Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Meets Taliban Prime Minister in Kabul

The Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan held talks with Taliban Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund in Kabul. During the meeting, the Kazakh official delivered an invitation from his country's president for Akhund to visit Astana. He also announced new shipments of humanitarian aid and the arrival of a team of specialist doctors to provide medical services in Afghanistan.

The aid consists of eight train wagons loaded with tents, medicine and essential items intended for returning migrants and victims of natural disasters.

An Afghan-Kazakh Economic Forum was held alongside the political meetings. It brought together Taliban officials and representatives from the private sectors of both nations. Taliban Minister Nureddin Azizi stated that trade between Afghanistan and Kazakhstan has risen by approximately 100 percent since 2022, with a 41 percent increase in the most recent year. The two sides agreed on a target of three billion dollars in bilateral trade and signed an economic roadmap. Discussions covered banking cooperation, transit links and investment opportunities.

Taliban Prime Minister Akhund extended an invitation to the president of Kazakhstan to visit Kabul.

Kazakhstan does not recognize the Taliban but removed the group from its list of terrorist organizations last year. The country continues to supply wheat, flour and other agricultural products to Afghanistan.