Former US special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad said late Tuesday that both Afghanistan and Pakistan need to focus on reaching an agreement that neither side’s soil will be used to threaten the other.

He stated there has been fighting for more than a week now between border forces at Torkham.

“People are dying, and others are becoming refugees. Traders on both sides are losing millions of dollars. Each is accusing the other of sheltering extremist groups inimical to them. Diplomacy is a better option,” he said adding that trade and economic cooperation between the two countries and between them and Central Asia will benefit everyone.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), says the decision has been made to launch the CASA-1000 electricity project next year and ensure the section in Afghanistan is completed ”swiftly”.

Mujahid said: “When the changes occurred in Afghanistan [after the IEA takeover], this project was suspended. It has now restarted, with surveys currently underway, and the World Bank is financing it.”

He added: “The decision for next year is to begin the project’s practical implementation and expedite its passage through Afghanistan.”

This comes as Tajikistan’s Energy Ministry announced that the CASA-1000 international electricity transmission project, which will connect Central Asia to South Asia, will be fully operational by 2027.

Tajik Energy Minister, Daler Juma, emphasized that construction work in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan has been completed, while Pakistan is rapidly advancing its infrastructure.

“Fortunately, construction in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan is finished, and Pakistan is progressing at a high speed to complete its infrastructure. Work in Pakistan is expected to conclude by the first half of this year,” Juma said.

However, in Afghanistan, after a two-year delay, the project resumed in May 2024 with World Bank funding and is slated for completion next year.

The CASA-1000 project was officially launched in May 2016 to transmit electricity from Central Asia to South Asia.

The Islamic Emirate’s Ministry of Energy and Water reported that 70 percent of the project’s work is complete, with 95 percent of its equipment already delivered.

Experts note that once operational, regional countries will benefit from shared energy resources, reducing reliance on unpredictable energy sources. Upon completion, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan will not only gain revenue from electricity exports but will also emerge as key players in supplying energy to South Asia.

The project is being implemented with investments and financial support from institutions such as the World Bank, Islamic Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and European Investment Bank (EIB).

A major obstacle to the project’s completion was the suspension of funding for Afghanistan’s portion in recent years.

However, officials claim this issue has been resolved after prolonged negotiations with the World Bank and other development partners.

The acting head of Afghanistan’s embassy in Tehran, Fazl Mohammad Haqqani, held talks with India’s Ambassador to Tehran, Shri Rudra Gaurav Shresth, to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation, the Afghan embassy said in a statement.

The embassy in Tehran stated that both sides emphasized enhancing bilateral collaboration between Afghanistan and India during the meeting.

The discussions also addressed expanding trade cooperation through the Chabahar Port, focusing on exports and imports, the statement read.

Since its return to power in Afghanistan, the Islamic Emirate has sought to strengthen diplomatic relations with India and other countries around the world.

Recent meetings between officials from both nations have reportedly improved Afghanistan-India relations, alongside a notable increase in bilateral trade.

IEA’s spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said: “The relations between the two countries are in good standing. Afghanistan and India share historical ties, and mutual interests necessitate stronger relations. The Islamic Emirate has made every effort in this regard.”

“India remains in contact with us. Once practical steps are taken, they will be announced through official channels,” Mujahid added.

Meanwhile, Indian media outlets have reported that New Delhi is likely to allow the IEA to appoint a head for Afghanistan’s embassy in India, but without formal diplomatic recognition. These reports clarified that the Afghan embassy in New Delhi will continue to operate officially

under the name of the “Islamic Republic of Afghanistan,” maintaining its current diplomatic representation.

India’s move follows a recent meeting between a senior official from India’s Ministry of External Affairs and Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, in the United Arab Emirates.