Taliban Sign $46 Million Deal With Indian Firm for Port Laboratories

The Taliban's Standards and Quality Authority has signed a five-year, $46 million contract with an Indian company to establish and equip advanced laboratory complexes across Afghanistan. The project involves the construction and modernization of facilities in Kabul and at nine border ports.

The laboratories will focus on improving quality control for both domestic production and imports, specifically targeting the construction materials, electronics, textiles, leather, and paper sectors. According to the agreement, the project aims to curb the influx of low-quality goods and facilitate better access to international markets by improving product standards.

In addition to infrastructure development, the deal includes professional training for standards and quality officials and the pursuit of ISO certifications. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.

While the majority of reports identify the Indian firm as TCRC, other sources refer to the company as TCRT or TSiRC. Some critics have raised concerns regarding the lack of transparency in the group's financial management and the implementation of such contracts.