cable- In the heart of the Afghan capital, Kabul, where the ambitions of economic recovery are intertwined with the reality of international isolation, the city hosted a commercial forum that brought together Afghanistan and Central Asian countries in an attempt to draw a new commercial map.
As Kazakhstan entered a strategic partner, Afghanistan is seeking to transform its geographical location into a bridge linking South Asia to its north. However, amid international penalties and dilapidated infrastructure, the question remains: Is this partnership a gateway to prosperity or an ambitious step in a way full of obstacles?
Commercial forum and promising agreements
The Afghan capital, Kabul, witnessed, on Saturday, April 22, 2025, the convening of the Afghan Kazakh Commercial Forum, as businessmen from the two countries signed 20 cooperation agreements worth $ 140 million.
The agreements included the export of 50 thousand tons of Afghan fruits and vegetables to Kazakhstan, importing 100 thousand tons of wheat and Kazakh oils, as well as joint projects in the fields of mining and the development of transport infrastructure.
The forum coincided with the opening of a two -day commercial exhibition, in which the two sides participated through 40 pavilions.
“The exhibition included 40 pavilions, of which 8 are allocated to the Afghan side and 32 for the Kazakh side. The exhibits include handicrafts and local products from Afghanistan and Kazakhstan, in addition to products in the fields of drinks and medicines.”
The forum was attended by a high -level Kazakhi delegation headed by Seckrik Zumranjarin, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, who confirmed his country’s commitment to raising the volume of trade with Afghanistan to 3 billion dollars annually.
Continuous crises and emerging opportunities
The Afghan economy has suffered from an ongoing crisis since the Taliban took control of August 2021, as international sanctions froze more than $ 7 billion from the reserves of the Afghan Central Bank, and foreign aid, which constituted 75% of the government budget, stopped.
According to the United Nations report for 2025, about 48% of the population lives below the poverty line, with unemployment rates of approximately 20% in 2023, according to the World Bank.
Although a slight improvement thanks to the low food prices and the increase in exports, 14.8 million people face food insecurity, which impedes the opportunities for economic recovery.
Afghanistan is seeking to diversify its economy through regional trade, and Abdel Salam Jawad says to Al -Jazeera Net: “The volume of trade exchange between Afghanistan and Central Asian countries last year amounted to $ 2.3 billion, as the value of exports amounted to 169 million dollars, while imports amounted to about 2.2 billion dollars.”
Afghan exports to these countries include:
- Fresh and dried fruits
- Juices
- The stones of the talc
- potato
- Onions
While Afghanistan mainly imports:
- Wheat flour
- LNG oil and gas
- Oils
- Industrial materials, such as cement
Kazakhstan is advancing the list of commercial partners with a billion dollar trade size.
Kazakhstan exports and imports
Kazakhstan is one of the most prominent suppliers of Afghan markets, as the Kazakh oils and oils are basic materials available at reasonable prices compared to the products of other countries.
Kazakhstan also exported oil and gas to Afghanistan, which enhances the stability of energy supplies.
On the other hand, Kazakhstan from Afghanistan imports fruits and vegetables, soft drinks, and some industrial products, which reflects the diversity of trade exchange between the two countries.
Merchant hopes amid logistical challenges
“3 years ago, the border with Pakistan was closed, and the sanctions paralyzed my trade. Today, a deal to export 10 tons of dried raisins to Kazakhstan, but the high fuel prices reduce my profits, and the lack of financing threatens the continuation of my work.”
The story of this merchant reflects the hopes of Afghan merchants who see in Kazakhstan a new outlet, but logistical and financial challenges remain.
“The low dependence on Pakistan, whose trade with Afghanistan has declined by 70% due to border tensions, prompted us to strengthen relations with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan,” Mohamed Younis Mumand, Vice President of the Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, told Al -Jazeera Net.
International sanctions are an obstacle to aspirations
International sanctions are a major challenge to the Afghan Kazakh partnership, and Afghan economist Abdel Jalil Akhund Zadeh says to Al -Jazeera Net, that “excessive compliance with sanctions from international banks raises the costs of commercial transactions by 20%, and prevents the establishment of the Swift system between Kabul and Astana.”
He adds that the sanctions hinder the financing of major projects such as the “Trans Afghan” railway, which needs billions of dollars in investments.
Regional geopolitical ambitions and transformations
Cooperation with Kazakhstan is part of the Taliban efforts to break international isolation after the stoppage of Western aid, which made up 80% of the budget before 2021.
“Fortunately, thanks to our good relations and good intentions with Kazakhstan, we are witnessing an abundance today in the markets, and prices – praise God – are under control. We have committed to increasing trade exchange to 3 billion dollars.”
For his part, Seeric Zumagarin explained that “the trade between the two countries has declined relatively recently due to the growing local production in Afghanistan, but we seek to enhance trade with Kabul through multiple means. We also seek to link China to Afghanistan through Kazakhstan, which will contribute to the expansion of the trade volume.” He stressed that infrastructure projects such as railways will support these aspirations.
Afghan political analyst Abdel -Rashid Khubayb believes that “Kazakhstan is a gateway to Afghanistan towards Russia and China, especially after the Taliban removed the lists of terrorism in Astana and Moscow in 2024 and 2025.”
The Taliban hopes to attract Chinese investments through projects such as the China -Pakistani Economic Corridor, but this remains dependent on the reduction of sanctions.
Afghanistan is also seeking to reduce its dependence on Pakistan, whose trade has declined with a cable from $ 1.2 billion in 2020 to 171 million dollars in 2023 due to the closure of crossings such as Morsh.
Major projects and expanding partnerships
The Afghan Kazakh Partnership transcends traditional trade to strategic projects. The “Trisk Afghan” railway project, which connects Uzbekistan to Pakistan through Afghanistan, is expected to create 10,000 jobs in the northern states, according to the estimates of the Afghan Chamber of Commerce.
Zumranjarin announced a $ 500 million in Kazakh investment in Afghan railways, as well as support for the “Tabi” project to transport gas from Turkmenistan to South Asia.
Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan, are investing in the mines, oil and gas sectors inside Afghanistan, where Afghan metal resources are estimated at trillions, which enhances the country’s role as a regional corridor.
For example, Uzbekistan is involved in developing mining and oil and gas exploration projects in the northern regions of Afghanistan.
Pushed regional relationships despite isolation
Despite human rights criticism, Central Asian countries, with the exception of Tajikistan, have strengthened their relations with the Taliban.
Kazakhstan did not close its embassy in Kabul, and Uzbekistan recognized the Taliban, while Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan exchanged official visits with Kabul.
In June 2024, Kazakhstan removed the Taliban from the terrorist list, followed by Russia on April 17, 2025.
In March 2025, the Security Council approved the establishment of a regional office in the paintings to support development between Afghanistan and Central Asia, while the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that “the welfare of the Afghans affects the stability of the region.”
Promising opportunities and existing obstacles
Afghan Kazakh cooperation carries promising economic opportunities, as it enhances Afghan exports (60% of them fruits) and reduces pressure on local markets.
Politically, this cooperation supports the regional status of the Taliban with countries that do not require official recognition.
But the sanctions limit banking and infrastructure relations, while convergence raises the concerns of Pakistan, and the weak roads and railways threaten the role of Afghanistan as a regional “transit” center.
The future of trade
The Afghan economy stands at a crossroads. Partnership with Kazakhstan opens the doors of the Central Asian markets, but the sanctions and logistical challenges remain major obstacles.
In the crowded cable markets, this challenge echoes between the voices of merchants and the hopes of a people looking to transform its strategic position into a real economic power.
