Central Asia’s typical trade routes through Russia are hampered by heavy sanctions, while the Taliban is trying to trade with the world despite international sanctions
2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenAgence France-PressePublished: 9:26pm, 5 Apr 2026Afghanistan aims to increase trade with Central Asian countries to US$10 billion within the next three or four years, Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said on Sunday.
Trade with Central Asian countries to Afghanistan’s north came to about US$2.7 billion in 2025, itself a significant increase over previous years, Muttaqi said.
He stated Afghanistan’s new trade goal with its neighbours at a “constructive dialogue” meeting in Kabul with representatives from Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
The meeting focused on political, economic and security issues, regional cooperation, trade and the expansion of transit routes.
Muttaqi said Afghanistan is seeking to use “its geoeconomic position” to link Central Asia with South and West Asia.
Among the main projects is the TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) gas pipeline, a major project between Herat in Afghanistan’s west and Turkmenistan, of which about 25 kilometres (15 miles) have been completed so far on the Afghan side.
