Economic Deputy PM Engages with Delegation Led by Secretary General of Russian National Security Council

Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, held a meeting at the Charchinar Palace of the Presidential Palace with a delegation led by the Secretary General of the National Security Council of the Russian Federation, Sergei Shoigu.

The meeting, which took place today, the 5th of Qasr 1403, at the ARG Palace, was attended by various officials including the Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Nooruddin Azizi, Minister of Economy, Qari Din Mohammad Hanif, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, and several other officials from both countries.

Discussions during the meeting focused on enhancing political relations, fostering economic cooperation, promoting trade and transit, and encouraging investments by Russian investors in Afghanistan. Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund highlighted the economy-centric foreign policy of the Islamic Emirate, emphasizing that with the restoration of security and stability in Afghanistan, the nation has positioned itself as a hub for economic cooperation, trade, and transit in the region, benefiting not only Afghanistan but the wider region as well.

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund reiterated the Islamic Emirate’s commitment to the country’s security and economic progress, mentioning the cessation of narcotics cultivation and the elimination of groups posing threats to Afghanistan’s security and economy. He expressed Afghanistan’s eagerness to play a pivotal role in bolstering the North-South Economic Corridor, fostering economic connectivity in the region, and addressing prevailing challenges.

Sergei Shoigu, the Secretary General of the National Security Council of the Russian Federation, acknowledged the political, economic, and security dynamics in Afghanistan. He conveyed Russia’s intention to elevate bilateral cooperation with Afghanistan, indicating plans to remove the Islamic Emirate from Russia’s blacklist to enhance political and economic ties in the near future. The Russian delegation expressed support for the Afghan-Trans project and indicated readiness to initiate practical economic collaborations with Afghanistan, particularly during the St. Petersburg Economic Forum. Russian investors and state-owned enterprises also expressed interest in investing in Afghanistan across sectors like mining, transport, and agriculture.

In conclusion, both sides underscored the importance of establishing a joint government commission to facilitate extensive cooperation in trade, transit, and investment, encompassing the operations of various committees across different sectors.