Taliban says it will reactivate Afghanistan-Saudi Arabia joint economic commission

The Taliban Ministry of Finance announced that, on orders from leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, the joint economic commission between Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia will be reactivated to develop bilateral economic cooperation.

The ministry stated that following internal consultations on resuming activities, the first meeting of the Afghan side of the commission was held on Thursday, February 12. Participants included the deputy minister of policy at the Ministry of Finance, representatives from related government departments and the private sector. Discussions focused on expanding economic cooperation, exchanging experiences and information, facilitating trade and prioritizing projects. Attendees reviewed the history of economic cooperation between the two countries.

The Taliban economic deputy office had earlier announced the creation of a joint economic commission involving Afghanistan, China and Saudi Arabia in early January. Saudi Arabia and its embassy in Kabul have not commented on the reactivation.

The first meeting of the Afghanistan-Saudi Arabia joint economic commission was held in Riyadh in October 2018 with officials from the previous Afghan government and Saudi Arabia.

Separately, Taliban Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdul Ghani Baradar inaugurated the construction of the Kabul-Bagram road on Thursday. The project spans 6.2 kilometers in length and 50 meters in width, costing 455 million afghanis, and will connect Kabul to Parwan province and other northern provinces.

During the event, Baradar described political, ethnic and linguistic diversity as 'meaningless divisions' and a 'problem,' stating the Taliban administration is working to eliminate them. He announced the standardization of education curriculum from school to sixth grade to create a 'unified Islamic and national stance.' Baradar urged Afghans not to 'blindly imitate others' and called for positive engagement with Afghanistan, emphasizing mutual regional needs.

Baradar said, 'We have not obstructed anyone, and the Islamic Emirate's capacity is not so small as to take every individual or minor issue seriously. Afghanistan is the home of Afghans, and everyone can live here peacefully and return to the country.'

International organizations, including the UN and EU, have accused the Taliban of forming a 'relatively single-ethnic and single-gender government' and called for an inclusive administration respecting human rights. UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett stated the Taliban exacerbates tensions with ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities. UNAMA confirmed the Taliban cabinet is almost entirely from one ethnic group. The Taliban faces accusations of imposing 'gender apartheid' by excluding women from public life.

Local sources reported protests by residents on Tuesday, February 10, against alleged land grabs by Kuchis in Deh-e Piaz Qul area of Doshi district, which were suppressed by Taliban forces. Images show some injured treated in hospital.