The Taliban is in talks with Russia to explore the possibility of connecting Afghanistan’s banking system to the Russian “Mir” payment network, Taliban ambassador to Moscow Gul Hassan said Sunday, reports Afintl.af.
Speaking to Izvestia, Hassan confirmed that negotiations are underway to allow the use of Russian Mir cards in Afghanistan, and that initial steps toward implementation have already been taken. He emphasized that this move would boost trade and financial cooperation between the two countries.
The Mir system, developed by the Central Bank of Russia as an alternative to Western networks like Visa and Mastercard, aims to facilitate financial transactions amid international sanctions. According to Izvestia, a major challenge in Afghanistan is the limited availability of ATMs and banking infrastructure.
Hassan stressed that the Taliban requires unrestricted financial operations to strengthen trade links with Russia and attract Russian tourists. He noted that the project would be a key step in easing the government’s financial isolation.
Iran, also under Western sanctions, signed an agreement in 2024 to integrate with the Mir system. Russia remains the only country to officially recognize the Taliban as Afghanistan’s government.
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October 21, 2025