KABUL, Afghanistan — A senior Taliban official has proposed using national currencies in trade with Uzbekistan as part of broader efforts to strengthen economic ties between the two countries.
Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s deputy chief minister for economic affairs, made the proposal during a visit to Uzbekistan, where he met with Jamshid Khodjaev, Uzbekistan’s deputy prime minister. According to a statement from Baradar’s office, the discussions focused on enhancing economic cooperation, with both sides emphasizing the need to facilitate banking transactions and use their respective national currencies in trade.
Baradar also called for an expansion of trade relations and outlined a series of measures to improve economic engagement. These included streamlining customs procedures, eliminating certain trade permits, and easing visa restrictions for Afghan traders. He also urged Uzbekistan to advance key infrastructure projects, including the 500-kilovolt power transmission line and the Afghan-Trans railway project.
During the meeting, Baradar invited Uzbek investors to explore opportunities in Afghanistan, particularly in sectors such as mining, transit, and banking. In response, Khodjaev affirmed Uzbekistan’s commitment to deepening economic collaboration with Afghanistan and said Tashkent would continue working with Kabul on trade, rail connectivity, and financial sector development.
Both countries have agreed to establish technical committees to review and implement joint economic initiatives, the Taliban statement said.
