Taliban’s Deputy Economic Chief Urges Uzbekistan to Remove Transit Barriers for Afghan Exports
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Economic Chief of the Taliban-led Cabinet, during a meeting with Jamshid Khodjaev, Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister, called for the removal of obstacles hindering vehicles carrying Afghan exports and requested exemptions for the country’s transit goods. These demands come amid ongoing complaints from Afghan traders about transit challenges and additional costs on regional routes.
Baradar emphasized the importance of facilitating the transport of goods via Uzbekistan to China, Central Asian countries, and Russia to expand trade and economic cooperation between Kabul and Tashkent. He also stressed the need to ease the export processes for agricultural products, fresh and dried fruits, foodstuffs, and minerals from Afghanistan.
The Taliban’s deputy economic official highlighted other priorities including increasing transit infrastructure capacity, developing customs facilities, simplifying visa issuance for Afghan citizens, and enhancing cooperation in energy and joint infrastructure projects. He claimed that better implementation of the joint action plan between the two nations could contribute to the economic growth of both sides.
In response, Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister announced that trade volume between the two countries has reached $1.6 billion. He said Tashkent is ready to accelerate the implementation of Uzbek investors’ projects in Afghanistan and initiate new ventures.
He noted Uzbekistan’s interest in investing in Afghanistan’s mining sector and its intention to increase imports of meat and cotton from Afghanistan. Additionally, he disclosed plans to construct a $50 million zinc processing plant at the Hairatan port.
The Uzbek delegation described the purpose of the visit as expanding cooperation in transport, energy, agriculture, banking, and trade with the Taliban administration. Uzbekistan, one of Afghanistan’s northern neighbors, has maintained economic ties with Kabul in recent years and has focused on developing transit routes through the Hairatan port.
