Kyrgyzstan Deputy Foreign Minister Says Afghanistan Holds Special Place in Economic Programs

KABUL — Kyrgyzstan's Deputy Foreign Minister Kayrat Tursunkulov stated at a consultative meeting of Afghanistan and Central Asian countries in Kabul that his country is committed to expanding economic relations with Afghanistan.

Tursunkulov emphasized that Afghanistan has a special place in Kyrgyzstan's economic programs. He noted that Kyrgyzstan has started rail services to connect with China and that the CASA-1000 project is nearing implementation.

Uzbekistan's Deputy Foreign Minister Babur Usmanov announced at the same meeting that Uzbekistan has begun studies for the Afghan-Trans rail network in Afghanistan and is ready for its rollout.

The gathering focused on economic cooperation between Afghanistan and Central Asian nations, highlighting ongoing regional initiatives aimed at enhancing connectivity and trade. Tursunkulov and Usmanov's remarks underscore the interest of Central Asian countries in deepening ties with Afghanistan through infrastructure projects like rail links and energy transmission.

CASA-1000 is a regional power project designed to transmit electricity from Central Asia to South Asia, passing through Afghanistan. The Afghan-Trans rail network is part of broader efforts to integrate Afghanistan into regional transport corridors, potentially linking it to Uzbekistan and beyond.

These statements reflect Kyrgyzstan's and Uzbekistan's prioritization of Afghanistan in their economic agendas amid discussions on practical steps for implementation.