Belarus Says It Is Ready to Cooperate on Oil Transfers to Afghanistan

The Taliban administration says Belarus has indicated it is ready to expand economic cooperation with Afghanistan, especially in the transfer and import of petroleum products, and has promised to work directly with Afghan government bodies and private companies.

The Taliban-run Ministry of Industry and Commerce said on Friday that Ahmadullah Zahid, the ministry’s deputy, met with Vladimir Mirkovich Ryzhkovsky, deputy minister of trade of Belarus; Vladimir Silvich Sizov, deputy head of the country’s oil administration; and Gennady Vikentovich Kligo, deputy head of the Belarus Investment Chamber.

According to the ministry, the meeting focused on increasing trade exchanges, expanding Afghanistan’s exports, importing petroleum products from Belarus, investment opportunities, and cooperation in the industrial and energy sectors.

The Taliban administration also claimed that both sides stressed the use of existing economic capacities, the development of trade relations, joint investment, and the creation of practical grounds for cooperation.

According to the Taliban-run Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Belarusian delegation assured that it would take the necessary steps to establish direct cooperation and sign agreements with Afghan government bodies and private companies on the transfer and import of petroleum products.

Belarus is a country in Eastern Europe, and the meeting took place as the Taliban administration has in recent months sought to expand its economic and trade ties with a number of countries in the region and around the world.