Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency, citing Rustam Habibullin, Head of the Russian Trade Center in Afghanistan, reported that 15 members of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will participate in the upcoming “Russia–Islamic World” Forum in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan.
Kabul 24: According to Habibullin, the first meeting of the Joint Economic Commission between Afghanistan and Russia will be held on the sidelines of the forum. Nooruddin Azizi, Afghanistan’s Acting Minister of Commerce, and Rustam Habibullin will co-chair the commission from their respective sides.
The meeting is expected to focus on key areas including bilateral trade, transit and logistics, energy cooperation, and the recruitment of Afghan labor.
Habibullin emphasized the importance of strongly presenting the Islamic Emirate’s position during the forum to attract the attention of participating countries toward enhanced economic and trade cooperation with Afghanistan.
The Islamic Emirate has not yet issued any official statement regarding its participation in the forum.
The “Russia–Islamic World” Forum is an annual high-level event held in Kazan that serves as one of the most important platforms for dialogue between Moscow and Muslim countries in the fields of economy, trade, and investment.
It regularly brings together senior officials, business leaders, and experts from dozens of Islamic nations.
Economic analysts in Afghanistan view such forums positively, believing they can pave the way for stronger economic ties, increased trade volume, improved transit routes, and new business opportunities between the two countries.
In recent years, Russia has sought to expand practical engagement with Afghanistan despite not formally recognizing the Taliban-led government.
Moscow has maintained dialogue with Kabul on security, counter-terrorism, and economic matters. The participation of Taliban representatives in the Kazan Forum is seen as a potential step toward deepening economic cooperation.
Both nations face international sanctions and economic challenges, and they appear interested in expanding bilateral and multilateral partnerships to mitigate these pressures.
Russia is looking for new markets and labor resources, while Afghanistan seeks to diversify its trade partners and attract investment.The upcoming discussions in Kazan could mark a significant development in Afghanistan-Russia economic relations, particularly in trade, energy, and logistics sectors.
