Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has emphasized Iran’s special focus on Afghanistan, reaffirming the country’s support for and assistance to the Afghan people in their pursuit of lasting stability, security, and sustainable development.

Araghchi made the remarks while meeting with Alireza Bikdeli, the newly appointed head of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Embassy in Afghanistan on Tuesday night.

Bikdeli presented a report on his mission and outlined forthcoming plans to advance the development of relations and cooperation between the two neighboring countries.

In this meeting, the top Iranian diplomat underscored the serious commitment of the administration of President Masoud Pezeshkian to pursue a policy of good neighborliness and emphasized Iran's special concern for the situation in Afghanistan.

Bikdeli previously held several prominent positions, including as Iran’s chargé d'affaires in Kazakhstan, Head of the Economic Reconstruction Taskforce for Afghanistan at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy for Research at the Institute for Political and International Studies.

He also served the country as Ambassador to the Republic of Azerbaijan, Cyprus, and Turkey as well as the Deputy for Consular, Parliamentary, and Expatriate Affairs at the Foreign Ministry.

Acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum, Hedayatullah Badri, announced that a cement production contract has been signed in Logar province with a private company.

During a press conference in Kabul on Tuesday, Badri stated that the contract has a 30-year duration, and the contracting company will invest approximately $145 million into the project.

Badri explained that, once operational, the plant will produce 2,500 tons of cement daily, creating job opportunities for thousands of individuals.

“The contracting company will invest around $145 million in this project, which will have a daily production capacity of 2,500 tons of cement,” he said. “This project will also generate employment for hundreds of our fellow citizens.”

Meanwhile, the representative of the contracting company assured that work on the major project will begin on schedule and progress according to the terms of the agreement.

Wu Zeidan, the president of SAKO Afghan, stated, "We are committed to serving the Afghan people through this project, and we pledge to complete it on time, in line with the contract."

It is worth noting that since the Islamic Emirate's takeover, four major cement projects have been signed between the Ministry and the private sector, with a total investment of approximately $623 million. Currently, work on these projects is currently advancing rapidly.

Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s newly appointed special envoy for Afghanistan, met with Sirajuddin Haqqani, the acting interior minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), in Kabul on Tuesday to discuss enhancing bilateral relations and resolving key issues between Islamabad and the IEA, according to a statement from the Afghan Ministry of Interior.

The statement highlighted that the Pakistani delegation extended condolences on behalf of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari over the recent passing of Khalil-ur-Rahman Haqqani, the IEA's acting Minister for Refugees. The delegation expressed deep sympathy to his family and the Afghan people.

During the meeting, Sadiq reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to improving relations with Afghanistan through collaborative efforts.

"We are committed to resolving challenges between our two countries through joint initiatives aimed at strengthening both economic and social ties," the statement quoted Sadiq as saying.

Meanwhile, Minister Haqqani emphasized the long-standing religious, cultural, and historical bonds shared between Afghanistan and Pakistan. He stressed the importance of accelerating cooperative efforts to address shared security and political challenges.

"The current circumstances require us to expedite our joint actions to safeguard the relationship between our peoples and ensure regional stability and development," Haqqani stated.