Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan Dmitry Zhirnov spoke about this in an interview with the Russian newspaper Izvestia. Here we are producing a truncated version of the transcript of his interview. The link to the complete text is given at the end of this version. — In recent months, there has been a feeling that Moscow […]
О чем договорились Казахстан и Афганистан на встрече в Астане
Автор: Анеля Касымова 3 Августа 2023, 18:43 АСТАНА. КАЗИНФОРМ – В Астане в эти дни проходит казахстанско-афганский бизнес-форум. В столицу Казахстана прибыли более 200 предпринимателей Афганистана из разных отраслей экономики, передает корреспондент МИА «Казинформ». Открыли встречу заместитель Премьер-Министра – министр торговли и интеграции РК Серик Жумангарин и министр коммерции и индустрии Афганистана Нуриддин Азизи. «Казахстан […]
Russia, Iran, Pakistan will do infrastructure projects worth USD one billion in Afghanistan – MOI signed with Taliban
Russia, Iran, and Pakistan have signed a memorandum of intent with the ministry of industry and trade of Afghanistan for eight infrastructure projects with total value of USD one billion, reports RIA Novosti. In addition to the ministry of industry and trade under the Taliban administration, the signatories to the four-party memorandum are the representatives […]
Interview at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan with Teri Hakala, Special Representative of the European Union for Central Asia
This is unofficial, slightly paraphrased translation of the text received from the foreign office of Turkmenistan: 1. How do you assess this format of cooperation (Meeting of Special Representatives for Afghanistan in the “CA-EU” format), in particular, your comments on the results of today’s meeting? Teri Hakala: First of all, I want to emphasize that […]
Iran and Afghanistan forge transport connectivity with the launch of the Khaf-Herat railway
On Tuesday, 11 July, the Khaf-Herat railway connecting the west of Afghanistan and the eastern province of Iran was formally commissioned, according to Afghan and Iranian news outlets. The Khaf-Herat cross-border railway with a length of about 225 km consists of four segments. The first two sections with a total length of 78 km stretch […]
United Nations reminds that Afghanistan is still a grave humanitarian crisis – USD 4.6 billion required this year to assist Afghans
“Afghanistan remains the world’s largest humanitarian crisis in 2023, notwithstanding, of course, the recent devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria,” says Ramiz Alakbarov, UN Deputy Special Representative and Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan. He was speaking via the video link from Kabul to the journalists in New York on 28 February 2023. He said that climate […]
Kazakh model may actually salvage Afghanistan
nCa Analysis An Afghan delegation, led by the Taliban acting minister of Industry and Commerce, Nooruddin Azizi, recently visited Kazakhstan. The 350-strong delegation of Afghanistan participated in the business forum, showcased its products and services, and had numerous meetings. The outcome was the signing of business agreements worth about USD 200 million. — It was […]
LPG from Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan delivered to Pakistan via Afghanistan
21 trucks carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan have reached Pakistan through Torkham, a border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Arab News Pakistan reported with reference to Pakistani customs official. “At least 21 trucks have entered (Pakistan) so far,” Hammad Ali, a senior official at the […]
NATO highlights Turkmenistan’s role as a key partner in Central Asia
On 7 September 2023, the Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Belgium Sapar Palvanov presented his credentials to the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, as the head of Turkmenistan’s mission to NATO. A bilateral meeting was organized as part of the ceremony, where the two parties discussed the collaboration dynamics between Turkmenistan and the alliance, the […]
New TIR trade route opens connecting China to Pakistan and Afghanistan
IRU member CEVA Logistics and Pakistani transport company NLC completed the first operation along this new TIR route, linking Kashgar, China, to Pakistan by door-to-door road transport for the first time. NLC also extended this route to Kabul, Afghanistan. Using the global transit system TIR, three National Logistics Cell (NLC) trucks departed from China’s inland […]
Afghanistan is building an enormous canal to draw water from Amudarya River. This may affect water availability situation in Central Asia.
nCa Report Afghanistan is rapidly building an enormous canal to draw water from the Amudarya River. This has the potential to affect the water availability situation to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. The Qosh Tepa Canal, named after the Qosh Tepa district in the Jawzjan province, will be 285km in length and 100 meters in width. It […]
Taliban plan to turn former American-NATO military bases into special economic zones
The Taliban will convert the former American-NATO military bases into special economic zones. The announcement was made by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban deputy prime minister for economic affairs, as he chaired a meeting in Kabul on 19 February 2023. According to several media outlets including VoA, the office of Mulla Baradar has directed […]
OSCE workshop brings together policymakers in Central Asia to discuss energy and natural resources management in the context of the situation in Afghanistan
On 14 June, the OSCE organized a regional workshop on energy co-operation and natural resource management in Central Asia within the context of the situation in Afghanistan. The event gathered around 30 policymakers and experts from Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to discuss possible ways forward. “The crisis in Afghanistan has a pronounced regional dimension, and […]
Strengthening interregional cooperation and connectivity can improve the conditions for the development of the regions of Central and South Asia – the vision of Uzbek experts
With a total population of 1.9 billion (a quarter of the world) and a GDP of US $3.5 trillion, South Asia is the fastest growing region in the world (up to 7.5% per year). Today, its contribution to global economic growth is 15%, by 2040 it may exceed 30%. While maintaining the outpacing dynamics of […]
Turkmenistan urges the international community to continue promoting the processes of peaceful settlement in Afghanistan
On 13 February 2023, the delegation of Turkmenistan led by Mr. Atageldi Haljanov, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan to the UN Office at Geneva has participated to the Geneva Center for Security Policy (GCSP) Alumni Regional Security Conversation on Central Asia and Afghanistan, the Turkmenistan Mission to UN Office at Geneva reports. The event gathered […]
Uzbekistan and Afghanistan renewed deal for the operation of the rail line Hayraton – Mazar-i-Sharif
The Afghan Railways Administration and the subsidiary of Uzbek Railways ‘Sogdiana Trans’ have signed a new agreement on the operation of the Hayraton–Mazar-i-Sharif railway. As reported by Uzbek Railways, the contract period is two years. Also, the parties agreed to step up efforts on restoration of cargo delivery to the Mazar-I-Sharif terminal station and to […]
Research team from the University of Cologne decodes the ancient Kushan script – the Kushan Empire in Central Asia was one of the most influential states of the ancient world
A team of early-career researchers at the University of Cologne has succeeded in decoding a script that has been puzzling scholars for over seventy years: the so-called ‘unknown Kushan script’, the University said in a press release. Over a period of several years, Svenja Bonmann, Jakob Halfmann and Natalie Korobzow examined photographs of inscriptions found […]
UPDATED – Security council secretaries of regional countries held consultations on Afghanistan in Moscow
The fifth multilateral meeting of the secretaries of the Security Councils on Afghanistan took place in Moscow, the press service of the Russian Security Council says. It was attended by high representatives in charge of security issues from India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. “A number of additional practical measures were […]
Taliban delegation on trade and investments promotion visit to Kazakhstan
The business leaders from Kazakhstan and Afghanistan met in Astana on 2 August 2023 to discuss trade and investment opportunities. The Taliban delegation is led by Azizi Nuriddin, Minister of Commerce and Industry of Afghanistan. Afghanistan is a major importer of Kazakh flour and vegetable oil, and the two countries have a mutual trade volume […]
Taliban have modernized signs and symbols at borders with neighbouring countries
The Taliban government has completed the plan to modernize the border signs and symbols with the countries of Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China. This was mentioned by Noorullah Noori, the acting minister of Borders and Tribes, in his annual report, reports the Afghan media. He said that the change of signs and symbols was […]
Taliban nearing decision to award Lithium mining rights to foreign contractors
Some statements made recently by the Taliban officials including acting minister of mines, Shahabuddin Delawar suggest that a decision could be reached soon to award the mining rights for lithium to the foreign bidders. The negotiations have been continuing with several foreign companies. The Gochin China Company has offered to invest USD 10 billion in […]
Afghanistan seeks USD 65 million funding for power transmission project from Turkmenistan
Safiullah Ahmadzai, the operations director of Da Afghanistan Bareshna Shirkat (DABS), the power management authority of Afghanistan, said that work was underway on the power transmission line from Turkmenistan. The 500KV line which could carry 1000MW of electricity required up to $65 million, he added. He was speaking on 29 January 2023 in the news […]
UN special envoy meets Central Asian ambassadors in Kabul
UN Special Representative meets heads of diplomatic missions of Central Asian states in Kabul The UN Special Representative for Afghanistan, Ms. Roza Otunbaeva, had a meeting with the heads of Central Asian embassies in Kabul, reported AKIpress on 29 January 2023. The ambassadors of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan attended the meeting. It was organized […]
Roundtable in Almaty discusses women’s entrepreneurship development in Afghanistan
In a pioneering event, the first of its kind, a roundtable was held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, to discuss the development of women’s entrepreneurship in Afghanistan. It was organized jointly by the Kazakhstan Agency for International Development (KazAID) together with the UNESCO Chair at the Kazakh-German University (DKU) and the United Nations Development Program in Kazakhstan […]
Russia comments on ISIS presence in Afghanistan
At present, ISIS poses a serious threat to Afghanistan and the countries of the region, primarily Central Asia, stated Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Syromolotov in an interview with the TASS. “The group seeks to gain a foothold on Afghan territory and discredit the current leadership of the country, demonstrating its inability to fully ensure […]
Turkmenistan and Afghanistan discuss several joint energy projects
Recently the Acting Minister of Energy and Water of Afghanistan Mulla Abdul Latif Mansoor and the Executive Chairman of Afghanistan’s National Power Utility (DABs) Alhaji Maulawi Muhammad Hanif Hamza visited Turkmenistan to extend the electricity supply contract and develop joint cooperation. According to Afghan Ministry of Energy and Water, the extension of the electricity contract […]
Turkmen LPG delivered to Pakistan via Afghanistan
Pakistan has received its first-ever shipment of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from Turkmenistan, which was transported through the southern Afghan province of Kandahar. The shipment arrived at the Chaman border crossing on Friday, according to Pakistani officials, BNN Breaking reports. The shipment was transported through Afghanistan as part of a pilot project that aims to […]
Turkmenistan held humanitarian event in Afghan province of Herat
On May 3, 2023, the Consulate General of Turkmenistan in Afghanistan (Herat province) held a humanitarian action in a 20-bed maternity home built by Turkmenistan in 2016 as a humanitarian aid in the city of Turgundi, Herat province, Afghanistan. At the request of the Afghan side, the event was held on the occasion of the […]
Turkmenistan participates in largest International Expo in Afghanistan
A group of Turkmen businessmen participates at the Imam Abu Hanifa 2nd National and International Expo and Trade Fair in Kabul, the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Afghanistan reports. The 2nd National and International Exhibition of Imam Abu Hanifah, organized by the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce & Investment/ACCI, will continue from 16 to 22 July 2023. […]
Turkmenistan sent humanitarian aid to Afghanistan
According to the Order of the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, a humanitarian caravan with a cargo of medicines and medical supplies, food and textile products weighing about 125 tons free of charge left Turkmenistan on May 11, 2023 for Afghanistan. Also, by the Decree of the President of Turkmenistan, as part of this humanitarian […]
Russia is ready to participate in TAPI project in Afghanistan and Pakistan
Russia will participate in the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) transnational gas pipeline project, if a proposal is received from partners. The statement came from the special envoy of the Russian President for Afghanistan, Director of the second Department of Asia of the foreign ministry Zamir Kabulov, TASS reports. He noted that the Russian president had previously stated […]
Turkmenistan to send humanitarian aid and doctors to Afghanistan
Turkmenistan will send a batch of medicines and medical supplies, goods and food products to Afghanistan as humanitarian relief. The corresponding order was signed by the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov. According to the document, the cargo will be shipped this month with the assistance of the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children […]
Russia declares willingness to engage in construction and operation of TAPI
Russia may take part in the construction and operation of the Turkmenistan– Afghanistan– Pakistan–India gas pipeline, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a press release following a recent visit of Moscow’s special envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov to Kabul. He held consultations with the foreign minister of Afghanistan Amir Muttaqi and other representatives of the […]
Delegation led by highest-ranking female official of the UN visits Afghanistan to discuss with the Taliban the ban on women in workplaces
A UN delegation led by Ms. Amina Mohammad arrived in Afghanistan on Wednesday, 18 January 2023. She is the deputy secretary general of the United Nations, the highest-ranking female official of the UN system. The delegation also includes the head of UN Women, Ms. Sima Bahous. The delegation had a meeting on Wednesday with the […]
Uzbekistan explores road transit through Afghanistan as a gateway to South Asia
Uzbekistan is actively working on issues of establishing transport connectivity with South Asia in order to overcome landlockedness and access to open oceans. In particular, Tashkent is exploring the possibilities of using the transit potential of Afghanistan to access Pakistan and the ports of the Indian Ocean. This is evident from the trip undertaken on […]
Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan are on final stage of negotiations on the Trans-Afghan Corridor
The railway agencies of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan are holding the final stage of negotiations on the Trans-Afghan railway line, the Information and Analytical Media Center of Uzbekistan Temir Yullari JSC (Uzbek Railways) reports. The Trans-Afghan Railway line is a large-scale project that will open up new prospects for transport cooperation and development in the […]
What did Kazakhstan and Afghanistan agree on at the meeting in Astana?
Author: Anelya Kasymova 3 August 2023, 18:43 ASTANA. KAZINFORM – A Kazakh-Afghan business forum is being held in Astana these days. More than 200 Afghan entrepreneurs from various sectors of the economy arrived in the capital of Kazakhstan, Kazinform correspondent reports. The meeting was opened by Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Trade and Integration of the […]
Визит делегации движения “Талибан” по содействию торговле и инвестициям в Казахстан
Лидеры бизнеса из Казахстана и Афганистана встретились в Астане 2 августа 2023 года, чтобы обсудить торговые и инвестиционные возможности. Делегацию движения “Талибан” возглавляет Азизи Нуриддин, министр торговли и промышленности Афганистана. Афганистан является крупным импортером казахстанской муки и растительного масла, и объем взаимной торговли между двумя странами составляет около 1 миллиарда долларов. Правительство Казахстана заинтересовано в […]
Turkmenistan reportedly extends electricity supply contract with Afghanistan, will upgrade a substation and build 500 kV power line in Afghanistan
According to a press release by Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) the talks have been successful for the extension of the electricity supply contract from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan for the year 2023. The decision was reached to sign the PPA (power purchase agreement) in the near future after a meeting between Alhaj Mula Muhammad Hanif […]
Kazakhstan company gets contract to manage a railway line in Afghanistan
A company from Kazakhstan has won the contract to manage the Hairatan-Mazar-e-Sharif railway line of Afghanistan. The company called Mansour Fatih signed the contract with Bakht Rahman Sharafat, acting head of the Afghanistan railway authority on 4 December 2022, reports TOLO News. The annual value of the contract is USD 4.1 million. It covers the […]
National Security Advisers – Secretaries of the Security Councils of India and Central Asian countries met in New Delhi
On 6 December, New Delhi hosted the first meeting of national security advisers – secretaries of the Security Councils of India and Central Asian countries. Turkmenistan was represented at the meeting by Ambassador Shalar Geldynazarov. The officials discussed topical regional and international security issues, as well as the situation in Afghanistan, its impact on security […]
TAPI to become game changer in South East Asia
Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) Gas Project will become a game changer in South East Asia by bringing prosperity through 3.2 bcfd gas supplies to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. Such an assessment is presented in the official documents of the Petroleum Division of Pakistan, available with ProPakistani news publisher. According to the source, the TAPI will help in […]
Afghanistan today – in just one graph from Gallup
Gallup, the global analytics and advice firm, has issued a powerful graph about Afghanistan. Just look at this: The lines in this graph scratch across heart, oozing out thick, purple pain. As to why Afghanistan is where it is today. What should have been done to avoid it and who should have done it —– […]
Turkmenistan renovated the building of health center in Faryab province of Afghanistan
As is known, Turkmenistan constructed the Health Center in the Garamgol district of Faryab province and put it into use in August 2009. On November 26, 2022, under the guidance of the Consulate General of Turkmenistan in Afghanistan (Mazari-Sharif), solemn official ceremony was held in connection with the full renovation of the Health Center by […]
Taliban welcomes the outcomes of the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan
Taliban praised the recent Moscow Format Consultations’ emphasis to intensify efforts for the provision of humanitarian and economic assistance to the Afghan people in the post-conflict reconstruction of the country, according to the statement, issued by Islamic Emirate’s foreign ministry on meeting’s outcomes. “The Islamic Emirate welcomes positive regional mechanisms on Afghanistan and considers emphasis […]
Moscow format meeting on Afghanistan takes place without Afghan delegates
Elvira Kadyrova The participants of the fourth meeting of the Moscow format on Afghanistan called for the creation of an inclusive Afghan government and the early unfreezing of assets to overcome the socio-economic crisis in this country — both of these topics are not novel. The Kabul government’s inclusiveness, as understood by regional actors and […]
Turkmenistan voiced its position on the peaceful development in Afghanistan
Turkmenistan considers peace-building in Afghanistan from the point of view of the unity of its three main directions: political, economic and socio-humanitarian. This was stated on Monday (14 Nov) by Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Vepa Hajiyev at a meeting with China’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan Affairs Yue Xiaoyong. First of all, Turkmenistan stands for […]
Turkmenistan and Afghanistan discussed joint railway projects
Afghanistan and Turkmenistan railway administrations held Sunday, 9 October, online meeting to discuss the state of joint railway projects, the Afghanistan Railway Authority said in a press release. During the videoconference the sides had detailed discussions on topics such as speeding up the process of sending Afghan students to Turkmenistan, the implementation of projects of […]
TAPI Steering Committee to meet soon in Ashgabat
The CEO of the TAPI Pipeline Company Limited (TPCL) Muhammadmyrat Amanov and the Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Afghanistan Hoja Ovezov met recently with Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, the Deputy PM for Economic Affairs of Afghanistan. The sides discussed the implementation of the agreed measures of the TAPI project between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan and the beginning […]
Kazakhstan once again extended a helping hand to Afghanistan
Kazakhstan once again demonstrates to the world community its commitment to the ideas of the UN and its readiness to provide humanitarian assistance to nations in need of support from caring countries. In accordance with the protocol of the Commission on International Charity of the Republic of Kazakhstan to victims of natural disasters, nine wagons […]