Latest News
Afghanistan, Pakistan agree on shared vision for peace and stability

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday arrived on a day-long visit to Afghanistan where he met top Afghan government officials including President Ashraf Ghani.
According to Presidential Place the two side discussed a number of important issues pertaining to the Afghan peace process, bilateral relations and cooperation between the nations on mutual interest.
The Afghan Ministry of Foreign issued a statement on Thursday evening, saying the two countries have agreed on a shared vision to support peace and stability in both countries and the wider region.
“During the visit, an agreement was reached on Shared Vision to Support Peace and Stability in both countries and in the wider region.’ The document is highly important and the basic principles of the document are about cooperation between the two countries, cooperation in the field of peace, security and economic development,” the ministry statement said.
The document states that both parties welcomed the start of the Afghan peace process in Doha on 12 September 2020 and hoped that the talks will bring lasting peace and tranquility to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
“They affirm their intention that both countries should look towards a future relationship built on trust, aiming to achieve tangible outcomes from that relationship. They note that closer and fraternal relations between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan would be beneficial, desirable and achievable, as indeed they had been in the decades before the latest conflict in Afghanistan,” the document says.
Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed that a shared vision for Afghanistan and Pakistan should comprise the following core elements:
1. High Ranking Representatives of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Islamic Republic of Pakistan met on 30 September 2020 and agreed upon the fundamental principle that Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Islamic Republic of Pakistan should determine a new shared vision to help each other in furtherance of peace and stability in both their countries as well as the wider region.
2. They welcomed the start of Afghanistan Peace Process in Doha on 12 September 2020 and hoped that the talks will bring lasting peace and tranquility in Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Talks have provided a unique opportunity to Afghans to decide their future without interference.
3. They affirm their intention that both countries should look towards a future relationship built on trust, aiming to achieve tangible outcomes from that relationship. They note that closer and fraternal relations between Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Islamic Republic of Pakistan would be beneficial, desirable and achievable, as indeed they had been in the decades before the latest conflict in Afghanistan.
4. They agree, a shared vision for Afghanistan and Pakistan should comprise the following core elements:
a. That the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan should enjoy a special relationship, founded on predictability, transparency, mutual and full respect for one another's sovereignty, and on expanding and furthering their mutual interests through State-to-State mechanisms. That the mutually agreed cooperation framework under APAPPS provides a comprehensive, multi-sectoral mechanism for optimizing bilateral cooperation.
b. That the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan's posture of "multi alignment" with other countries, pursuing a number of friendly relationships, presents a real opportunity for the two countries to exploit and conversely presents no threat.
c. That neither country could achieve lasting peace and stability without peace and stability in the other. Lasting peace implies peace-making which is wholly inclusive, encompasses the whole nation, and respects a democratic constitutional order in which rights of women and men remain inalienable and protected.
d. That neither country's territory should be used for malicious purposes against the other's territory, and that both countries should work together to identify and tackle enemies of peace, irreconcilables and those who undermine the peace process.
e. That the two countries should further their links and connections in a number of different ways, including through people to people contacts, business to business, government to government and, of particular note, security to security ties.
f. That regional connectivity should be broadened and deepened, with an emphasis on trade, free movement of people, goods and services, opening of trade and customs posts, and transport and energy infrastructure development, aiming for regional development dividends greater than what each country might expect to achieve alone.
g. That expeditious resolution of the refugee situation, i.e. the safe, time-bound and dignified return of refugees, would help the two countries address the humanitarian and socio-economic challenges associated with population displacement. Refugee returns would require resourcing, including donor support from the widest and the most inclusive possible donor community.
Part - 2
Implementation and Next Steps
1. The representatives of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan agree that timely progress to meet this vision would require close coordination, a structured dialogue, and willingness to take difficult and courageous decisions. They agree the need for urgency in their approach, with progress needed by the beginning of December 2020. Confirming commitments made on previous occasions, they agree to take rapid action on three main strands of activity, including identifying lead officials to take forward each activity:
a. By 15 December 2020: Re-energizing joint intelligence services-led work on analyzing, mapping and cooperating against enemies of peace and those undermining the peace process.
b. By 1st January 2021: A joint proposal for refugees return, elevating and intensifying treatment of this issue, to the point where credible and progressive action can start to be taken.
c. By 1st January 2021: A joint proposal to further regional connectivity, in a way which strengthens both Afghanistan and Pakistan, but also the wider region.
2. On Next Steps:
a. That the government leaders of the two countries will visit each other's capital alternately to keep the momentum going. This initiative has commenced with the visit of the Honourable Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Kabul.
b. President Ghani would plan a reciprocal visit to Islamabad in the first quarter of 2021.
c. That the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan will share with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan summary of the key issues that are being discussed during the Afghanistan Peace Process.
3. Both sides agreed to keep this shared vision, its commitments, and previous commitments under regular review, to ensure measurable, clear and irreversible steps towards furthering closer and more productive relations between their two countries.
Latest News
There should be no distance between media and government: Stanikzai

Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, the political deputy minister of foreign affairs, says media outlets should be supported in a way that there is no distance between them and the government.
Stanikzai, speaking at a seminar titled "The Role of Media in Strengthening the Islamic System" in Kabul, added that the media plays a crucial role in global propaganda wars, and it is necessary for the IEA to cease exerting pressure on the country's media and allow them to freely play their role in the development and prosperity of the country.
"The problems of the media should be heard, their voices should be heard, and the environment should be conducive for them to carry out their work freely,” he stated.
He further emphasized that the views towards the country's media should be such that both sides do not view each other as strangers, and the IEA should refrain from exerting pressure on the media and allow them to operate with freedom.
Meanwhile, officials from the Ministry of Information and Culture also stated at the seminar that they have not adopted an approach of confrontation with the media and that the ministry is committed to collaborating with them.
Participants in the seminar also urged the media to spare no effort in reflecting a positive image of Afghanistan to the world.
This seminar was held at a time the media considers itself committed to freedom of expression and reporting activities within the framework of national interests and Islamic values.
Latest News
DABS signs contract to purchase electricity from Uzbekistan for 2025

Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) has announced that a contract for the purchase of electricity from Uzbekistan has been signed for the year 2025.
This agreement was signed following a visit by an Islamic Emirate delegation, led by DABS CEO Abdul Bari Omari to Tashkent, where they engaged in discussions with Uzbek officials.
"The General Director of Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat, along with a delegation, traveled to Uzbekistan and signed the electricity purchase agreement for 2025 during a meeting with officials from the Uzbek electricity sector,” said DABS spokesman Hekmatullah Maiwandi.
Meanwhile, some investors have urged IEA to engage with Uzbekistan regarding the 500-kilovolt electricity project and to ensure the swift completion of this project.
Once completed, the project is expected to alleviate some of the electricity shortages in the country.
Tajikistan agreement
Late last month, Tajikistan's national electric power company, Barqi Tojik, and DABS signed a similar agreement, which will see Tajikistan supply Afghanistan with power through 2025.
The signing ceremony was attended by Mahmadumar Asozoda, General Director of Barqi Tojik, Omar.
According to Barqi Tojik's press secretary, Kurbon Ahmadzoda, the agreement is expected to be extended annually until 2028.
However, the electricity export will reportedly be limited to the summer months, from May to September, and will be dependent on the availability of electricity within Tajikistan's domestic market, Tajik media reported at the time.
Powering a future
Afghanistan currently produces only 20% of its energy needs, while 80% of its electricity is imported from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran.
The Islamic Emirate has however made it a priority to encourage domestic production of power since regaining control in August 2021.
Omar has met with potential investors on numerous occasions and has encouraged them to invest in the sector.
One such meeting was held in August with officials from Bayat Power.
Bayat Power is Afghanistan’s largest private Electric Power Production and Development Company and owns and operates Bayat Power-1, the first in a new generation of Gas to Electricity power generation plants.
Bayat Power is hoping to start work soon on Phase 2 of Bayat Power-1 in northern Jawzjan province in order to increase electricity production output for Afghanistan.
Mohammad Shoaib Sahibzada, the technical head of Bayat Power, has said that once Phase 2 is complete, electricity production will increase from 40 to 100 megawatts.
Sahibzada said Bayat Power's natural gas to electricity generation project will eventually produce up to 250 megawatts of electricity once Phase 3 is complete.
Bayat Power has produced over one billion kilowatt hours of electricity in just under five years after starting commercial operations in late 2019.
Sahibzada said that over the past five years, the company has also worked on capacity building of its technical employees.
Leading the way
Bayat Power is the first private company in 40 years to produce electricity from natural gas in the country and the multi-million dollar plant uses Siemens Energy’s SGT-A45 mobile gas turbine for its economic efficiency, flexible deployment, and power density.
Currently providing electricity to hundreds of thousands of end-users and generating more than 300 million kWh annually, the project was structured as an innovative public-private partnership between Bayat Power, Siemens Energy, and Afghanistan government entities such as the
Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, the Ministry of Energy and Water, and the General Directorate of Afghan Gas Corporation Company, Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), and international partners.
The Bayat Group is the largest private investor in Afghanistan and Bayat Power is currently the only gas-powered plant in the country.
The Siemens Energy’s SGT-A45 mobile gas turbine used by the company is the only one in operation in the world.
Latest News
ATN’s hat-trick! Rights in place to broadcast ICC World Test Championship 2023/25 Final

Ariana Television and Radio Network (ATN) has done it again! This time it secured the rights to broadcast the ICC World Test Championship 2023/25 Final in Afghanistan.
The 2023–2025 ICC World Test Championship is an ongoing tournament of Test Cricket which is the third edition of the ICC World Test Championship.
This event started in June 2023 with The Ashes, which was contested between England and Australia. It will finish in June 2025 with the final match planned to be played at Lord's in London.
The tournament consists of 27 series and 69 matches in the league stage between nine countries. The top two teams in the points table will compete at the final.
Current State of Play
A draw this week in the third Test between Australia and India has spiced up the race to the World Test Championship Final especially as Australia and India continue to play catch-up with South Africa after the rain-truncated third Test in Brisbane ended in a stalemate.
South Africa had to dig deep against Sri Lanka recently, but a standout all-round performance helped them secure a series win and pushed them to the top of the standings, placing them as the front-runners for the WTC25 Final at Lord’s.
Alongside South Africa, Australia and India, Sri Lanka remains the only other team in contention for a WTC25 Final spot. However, they will need a string of favorable results - including a successful showing in their upcoming two-match series against Australia in January - to keep their hopes alive.
South Africa is top of the standings with a PCT of 63.33. They need to win one out of their two upcoming tests against Pakistan to reach their maiden ICC WTC final.
Australia and India are in second and third place respectively.
India has a PCT of 55.88 and two tests left, both of which they need to win to secure a place in the final.
Australia’s PCT is 58.89. After two tests against India. They have two more tests in Sri Lanka.
For cricket fans across the country, make sure you follow us on social media, and watch this spot, for updates and announcements on this event - along with other exciting tournaments coming up next year that Ariana Television will be bringing to you live and exclusively in Afghanistan.
-
Latest News4 days ago
Afghanistan seals T20I series victory over Zimbabwe
-
World5 days ago
Syrian clerics in former Assad stronghold call for national unity, democracy
-
Latest News5 days ago
U.S. sentences Afghan man to 30 years in prison for narco-terrorism and witness tampering
-
International Sports4 days ago
Messi vs Ronaldo: A look at their market values over the years
-
Latest News5 days ago
Investment in Afghanistan’s pharmaceutical sector reaches $300 million: Union
-
Latest News5 days ago
Chinese, Tajik officials discuss Afghanistan
-
Sport5 days ago
Afghanistan’s Gulbaddin Naib fined 15% of match fee for dissent
-
Regional4 days ago
Hezbollah chief says group lost its supply route through Syria