According to a recent report by The Caspian Post, Kazakhstan has adopted a new approach aimed at establishing official engagement with the Taliban and expanding economic cooperation with the group. The report states that Astana removed the Taliban from its list of banned organizations in December 2023, resumed the operations of its embassy in Kabul, and appointed a special representative for Afghanistan in 2025.
According to the report, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy, Serik Zhumangarin, led a high-level delegation to Kabul in June 2026, where he held meetings and discussions with Taliban Prime Minister Mohammad Hassan Akhund, Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, and Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani.
It is reported that, following the delivery of 318.8 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, Kazakhstan signed several agreements aimed at expanding economic, medical, and transit cooperation with Afghanistan.
Based on information from The Caspian Post, bilateral trade between Afghanistan and Kazakhstan reached $541.8 million in 2025, and both sides have pledged to increase this figure to $3 billion. The report further notes that Kazakhstan has established trade centers in Kabul and Herat and has opened its markets to Afghan agricultural products.
The report also states that Kazakhstan has expanded its cooperation with the Taliban in the areas of mining, water management, and railway infrastructure. A contract between Shalkiya Zinc and an Afghan-German partner for the annual purchase of 30,000 tonnes of zinc has also been signed, with its value reported at $18.88 million.
According to The Caspian Post, Kazakh companies are also participating in the construction of a section of the Khaf–Herat railway line. The project is expected to further strengthen economic and transit links between Afghanistan, Iran, and the wider region.
Writer:Saeed Sameer
