Hamidullah Mohib, former advisor to the national security council of Ashraf Ghani’s government, has invested in a space technology project in the United Arab Emirates; an action that, coinciding with the expansion of OrbitWorks’ activities, has sparked reactions and questions in Afghanistan’s media space.
OrbitWorks announced on Tuesday, May 5, that Hamidullah Mohib, as an investor and chairman of the company, met with Nikola Nimchinov at the KIZAD center to discuss space cooperation and ongoing projects.
According to released information, one of the discussion topics was the “Altair” satellite constellation project a project whose construction cost per satellite is estimated between 2 and 10 million dollars. Reports also suggest that the total cost of the project, including launch and operations, could reach tens or even hundreds millions dollars.
OrbitWorks described this project as part of its plans for developing space technology and international collaboration. However, in Afghanistan, questions have been raised about the source of the investment and the financial transparency of these contributions.
Some critics argue that former officials of the Afghan government, including Hamidullah Mohib, played a role in the collapse of the republic and handing over the country to the Taliban. These critics believe that the involvement of such figures in large foreign projects, while Afghanistan faces economic crises, unemployment, and widespread poverty, requires greater clarity regarding the sources of funds and how investments are made.
Critics also note that after the fall of the previous government, questions about the transfer of money and assets from Afghanistan have arisen; however, Hamidullah Mohib has not officially responded to these claims and questions.
Meanwhile, OrbitWorks continues to speak of expanding cooperation with foreign partners and developing space projects, but precise details about the financial structure, investment amounts, and partners’ shares have not yet been publicly disclosed.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
