The Taliban movement and Kazakhstan have agreed to increase their annual trade turnover to $3 billion and accelerate the implementation of the “Afghan-Trans” railway project, Taliban Minister of Commerce Nooruddin Azizi announced, according to Afintl.af.
The agreement was reached during a meeting in Kabul on October 7, which brought together Kazakhstan’s Deputy Minister of Transport Zhanbek Taizhanov, Deputy Minister of Industry and Construction Iran Sharkhan, and Kazakh Ambassador to Afghanistan Gaziz Akbasov.
According to the statement issued by the Taliban’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the sides discussed the expansion of economic cooperation, trade, the Trans-Afghan railway project, and the enhancement of transit capacities for exports.
A key outcome of the talks was a proposal to hold a joint Kazakh-Afghan trade and industrial exhibition aimed at strengthening business and industrial ties between the two countries.
Although Kazakhstan has not officially recognized the Taliban government, Astana maintains close diplomatic and trade relations with the movement. Taliban representatives have previously stated that Kazakhstan is ready to cooperate with their administration in all sectors.
Addressing the 80th session of the UN General Assembly on September 23, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized the importance of peace and stability in Afghanistan, noting that inclusive development is essential for lasting regional security. He also reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s support for the Afghan people through humanitarian aid and cooperation in trade, food security, infrastructure, and transportation.
In June 2024, Kazakhstan removed the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations. Earlier that year, Astana accepted a Taliban diplomat as Afghanistan’s Consul General in Kazakhstan’s capital.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
October 9, 2025