HERAT: Once an important Silk Road trading hub, the Afghan city of Herat has long been a cultural center, but decades of war have ravaged its ancient traditional crafts.
Now thousands of women are returning to the ancient practices, seeking to revive the traditions of a city where traders once came to haggle for silk in thick-walled houses and dome-shaped bazaars offering respite from hot summers.
On the outskirts of the ancient city, about 4,000 women work to cultivate silk, from raising silkworms, feeding them and harvesting their cocoons to spinning the yarn by hand — a month-long, labor-intensive process.
Mariam Sheikh, 30, was given a box of 20,000 silkworm eggs by a local aid group last year and has already produced about 40 kilograms of silk, which sells at 300 Afghani ($4) per kilogram.
“My great-grandfather was a silk maker, so there is pride in picking up his work again,” Sheik, who lives in Herat’s Zinda Jan district, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Her small village is surrounded by lush, green mulberry trees, planted years ago to feed the growing silkworms.
“Our community respects and encourages the silk trade and besides that, it has helped me gain financial independence,” she added.
Once the cocoons are dried, the processing into yarn is traditionally done by hand, although the women hope to import a machine to help speed up the process.
At the moment there is only one old spinning machine in Herat city, with not enough capacity to process them all.
Women have made huge strides in the conservative country since the Taliban rule of 1996 to 2001, when they were banned from attending school or work and could not even go outside without a male relative.
Growing numbers of women now complete education and work in previously male bastions, but they still face hurdles.
Four decades of war, from occupation to internal fighting, have destroyed the economy, rendering it among the poorest in the world, with few jobs — especially for young women, who occupy a particularly precarious place.
Many face cultural barriers and hostility not just from conservative family members, but also hard-line Islamist groups, for pursuing financial independence and greater equality.
According to World Bank data, just over 20 percent of Afghan women work, up from about 15 percent in 2001, when the Taliban fell.
There are fears that a final withdrawal of US troops, the winding down of international engagement and the re-emergence of the Taliban may reverse gains.
“Herat is a traditional province where few women are seen — or even allowed by their families — to work outside,” said Mariam Zemoni, one of about 30 women who weave the silk into scarves and fabric.
“That’s another reason why weaving silk is perfect for me,” said the 23-year-old, who makes at least two scarves a day, selling them for 250 Afghani each.
Nazir Ahmad Ghafoori, head of the Rehabilitation Association and Agriculture Development for Afghanistan which has supported the women, said 70 percent of the cocoons were sold to Iran and Pakistan because of a lack of processing capacity.
He hopes to involve more women in Afghanistan’s silk production, expanding to provinces beyond Herat.
“The tradition is thousands of years old, and we Afghans find pride in our art and culture — and the revival of it,” he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation
Since working with the women in Zinda Jan, his organization has set up the ethical fashion initiative, aiming to export silk produced under fair working conditions worldwide.
An executive board of 50 women in the district oversees and reports on each woman’s working condition.
Sheik, who is on the board, said the business had boosted the economy throughout the district.
Whatever silk is not exported or sold in other parts of Afghanistan makes it to Herat’s old silk bazaar, where vendors sit in small shops with high ceilings decorated with carved ornaments reminiscent of the Silk Road era.
“For the past years, our country has been known for war,” said Sheik. “It’s time the world knew Afghanistan for its arts and crafts, its culture, people — and its silk.”
Afghan women spin new careers by reviving ancient Silk Road crafts
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Afghan women spin new careers by reviving ancient Silk Road crafts
- Silk-weaving is a millennia-old tradition in Afghanistan
- Only 20 percent of Afghan women work, according to World Bank data
Heatwave-like conditions to prevail in southern Pakistan over next 24 hours — Met Office
- At the same time, a shallow westerly wave, likely to enter upper parts of the country on Tuesday night, may cause rain and thunderstorms in upper regions
- Pakistan has witnessed frequent, erratic changes in its weather patterns, including floods, droughts and cyclones, that have been blamed on climate change
ISLAMABAD: Heatwave-like conditions will prevail in southern parts of Pakistan over the next 24 hours, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said on Tuesday, urging people to avoid sun exposure and take precautions.
The weather conditions may cause temperatures to rise 4-7°C above normal in central and southern Punjab, Sindh and parts of the Balochistan province.
“General public especially children, women and senior citizens are requested to take precautionary measures. Avoid exposure to sun light during the daytime and get hydrated,” the PMD said in its advisory on Tuesday.
“Farmers are advised to manage their crop activities (wheat harvesting) keeping in view the weather conditions and take care of their livestock as well. Judicious use of water is advised.”
Similarly, the PMD said, a shallow westerly wave is likely to enter upper parts of the country on Tuesday night and may persist till Friday.
The weather system may cause rain-wind/thunderstorm in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Battagram, Bunner, Kurram, Bajaur, Mohmand, Orakzai, Murree, Galliyat, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Talagang, Mianwali, Jhelum. Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal and Lahore during the period, according to the advisory.
Isolated hailstorm may also occur during the forecast period. Dust-storm and gusty winds are also expected in the plains of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and upper Sindh during the forecast period.
“Wind-dust-storm/hailstorm and lightning may damage loose structures like electric poles, trees, vehicles and solar panels,” the PMD added.
Pakistan has witnessed frequent, erratic changes in its weather patterns, including floods, droughts, cyclones, torrential rainstorms, heatwaves and the slow-onset threat of glacial melting, in recent years that scientists have blamed on human-driven climate change.
In 2022, unusually heavy rains triggered floods in many parts of the country, killing over 1,700 people, inflicting economic losses of around $30 billion, and affecting at least 30 million people.
After bloodbath a day earlier, Pakistan stocks gain in line with global recovery
- Pakistan Stock Exchange fell to intraday low of 8,687 points on Monday, largest intraday point-wise drop in PSX history
- Major stock indexes plunged on Monday after US President Trump announced tariffs on goods imported from the rest of the world
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan stocks closed at 115,532, gaining 623 points (0.54 percent) on Tuesday, a day after the Pakistan Stock Exchange fell to an intraday low of 8,687 points, the largest intraday point-wise drop in PSX history.
Major stock indexes plunged on Monday after US President Donald Trump announced tariffs on goods imported from the rest of the world, saying a 10 percent tariff on all nations and much higher rates of up to 50 percent on individual countries will boost the US economy and protect jobs.
“In line with the global trend, the market saw a recovery,” Topline Securities said in its daily market review. “A total of 526 million shares were traded, with a turnover of Rs 33 billion.”
Major stock markets jumped on Tuesday after three days of heavy selling while US Treasury yields rose for a second day as investors were optimistic that Washington might be willing to negotiate on some of its aggressive tariffs. Oil prices rebounded as well, helping lift energy shares. European shares also rose from 14-month lows on Tuesday after four straight sessions of heavy selling, although investors’ mood remained sensitive to tariff-related developments. Britain’s main indexes also recovered from their lowest levels in more than a year, as investors looked for any indication of Washington softening its stance on the aggressive tariffs that have roiled global markets over the last few days.
Pakistan is sending a commerce ministry team to negotiate a 29 percent tariff on Pakistani goods announced by Washington last week.
Kabul slams Pakistan’s ‘violence’ against Afghans pressured to leave
- Islamabad canceled the residence permits of hundreds of thousands of Afghans in Pakistan as part of a deportation program
- Afghan refugees should be allowed to take their wealth, belongings and household goods with them, Afghan refugees ministry says
KABUL: The Taliban government condemned on Tuesday the “violence” used by Pakistan in its new campaign to expel Afghans from the country, accusing Islamabad of using the migrants for “political goals.”
Islamabad canceled the residence permits of hundreds of thousands of Afghans in Pakistan, including many who were born or living for decades there, as part of a deportation program.
“The mistreatment of them (Afghans) by neighboring countries is unacceptable and intolerable,” the Taliban Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation said on X, calling for a joint agreement to facilitate repatriations.
An average of 4,000 Afghans crossed the border from Pakistan on Sunday and Monday, “far higher than the March daily average of just 77,” the International Organization for Migration (IOM) told AFP.
The new phase in Pakistan’s campaign to repatriate Afghans “could affect up to 1.6 million undocumented Afghan migrants and Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders during 2025,” the agency said.
The UN says nearly three million Afghans live in Pakistan: 800,000 had their Pakistani ACC residency cards canceled in April and 1.3 million still have residence permits until June 30 because they are registered with the UN refugees agency UNHCR. Others have no papers.
“It is with great regret that Afghan refugees are being subjected to violence,” the Taliban refugees ministry said.
“All refugees should be allowed to take their ho was born in northern Afghanistan, told AFP on Monday after crossing the Torkham border point.
“I had papers and they ripped them up.”
In September 2023, hundreds of thousands of undocumented Afghans poured across the border into Afghanistan in the days leading up to a deadline to leave, after weeks of police raids.
More than 800,000 Afghans by the end of 2024, according UN figures.wealth, belongings, and household goods with them to their own country,” it added.
Afghans crossing the border have told AFP in recent days that they left without being able to take all their belongings or money, while others are rounded up and taken directly to the border.
Human rights activists have for months been reporting harassment and extortion by Pakistani security forces against Afghans.
Moniza Kakar, a lawyer in Pakistan’s largest city Karachi, said, “(Officials) are picking and arresting people randomly, from different places. There is no proper mechanism to shift the whole family,” she told AFP.
Relations between Kabul and Islamabad have soured since the Taliban takeover, fueled by a sharp rise in violence in Pakistan along the Afghan border.
“No one should use refugees as tools for their political goals,” the Afghan refugees ministry added.
Pakistan authorities did not provide immediate comment when contacted by AFP.
“My only crime is that I’m Afghan,” Shah Mahmood, who was born in northern Afghanistan, told AFP on Monday after crossing the Torkham border point.
“I had papers and they ripped them up.”
In September 2023, hundreds of thousands of undocumented Afghans poured across the border into Afghanistan in the days leading up to a deadline to leave, after weeks of police raids.
More than 800,000 Afghans by the end of 2024, according UN figures.
Pakistan to hold five-day anti-polio drive in its northwest starting Apr. 21
- Pakistan has reported six polio cases in the first three months of 2025
- The latest drive aims to vaccinate over 6 million children in the region
ISLAMABAD: A five-day polio eradication campaign will begin in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province from Apr. 21, Pakistani state media reported on Tuesday, with the drive aimed at vaccinating over 6 million children in the region.
Polio is a paralyzing disease with no cure and multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine, along with completing the routine vaccination schedule for children under five, are essential to provide immunity against the virus.
Pakistan, which has reported six polio cases so far in 2025, planned three major polio campaigns in the first half of 2025, with rounds scheduled for April and May, the Associated Press of Pakistan news agency reported, citing authorities.
“A five-day polio eradication campaign is set to be launched in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from Apr. 21,” the report read. “According to the provincial health department, more than 800,000 children in the capital city of Peshawar will receive the polio vaccine.”
Over 30,000 teams were formed to participate in the campaign whereas 50,000 police personnel will also be deployed for security purposes, the state news agency reported.
Pakistan’s polio program, launched in 1994, has faced significant challenges, including vaccine misinformation and opposition from some religious hard-liners who claim immunization is a foreign plot to sterilize Muslim children or a cover for Western espionage. Militant groups also frequently attack and kill members of polio vaccination teams.
Last year, Pakistan reported 74 polio cases. Pakistan and Afghanistan are the last two countries where polio remains endemic.
Pakistan’s army vows to protect investors in billion-dollar mining sector in conflict zone
- Pakistan is hosting a two-day mines and minerals conference with delegates from countries including the United States, China and Saudi Arabia
- The conference comes weeks after insurgents hijacked a train carrying over 400 passengers, including soldiers, in volatile Balochistan province
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will provide robust security to protect the interests of investors and partners, its army chief told a minerals conference on Tuesday, amid heightened unrest in key mineral-rich province Balochistan.
Pakistan is hosting a two-day mines and minerals conference with delegates from countries including the United States, China and Saudi Arabia, as well as companies including Barrick Gold and Woods Mackenzie. It is seeking to attract investments in its natural reserves, which are estimated to be worth $6 trillion.
“Pakistan’s army will ensure a robust security framework, (and) proactive measures to protect the interests and trust of partners and investors,” General Asim Munir said.
“You can count on Pakistan as a reliable partner.”
The conference comes weeks after insurgents hijacked a train carrying over 400 passengers, including soldiers, in volatile Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan.
The majority of Pakistan’s mines, including Reko Diq, which houses one of the world’s largest undeveloped deposits of copper and gold jointly owned by Barrick Gold and Pakistan, are located in the southwestern province.
Barrick Gold estimates Reko Dig has the potential to generate $74 billion in free cash flow over 37 years.
Ethnic Baloch separatists, who have long been running an insurgency in the region, oppose any foreign investment which they say is an attempt by Islamabad to solidify its hold through external players on their regional resources.
They have been fighting for decades for a greater share of local resources, but some of their armed groups now say they will not settle for anything less than a separate homeland.
One of the largest insurgent groups, the Baloch Liberation Army, claimed responsibility for the train hijacking, which resulted in the deaths of 23 soldiers, three railway employees and five passengers. At least 33 insurgents were also killed.
“We welcome international organizations to seek investment opportunities and partnership with us in the development of wider resources,” Munir said.
