Energy & Market Stability: Afghanistan’s Oil and Gas Corporation says fuel prices and supply are sensitive to regional shocks, including disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz, while imports continue through many companies and local commissions monitor hoarding. Food Security: WFP warns acute hunger is rising, with nearly 14 million Afghans facing acute hunger and funding cuts limiting assistance to a fraction of those in need. Trade & Industry Linkages: Afghanistan-US relations and broader economic cooperation remain on the agenda as Kabul discusses expanding ties, while reports also highlight the need to boost domestic production. Humanitarian Aid Pressure: The Islamic Emirate says it distributed 12.6 billion afghanis in cash assistance to 650,000 vulnerable people, as aid restrictions continue to disrupt programs. Security & Supply Chains: Pakistan, US and Sri Lanka report a major methamphetamine bust tied to an Afghan trafficking network, with seizures at Karachi and Colombo ports.