A dialogue on Islamic microfinance was held in Kabul on Wednesday, bringing together representatives of financial institutions, government authorities, international partners and Afghanistan’s microfinance sector to discuss ways of expanding inclusive financial services in the country.

The event was organized by The Liaison Office in coordination with the Afghanistan Microfinance Association (AMA), Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB) and the Indonesian Embassy in Kabul.

Participants discussed opportunities and challenges facing the development of Islamic microfinance services, with a focus on expanding access to financial products that comply with Islamic Sharia principles.

Representatives of AMA, Da Afghanistan Bank and the Indonesian Ambassador to Afghanistan delivered keynote remarks, highlighting the current situation of the microfinance sector, international experiences and opportunities for developing diverse Islamic financial products.

Two panel discussions focused on major challenges facing microfinance institutions, including structural barriers to growth, limited access to capital, funding and liquidity constraints, difficulties in securing guarantees, and the long-term sustainability of Islamic microfinance services.

Participants also explored practical solutions and future steps to strengthen the sector, emphasizing the importance of cooperation, knowledge-sharing and better coordination among relevant institutions.

The dialogue concluded with calls for stronger collaboration among financial institutions and development partners to improve access to inclusive, sustainable and Sharia-compliant financial services across Afghanistan.

An Iraqi intelligence report obtained by Sky News Arabia has revealed alleged large-scale crude oil smuggling operations from northern Iraq into Iran, where the oil is reportedly refined and later sold in regional markets, including Afghanistan and Turkey.

According to the report, shipments of crude oil are transported through land routes and unofficial trade channels into Iranian territory, where they undergo refining and processing before being re-exported to foreign markets.

The intelligence findings suggest that the alleged network is designed to bypass international sanctions and facilitate the movement of petroleum products outside official trade and financial monitoring systems.

The report further indicates that smuggling networks rely on informal transportation routes and cross-border commercial channels to maintain the collection, processing and distribution of oil products while avoiding regulatory oversight.

The revelations have raised concerns over cross-border smuggling, the loss of national resources and the potential impact of illicit oil trade on regional economies.

Security and political observers say the reported activities could put additional pressure on Iraqi authorities to strengthen border controls, monitor oil transportation routes and improve coordination with regional and international partners.

However, the allegations outlined in the intelligence report have not been independently verified, and further details about the networks involved, the quantities of oil transported and the scale of supplies reaching Afghanistan and Turkey remain unclear.

The report highlights broader challenges facing regional authorities in combating illicit oil trade and enforcing international sanctions.

The foundation stone has been laid for three new pharmaceutical production blocks at Ovison Pharma in Herat, with an investment of $30 million, while the factory’s new serum and injectable production line has also been inaugurated.

The new production blocks will be constructed on a 3,000-square-metre site, with each facility planned to have five floors. Equipped with advanced machinery and designed to meet international standards, the expansion is expected to significantly increase the factory’s pharmaceutical production capacity.

Meanwhile, the newly inaugurated serum and injectable production line is capable of producing up to 100,000 packages of serum per day.

The expansion marks a significant step toward strengthening Afghanistan’s pharmaceutical industry, increasing domestic production and reducing the country’s reliance on imported medicines.

The investment is also expected to support the development of local manufacturing capacity and improve access to domestically produced pharmaceutical products.