09:09 AM

ACCI Chairman Meets Former U.S. Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad in Kabul The Chairman of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) met with Dr. Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. Special Envoy for Afghanistan, in Kabul to discuss key commercial, economic, and banking challenges facing the country. According to ACCI, the meeting focused on obstacles to trade and investment, the current state of the banking sector, and the impact of Afghanistan’s frozen assets on economic activity and private-sector growth. Both sides exchanged views on possible ways to ease financial constraints, improve economic engagement, and support stability through enhanced commercial cooperation.

09:09 AM

TKD MONITORING: Afghanistan Excluded as U.S. Pledges $2 Billion in UN Humanitarian Aid Jeremy Lewin, Secretary for Foreign Assistance in President Donald Trump’s administration, says the United States plans to allocate $2 billion to the United Nations for humanitarian assistance worldwide. However, Lewin emphasized that the funding must not be spent in Afghanistan or Yemen. He claimed Washington has evidence suggesting that a portion of UN assistance in Afghanistan has been diverted to the Taliban. Speaking to the BBC, Lewin also said the funds should not be used for climate change- related programs, arguing that such expenditures do not align with U.S. national interests. He added that the United States expects strict oversight and accountability to ensure the aid is used only for approved humanitarian purposes.

11:30 AM

TKD MONITORING: 85 Afghans Executed in Iran in 2025: Afghan National Put to Death in Bandar Abbas The Hengaw Organization for Human Rights reported that Iranian authorities executed an Afghan citizen on Sunday, December 28, at the central prison in Bandar Abbas. According to the report, the individual was identified as Bismullah Tajik, who had been arrested on charges of premeditated murder. Hengaw stated that the execution was carried out following his conviction, without releasing further details about the legal proceedings. The organization added that this case brings the total number of Afghan nationals executed in Iran since the beginning of 2025 to 85, prompting renewed concern among human rights groups over the application of the death penalty to foreign citizens in Iran.