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Afghanistan and Mordovia explore economic cooperation at Kazan Forum
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of the Islamic Emirate Afghanistan (IEA), met with Artyom Alekseyevich Zdunov, Head of the Republic of Mordovia, on the sidelines of the 16th Kazan International Economic Forum to discuss expanding bilateral economic and trade relations.
During the meeting, Deputy PM Mullah Baradar described the Kazan Forum as a valuable platform for fostering cooperation between Afghanistan and Mordovia in key sectors such as agriculture, trade, and energy. He highlighted Afghanistan’s vast investment opportunities and welcomed foreign investors to explore sectors ranging from mining and agriculture to manufacturing.
He emphasized that Afghanistan produces a variety of high-quality goods, including fresh and dried fruits, traditional Afghan rugs, precious stones, marble, and other minerals, and expressed readiness to export these products to Mordovia. He also voiced Afghanistan’s interest in importing goods from Mordovia, including electrical equipment, industrial machinery, petroleum products, natural gas, and transport-related tools, based on domestic needs.
Mullah Baradar extended a formal invitation to Mordovian investors to invest in Afghanistan’s key economic sectors, promising full cooperation and support from the Islamic Emirate.
In response, Mordovian Head Artyom Zdunov welcomed the initiative and expressed strong interest in engaging with Afghanistan’s market. He pointed out that Mordovia has made substantial progress in medicine, agriculture, energy, and pharmaceutical production, and is ready to collaborate with Afghanistan in these areas.
Zdunov also noted Mordovia’s plans to begin exporting agricultural products to Afghanistan through the corridor connecting Mordovia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan. He affirmed the interest of Mordovian investors in working with their Afghan counterparts.
IEA’s Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce, Nooruddin Azizi, who was also present at the meeting, reiterated Afghanistan’s readiness to start large-scale trade in food, agricultural products, and industrial goods. He announced that leading Afghan companies would soon be introduced to Mordovian partners to facilitate joint ventures and cooperation.
The meeting marked a significant step toward establishing structured economic ties between Afghanistan and the Republic of Mordovia, opening new channels for trade and investment between the two regions.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan announced on Tuesday the release of American citizen Dennis Coyle from prison.
According to the ministry, Coyle’s mother had written to the leader of the Islamic Emirate demanding amnesty and the release of her son on the occasion of Eid. The Supreme Court considered time served sufficient and decided to release him.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that this action was carried out on the basis of humanitarianism and good faith, and it believes that such measures can strengthen trust between countries. The ministry also expressed hope that both countries, in the future, can find solutions to remaining issues through mutual understanding and constructive dialogue.
The Islamic Emirate also expressed appreciation for the cooperation of the United Arab Emirates in this matter.
Separately, for Coyle’s release, an American delegation, including Zalmay Khalilzad, former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan, met on Tuesday with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Emirate.
The meeting was also attended by Saif Mohammed Al-Ketbi, Ambassador of the UAE in Kabul, and a member of the prisoner’s family.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Muttaqi stated that the Islamic Emirate has not detained any citizen of any country to achieve political objectives; rather, detentions were the result of legal violations, and individuals were released after completing judicial procedures.
At the meeting, Khalilzad praised the action of the Islamic Emirate and emphasized the importance of continuing discussions on all issues between the two countries, expressing hope for further progress in the future.
Muttaqi also stressed that Kabul and the UAE should provide standard consular services to their citizens, and that the Afghan government is fully prepared in this regard.
He thanked Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, for their constructive role in facilitating the release of the prisoner and referred to the UAE as a close friend of Afghanistan.
Earlier, Muttaqi had also praised the role of the State of Qatar in facilitating information exchange between the Islamic Emirate and the prisoner’s family.
Additionally, the UAE ambassador expressed his country’s readiness to play a role in humanitarian institutions and called such developments beneficial for everyone.
The United Kingdom has announced an additional £3 million (AFN 257 million) in humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, aimed at supporting people affected by natural disasters and other shocks.
Richard Lindsay, in a post on X, said the funding will be used to provide essential nutrition supplies and related support to vulnerable populations.
The new allocation brings the UK’s total bilateral assistance to Afghanistan for the current financial year to £154 million (AFN 13.18 billion).
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