President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov during a meeting with Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of Afghanistan, on the sidelines of the 16th Kazan International Economic Forum under the theme “Russia and the Islamic World,” said that a delegation from Tatarstan will be sent to Kabul to strengthen relations with Afghanistan in various sectors.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office for Economic Affairs, Minnikhanov added that while trade with Afghanistan is already taking place in some areas, they are now ready to expand the scope of these exchanges.

During the meeting, the Director General of the KAMAZ automobile manufacturing company expressed that Tatarstan is prepared to increase exports of KAMAZ freight trucks and fire trucks to Afghanistan. He also mentioned that a special subsidy for Afghanistan would be secured through President Minnikhanov in support of this initiative.

He added that he intends to visit Afghanistan to assess the market, and following that, practical steps will be taken in this regard.

During the meeting, the Minister of Agriculture and Food of Tatarstan also stated that they are prepared to increase exports of halal food products to Afghanistan from now on.

Both sides discussed bilateral economic and trade relations, as well as potential investments by Tatarstani investors in Afghanistan.

At the meeting, Abdul Ghani Baradar expressed his gratitude to the President of Tatarstan for inviting the Islamic Emirate’s delegation to the 16th Kazan International Economic Forum.

Baradar described the invitation as an opportunity to strengthen bilateral political and economic relations between Afghanistan and other countries.

He added that the foreign policy of the Islamic Emirate is independent, positive, neutral, balanced, and economy-focused, and that Afghanistan seeks good relations with all countries of the world.

He emphasized that, in line with this policy, IEA aims to expand its relations with the Republic of Tatarstan in various sectors, particularly in investment in Afghanistan, energy, infrastructure, and the enhancement of bilateral trade.

He described Afghanistan’s current conditions as favorable for investment and called on Tatarstani investors to invest in sectors such as oil and gas extraction and refining, construction projects, railways, and other areas in Afghanistan.

Baradar described the 16th Kazan International Economic Forum as a valuable opportunity to strengthen economic and trade relations between Afghanistan and Tatarstan. He stressed the need to organize exhibitions and other economic programs between the two sides to fully utilize the available potential in these areas.

Baradar extended a formal invitation to the President of Tatarstan to visit Afghanistan in order to further develop bilateral relations.

Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Murat Nurtleu, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, discussed the need to strengthen bilateral ties during a phone call on Thursday, Afghanistan’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

Hafiz Zia Ahmad Takal, the head of public relations at Foreign Ministry, said that the two sides also discussed strengthening bilateral relations, expanding trade and transit, and enhancing the level of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Muttaqi described Kazakhstan as one of the key countries in Central Asia and expressed hope that both nations would continue working together for the development and prosperity of the region by utilizing the existing potential.

He emphasized the importance of Afghanistan’s relations with Kazakhstan and reaffirmed his commitment to expanding cooperation in various sectors.

The Kazakh Foreign Minister also called for increased engagement at the level of foreign ministries. He further announced that he would pay an official visit to Kabul in the near future.

Nurtleu stated that his country is ready to invest $500 million in the construction of the Torghundi–Herat railway project in Afghanistan.

Drastic funding reductions to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) are endangering the lives and well-being of millions in Afghanistan, where access to maternal and reproductive healthcare remains a lifeline for women and girls in one of the world’s most acute humanitarian crises.

On a recent visit to Afghanistan, UNFPA’s Deputy Executive Director Andrew Saberton, visited clinics in Kabul, Bamiyan and along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border to assess the impact of the funding shortfall.

What he witnessed, he said, was both inspiring and alarming.

In a remote village clinic in Bamiyan, teenage girls received vital reproductive health education and basic menstrual hygiene kits—an experience that left them hopeful and empowered, UNFPA said in a statement.

Women, some heavily pregnant and others carrying newborns, walked for hours to reach these clinics, seeking the maternal care they desperately need.

UNFPA said health workers in these areas—often difficult to access and underserved—continue to provide essential services with unwavering dedication, despite mounting challenges.

“I saw and understood the devastating impacts that the massive cuts to UNFPA will have in one of the world’s greatest humanitarian crises,” Saberton said during a briefing in New York.

“It’s a crisis that may be off the radar of the news, but it remains one of the most serious globally.”

UNFPA had been providing critical maternal health services across the country, including family planning, psychosocial support, and mobile healthcare—resources that are vital in a country with one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world.

Severe Funding Reductions

The United States recently announced cuts of $330 million to UNFPA globally, with $102 million directly affecting operations in Afghanistan.

These funds would have supported essential services such as family health and mobile outreach, particularly in remote areas.

The consequences are dire. UNFPA estimates that 6.9 million women and children will be impacted.

Of the 900 clinics currently supported by the organization in Afghanistan, only around 400 will be able to continue operations under the reduced budget.

Despite the setbacks, UNFPA has no plans to scale back its presence. “UNFPA will be staying to deliver,” Saberton emphasized.

“But we cannot sustain our response without help. We need urgent support to keep these services running and to protect the dignity, health, and lives of Afghan women and newborns.”