KABUL: The Taliban and Uzbekistan have signed five new bilateral trade and investment agreements, strengthening economic ties between the two nations.
The agreements were finalized during a visit by Uzbekistan’s Prime Minister, Abdulla Aripov, who led a high-level delegation to Kabul on Saturday.
According to Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, the agreements aim to enhance economic relations and include cooperation on developing gas wells. The Uzbek delegation expressed interest in investing in a gas well located in the Toti Maidan area of Jawzjan Province.
The signing ceremony was attended by Taliban Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar and Uzbek Prime Minister Aripov, underscoring the continued economic engagement between the two countries despite Afghanistan’s ongoing challenges.
However, concerns have emerged among Afghan citizens regarding the Taliban’s transparency and accountability in managing the country’s revenues, particularly from the mining and customs sectors. Additionally, United Nations reports continue to highlight severe poverty and unemployment as major factors contributing to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
