Kazakhstan, Afghanistan Strengthen Ties with New Trade, Infrastructure Talks

Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Murat Nurtleu conducted a high-level working visit to Afghanistan on July 10, where he met with top Afghan officials to expand cooperation in trade, transit, agriculture, and infrastructure.

In a key meeting with Abdul Ghani Baradar, Acting Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, the two sides explored opportunities for joint projects across vital sectors such as logistics, agricultural development, digitalization, and geological exploration, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

Baradar welcomed Kazakhstan’s engagement, noting that infrastructure investments could help generate critical employment across Afghanistan.

A major outcome of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlining the basic principles for constructing and operating a new regional railway corridor connecting Central and South Asia. The railway is expected to significantly boost regional trade and integration by facilitating transit through Afghanistan.

In separate talks with Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, Nurtleu reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s commitment to expanding economic ties and set a target of increasing bilateral trade to $3 billion. He also highlighted Kazakhstan’s willingness to ramp up exports of key goods such as agricultural products, fuel, fertilizers, and chemicals.

The two sides also discussed boosting Afghan exports of fresh and dried fruits, mineral water, and beverages to Kazakhstan via the Turgundi border crossing and Turkmenistan. Discussions further addressed the development of the Trans-Afghan transport corridor, with Kazakhstan confirming its plan to invest in the Turgundi-Herat railway, a strategic link aimed at enhancing regional connectivity.

Beyond economic cooperation, Kazakhstan pledged greater humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, including initiatives to improve food security, expand access to healthcare, and double the number of educational scholarships for Afghan students in Kazakh institutions.

Muttaqi expressed appreciation for Kazakhstan’s continued humanitarian aid and its efforts to promote Afghanistan’s interests on the global stage. He also voiced full support for Kazakhstan’s proposal to establish a United Nations Regional Center for Sustainable Development Goals in Almaty, serving both Central Asia and Afghanistan.