Afghanistan Targets $10 Bn Trade with Central Asia
Afghanistan is aiming to boost trade with Central Asian countries to $10 bn within the next three to four years, Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said.
Speaking at a regional meeting in Kabul with representatives from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, Muttaqi noted that current trade turnover reached $2.7 bn in 2025, showing steady growth.
He said Afghanistan plans to leverage its geographic position to become a key transit hub linking Central Asia with South and West Asian markets. Among priority projects is the TAPI gas pipeline, which remains under development.
Efforts to expand trade come despite ongoing international sanctions that continue to limit banking operations and investment flows. At the same time, several countries maintain diplomatic missions in Kabul, while Russia remains the only state to have formally recognized the Taliban-led government.
Central Asian nations are increasingly interested in southern trade routes through Afghanistan as alternatives to northern corridors affected by sanctions.
Officials say border conditions remain generally stable, although challenges such as security risks, drug trafficking and irregular migration persist.
