Turkish media have reported that police in Turkey identified and arrested 32 Afghan migrants who were hiding in specially designed compartments inside a waste tanker.

The operation, carried out in the city of Diyarbakır, also led to the arrest of five individuals accused of organizing human trafficking. According to reports, four of the suspects were jailed, while one was put under house arrest.

Following their detention, the Afghan migrants underwent medical examinations and were later transferred to a repatriation center.

Turkish police emphasized that such operations will continue as part of efforts to combat human trafficking and secure the country’s borders.

Officials from the Kandahar Department of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock say cotton farming in the province has steadily increased in recent years following efforts to promote its cultivation.

According to officials, cotton was cultivated on 2,150 hectares of land in Kandahar this year, marking an increase of 100 hectares compared to last year. Farmers are expected to harvest around 8,600 tonnes of cotton.

Mohammad Hanif Haqmal, spokesperson for the Kandahar Department of Agriculture, said the expansion reflects growing interest in cotton farming.

“This year, cotton has been cultivated on 2,150 hectares of land in Kandahar, which is 100 hectares more than last year, and we expect a total yield of 8,600 tonnes,” he said.

Officials added that cotton has proven to be a suitable alternative to poppy cultivation, particularly given Kandahar’s soil and climate, and has delivered positive results for farmers under current conditions.

However, farmers say that despite higher yields, cotton prices remain low and markets are limited.

Abdul Ghani, a farmer in Kandahar, said production costs are high. “The price is very low. We have spent a lot on labor to harvest the crop,” he said.

Another farmer, Mohammad Ibrahim, echoed the concerns, calling on the government to support growers.

“Costs are high, but prices are low. Currently, seven kilograms of cotton sells for 190 afghanis. Water is scarce and expenses are high. Since we have shifted from poppy to cotton, prices should be better,” he said.

Meanwhile, local officials say efforts are underway to export Kandahar cotton in line with international market standards.

Sayed Sarwar Amani, head of the Kandahar Chamber of Industries and Mines, said authorities are working to improve quality to access global markets. “We want to raise the quality of cotton to a level that allows us to compete with countries such as Turkey and China,” he said.

Traders have also begun exporting cotton to regional markets. A local trader, Wazir Ahmad, said that cotton exports to Iran have started, with 700 tonnes already shipped.

Cotton is widely cultivated in Kandahar’s districts of Daman, Dand, Shah Wali Kot, Maiwand, Arghistan, Maruf and Arghandab.

Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Friday that India’s relationship with Afghanistan is deeply rooted in society and people, stressing that New Delhi’s engagement goes beyond governments or regimes.

Speaking about India’s approach toward Afghanistan at a university in Chennai state, Jaishankar noted that the two countries share centuries-old ties that are fundamentally societal in nature. “There may be governments and regimes which have gone up and down, but at the end of the day, our relationship with Afghanistan is very societal,” he said.

The Indian foreign minister acknowledged that Afghanistan is currently facing severe challenges and underlined the need to address them from a people-centric perspective. He said India’s engagement is guided by the needs of ordinary Afghans, especially at a time when the country is going through a difficult phase.

Jaishankar highlighted India’s ongoing cooperation with Afghanistan in key humanitarian and development sectors, including health, food security, vaccines, and agricultural support such as pesticides. He said these efforts are driven by India’s commitment to supporting the Afghan people rather than political considerations.

He also confirmed that he recently held what he described as a “very good discussion” with his Afghan counterpart, expressing optimism about continued engagement on issues of mutual concern.