Kazakhstan Bolsters Relations with Afghanistan
Murat Nurtleu, the Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, recently made a working visit to Afghanistan on July 10. During his visit, Nurtleu met with Afghan officials to discuss various initiatives aimed at enhancing cooperation in trade, transit, agriculture, and infrastructure.
One of the significant outcomes of the meetings was the signing of a $500 million memorandum of understanding for the construction of the Torghundi–Herat railway. This 115-kilometer line, linking western Afghanistan to Turkmenistan, is expected to improve regional connectivity, extending to Iran and the Arabian Sea. The railway is designed to establish Herat as a logistics hub and foster regional trade connectivity. Kazakhstan has expressed interest in investing in this project and other major infrastructure developments on Afghan territory.
In terms of trade and economic cooperation, both sides agreed to increase the bilateral trade turnover with a target of $3 billion. This focus will be on expanding exports from Kazakhstan, such as agricultural products, fuels, lubricants, mineral fertilizers, and chemical industry goods. Simultaneously, they discussed boosting Afghan exports, including fresh and dried fruits, mineral water, and non-alcoholic beverages via the Turgundi border crossing and Turkmenistan.
The development of the Trans-Afghan transport route was also examined, and a memorandum was signed on the fundamental principles of construction and operation of the connectivity of Central Asia and South Asia railway. This move reinforces transit ties between the regions.
Discussions on agriculture included cooperation to help boost production and job creation, as well as joint geological exploration and digitization projects to modernize sectors and support Afghanistan’s economy.
Additional initiatives discussed during the meetings included easing visa regulations for Afghan traders, resuming direct flights between Kabul and Astana, and enhancing educational and regional security cooperation. Kazakhstan also committed to continuing humanitarian support to Afghanistan through food, essential goods, and medicines to stabilize the country.
Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, thanked Kazakhstan for advancing the Afghan agenda in international organizations. Kazakhstan also pledged to double educational scholarships for Afghan students.
Nurtleu highlighted Kazakhstan's priorities in agriculture, logistics, digitization, mineral extraction, and trade to Muttaqi. Nurtleu and Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Afghan Acting Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, discussed prospects for joint projects in trade, transit, agriculture, geological exploration, and digitization.
Muttaqi voiced full support for the proposed UN Regional Center on Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty. The meetings underscored Kazakhstan’s commitment to supporting Afghanistan’s stabilization, food security, and development, while promoting integrated regional connectivity and economic cooperation based on shared interests.
[1] Kazakhstan Today. (2022, July 11). Kazakhstan and Afghanistan signed the memorandum on the fundamental principles of construction and operation of the connectivity of Central Asia and South Asia railway. Retrieved from https://www.inform.kz/en/news/kazakhstan-and-afghanistan-signed-the-memorandum-on-the-fundamental-principles-of-construction-and-operation-of-the-connectivity-of-central-asia-and-south-asia-railway/
[2] Kazakhstan Today. (2022, July 11). Kazakhstan and Afghanistan are discussing the development of the Trans-Afghan transport route. Retrieved from https://www.inform.kz/en/news/kazakhstan-and-afghanistan-are-discussing-the-development-of-the-trans-afghan-transport-route/
[3] Kazakhstan Today. (2022, July 11). Kazakhstan and Afghanistan are discussing ways to expand Afghan exports to Kazakhstan. Retrieved from https://www.inform.kz/en/news/kazakhstan-and-afghanistan-are-discussing-ways-to-expand-afghan-exports-to-kazakhstan/
[4] Kazakhstan Today. (2022, July 11). Kazakhstan is ready to invest in the Turgundi-Herat railway to bolster regional trade connectivity. Retrieved from https://www.inform.kz/en/news/kazakhstan-is-ready-to-invest-in-the-turgundi-herat-railway-to-bolster-regional-trade-connectivity/
- The meetings between Murat Nurtleu and Afghan officials resulted in the signing of a memorandum concerning the development of the Trans-Afghan transport route, a move that reinforces transit ties between Central Asia and South Asia.
- Kazakhstan is prepared to invest in the Turgundi-Herat railway, a project that is expected to improve regional connectivity, linking western Afghanistan to Turkmenistan, Iran, and the Arabian Sea, and establish Herat as a logistics hub.
