Afghan Shoppers Go Online to Avoid Bombs

Afghan shopkeepers work on their laptop at their online shop in Kabul, Afghanistan June 4, 2018. Picture taken June 4, 2018. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani
Afghan shopkeepers work on their laptop at their online shop in Kabul, Afghanistan June 4, 2018. Picture taken June 4, 2018. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani
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Afghan Shoppers Go Online to Avoid Bombs

Afghan shopkeepers work on their laptop at their online shop in Kabul, Afghanistan June 4, 2018. Picture taken June 4, 2018. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani
Afghan shopkeepers work on their laptop at their online shop in Kabul, Afghanistan June 4, 2018. Picture taken June 4, 2018. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani

Esmatullah, 27, earns good profile during the month of Ramadan through his e-shop "Afghan Mart" , which he set up just over a year ago, with 500,000 afghanis ($7,000) worth of goods.

Esmatullah says that during Ramadan he receives an average of 50 calls.

" An average of 50 customers call me daily and we deliver,” he said, according to Reuters, adding that he is looking to expand into the provinces by the end of the year.

His shop's success reflects a broader trend among shoppers in the Afghan capital who are keen to buy everything from food to fashion.

It is believed that online shopping is on the rise due to people's attempt to avoid bomb attacks and harassment.

One of the delivery drives said riding a motorcycle in the streets of a city like Kabul, where danger is at every corner surrounding citizens, is a big challenge.

“We have seen more bomb blasts in Kabul that delayed our delivery services,” Esmatullah said. “When that happens, we stop delivering in that direction or that part of the city.

“But the insecurity is one of the reasons that our business has found its way. And besides the insecurity, there is a bad culture of street harassment that unfortunately our women face in cities.”



Iran to Present a Counter-proposal to US in Nuclear Talks, Foreign Ministry Says

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei speaks to reporters in Tehran. (Iran Foreign Ministry)
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei speaks to reporters in Tehran. (Iran Foreign Ministry)
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Iran to Present a Counter-proposal to US in Nuclear Talks, Foreign Ministry Says

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei speaks to reporters in Tehran. (Iran Foreign Ministry)
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei speaks to reporters in Tehran. (Iran Foreign Ministry)

Iran will soon hand a counter-proposal for a nuclear deal to the United States via Oman, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday, in response to a US offer that Tehran deems "unacceptable".

Reuters previously reported that Tehran was drafting a negative response to the US proposal which was presented in late May. An Iranian diplomat said the US offer failed to resolve differences over uranium enrichment on Iranian soil, the shipment abroad of Iran's entire stockpile of highly enriched uranium and steps to lift US sanctions.

"The US proposal is not acceptable to us. It was not the result of previous rounds of negotiations. We will present our own proposal to the other side via Oman after it is finalized. This proposal is reasonable, logical, and balanced," Baghaei said.

Baghaei added that there was not yet any detail regarding the date of a sixth round of nuclear talks between Iran and the US.

Last week, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei dismissed the US proposal as against the country's interests, pledging to continue enrichment.

During his first term in 2018, US President Donald Trump ditched a 2015 nuclear pact between Iran and six powers and reimposed sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy. Iran responded by escalating enrichment far beyond that pact's limits.