Taliban Official Announces Unprecedented Growth in Afghanistan-Uzbekistan Economic Relations

Noroddin Azizi, acting head of the Taliban’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce, announced that in recent months economic relations between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan have entered a new phase and experienced what he described as “unprecedented progress.” Azizi made these remarks on Saturday during a conference on trade relations and business meetings in Kabul. He did not provide specific details regarding the extent of these advancements but emphasized the importance of expanding economic cooperation with regional countries. Uzbekistan, as one of Afghanistan’s northern neighbors, has in recent years become one of the country’s key trading partners. Cooperation in transit, energy, and commercial exchanges between the two sides has attracted significant attention. However, experts consistently stress that sustainable development of economic relations requires transparency, stability in trade policies, and the building of trust at the regional level—issues that are currently challenged under Afghanistan’s present circumstances.