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IEA says ground paved for the implementation of major economic projects in Afghanistan

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The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) says all grounds have been paved for the implementation of huge economic projects in the country.

The Islamic Emirate officials have recently said that they are taking steps to start big economic and regional projects in the country.

According to them, the government is fully prepared to implement all major economic projects, including the transfer of 500 KV power lines, TAPI, and CASA-1000 projects that lead to regional connectivity.

The IEA spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has emphasized that measures have been taken to implement these projects and to establish a railway between Central and South Asia.

“The Islamic Emirate has taken all the necessary preparations for the completion of these projects, including 500 KV power lines, TAPI and CASA-1000 projects,” said Mujahid.

“In terms of security, the number of employees and duties related to the government, the preparations have been made complete,” he added.

According to Mujahid, the government is waiting for the countries involved in these projects to show full readiness.

Meanwhile, the members of the private sector also call on the Islamic Emirate to increase its efforts to implement large economic projects, adding that the process of supporting these projects can get the country out of the economic crisis.

Economic experts meanwhile still consider regional economic projects as necessary to improve the country’s economy and demand serious attention from the government in this sector.

In the past years, the lack of security was said to be one of the biggest challenges to the implementation of immense economic projects in Afghanistan, but after the Islamic Emirate’s takeover, the problem has been resolved.

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Afghanistan-Pakistan trade surges 25% to nearly $2 billion in 2024

The growth was largely driven by a 31 percent increase in Pakistani exports, which rose to $1.391 billion, while imports from Afghanistan grew by 13 percent, reaching $607 million

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Pakistan trade

Bilateral trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan rose by 25 percent in the fiscal year 2024–25, reaching $1.998 billion, up from $1.603 billion the previous year, a Pakistani official told local media.

The growth was largely driven by a 31 percent increase in Pakistani exports, which rose to $1.391 billion, while imports from Afghanistan grew by 13 percent, reaching $607 million, The Nation reported.

Among Pakistan’s top-performing exports was sugar, which saw a staggering 4,333 percent increase, climbing from $5.93 million in FY2023–24 to $262.77 million.

Other key exports included construction materials, textiles, and pharmaceuticals.
However, some products—including rice, eggs, salts, electrical equipment, and footwear—recorded year-on-year declines of between 17 and 99 percent.

On a monthly basis, June 2025 marked a strong finish, with exports rising 90 percent year-on-year to $142 million, up from $75 million in June 2024. Imports, however, fell by 29 percent year-on-year and by 54 percent compared to May 2025.

Overall, June 2025 bilateral trade stood at $158 million, reflecting a 62 percent year-on-year increase and a 9 percent rise month-on-month, suggesting momentum in trade ties despite fluctuations in certain import categories.

Analysts attribute the surge to improved regional connectivity, enhanced trade facilitation, and greater demand for Pakistani goods in Afghan markets.

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Iran’s non-oil exports to Afghanistan totaled $510 million in first quarter

A technical meeting in Kabul on April 10 reviewed progress on the Tehran-Kabul economic pact, focusing on trade, transit, mining, and agriculture.

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trucks from Iran

Iran exported $510 million in non-oil goods to Afghanistan between March 21 and June 21, making it Iran’s fifth-largest export destination, according to the Iran Customs Administration.

Officials and business leaders emphasized the growing trade relationship was key to regional stability. At a recent Iran-Afghanistan trade conference, ICCIMA’s deputy head, Payam Baqeri, called for a deeper economic partnership, citing shared history and complementary resources—such as Iran’s industrial infrastructure and Afghanistan’s mineral wealth.

Baqeri also highlighted efforts to expand trade through joint ventures, workforce development, and easing trade barriers. Meanwhile, Iran’s Agriculture Minister expressed readiness to boost cooperation in agricultural services and called for a joint committee to advance bilateral ties.

A technical meeting in Kabul on April 10 reviewed progress on the Tehran-Kabul economic pact, focusing on trade, transit, mining, and agriculture.

Bilateral trade between the two countries surged by 84% in 2024, reaching $3.2 billion.

Iran exported $3.14 billion worth of goods—mostly oil products, steel, food, and construction materials—while Afghanistan’s exports to Iran, mainly raw and agricultural products, grew by 116% to $54 million.

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Azerbaijan and Afghanistan explore expansion of trade corridors via Baku Port

Azerbaijan plays a critical role in this corridor, leveraging its Baku International Sea Trade Port, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, and regional logistics zones.

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Azerbaijan Railways Chairman Rovshan Rustamov met this week with Afghanistan’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Abdul Ghani Baradar, in Baku to discuss the expansion of cargo transportation routes between South Asia, the Caucasus, and Europe.

The meeting, which took part during Baradar’s visit to Azerbaijan, signals a deepening of economic cooperation as Afghanistan seeks greater integration into regional and transcontinental logistics networks, including the strategically vital Middle Corridor.

According to a statement issued by Azerbaijan Railways, the parties explored ways to enhance multimodal transport cooperation, with a particular focus on facilitating Afghan exports via the Baku Port.

Afghan representatives emphasized the need to accelerate the movement of goods to international markets and called for technical and logistical support from Azerbaijan.

In response, Rustamov expressed Azerbaijan Railways’ readiness to deliver Afghan-origin cargo to European markets, highlighting Baku’s growing role as a regional logistics hub.

“Azerbaijan stands ready to support Afghanistan’s economic integration by providing reliable and efficient access to international corridors,” Azerbaijan Railways stated.

The Middle Corridor and Afghanistan’s Trade Ambitions

The Middle Corridor, also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), connects China to Europe through Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, the South Caucasus, and Turkey.

Azerbaijan plays a critical role in this corridor, leveraging its Baku International Sea Trade Port, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, and regional logistics zones.

Afghanistan, a landlocked country with limited direct access to global markets, has long sought alternatives to its dependency on Pakistan’s ports.

In recent years, it has aimed to integrate more deeply with regional trade initiatives linking Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Europe—especially after the re-establishment of the Islamic Emirate in 2021 and renewed focus on self-reliance and connectivity.

Despite ongoing political and financial challenges, Afghan exports of dried fruits, minerals, carpets, and medicinal plants have continued to find demand in international markets.

Expanding access to ports via multimodal routes through Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and the Caspian Sea could significantly reduce costs and transit times for Afghan producers.

Geopolitical Implications

The meeting between Afghan and Azerbaijani officials underscores the increasing geoeconomic importance of the Middle Corridor amid shifting global supply chains. For Baku, deeper logistics cooperation with Afghanistan presents a chance to strengthen ties with South and Central Asia, diversify transit flows, and cement its position as a bridge between East and West.

For Kabul, the success of such initiatives could not only bolster trade but also enhance its standing in regional diplomacy, offering an avenue for engagement despite a lack of formal international recognition.

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