Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Meets Taliban Prime Minister to Boost Economic and Political Ties
Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, leading a high-level delegation to Kabul, met with Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, the Prime Minister of the Taliban administration, to discuss the development of economic and political relations between the two sides. During the meeting, the Kazakh side announced the dispatch of eight wagons of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and emphasized increasing Afghanistan’s exports to Kazakhstan.
The meeting took place before noon today at the Gulkhana Palace, with several Taliban officials present, including Amir Khan Muttaqi, acting Minister of Foreign Affairs; Nooruddin Azizi, acting Minister of Industry and Trade; and the Chief of the Prime Minister’s Office. Both sides described Afghanistan and Kazakhstan as having political, economic, religious, and cultural commonalities.
Serik Zhumangarin, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister, stated that the purpose of his visit was to strengthen and expand economic and political relations with Afghanistan. He added that Kazakhstan’s president pays special attention to relations with Afghanistan and regards it as an important regional partner.
He pointed out that Kazakhstan places particular focus on humanitarian cooperation, especially for returning migrants and victims of natural disasters. The new aid shipment includes tents, medicine, and other essential supplies.
The Deputy Prime Minister also announced that to increase Afghanistan’s exports to the Kazakh market, the Afghanistan-Kazakhstan Joint Chamber of Commerce will be inaugurated today in Kabul; an initiative that could positively impact formal trade between the two countries.
Furthermore, the Kazakh official referenced what he called “progress in various sectors” and declared his country’s readiness to cooperate across multiple fields. This comes amid the Taliban administration’s efforts to expand regional relations despite still being unrecognized by many countries.
Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund described relations with Kazakhstan as important and said relevant institutions have been instructed to work towards practical cooperation in various sectors. He also extended an official invitation to the President of Kazakhstan to visit Afghanistan through the Kazakh delegation and conveyed his congratulations to the president and his cabinet members.
In response, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister invited the Taliban Prime Minister to visit Kazakhstan; a move which, if realized, could elevate the level of political engagement between the two parties.
