Other Countries Have Invested More In Afghanistan Than Iran, Says Iranian official

"Afghanistan should become a platform for all parties to cooperate, rather than becoming a geopolitical arena [competition]," he added.
Over the past three years, US officials have repeatedly expressed concern about China's growing influence in Afghanistan.

US President-elect Donald Trump said, during the election campaign, that China had taken over the Bagram base after the withdrawal of US troops from there.

After the withdrawal of US forces and the return of the Taliban to power, China has tried to get involved in economic projects and contracts for mines, oil and gas in Afghanistan.

The country has also established close political and diplomatic relations with the Taliban and is one of the few countries to accept the group's ambassador.

In an interview with the Beijing Club on Sunday, China's special envoy stressed that China respects Afghanistan's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and will never interfere in the country's internal affairs. He added that China does not seek selfish interests in Afghanistan.

Yue Xiaoyong said that Afghanistan's priorities are the formation of an inclusive government and the adoption of a national and moderate policy. He also expressed concern about the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, saying, "Before the presence of the United States, one or two terrorist groups were active in Afghanistan, but now there are more than 20 terrorist groups in this country."

In response to a question about the situation of women in Afghanistan, the Chinese special envoy said, "The issue of women is only a small part of Afghanistan's problems and is not the main cause of the country's problems."

He also criticised Western countries for what he called "double standard," adding, "In order to secure human rights, the issue of poverty, hunger and famine in Afghanistan must be addressed."

According to international organisations, at least 20 million people in Afghanistan face extreme poverty.

Yue Xiaoyong also announced that he is consulting with the ruling group in Afghanistan to provide 1 billion yuan in humanitarian aid from China. Some of the aid will go to Afghanistan, as well as Pakistan and Iran, he said, to arrange for the return of refugees to their country.

He added that the country has provided 470 million yuan in aid to Afghanistan in the past three years.

Yue Xiaoyong stressed that by helping Afghanistan during this period, they have prevented the country's collapse.

The Chinese special envoy also defended the Taliban's performance over the past three years, saying that during this period, Afghanistan has prevented the collapse and mass exodus of refugees through joint efforts, and the situation is improving.

China's top diplomat also noted that the Taliban has performed well in controlling the situation, fighting drugs, corruption, and focusing on economic activities.

He called on the United States to accept primary responsibility for the suffering and destruction of Afghanistan and emphasised on their responsibility to rebuild Afghanistan.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, 17 November, Goodarzi highlighted that many Iranians are unaware of the serious repercussions involved in facilitating access to these services for undocumented migrants.

Goodarzi explained that some individuals, either knowingly or unknowingly, are registering SIM cards and bank accounts in their own names, which are then handed over to Afghan migrants who lack legal residency status in Iran. He stressed that any crimes committed through these accounts or SIM cards would legally implicate the Iranians who have facilitated their use.

Describing the practice as a "serious offence," Goodarzi also revealed that the rental of SIM cards, bank accounts, and cryptocurrency exchange accounts to Afghan migrants has been a contributing factor to a number of cybercrimes in the past. He pointed to the rise of a black market in Iran, where SIM cards and bank accounts are provided to migrants, often through fraudulent registration under false identities.

Afghan migrants, particularly those without long-term residency permits, face significant challenges in obtaining mobile SIM cards and opening bank accounts in Iran. According to Goodarzi, only a small number of Afghan migrants with permanent residency are eligible for such services.

The police chief called for stricter enforcement measures to combat the growing black market and to safeguard both the Iranian financial system and the integrity of personal data.

This latest directive follows similar restrictions previously enforced in other provinces across Afghanistan.

On Sunday, the Afghanistan Journalists Support Organisation (AJSO) issued a statement, citing local sources in Herat, to announce the new media restriction. The organisation expressed deep concern over the Taliban's increasing crackdown on press freedom, noting that such measures not only stifle media independence but also violate the fundamental rights of Afghan citizens.

In its statement, the AJSO called on international institutions and freedom of expression advocacy groups to take decisive action to address the deteriorating media situation in Afghanistan. The organisation also urged the Taliban to respect media freedom and create a safer environment for journalists to carry out their work without fear of reprisal.

This restriction on media freedom comes amid a broader pattern of increasing censorship by the Taliban. In recent months, similar bans have been imposed in multiple provinces, including Nangarhar, where officials have prohibited the publication of images of living beings, including photographs and videos. These actions are part of a wider trend of mounting media restrictions that have severely limited press freedom throughout the country.

The ongoing closure of schools and universities for girls has left many feeling that their futures are being wasted, with activists calling for the immediate reopening of educational institutions.

International Students' Day, celebrated annually on November 17, honours the rights and achievements of students around the world. The day serves as a reminder of the importance of education and its role in shaping the future of individuals and societies. For millions of Afghan girls, however, it underscores a grim reality, as they remain excluded from education under the Taliban regime.

For over three years, the Taliban has barred girls from attending school beyond grade six, disregarding repeated international calls to reopen educational institutions. Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where girls' education is entirely restricted.

According to UNESCO, approximately 2.5 million girls in Afghanistan are currently denied access to education. This prohibition not only deprives them of learning opportunities but also takes a severe toll on their mental and emotional well-being. A report by the UN Refugee Agency, published in October, revealed that the restrictions have led to a significant rise in mental health issues, with depression, anxiety, and despair increasing by up to 50% among Afghan women over the past year.

Mohadesa, a young Afghan girl deprived of education, told Afghanistan International: "Imagining that I can no longer study is unacceptable. I feel like I can no longer live. It’s painful to see all your dreams destroyed." Mohadesa, who graduated from high school in 2021 and was admitted to Kabul University to study computer science, had her future plans shattered when the Taliban returned to power.

She emphasised the urgent need for the Taliban to ease restrictions on women and reopen schools and universities for girls, asserting that her generation's potential should not be wasted.

In addition to concerns over the ban itself, there are growing worries about the content of the Taliban's curriculum. Education activist Parasto Hakim has raised alarm over the nature of the education being provided to boys in Taliban-run schools. She warned, "The reopening of schools under the Taliban means providing an education that teaches boys fundamentalism. Taliban schools are not only religious centres but also environments for brainwashing and promoting terrorism."

Hakim also pointed out the broader social consequences of the ban on girls' education, including forced marriages, increased poverty, unemployment, migration, and the absence of skilled professionals in Afghanistan’s future workforce. These issues are compounded by the lack of access to education, which traps many young women in cycles of poverty and vulnerability.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has voiced similar concerns, stressing that the ongoing denial of education for Afghan girls exposes them to heightened risks, including early marriage and long-term social and economic disadvantages.

Speaking at the conclusion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru, Trudeau responded to inquiries regarding Lavey’s detention, stating, "I can assure you that, first and foremost, the Government of Canada is taking this situation very, very seriously." However, he declined to provide further details on the matter.

According to Canadian news outlet CTV News, Lavery was detained at Kabul’s airport on Monday after arriving in Afghanistan. Lavery, who has traveled to Afghanistan multiple times, provides advisory services through his private security firm based in Kabul.

A source informed CTV News that the Taliban had been aware of Lavery’s presence and activities in the country for several years.

Global Affairs Canada, which manages the country's diplomatic and consular affairs, confirmed it is monitoring the situation closely, noting that Canadian officials are aware of "an incident involving a Canadian citizen in Afghanistan."

Lavery was the last Canadian left at Kabul’s airport during the chaotic evacuation in August 2021. During that operation, Lavery helped evacuate over 100 Afghan nationals from the capital.