Iran and Taliban Officials Discuss Banking Cooperation in Kabul

Senior Iranian and Afghan officials convened in Kabul on Saturday for a joint economic meeting aimed at exploring avenues of financial and banking cooperation between the two countries.

The meeting was attended by Gholamhossein Mozaffari, Iran’s senior local official in Khorasan Razavi province; Mohammad Reza Farzin, Governor of the Central Bank of Iran; and Noor Ahmad Agha, Governor of Afghanistan’s Central Bank. The parties discussed ways to enhance bilateral banking relations.

One of the proposals raised during the talks was the potential opening of Afghan bank branches in the Dogharoon Free Trade Zone, a border area between the two nations. The initiative is intended to facilitate financial transactions for residents on both sides of the border.

Another key issue discussed was the challenges faced by Afghan currency exchangers, particularly those operating in Herat province, in dealing with Iran’s banking system. Both sides agreed to continue technical and specialized discussions to resolve these obstacles.

While the meeting may pave the way for new banking collaborations, concerns remain over Afghanistan’s lack of a free, transparent, and independent banking system due to Taliban control of the country’s economic structures. Any international cooperation must ensure transparency and rigorous oversight to protect the economic interests of the Afghan people, rather than reinforcing the power of an unrecognized regime.